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One Summer
One Summer
David Baldacci | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jack has overcome quite an obstacle in his life, a terminal illness. In the wake of that miraculous event, he has lost his best friend and wife, Lizzie in a car accident going to get him meds. As he recovers from his illness, the loss of his wife and having his kids taken away from him by his in-laws, he reflects on all that his life has been up to this point. Reconnecting with his children finding his own way in this world is what Jack is up against now. This is not quite what I expected from Baldacci as my mother recommended this author to me. While this is the first book I have read by Baldacci, it was quite enjoyable, and made me interested to read more of his books. Not sure if I will continue to read them if they all turn up to be this romantic in nature
  
The Hangover (2009)
The Hangover (2009)
2009 | Comedy
Better than expected
Contains spoilers, click to show
Well, first off, this was a lot funnier than I was expecting. It's a simple story of four friends, well sort off, who go to Las Vegas for one of their stag nights, but after being slipped something, they lose their memories of the night, as well as the groom and find a trail of destruction left in their wake! Including a baby, a tiger and stolen police car!

This "Who Done it" scenario is played to comic effect quite well but there's nothing to justify the film's reputation. It's funny in parts and the performances are quite believable as the bazaar situations play out but in the end, the final is pay off doesn't work for me, being somewhat of an any climax. But having said that, it does try to deliver a message or two about relationships and has its moments but overall I wanted more comedy and less moralising whilst trying to be as gross as possible.

Not half bad though…
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Commuter (2018) in Movies

Feb 11, 2018 (Updated Feb 11, 2018)  
The Commuter (2018)
The Commuter (2018)
2018 | Crime, Drama, Mystery
One-way Ticket to Barking
Another of those films in which Liam Neeson plays a bus-pass bad-ass, in this case an ageing rugged ex-cop turned insurance salesman who finds himself sucked into a murderous conspiracy on the train home one night.

Well, you kind of know from the start how this is going to play out, but the script is inventive in keeping it going and Neeson is assisted by a good supporting cast. Initially it looks like this is going to be another film about middle-aged rage in the wake of the financial crisis, but this sadly proves to be a red herring - it is just another very daft transport-based thriller.

Not a film that exactly stays with you, obviously, but it's wildly implausible rather than actually stupid, and the direction is not too bad, all things considered. Obviously I'd rather Liam Neeson did more films with a little more substance, but this kind of thing isn't actually hurting anyone.
  
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
2017 | Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
LITTLE GROOT (2 more)
the last few scenes (the funeral)
Silvester Stalone cameo - yes please
Little Groot is the real MVP
Here I am, only a day later, watching the second movie because I just couldn't sit down and relax, knowing that there is a second Guardians of the Galaxy movie and I haven't seen it yet.

The storyline was better than the first one, with more plot twists and unpredictable tangles and entanglements. I loved some of the new characters that appeared. I got to witness Silvester Stalone lead people in the galaxy.

Little Groot is my love. Does anyone know where I can get my own live dancing Groot. Although, worthy to mention, my boyfriend said no, only because he is afraid he might wake up one day with one toe less. I loved the ending, and I felt so emotional at the end, with the beautiful funeral.

Definitely loved it. Certainly one of my most treasured movies.
  
Isn't Anything by My Bloody Valentine
Isn't Anything by My Bloody Valentine
1988 | Rock
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This came out a month after Ride formed. They were such an important band for us. In fact, I’ve just checked and we formed in between the release of the two EP’s You Made Me Realise and Feed Me With Your Kiss, which were both massively influential on Ride. But the album was a step forward even from the EPs. It had a sound all of its own. The touch was lighter, more hip-hop influenced, the arrangements were less like jams and more like studio constructions, the songs were short and concise; there’s just so much going on with this album that shows how they were grasping the moment that they were having as a band. In particular, Colm O Ciosoig really stands out as being really important to the album. His drumming throughout is incredible, and his song, ‘(When You Wake) You’re Still in a Dream,’ is my favorite song on the record."

