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ClareR (5916 KP) rated The Wisdom Of Sally Red Shoes in Books
Apr 24, 2018
A book full of hope.
Masha has never got over the death of her infant son, who drowned at the age of two - even twelve years later she struggles daily. She finds comfort in the local victorian graveyard, and swims every day at her local lido. She has the most fascinating friends: Kitty Muriel, a woman who is so comfortable in her own skin that Masha clearly admires her greatly; Sally Red Shoes, who is portrayed as a crazy old bag lady, who feeds the crows at the cemetery, sings opera amongst the grave stones, and has great taste in shoes; Edwar, her best friend , who has seen her through so much hardship. There are others, but these characters really stood out for me.
This is a beautiful story about grief, death, and learning to live and love again. It sounds as though it will be 'cheesy', and I was apprehensive to begin with, but it is really such a lovely book. I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed it enormously.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
This is a beautiful story about grief, death, and learning to live and love again. It sounds as though it will be 'cheesy', and I was apprehensive to begin with, but it is really such a lovely book. I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed it enormously.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
Bookapotamus (289 KP) rated One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: a Novel in Books
May 25, 2018
Read this book, and have also watched the movie - the movie has NOTHING on this book, so, please do yourself a favor and read the book even if you've seen it on the big screen. Don't get me wrong, the movie is great - if you've already read the book, it's amazing to see it come to life. And, yes, I know Jack Nicholson is pretty, but STILL! Read the book, too!
The book crafts these incredibly vivid images of despair, torture, and sadness that you FEEL as if you are watching a film. It's an incredible story of mental illness, friendship and the camaraderie between these patients and the strength of the human spirit. I laughed out loud several times, and I cried even more.
Set in a mental asylum in the ’60s, McMurphy, our "anti-hero" is sent to stay, because he wants to avoid prison. He is not "crazy" - and it becomes a power struggle between him and "the system" (and in particular, an extremely power hungry nurse). There are so many layers to this story, and I hungrily peeled through them all and am sure if I read this again, I'd find many more layers.
The book crafts these incredibly vivid images of despair, torture, and sadness that you FEEL as if you are watching a film. It's an incredible story of mental illness, friendship and the camaraderie between these patients and the strength of the human spirit. I laughed out loud several times, and I cried even more.
Set in a mental asylum in the ’60s, McMurphy, our "anti-hero" is sent to stay, because he wants to avoid prison. He is not "crazy" - and it becomes a power struggle between him and "the system" (and in particular, an extremely power hungry nurse). There are so many layers to this story, and I hungrily peeled through them all and am sure if I read this again, I'd find many more layers.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Hereditary (2018) in Movies
Feb 16, 2019
Terribly dull
After having finally seen this, I really cannot believe the hype surrounding this film. I don't know what film some people had been watching, but for me I didn't see anything particularly shocking or scary.
For the first 90 minutes, with the exception of one scene (anyone who's seen this will surely know which scene I'm talking about), nothing particularly interesting happened and it was all very dull and boring. A lot of talking and a lot of silliness and over the top music.
Sadly this film does pick up a little in the last half an hour, and there is a hint of the creepy sharpness that I was expecting. However this is just so crazy and bonkers that it doesn't make up for the previous 90 minutes of dreary monotony. I just found it laughably bad, which is a shame because if dealt with in a different manner, the plot itself could have had some potential.
No 2 hour film should take 3/4 of its run time to get interesting. I'm just very glad I didn't bother seeing this at the cinema as I actually don't think I could have sat through this.
For the first 90 minutes, with the exception of one scene (anyone who's seen this will surely know which scene I'm talking about), nothing particularly interesting happened and it was all very dull and boring. A lot of talking and a lot of silliness and over the top music.
Sadly this film does pick up a little in the last half an hour, and there is a hint of the creepy sharpness that I was expecting. However this is just so crazy and bonkers that it doesn't make up for the previous 90 minutes of dreary monotony. I just found it laughably bad, which is a shame because if dealt with in a different manner, the plot itself could have had some potential.
No 2 hour film should take 3/4 of its run time to get interesting. I'm just very glad I didn't bother seeing this at the cinema as I actually don't think I could have sat through this.
BTPBookclub (18 KP) rated Still Me in Books
May 11, 2019
Had me feeling a range of emotions throughout.
Yay. Feels like I have waited forever for this book! Finally. What a brilliant book! It was so good to be back in Lou’s crazy world, she is one of those characters you just cant help falling in love with. She yet again faces every challenge she can think of in this story but in the big city New York, making it even more daunting. However, Lou makes it through, she always does.
