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Dave Navarro recommended Ordinary People (1980) in Movies (curated)

 
Ordinary People (1980)
Ordinary People (1980)
1980 | Drama

"This one’s going to make you — well, I don’t know what you’re going to say to this, but Ordinary People, the Robert Redford film with Timothy Hutton, and Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland, [has] got to be one of the most emotional films for me, just seeing the middle upper class being stripped of the veneer and seeing the dysfunction within. That film really captures that more than any other, I think, and certainly of that time, it was such a dangerous statement for Robert Redford to be making in a film like that. Every time I watch that film — and I must have seen it over 100 times — I weep. And Mary Tyler Moore’s performance in that film, I’m telling you, man, growing up in LA, I knew women like her… That was my friends’ mothers, without a doubt. It’s so simple and it’s just beautiful story telling. Judd Hirsch as the therapist and the relationship he creates with Timothy Hutton in that film is pretty special. I feel that if that film doesn’t touch you on some level, that you’re not human. Looking back at it now, it may seem like a very after-school-special choice, but if you really visit that film again, it holds up, man. It’s pretty compelling. You got to see that, man, on a Sunday when it’s a little rainy out there. I don’t know if you have a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, but whoever that is, sit with them, put that on. I’m telling you, dude. It’s like… How do I put it? It’s like The Notebook for our generation, or my generation, you know?"

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Death be Shifted (Terra Vane #6)
Death be Shifted (Terra Vane #6)
Katie Carys | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
110 of 250
Kindle
Death be Shifted ( Terra Vane book 6)
By Katie Carys

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Previously published under the author name of Katie Epstein...

My name is Terra, and I’m a Psychic. I have visions, and so far they’ve helped us track down almost half of the Portiside Prison escapees. After admitting my feelings to my partner, things are better than ever, but at the same time I've just found out that I might not be completely... human. I suppose you’ve got to take the good with the bad, and as for the ugly – I just promised a friend I’d travel to the Shifter Lands to track a predator, one that is hunting and killing the natives, his kin.

But proud, stubborn and highly secretive, wolf shifters are not known for their hospitality. Getting into their lands will be a struggle, getting answers will be a challenge, and getting assistance will be almost impossible. But I know how important family is, and I gave my word. Whatever is attacking the wolf shifters of Caladonia Moor, it’s dangerous, and I have a feeling we’re going to have one hell of a fight on our hands.



I just love reading this series! Each one it just gets better. Full of action, it has these amazing friendships building as well as a beautiful well written relationship that doesn’t over cloud everything else. Kinda getting pissed of with Cole’s attitude and that of his family there is definitely something going on there that I’m sure Terra will uncover!
Well recommended to anyone that want an addictive series that’s well written!
  
The Disappeared (Jenny Cooper #2)
The Disappeared (Jenny Cooper #2)
M.R Hall | 2010 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
205
Kindle
The Disappeared ( Coroner Jenny Cooper book 2)
By Matthew Hall

Review via Smashbomb! Link posted in commenonce read.

Two missing students. One sinister cover-up.

Two young British students, Nazim Jamal and Rafi Hassan vanish without a trace. The police tell their parents that the boys had been under surveillance, that it was likely they left the country to pursue their dangerous new ideals. Seven years later, Nazim's grief-stricken mother is still unconvinced. Jenny Cooper is her last hope.

Jenny is finally beginning to settle into her role as Coroner for the Severn Valley; the ghosts of her past that threatened to topple her, banished to the sidelines once more. But as the inquest into Nazim's disappearance gets underway, the stink of corruption and conspiracy becomes clear . . .

As the pressure from above increases, a code of silence is imposed on the inquest and events begin to spiral out of all control, pushing Jenny to breaking point. For how could she have known that by unravelling the mysteries of the disappeared, she would begin to unearth her own buried secrets?



I enjoyed this book so much! I really connected with Jenny I found a lot of common ground with her and with the two surrounding cities of Birmingham and Bristol! I sometimes struggle when a male author writes a female lead but Hall does it brilliantly! The story was interesting it kept you gripped from the start. The struggle for Jenny is balancing her being a mother with her high powered career all while having mental health issues caused by real life situations! I genuinely couldn’t put it down!
  
American Made (2017)
American Made (2017)
2017 | Mystery
Biopics can be problematic in their attempt to retell history or use individual perspectives to inform their audience about events that many may already be familiar with. In American Made, Tom Cruise plays Barry Seal, a TWA pilot who is recruited by the CIA to fly reconnaissance missions in Central America. He soon finds himself at the center of drug trafficking, gun trafficking, and as a pawn of several different entities seeking to use his skills and expertise for their own purposes.

The film is ambitious in trying to tell serious historic events as a campy adventure in which Barry is care free despite the consequences of his actions. Nothing about the film seems right. It unfortunately, can make an audience feel uneasy cheering on a drug smuggler who is making inordinate amounts of money for some of the most dangerous individuals on the face of the earth.

A positive effect of the film is that it demonstrates to audiences the complexities of American Foreign policy, drug policy, and corruption that existed in the 1980s and that it shouldn’t be viewed with rose colored glasses. If anything, it may offer another perspective about the period that not too many people may be familiar with and create a desire in them to research more about the period and events.

