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Missi Obeshaw (10 KP) rated You Will Be Mine in Books
Jun 23, 2018
Negatively Obvious
Ugh, this book tried really hard...too hard to steer you in 1 direction and 1 direction only, so maybe you will be surprised in the ending. However, if you have at least a 6th grade education, you can not be steered. Majority of the story was spent laying out the ending the author "wanted" you to be thinking...and, well, duh, that is not a way to even make us want to finish the book. I really liked The Cellar, and Awake was okay too, this one could have probably stayed on the shelf at Target, but now I have a giant coaster!
Andrea D (21 KP) rated Sex Education in TV
Jan 31, 2019
Excellent educational but still entertaining watch.
I really enjoyed Netflixes new offering of Sex Education it's something I can see appealing to a wide variety of ages, it gets across the issues in relationships and sex without making teenagers cringe and without making {this 30 year old) roll their eyes too. I laughed, I cried, I learnt new things and I would highly recommend it to young teenagers as it does come across very sensible with the world of sex without sort of turning them away as it puts it across in a very entertaining manner.
The only reason it got 9 out of 10 and not 10 is because the series finale upset and I'm stubborn.
The only reason it got 9 out of 10 and not 10 is because the series finale upset and I'm stubborn.
William Finnegan recommended My Brilliant Friend in Books (curated)
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated You Are Mine (Mine, #1) in Books
Jul 10, 2018
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I decided to read this book because I had just finished reading [b:I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban|17851885|I Am Malala The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban|Malala Yousafzai|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375414895s/17851885.jpg|24987300] and I thought that this would be an interesting book to follow it. This book deals with many of the issues that I Am Malala dealt with (women, freedom etc.) and I liked that it was wrapped in a fantasy world with magic & some romance.
First of all, I liked the idea and the plot line of the book. I thought that the story was very well done and I liked that the character was a strong woman even if she was living in a very oppressive world. I loved that she was curious and spoke her mind even when it meant punishment.
The one thing that I found lacking was the editing. I understand that mistakes happen but I found various mistakes in the book which a better editor would have found.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the book. I would give it 3 1/2 stars. I loved the premise of the book and I loved the world that Janeal Falor created. I will continue on in the series. If you're looking for a quick, easy read that deals with freedom, women, and a splash of romance, I would recommend this book.
I decided to read this book because I had just finished reading [b:I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban|17851885|I Am Malala The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban|Malala Yousafzai|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375414895s/17851885.jpg|24987300] and I thought that this would be an interesting book to follow it. This book deals with many of the issues that I Am Malala dealt with (women, freedom etc.) and I liked that it was wrapped in a fantasy world with magic & some romance.
First of all, I liked the idea and the plot line of the book. I thought that the story was very well done and I liked that the character was a strong woman even if she was living in a very oppressive world. I loved that she was curious and spoke her mind even when it meant punishment.
The one thing that I found lacking was the editing. I understand that mistakes happen but I found various mistakes in the book which a better editor would have found.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the book. I would give it 3 1/2 stars. I loved the premise of the book and I loved the world that Janeal Falor created. I will continue on in the series. If you're looking for a quick, easy read that deals with freedom, women, and a splash of romance, I would recommend this book.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Cut: One Woman's Fight Against FGM in Britain Today in Books
Oct 10, 2017
The need for globalwide FGM education
Female Genital Mutilation is an important and sombre topic to explore, so hats off to Hibo Wardere for covering this by speaking about her own experiences. It is harrowing when she explains her situation as a six year old in Somalia, watching bits of her flesh being cut off while almost passing out in between her screams. It is mutilation in every sense of the word.
Hence her story of becoming an anti-FGM activist in Britain years later is incredible, turning a life-changing trauma into an instigator for good for other young girls. I completely agree with her viewpoint, but she may have to revisit her sources given recent news stories. An essential read.
Hence her story of becoming an anti-FGM activist in Britain years later is incredible, turning a life-changing trauma into an instigator for good for other young girls. I completely agree with her viewpoint, but she may have to revisit her sources given recent news stories. An essential read.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated The Orphanage of Miracles (The Orphanage of Miracles, #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
What an incredible journey [Amy Neftzger] takes us on in [The Orphanage of Miracles]! As a public school teacher as a got to the end it seemed to me an allegory for what is happening to our education system. That even though they have good intentions, the people in charge are stifling "miracles". You can not have success without failure, it is how we learn.
Of course I may be reading too much into this as I have a tendency to do when I am passionate about something. The "quest" of Kelsey helped her to grow. At the same time the "questioning" of Maggie, Nicholas, and Jovan helped them free themselves.
I definitely recommend this book! Never stop growing miracles
Of course I may be reading too much into this as I have a tendency to do when I am passionate about something. The "quest" of Kelsey helped her to grow. At the same time the "questioning" of Maggie, Nicholas, and Jovan helped them free themselves.
I definitely recommend this book! Never stop growing miracles
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Educated in Books
Apr 5, 2018
Harrowing and inspiring
It seems almost impossible that Tara Westover is an academician from both Harvard and Cambridge given that she had never been to school. Her story is important, revealing how women are treated and subjugated in fundamentalist societies.
Brought up in a survivalist, Mormon family, Westover speaks about a poverty-stricken, difficult childhood where education is seen as secondary and violence is rife. Her relationship with her abusive brother is horrifying, And moreso is her family's acceptance of his behaviour. So gaining scholarships to top universities in the world despite having had no clue about the Holocaust, the civil rights movement, and Napoleon, is no mean feat.
While parts are repetitive, it is engaging and harrowing to hear her inspiring story.
