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Montpelier Parade
Montpelier Parade
Karl Geary | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
4
4.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i>I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.</i>

Set in the not-so-distant-past in Dublin, Ireland lives Sonny, a schoolboy with not much hope of succeeding in life. Living on the poverty line, Sonny has no choice but to work at a butcher’s shop after school, and with his gambling father, a builder, at the weekend. On one such occasion, whilst working on a posh house on Montpelier Parade, Sonny meets the enigmatic Vera, whose beauty leaves him speechless. It only takes another encounter, and Sonny is infatuated with this elusive lady.

<i>Montpelier Parade</i> is a melancholy love story, describing the dangerous relationship between Sonny and Vera. Not only is it wrong for schoolchild and adult to have such an intimate connection, Sonny finds himself powerless to deal with Vera’s depression. Vera’s Sylvia Plath-esque demeanor results in events that go above and beyond what an adolescent boy ought to be dealing with – especially as he has his own problems, too.

Karl Geary has written this novel in the second person, placing the reader directly into Sonny’s position. “You say,” “She turned and looked at you.” – we, as the reader, become Sonny. This makes it easier to imagine the hardships he is facing at school, at home, and with Vera. We imagine ourselves in his position, thus making everything feel so real.

<i>Montpelier Parade</i> is not an easy book to read. Depression and suicide are very delicate topics to deal with. Combine that with underage sexual relationships with an adult, and you have got a particularly uncomfortable journey ahead. Then, to top it all off, the narrative is riddled with foul language.

 A comparison with wealth and poverty, life and death, and love, <i>Montpelier Parade</i> will attract many readers. Sadly, the story was a bit too crude for myself to enjoy. That said, I can understand why many will enjoy it, or even relate to it, however be aware, it is quite a serious, dark story.
  
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13 Reasons Why  - Season 1
13 Reasons Why - Season 1
2017 | Drama
The acting (1 more)
Engaging
Potentially triggering (1 more)
Extremely controversial
While I found the show interesting and binge watched it over a few days, I agree that it is highly controversial and definitely not for everyone. There are some scenes that are extremely difficult to watch and if you're in a dark place yourself, I would not recommend watching this.

I personally admire how Thirteen Reasons Why was willing to tackle such a sensitive topic that needs more light shed upon it. Depression, bullying and generally feeling hopeless is something that cannot be ignored. Teens and others in these situations need to know that it's okay to talk to someone about these feelings before they get too much; before they end up in the place Hannah did.

Personally, I did enjoy Thirteen Reasons Why and look forward to seeing what season 2 brings, however, I do believe the direction in which this show goes could, perhaps, be fairly damaging some.
  
Tarzan and His Mate (1934)
Tarzan and His Mate (1934)
1934 | Action, Classics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
This is the one. Notorious for it nude swimming scene and Jane’s revealing two piece number, this is the one which pushes the freedom of studios to breaking point and helped usher the Heyes code as it would be weaved into the fabric of American films for decades to come.

But this aside, this is a genuinely good sequel. More intense than the first, though as many of these films will, literally recycle action scenes from the first, the characters are developing, the story feels like it is progressing quite naturally from its predecessor and the tone is as erotic as it promises.

The kinky and untempered behavior of our leads is what the film is promising, an takes on life in the steamy jungle, away from the trappings of western life, certainly in the midst of the then, “Great Depression”. But this was where it was going to end as the studios wings were about to be clipped…
  
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JSG87 (8 KP) rated Bird Box (2018) in Movies

Feb 22, 2019  
Bird Box (2018)
Bird Box (2018)
2018 | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Great acting. (2 more)
Sandra Bullock
Imaginative
A very good film that isn't quite understood by the masses.
I went into this move blind (no pun intended). Didn't have a clue what it was about.

The best part about it is how you never see the monster.
Now I've seen all over the Internet how this is apparently try about mental disorders and depression but I'm not quite sure if i agree with those assumptions (which is all we have tbh).
The film makers did say that they originally had the monster visible in the movie but that it didn't fit and didn't quite convey what they wanted so they cut it in the end.

I think I prefer it that way though because it leaves the movie open to interpretation. I'd recommend this move to anyone who likes suspense and mystery. It can be quite slow at times but there's always enough through provoking stuff happening that you might not notice.