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An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter
Book
An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter is the story of a moment in the life of the German...
Spider (Rough Ink #2)
10.0
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Book
She’s been broken by life. He’s always had it easy. Can they trust each other enough to be the...
Trigger Warning Contemporary Romance
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated I Have Life: Alison's Journey in Books
May 13, 2021
I first heard about Alison Botha on a true crime podcast. What happened to Alison and her will to survive really piqued my interest. When I discovered her biography, I Have Life, I knew I had to read it right away. While what happened to Alison was beyond horrific, her will to survive and her outlook on life afterwards were inspirational.
Reading about Alison's abduction, rape, and attempted murder will definitely leave you with your jaw on the floor. Alison holds nothing back about anything throughout her biography whether it is the horrific events that happened to her or her will to survive emotionally after her wounds have healed. Marianne Thamm, the journalist that Alison told her story to in order to write her biography does a wonderful job of tying everything together for the most part. About halfway through though, I felt like I Have Life stopped being a biography and started becoming a self-help book with Alison writing (speaking to Thamm) about how to become a happier person. Luckily, this only lasts for a few chapters, but I felt like maybe the chapters about being happier and such should be in a self-help book. (Alison gives talks around the world about her ordeal, so perhaps that's why these chapters were included?) Otherwise Marianne Thamm's writing of Alison Botha's biography was flawless. I was immersed the whole time. I felt like I was right besides Alison the whole time. I kept wanting there to be a different outcome when Alison was abducted by Frans even though I knew there wouldn't be. I felt like Alison really wants the stigma for rape survivors to be no more (and she's right as there shouldn't be any stigma attached). I felt like everything I wanted to know about Alison was answered in I Have Life - from what happened to Alison at the point of her abduction, the rape, the brutal attempted to murder, to the trial of her rapists and attacker to how her life was like at the writing of the book. Like I said, Thamm and Alison don't really leave anything to the imagination of which I was grateful.
All in all, I Have Life is a deeply disturbing book to read, but it does have a great outcome. It is well put together, and Alison Botha comes across as such a strong inspirational woman. Alison's story is full of hope and wisdom throughout. I would definitely recommend I Have Life: Alison's Journey as told to Marianne Thamm for those ages 18+ who are into true crime or for those that just want to see how strong the human will is to survive.
Reading about Alison's abduction, rape, and attempted murder will definitely leave you with your jaw on the floor. Alison holds nothing back about anything throughout her biography whether it is the horrific events that happened to her or her will to survive emotionally after her wounds have healed. Marianne Thamm, the journalist that Alison told her story to in order to write her biography does a wonderful job of tying everything together for the most part. About halfway through though, I felt like I Have Life stopped being a biography and started becoming a self-help book with Alison writing (speaking to Thamm) about how to become a happier person. Luckily, this only lasts for a few chapters, but I felt like maybe the chapters about being happier and such should be in a self-help book. (Alison gives talks around the world about her ordeal, so perhaps that's why these chapters were included?) Otherwise Marianne Thamm's writing of Alison Botha's biography was flawless. I was immersed the whole time. I felt like I was right besides Alison the whole time. I kept wanting there to be a different outcome when Alison was abducted by Frans even though I knew there wouldn't be. I felt like Alison really wants the stigma for rape survivors to be no more (and she's right as there shouldn't be any stigma attached). I felt like everything I wanted to know about Alison was answered in I Have Life - from what happened to Alison at the point of her abduction, the rape, the brutal attempted to murder, to the trial of her rapists and attacker to how her life was like at the writing of the book. Like I said, Thamm and Alison don't really leave anything to the imagination of which I was grateful.
All in all, I Have Life is a deeply disturbing book to read, but it does have a great outcome. It is well put together, and Alison Botha comes across as such a strong inspirational woman. Alison's story is full of hope and wisdom throughout. I would definitely recommend I Have Life: Alison's Journey as told to Marianne Thamm for those ages 18+ who are into true crime or for those that just want to see how strong the human will is to survive.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Shadow Rising in Books
Sep 22, 2017
Excellent 4th instalment of the Wheel of Time series. Rand tries to win the respect and following of the battle-savvy Aiel by entering mystical city Rhuidean. The events within this section of the book really are key for the saga as a whole, and Mat is gifted with the tools and knowledge he needs to become the true hero he is. Meanwhile Perrin tries to return to his old life, but things have moved on and he ends up leading an army in battle.
This book probably contains the biggest development in the main characters, all of Rand, Mat, Perrin, Nynaeve and Moiraine learn new things or undergo significant changes that will last throughout the series.
This book probably contains the biggest development in the main characters, all of Rand, Mat, Perrin, Nynaeve and Moiraine learn new things or undergo significant changes that will last throughout the series.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Disaster Artist (2017) in Movies
Dec 10, 2017
Hilarious yet defies belief
I’ve never seen The Room, although I’ve seen enough clips from it to be able to appreciate this film.
The Disaster Artist is a truly hilarious true life tale, it had me laughing all the way through. James Franco’s performance as Toomy Wiseau is fantastic, he really resembles the real man and is definitely the star of the show. It has a great supporting cast too, and from watching this you get the sense they had a cracking time filming it. My only concern was is this guy for real? Tommy is so bonkers that it really makes you wonder if everything is for real. But it does make for great comedy.
The Disaster Artist is a truly hilarious true life tale, it had me laughing all the way through. James Franco’s performance as Toomy Wiseau is fantastic, he really resembles the real man and is definitely the star of the show. It has a great supporting cast too, and from watching this you get the sense they had a cracking time filming it. My only concern was is this guy for real? Tommy is so bonkers that it really makes you wonder if everything is for real. But it does make for great comedy.
Story times!
Lore narrated by Aaron Mahnke is awesome. With a book series, an Amazon video series and this podcast Aaron has a voice that adds an extra creep factor to the scary stories based in true life he tells. At times, I get goosebumps listening to the history and folklore surrounding places and things of the past. A must hear episode is episode 15: Unboxed. The story of Robert the Doll, who inspired the Chucky series and his original owner of the same name, is one of the creepiest. This story of inspired me to drag three other unknowing adults through a museum in Key West. Be sure no pictures exist of this venture.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Tell Me a Mitzi in Books
Jun 18, 2018
Tell Me a Mitzi by Lore Segal has three stories within one about Mitzi and her younger brother and their daily tales. The tales are a little slices of life with whimsy, a touch of fantasy, and a lot of repetition. The stories were a little long, my mind wandered, and I suspect that would be true with some children too. Mitzi was clever, independent, sneaky, and demanding. She and her brother kept their poor mother hopping! Children will relate to her and enjoy her antics, even if the telling of those antics is less than inspiring.
I received this book from NetGalley via Dover Publications in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley via Dover Publications in exchange for an honest review.
The Masonic Magician: The Life and Death of Count Cagliostro and His Egyptian Rite
Philipa Faulks and Robert Cooper
Book
The Masonic Magician tells Cagliostro's extraordinary story, complete with the first English...
When the Heart Breaks its Silence - A True Story of Loss and Redemption
Book
Margrit often felt an outsider in her own family during her formative years. When therefore a hasty...
Why be Happy When You Could be Normal?
Jeanette Winterson and Alex Clark Introduces Shelf Help
Book
In 1985 Jeanette Winterson's first novel, "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit", was published. It was...