Source
  
American Beauty: Original Motion Picture Score by Thomas Newman
American Beauty: Original Motion Picture Score by Thomas Newman
2000 | Soundtrack
7.0 (3 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This is my alarm clock; I wake up to it every morning. It’s so brilliant because it begins with this... and then I listen to it when I read books on a loop and it’s enough for me. It’s all I need. I have like one song for every mood. “I heard this way before I watched the movie American Beauty. It was many, many years ago and it was one of the first songs I had. I had an orange iPod which I got for Christmas and I only had this song on it for years. I still think if I went into that iPod now, this is the only song I would have on it. I haven’t had it for years though, and they were such nice colours. “It’s good for walks in the forest, it’s like everything is still. Another is the Finding Nemo soundtrack which is also good for timeouts or when you go for walks. It’s really lovely.”"

Source
  
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Gruff Rhys recommended California 99 by Jimmie Haskell in Music (curated)

 
California 99 by Jimmie Haskell
California 99 by Jimmie Haskell
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This 1971 album by Hollywood arranger Jimmie Haskell is a rare case of the Topographical Album. It reimagines a future sovereign state of California in the wake of a catastrophic earthquake along the San Andreas fault - creating a gigantic inland lagoon where most of So-Cal sits today. If you're a Mapster that's into Maps - then this is the record for you - and from that perspective this has the greatest sleeve ever made. (Folds out into a giant map of said post apocalypse America). For heritage rock completists: this record features a cover of the Band's 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down' and Joe Walsh ( who would soon be joining the Eagles) features heavily on a couple of tunes. Generally though, Approach with caution - even though it's a fun record and a bold attempt at a new musical micro-genre, it also has the faint unwelcome smell of the rock opera."

Source
  
Z For Zachariah (2015)
Z For Zachariah (2015)
2015 | Drama, Sci-Fi
Drop-dead gorgeous, it's so refreshing to see a post-apocalyptic drama that doesn't turn its characters into flat, unfeeling beings nor mostly take place in some crusty, rehashed wasteland. Not that this is secretly some masterpiece or anything, it isn't - it really begins to wake up (expectedly) as soon as Chris Pine enters the picture - but it flows along unwaveringly at a low, melodic hum with breathtaking locales and invigorating music. All three leads are exceptional, and while it isn't even a fraction of the thematic powerhouse it could have been it still manages to wring a commendable amount of captivating intrigue out of its simplistic setup. Can't stress enough how addictive the atmosphere is: calm and homey, beautiful, yet inevitable and bleak as hell. Meets some sort of transcendent crossroads between "The Last of Us" and "Unravel", in video game speak. This Craig Zobel guy really knew what he was doing with this, god damn - one heck of a genre tonic.
  
BE
Buzzing Easter Bunnies
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞🔞

33 of 230
Kindle
Buzzing Easter Bunnies
By Nick Spalding
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Every story needs a decent climax...

There are plenty of things Christina Barclay would like to do before she hits thirty at Easter. Having an orgasm with somebody else in the room is most definitely one of them.

Up to now, her love life has been sorely lacking in the toe-curling department - but luckily for Christina, she's just started dating Matthew Adrian Bunion, a man whose bedroom inexperience is more than made up for by his never-ending enthusiasm. Mr Bunion will not rest until his new girlfriend is satisfied - no matter what the cost in rechargeable batteries, physical injury or public embarrassment.

Hahah this was so so funny much better than his Christmas one. I was reading this at 1:30am and trying hard not to laugh out loud and wake my husband. Definitely for lighthearted fun.
  
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ClareR (5603 KP) rated Family Lore in Books

Nov 11, 2023  
Family Lore
Family Lore
Elizabeth Acevedo | 2023 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Family Lore focuses on the Marie sisters: Matilda, Flor, Pastor and Camille, and two of their daughters, Ona and Yadi. Some of these women have special abilities, and for Flor, that is being able to predict when someone is going to die. So there is great consternation when she decides to hold a living wake.

Ona is an anthropologist and decides to interview the women in her family to find out about their origins: the older sisters come from the Dominican Republic, and their lives there were very different to those of their children.

This is a family with a lot going on! If you like family dramas, then you would be just the reader for this book. There’s a lot about the different relationships between the characters, marriages, unfaithfulness, low self esteem, maternal love, fertility problems, cultural differences, family arguments and resilience.

It’s beautifully written - Acevedo is a poet as well - and all the characters really do have their own voices in this wide-sweeping novel.