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1917 (2020)
1917 (2020)
2020 | Drama, War
Full Ride of Intensity
Set during WWI, two British soldiers are tasked with getting an important message across enemy territory. 1917 is a wall-to-wall thrill ride done in a one-shot fashion that is amazingly unforgettable.

Acting: 10
George Mackay is brilliant as Lance Corporal Schofield. He takes you through the entirety of this journey as a man reluctant to accept the fate that’s befallen him. His showcase of fear in the face of danger is really what drives the intensity of this movie.

Beginning: 9
Not the best first ten minutes of action, but a decent setup nonetheless. I was immediately drawn into this wartorn world and was curious to see what would happen next. Not perfect, but it’s definitely full speed ahead from here.

Characters: 10

Cinematography/Visuals: 10

Conflict: 10

Entertainment Value: 10

Memorability: 10

Pace: 10
There is such a quiet intensity here that drives the pace of the story. Even when shots aren’t being fired, I couldn’t help but be on the edge of my seat. With danger around every single turn, the pace is phenomenal.

Plot: 10
The story is straightforward with a clear objective. Where the plot wins is with a few unexpected turns that throw you off course. Not to mention to be able to do all of this in a set of one shots is remarkable.

Resolution: 10

Overall: 99
1917 touts beautiful imagery seeped in a mountain of dread. There is a scene where the protagonists are wading through heaps of dead bodies that really sets the stage for how harrowing the film is throughout. As war movies go, this one is definitely the most unique.
  
Young Readers' edition of The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

The Radium Girls: The Scary But True Story of the Poison That Made People Glow in the Dark was adapted for younger readers by Kate Moore from her bestselling novel The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women.

It tells the story of the wonder drug of the early 1900s, radium. It was thought to cure illnesses, and its luminescent properties made it ideal for glow-in-the-dark watches and for dials and instruments of pilots during WWI. To paint these devices, women would lick the brushes, dip them into the radium, paint, then repeat. The women did not know they were becoming sick with radium poisoning. Some did not show symptoms until years after they stopped working with the radium.

If you read the original version, you know it is detailed and includes timelines of multiple people. The version for a younger audience is written with age-appropriate content, but it is still incredibly detailed and more than 400 pages. The story shows these women as individuals, showing their separate lives, but also the strong, tight-knit group who fought for themselves and to ensure workplace safety for all.

This book is perfect for assigned reading for history or science classes.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/1/20.
  
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BeRad89 (48 KP) rated The War Nurses in Books

Apr 5, 2018  
The War Nurses
The War Nurses
Lizzie Page | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry, Gender Studies, History & Politics
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
“... a flying ambulance corps made up of a naturist, a pianist, a journalist, a lady and a widowed mother...and a non smoking schoolgirl.” This is the description of the ambulance corp of Elsie Knockers and Mairi Chisholm during World War I. Will these brave ladies' friendship and sisterhood survive the war as they live in close quarters and dodge bullets as front line nurses in a cellar?

I started this book without much hope. To me, the cover is cheap-looking, and I admit this colored my judgement. How wrong I was!!! The War Nurses ended up being a very good read. Mairi is shown in such a real light. I was amazed at what both women did during the war. To see the human side of such a brave woman was interesting. I didn't personally like Elsie, but her character was amusing and kept surprising me.

While it didn't particularly bother me, some people will not like the amount of gore and yucky stuff in this book. While I know you can't judge a book by its cover, the cover to this book is very cheap looking.

The War Nurses by Lizzie Page is a work of historical fiction. It will be published April 17, 2018 by Bookouture.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It ending up being a very pleasant surprise, as I judged this book by the cover and wasn't expecting much from it. It is an inspiring and eye-opening book. I recommend to anyone who loves powerful women, coming of age stories, WWI, medical stories, and/or historical fiction.

I was given a free copy from Net Galley and Bookouture in exchange for my honest review.
  
Love's Allegiance
Love's Allegiance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This story really took me to the WWII era!
Linda Shenton Matchet really got her characters into the WWII era, by the ways in which they conversed, the clothes described, really everything matched the era of WWI. It was as if Linda Shenton Matchet transported me there. I thought that the characters had great interactions, most of the reactions to things were believable, and they were overall well-developed characters. Personally, I liked how the story was loosely based on the Biblical story of Isaac and Rachel, I thought it was a unique premise for a WWII era novel to have. This book is technically the fourth book in Linda Shenton Matchet’s Wartime Brides series, however, it can be read as a stand-alone without you getting lost or confused (I have not read the previous books in the series yet).
I believe that Linda Shenton Matchet did a good job conveying an often-controversial topic; the role Conscious Objectors (CO) played during WWII. She made me look at it in a way I had not previously done, which I appreciated, (Not to say that I fully understand that point of view, but I think I have a better picture of it now). I did think that the book moved a little fast and I wished I could have known the characters better. However, this is part of a series so maybe the next book will continue to grow the characters more.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars for the great characters, the full immersion into the WWII era, and for making me see a different side of a Conscious Objector (CO). I did receive this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.