Still Me is a lovely book to read with a hidden message for all us readers within the story – BE YOU. Don’t be who others want/need you to be. I found it an easy read, fast paced and to round it up with that beautiful ending! Perfect. I would say read these books in order though as it does make references to the previous books and characters. If you enjoyed Me Before You or After You then you will love Still Me. I would highly recommend this story to you all, a well deserved five stars.
Still Me will have you feeling all the emotions. Happy, sad, upset, laughing out loud, regret and anger. Brilliant!
Still Me is a lovely book to read with a hidden message for all us readers within the story – BE YOU. Don’t be who others want/need you to be. I found it an easy read, fast paced and to round it up with that beautiful ending! Perfect. I would say read these books in order though as it does make references to the previous books and characters. If you enjoyed Me Before You or After You then you will love Still Me. I would highly recommend this story to you all, a well deserved five stars.
Still Me will have you feeling all the emotions. Happy, sad, upset, laughing out loud, regret and anger. Brilliant!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Hummingbird (aka Redemption, Crazy Joe) (2013) in Movies
May 16, 2019
Well, if anyone was going to play an ex-special forces homeless man who interferes romantically with a nun and turns up to a knife fight carrying a spoon, it was going to be Jason Statham. The plot of this one honestly feels a bit like a mix-tape of the best bits from the great man's back catalogue (Chinese gangsters, people trafficking, mob enforcement, improbable threats) but it's put together with skill and conviction.
It does have that slightly crazy quality you often get in J-Stat films, but for me this is the source of much of their charm, and this one also manages to address some slightly deeper topics than usual and even ends up with a bit of gravitas and emotional depth. It almost feels like a drama as much as an action film, and you genuinely do care for the characters by the end of it. Definitely one of the better Statham vehicles, although one has to wonder about the film's fairly blatant attempts to position him as a gay icon - is J-Stat on board with this? Has anyone even thought to tell him? Good fun either way.
It does have that slightly crazy quality you often get in J-Stat films, but for me this is the source of much of their charm, and this one also manages to address some slightly deeper topics than usual and even ends up with a bit of gravitas and emotional depth. It almost feels like a drama as much as an action film, and you genuinely do care for the characters by the end of it. Definitely one of the better Statham vehicles, although one has to wonder about the film's fairly blatant attempts to position him as a gay icon - is J-Stat on board with this? Has anyone even thought to tell him? Good fun either way.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Crazy Rich Asians (2018) in Movies
Jun 7, 2019
Crazily good
I had not expected to like this film, mainly because it's a modern rom-com and most of them turn out to be pretty rubbish - but Crazy Rich Asians however is definitely not one.
It's a rom-com, so I'm afraid to say it is ridiculously predictable but I've yet to see a rom-com that isn't. However in this film it's the getting there that matters. It's funny, witty and full of a surprising amount of heart. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty much in tears by the end. It does drag a little in the middle and could have been cut a little shorter, however it's saved by a very engaging cast. It's so refreshing to see a film cast entirely made up of Asian actors and some very good ones at that. From Michelle Yeoh to Gemma Chan, it's the performances that really make this worth watching. This is probably the best modern rom-com I've seen in a long time, and while it doesn't quite match up to the classics like When Harry Met Sally, it's still a highly entertaining and emotional film.
It's a rom-com, so I'm afraid to say it is ridiculously predictable but I've yet to see a rom-com that isn't. However in this film it's the getting there that matters. It's funny, witty and full of a surprising amount of heart. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty much in tears by the end. It does drag a little in the middle and could have been cut a little shorter, however it's saved by a very engaging cast. It's so refreshing to see a film cast entirely made up of Asian actors and some very good ones at that. From Michelle Yeoh to Gemma Chan, it's the performances that really make this worth watching. This is probably the best modern rom-com I've seen in a long time, and while it doesn't quite match up to the classics like When Harry Met Sally, it's still a highly entertaining and emotional film.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated The Hangover (2009) in Movies
Jan 19, 2018 (Updated Jan 19, 2018)
Wolf Pack
Four guys embark to Las Vegas for their friends bachelor party. The four friends could not be better opposites of each other. Doug the groom is the normal one, Alan the brother in-law is kind of mentally unbalanced, Phil who is a good friend is the wild one and Stu the other friend is the safe and cautious one. Well one thing leads to another and we see them wake up all deranged and Doug is missing. They have to retrace their steps in trying to find them which leads them into crazy findings such as a baby, a stolen police car, a tiger, "iron" Mike Tyson, A kidnapped Chinese man and a marriage. Do they find Doug or don't they.
