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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated I am, I am, I am: Seventeen Brushes with Death in Books
Jan 12, 2018
Moving, harrowing, well-written
I Am, I Am, I Am is a memoir by award-winning British author, Maggie O'Farrell. It is subtitled Seventeen Brushes With Death, and in describing these (mostly, but not exclusively, her own) experiences, O'Farrell also, of course, shares many other important moments of her life. As well as describing the situation that led to them, the physical effects they had on her and those close to her, she also notes the change in attitude they caused.
There is a deep sense of violence faced by a woman's body, which is apparent in her experiences. She describes near misses with vehicles, a mugging, juvenile encephalitis, the birth of her first child, near drownings, a knife-throwing act, dysentery-induced dehydration, and an encounter with a murderer.
The section about her miscarriages is deeply moving. She questions why it isn't discussed and why it is given little exposure. She explains how mothers end up feeling isolated because of the little care given to those who have experienced it. Her voice and pain shines through at this particular point.
As with her fiction, O'Farrell’s prose is often exquisite. This is a privileged peek into the life of an amazing author, a moving and fascinating read.
There is a deep sense of violence faced by a woman's body, which is apparent in her experiences. She describes near misses with vehicles, a mugging, juvenile encephalitis, the birth of her first child, near drownings, a knife-throwing act, dysentery-induced dehydration, and an encounter with a murderer.
The section about her miscarriages is deeply moving. She questions why it isn't discussed and why it is given little exposure. She explains how mothers end up feeling isolated because of the little care given to those who have experienced it. Her voice and pain shines through at this particular point.
As with her fiction, O'Farrell’s prose is often exquisite. This is a privileged peek into the life of an amazing author, a moving and fascinating read.
This is not only a pretty good horror novel but an excellently written story about friendship.
The main players in this book are extremely well developed and their different characters explored well. The story builds from the start and ends up being a thoroughly engrossing read. The characters are believable and act accordingly - they do things in situations that I would see myself doing which makes the book even more enjoyable. The Suckers are great creatures and the way their birth was described was a really well done wow moment and left me feeling quite nauseous - I love it when that happens!
The only little gripe I have, in what is a great story, is I would have liked a bit more interaction and perilous scenes with the infected - this is the only thing I think the book missed out on and would have taken it from a great read to a fantastic one.
Overall, a very enjoyable that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this particular genre and I would like to thank www.netgalley.com and the publisher, Dark Ride Publishing, for providing me with a copy in return for a review.
https://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/suckers-horror-novel-by-z-rider.html
The main players in this book are extremely well developed and their different characters explored well. The story builds from the start and ends up being a thoroughly engrossing read. The characters are believable and act accordingly - they do things in situations that I would see myself doing which makes the book even more enjoyable. The Suckers are great creatures and the way their birth was described was a really well done wow moment and left me feeling quite nauseous - I love it when that happens!
The only little gripe I have, in what is a great story, is I would have liked a bit more interaction and perilous scenes with the infected - this is the only thing I think the book missed out on and would have taken it from a great read to a fantastic one.
Overall, a very enjoyable that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this particular genre and I would like to thank www.netgalley.com and the publisher, Dark Ride Publishing, for providing me with a copy in return for a review.
https://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/suckers-horror-novel-by-z-rider.html
Georgie is off the Italy in the spring of 1935. She is going to keep her friend Belinda company until she gives birth to her baby in secret. However, when the Queen finds out about Georgie’s plans, she worms Georgie’s way into a nearby house party to Georgie can learn if the Prince of Wales has secretly married Mrs. Simpson. When Georgie arrives, she finds a strange assortment of guests, which include her mother with another mission for Georgie. Can she accomplish any of it?
I look forward to this series because they are always fun, and this book is no exception. As Georgie is heading out to her ultimate destination, we get updates on everyone in her life. This may slow things down for those new to the series, but fans will absolutely love it. Once we reach Italy, things pick up and get very interesting quickly. I love how the global politics of the day was woven into this book while still giving us an entertaining mystery and keeping the tone light as always.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-on-her-majestys-frightfully.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I look forward to this series because they are always fun, and this book is no exception. As Georgie is heading out to her ultimate destination, we get updates on everyone in her life. This may slow things down for those new to the series, but fans will absolutely love it. Once we reach Italy, things pick up and get very interesting quickly. I love how the global politics of the day was woven into this book while still giving us an entertaining mystery and keeping the tone light as always.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-on-her-majestys-frightfully.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
ClareR (5874 KP) rated The Illumination Of Ursula Flight in Books
Jul 30, 2018
A bit of feminism in post Puritan England!
Ursula Flight's story takes us from her birth during the time of Charles II, all through her early years and her life as a married woman. She comes from an affluent family, is taught to read, write, speak classic and modern languages, and she loves the idea of writing plays and the theatre (although she has never been). She marries at a very young age, just after her beloved father dies, and her husband couldn't be more different to her own father and family. He is dull, Puritanical (in the true sense of the word), ugly and controlling. Ursula wants more from her life than sewing and bible study (which she shouldn't be reading either - it's not the done thing for a woman to be able to read). And she sets about getting it after she arrives in London.
I loved this book: a bit of feminism set in the latter half of the 1600s. Ursula grabs hold of life and makes it what she wants (partly it's thrust upon her, but she makes the best of it). It's very funny in places and also incredibly moving. A really well-rounded, excellent book, frankly!
I loved this book: a bit of feminism set in the latter half of the 1600s. Ursula grabs hold of life and makes it what she wants (partly it's thrust upon her, but she makes the best of it). It's very funny in places and also incredibly moving. A really well-rounded, excellent book, frankly!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Bad Boys for Life (2020) in Movies
Jan 23, 2020
Creaky buddy-cop sequel does feel a bit like a prison sentence. Any film calling itself 'Bad Boys' which opens with one of the 'boys' rushing to the birth of their grandchild likely has serious self-awareness issues, and it proves to be the case here. The same kind of schtick as in the other two films - Smith and Lawrence squabble a lot, shoot people, quietly actually really love each other, etc, etc. Though it has to be said that this film does favour Smith fairly blatantly (one wonders how the salaries of the two stars compare).
Putting a film this dumb, vacuous and mechanical out in January really does throw the weaknesses in its construction into sharp relief: it basically goes comedy bit, action bit, sentimental character bit, comedy bit (and so on) for two hours and then stops. Easy on the eye, but makes one of the Lethal Weapon sequels look like a classy piece of work. I would say at least it's not a Michael Bay movie, but the Prince of Darkness turns up in a cameo acting role. Scrapes an extra star for the odd vaguely funny line and one genuinely startling plot development, but the rest of it is deeply crass and equally predictable.
Putting a film this dumb, vacuous and mechanical out in January really does throw the weaknesses in its construction into sharp relief: it basically goes comedy bit, action bit, sentimental character bit, comedy bit (and so on) for two hours and then stops. Easy on the eye, but makes one of the Lethal Weapon sequels look like a classy piece of work. I would say at least it's not a Michael Bay movie, but the Prince of Darkness turns up in a cameo acting role. Scrapes an extra star for the odd vaguely funny line and one genuinely startling plot development, but the rest of it is deeply crass and equally predictable.
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