American Made offers audiences a funny, introspective, personal account of one man’s experience working for the government and drug cartels that allows for a break from some of the more serious and dark portrayals that have typically been featured. Audiences will enjoy reminiscing about the 80s and think back to how complicated the period actually was.
  
Death Be Blue (Terra Vane #1)
Death Be Blue (Terra Vane #1)
Katie Epstein | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
She can glimpse visions of the past, present, and future but she doesn’t know when, how, or why. She only knows the outcome, and it doesn’t look good…

Being human is hard enough. Being human with psychic abilities is worse. It was for Terra Vane anyway, until she immigrated to Portiside. There she feels at home in the thriving city of the Fey, Shifters, Vampires, and other gifted humans.

Where there are many factions of creatures, however, crime and skirmishes are to be expected. With a stubbornness born out of years of being deemed a “freak,” Terra’s determination and unique ability serve her well as an Enforcer Field Agent for the Portiside City Agency.

Alongside her annoying wolf-shifting partner, Kaleb, there is no case that is too strange to solve. No case too dangerous—until there is, and the trail of bloodlust leads them to unravel a mystery that threatens Portiside as they know it.

Brilliant

This is the first book I've read of Katie Epstien and I couldn't put it down I was hooked from the start. Her style reminds me of Keri Arthur's and I love her books. It was full of action and sexual tension. It's refreshing to have a strong female lead that's kickass and not wingy. I love the relationship dynamics that she has put together. Terras friends are brilliant strong women helping each other along, then you have the two father figures in Dan and her step dad, her best friend and partner relationship with Kaleb. All this set in such a fantastic world. So ready for the next book.


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  
Mine Completely
Mine Completely
J.S. Scott | 2019
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Money sucks.

It can be a good thing, but at the same time it can ruin relationships or at the very least cause fights and angst. Simon and Kara haven’t totally figured out how to deal with their money, even though they are engaged. Kara is still self-conscious about the income gap between them and wants a prenup. Simon is worried that Kara doesn’t think that he trusts her and wants to do anything and everything to prove that he does. Then there’s the little matter of Kara’s pregnancy.

While I enjoyed this Simon and Kara story very much, I only enjoyed reading it once. One read through is enough time to enjoy the romantic gestures and Simon’s and Kara’s hopeless love and attraction to each other. But like a significant other, the more time you spend with the story, the more you see flaws and annoying habits that make you cringe. Simon and Kara fight like two teenagers riddled with hormones and angst. While Simon is still smokin’ hot, and the sex scenes are well worth the read, Simon slowly loses his brain cells until he sounds more like a caveman and less like a video game designer with alpha male tendencies. I don’t know how many times he called Kara “his woman”, but it was enough to annoy me. Severely annoy me.

But like any other significant lover worth loving, you get over the flaws. The Billionaire’s Obsession is a fantastic, well detailed erotic romance that has fantastic sex scenes, great characters, and even a plot, which is a rare find in the dark and dangerous realm of erotica.
  
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    The Weather Center

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Kate (493 KP) rated Rain City Lights in Books

Aug 28, 2020  
Rain City Lights
Rain City Lights
Marissa Harrison | 2020 | Crime
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book took a while to get into but once I did it was really good. It was interesting to get a view into how black people were treated back in 1981 considering it wasn't that long ago. How black re forced into a dangerous profession because of their colour.
The book was supposed to be a crime book but there were so many other things going on. When thinking of the book I always remember the friendship between the 2 main characters than the murders.
As the author split the chapters between the 2 main characters so we got to hear from both of them. How different the 2 lives were considering how close they are.
I really felt sorry for 'Momti' and how she has been given the life she has. She tries to hard but it seems she is destined to go the same way all the other young women she meets throughout the story. My dislike of Sacha grew as the book went on. He was given a good life and seemed to throw it away.
I'm glad it followed the 2 characters from childhood through to adulthood as it gave me a chance to see what they become after the childhoods they lived. Just goes to show that whatever childhood you have, you have the power to chance your future and become what you want to become.
I would say this book has such a large target audience. It can be read from teenagers to people in their 40s.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
  
Louis Theroux: America’s Most Dangerous Pets
Louis Theroux: America’s Most Dangerous Pets
2011 | Documentary
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Interesting, if not a tad frustrating
I'll start off by saying I love Louis Theroux and his documentaries. I've yet to see a bad one and this is no exception, even if the subject matter is very frustrating.

I tried to watch the Tiger King series on Netflix and had to turn it off as the animal welfare side made me so angry! However I had to watch this to see how Louis tackled the issue. On the whole, as with all Louis docs, this is a rather stark and honest (yet brief) portrayal of these people with dangerous wild animals as pets. He does his usual mild mannered Englishman act to gain their trust and then throws out the pressing awkward questions we all want answers to. This in no way glamorise or play up these people like the Netflix doc seemed to do. I will admit that after having seen parts of the Netflix doc, I don't believe that Louis goes far enough. He could've pushed the questions and animal welfare issues a lot more and I think he really should've done.

Over here there are many people who criticise our zoos due to animal welfare, but i can really appreciate the conservation efforts of local zoos now especially when you compare them with the absolute craziness that goes on in the States. I mean no offence to any American friends, but only in the USA can people get away with owning wild animals like this as pets. It's disgraceful, and I wish this documentary had gone further to push these issues.