For what it was it was the the hardest I have laughed in a theater ever at that time. I don't think there was a moment where my gut did not hurt. If you watch make sure you watch the credits how ever we do see one of the cast getting a hummer which i could have done with out.
For what it was it was the the hardest I have laughed in a theater ever at that time. I don't think there was a moment where my gut did not hurt. If you watch make sure you watch the credits how ever we do see one of the cast getting a hummer which i could have done with out.
ClareR (5916 KP) rated Paris Adrift in Books
Feb 6, 2018
Time travel in Paris.
A group of people who can travel through time decide to send two people back: a chronometrist and an incumbent. These two people will help to influence another incumbent in Paris 2017, and set off a chain of events that will save the world. Each 'anomaly' (which is what incumbents use to travel though time) has its very own incumbent, who is the only person capable of using it as a door in time.
Hallie's anomaly is in the cellar of a bar (Millie's) in Paris. Long story short, she meets the chronometrist, uses the anomaly and hops through time a bit, using her trips to change history.
I really enjoyed this. There was clearly a reasonable amount of research into the times that she went back to, and a lot of imagination went in to the times she travelled forwards to. I liked Hallie and her crazy, bohemian friends. I especially liked how it showed that small things can influence the big things in society.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this great book!
Hallie's anomaly is in the cellar of a bar (Millie's) in Paris. Long story short, she meets the chronometrist, uses the anomaly and hops through time a bit, using her trips to change history.
I really enjoyed this. There was clearly a reasonable amount of research into the times that she went back to, and a lot of imagination went in to the times she travelled forwards to. I liked Hallie and her crazy, bohemian friends. I especially liked how it showed that small things can influence the big things in society.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this great book!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated Star Island (Skink, #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Teen pop sensation Cherry Pye is about to release a comeback CD – her second. Her entire future is riding on its success, however her partying is getting in the way of preparing for the tour. In fact, her family has hired Ann DeLusia, a look alike, to fool the paparazzi. Unfortunately, for Ann, she’s about to be kidnapped. With everything spinning out of control, what will happen?
I’d been curious to try one of Carl Hiaasen’s books for a long time, and when I needed an audio book, I decided this was the best chance. Sadly, I didn’t care for it. Outside of Ann, there weren’t any sympathetic characters. Oh, I get that we are supposed to find them crazy, especially with how whacky some of them are, but I did. Especially since several of them were self-destructing before our eyes. The plot was interesting enough to pull me in, but the characters got on my nerves. I won’t be revisiting this author.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-star-island-by-carl-hiaasen.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I’d been curious to try one of Carl Hiaasen’s books for a long time, and when I needed an audio book, I decided this was the best chance. Sadly, I didn’t care for it. Outside of Ann, there weren’t any sympathetic characters. Oh, I get that we are supposed to find them crazy, especially with how whacky some of them are, but I did. Especially since several of them were self-destructing before our eyes. The plot was interesting enough to pull me in, but the characters got on my nerves. I won’t be revisiting this author.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-review-star-island-by-carl-hiaasen.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Jerry's Mystery in Books
Jun 18, 2018
Jerry's Mystery by W.W. Rowe is the 3rd book in the series. The book is about Jerry, who is now in 7th grade. This year there is a new kid in the school who is from France. The girls go crazy over his accent and good looks. Jerry has to deal with jealousy and revenge. Jerry's friend, Wilcox, helps him through the difficult time with meditation and looking for the Higher Self. Jerry soon realizes that not everything needs to be dealt with and to always be his better self.
A wonderful book for those in the middle grades having to deal with not being the popular kid anymore, or just dealing the jealousy. This book also helps to teach compassion, even when it is thought it should be given.
In this novel, jealousy, deception, revenge and betrayal are explored in this novel.. Advice is given that helps Jerry come to grips with his feelings. There is also more exposure to what the soul is. This story gives one the opportunity for the reader to think about what to do if in the situations that Jerry has.
A wonderful book for those in the middle grades having to deal with not being the popular kid anymore, or just dealing the jealousy. This book also helps to teach compassion, even when it is thought it should be given.
In this novel, jealousy, deception, revenge and betrayal are explored in this novel.. Advice is given that helps Jerry come to grips with his feelings. There is also more exposure to what the soul is. This story gives one the opportunity for the reader to think about what to do if in the situations that Jerry has.