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Merissa (12069 KP) created a post

May 31, 2024  
"Stumbling Stones is a novel based on the true story of a woman driven to achieve at a time of persecution and hatred, and who is reluctant to leave the only home she has ever known."

Tour: Stumbling Stones by Bonnie Suchman - #TheCoffeePotBookClub, #BlogTour, #FamilyHistory, #WWII, #JewishHistory, #HistoricalFiction,

https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/stumbling-stones-by-bonnie-suchman
     
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Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Unbelievable in TV

Oct 16, 2019  
Unbelievable
Unbelievable
2019 | Drama
A hard to watch but a must watch mini series
This is a true-crime story done so right. It focuses on a series of rapes so if that’s a trigger for you; stay well away; there is detail about the rapes.

I came across the story from a podcast episode on This American Life which had based an episode on the Pulitzer Prize-winning article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” and was rerunning the story because of this series coming out. It’s a hard-hitting story that strongly shines a light on the issues between differences of how victims can be treated. This adaptation does the story justice and is an engrossing watch.

We start off meeting Marie a young woman fresh out of the foster system who is raped by an intruder; her story and in particular how she is treated are hard to watch but important for people to understand the full horror of having to come forward as a victim.

As the series progresses we still see Marie’s journey but more of the action is on investigations into other rapes in different jurisdictions. We meet Det. Karen Duvall and Det. Grace Rasmussen who are both great and the story gets easier to watch as we see them get down to some hard-hitting police work.

What sets this apart in the current influx of true-crime TV is the real focus on the victims rather than the all too common focus on the perpetrator. It works so well; making a strong emotional watching experience.
  
Boy Erased (2018)
Boy Erased (2018)
2018 | Biography, Drama
A powerful story
I'm a little divided about this film. On the one hand it's a very powerful and moving story with some rather brutal and shocking scenes, and a very relevant and important true story to tell. However it's also not executed to the best it could be.

It starts off fairly slowly and aside from some stand out scenes, the film very rarely picks up. The acting is good but for me there was nothing outstanding from anyone (and Nicole Kidman's unmoving face still disturbs me). And the ending whilst heartwarming in a way feels like a bit of an anti climax. This is an interesting and slightly disturbing story that is quite good, I just wish that it had been better executed.
  
The Young Survivors
The Young Survivors
Debra Barnes | 2020 | Education, History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is not your usual memoir about the Holocaust ... well not one I have ever read before anyway ... it's the true story of what is was like for a family of Jews living in France during World War II.

Written from the perspective of three of the children, the story tells of their harrowing experiences during the German occupation of France and having to move from place to place, losing the adults in their lives and being separated from their siblings.

This is a heart-rending story but also a story of survival, bravery and hope and I want to thank the Duckworth Books Group via JellyBooks for my copy in return for them analysing my reading data and an honest review although this wasn't compulsory.
  
The Last Thing I Saw
The Last Thing I Saw
Alex Sinclair | 2017 | Thriller
10
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A real page turner. Shocker.
Just give me a minute to pick my jaw up off the floor after that outcome and twist. Wow. Not expected at all and a true shocker! Wow. I devoured this book within a day and loved it!

I loved how the story was told through therapy sessions within the hospital… There is a lot of back and forth within this book but the author has made it clear when its changes so there is no confusion. A cleverly written, thrilling story you will not want to put down.

Can easily be finished in one sitting. It was brilliant. Would highly recommend this to you all. A well deserved five stars! A true shocker. Jaw dropping. Addictive. A real page turner. Loved reading every minute of this one.