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ClareR (6054 KP) rated Amy and Lan in Books

Dec 7, 2022  
Amy and Lan
Amy and Lan
Sadie Jones | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was really looking forward to reading Amy and Lan after having read and really enjoyed Sadie Jones’ previous book The Snakes. I now realise that I have more books by the author to read (a 2023 challenge, perhaps?!), because if Amy and Lan and The Snakes are anything to go by, I’ll love them.

Amy and Lan have what appears to be the perfect childhood. They live on a small farm with their families and friends, and are striving for self-sufficiency. The children are left to run free, playing with axes, climbing on haystacks, and playing in woodland. There’s the odd bit of helping on the farm as well. It’s idyllic, and I loved reading about it.

The only “Spanners” in the works are their parents. The problem with living and working in such close proximity is that old saying “familiarity breeds contempt”. Well, in this case, it breeds contempt, dissatisfaction and marital strife. The children probably come off worse when their parents start to argue. And their lives begin to change.

This is such a touching, funny, emotional book - Amy and Lan’s relationship especially. But relationships change, especially when little girls and boys grow up, and Lan describes these changes so well.

This doesn’t read like a children’s book, even thought the main characters are children. They are in an adults world that impacts on them to a life-changing extent.

Highly recommended.
  
Captain Underpants (2017)
Captain Underpants (2017)
2017 | Animation, Comedy
This rating is based on the general consensus of my family (me, my wife and my three children).
We were already somewhat aware of Captain Underpants before we saw the movie - I bought my eldest the boxset of books which are admittedly still in their shrinkwrap.
The film is obviously aimed at children, probably aged 3 to 7. The potty humour got a bit stale for my 9 year old, but the 3 and 6 year olds were still amused throughout. I normally expect a few more clever jokes for the parents from a film like this, but was sadly disappointed that there weren't any. The humour really is restricted to a man in his pants and the name Professor Poopypants. There really isn't much more to it than that.
I liked the idea of the storyline, but would have liked more levels of humour.
I think we were all a bit bored of it by the end.
  
The Surrendered
The Surrendered
Case Maynard | 2016 | Dystopia, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a well written and fast paced story that grips you and keeps you wanting to continue reading this book. The world building was outstanding and the characters were beautiful and heartbreaking. It is full of unexpected twists and turns and I went through a range of emotions while reading this book. I felt anger towards the parents that kept having children knowing they couldn't afford the tax and then I would feel guilt for thinking that way because maybe they thought they'd be able to afford the tax. I felt sadness and heartache for the children as they are the ones that suffer the consequences of the imposed tax. They didn't ask to be brought into this world.

This author is indeed creatively gifted and I highly recommend this book to one and all.

{I received an eARC via the publisher. I made no guarantee of a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are unbiased and my own.}
  
CN
Cleaning Nabokov's House
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I won this book on First Reads. The write up caught my attention so I entered, with very few expectations on winning a copy or for the book itself. I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised!
This book was an easy read, but not one of those reads that is so easy you breeze through without paying attention to the plot. The book tells the story of newly divorced Barbara. In the divorce she lost custody of her 2 children & soon found herself living in a dive motel in the small town her "experson" had moved to her to. It goes through the story of Barb regaining her confidence, her children, & in the process herself.
The writing was poetically simple & often laugh out loud funny or tears streaming touching. I found myself rooting for Barb all the way through this book. I look forward to reading more from Leslie Daniels in the future!
  
Captain Fantastic (2016)
Captain Fantastic (2016)
2016 | Drama
Viggo Mortensen and fabulous acting all round (1 more)
Great heartwarming story
It can be cringe-worthy at times watching the kids attempt to fit in (0 more)
The captain is genuinely fantastic
Viggo Mortensen is truly Captain Fantastic in this quirky, indie film about bringing up six children in the wilderness. Isolated from society, he devotes his existence to raising his kids - educating them to think critically, training them to be physically fit and athletic, guiding them in the wild without technology and demonstrating the beauty of co-existing with nature. That's before his wife suddenly dies, and the family journey together out in the real world for her funeral. It raises a lot of thoughtful questions such as is it good to socially isolate children, especially if they can't fit in the future? Or is it better to keep them away from a consumerist, dumbed down society? Interesting, thought-provoking, like an intelligent version of Little Miss Sunshine.