Brought up in a survivalist, Mormon family, Westover speaks about a poverty-stricken, difficult childhood where education is seen as secondary and violence is rife. Her relationship with her abusive brother is horrifying, And moreso is her family's acceptance of his behaviour. So gaining scholarships to top universities in the world despite having had no clue about the Holocaust, the civil rights movement, and Napoleon, is no mean feat.
While parts are repetitive, it is engaging and harrowing to hear her inspiring story.
Andrew Haigh recommended Cries and Whispers (1972) in Movies (curated)
Spectacular New Perspective
One of the greatest failures of our education system is its inability to make history interesting enough that people want to learn it so that we can stop repeating it. Then, we have Erik Larson. His brilliant writing technique turns dull historical facts into a story that forces you to continue turning the pages. Truly spectacular perspective of Churchill and those closest to him during a truly dark time in history. Also, a great glimpse of the German leaders as well. I'm truly looking forward to the next book of his I've ordered... and others after that. I think this should be a guide on how to bring history to a level that people can connect with.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Night School (2018) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
Story: Night School starts when high school dropout Teddy (Hart) sees his future go up in smoke right after proposing to his beautiful successful girlfriend Lisa (Echikunwoke) seeing his job vanish and his future employment needing a GED, this forces Teddy to return to high school for a night school.
The former class enemy is now the principal Stewart (Killam) and doesn’t want Teddy in the class, he must prove to the teacher Carrie (Haddish) that he wants to study, while keeping his struggles a secret from Lisa, which sees him becoming friends with the rest of the class to pass.
Thoughts on Night School
Characters – Teddy has been working in sales working off each pay check to look like he has been living a better life, he has a successful beautiful girlfriend, his life changes when he career goes up in smoke and his failure to complete high school is holding him back in searching for a new job. He tries night school, which sees him needing to challenge himself instead of trying to get through quickly. Carrie is a teacher of the night school, she doesn’t take anything from any student, though she is committed to helping people learn. Even if her methods might finally get through to Teddy. Mackenzie and Jaylen are two of the members of the class that are trying to get their education too, with their own stories.
Performances – Kevin Hart does fall back into his normal routine where he tries to throw more of his comedy into a role, rather than showing us a real character, with real problems that should be taken a lot more seriously. Tiffany Haddish continues to show she is great at the fast-taking jokes, but this doesn’t work for the character. The supporting performance are all mostly comedians trying to get their jokes out too.
Story – The story follows a high school dropout that needs to get his GED so he can find a new job to continue living his life of luxury and keep his girlfriend, only this becomes more difficult than he could ever imagine. This is a poorly used story which could address a much bigger issue in education, where the students can suffer with learning disabilities and not get the help needed, it seems to focus on making a joke out of trying to better yourself instead of using the real issues that are meant to be giving these people more of a chance in the future. Even though it might not use this in the final part of the film, it also tries to paint the idea that you could only have a beautiful partner if you are successful. By showing education being a joke for Teddy it doesn’t help anybody that has ever struggled with education before and in the end this does just feel like a stand up routine instead of an actual story.
Comedy – If you want to see fast flowing jokes which feels more like a stand-up routine so if you like that you will get on with this film.
Settings – The film does use the high school settings to show where the learning was coming from and the low paying job that Teddy must take just to make ends meet.
Scene of the Movie – Graduation.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The comedy.
Final Thoughts – This is a comedy that just misses on the fact the story should be taken a lot more seriously, sadly this could have elevated this film to a new level.
Overall: Unfunny comedy.
The former class enemy is now the principal Stewart (Killam) and doesn’t want Teddy in the class, he must prove to the teacher Carrie (Haddish) that he wants to study, while keeping his struggles a secret from Lisa, which sees him becoming friends with the rest of the class to pass.
Thoughts on Night School
Characters – Teddy has been working in sales working off each pay check to look like he has been living a better life, he has a successful beautiful girlfriend, his life changes when he career goes up in smoke and his failure to complete high school is holding him back in searching for a new job. He tries night school, which sees him needing to challenge himself instead of trying to get through quickly. Carrie is a teacher of the night school, she doesn’t take anything from any student, though she is committed to helping people learn. Even if her methods might finally get through to Teddy. Mackenzie and Jaylen are two of the members of the class that are trying to get their education too, with their own stories.
Performances – Kevin Hart does fall back into his normal routine where he tries to throw more of his comedy into a role, rather than showing us a real character, with real problems that should be taken a lot more seriously. Tiffany Haddish continues to show she is great at the fast-taking jokes, but this doesn’t work for the character. The supporting performance are all mostly comedians trying to get their jokes out too.
Story – The story follows a high school dropout that needs to get his GED so he can find a new job to continue living his life of luxury and keep his girlfriend, only this becomes more difficult than he could ever imagine. This is a poorly used story which could address a much bigger issue in education, where the students can suffer with learning disabilities and not get the help needed, it seems to focus on making a joke out of trying to better yourself instead of using the real issues that are meant to be giving these people more of a chance in the future. Even though it might not use this in the final part of the film, it also tries to paint the idea that you could only have a beautiful partner if you are successful. By showing education being a joke for Teddy it doesn’t help anybody that has ever struggled with education before and in the end this does just feel like a stand up routine instead of an actual story.
Comedy – If you want to see fast flowing jokes which feels more like a stand-up routine so if you like that you will get on with this film.
Settings – The film does use the high school settings to show where the learning was coming from and the low paying job that Teddy must take just to make ends meet.
Scene of the Movie – Graduation.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The comedy.
Final Thoughts – This is a comedy that just misses on the fact the story should be taken a lot more seriously, sadly this could have elevated this film to a new level.
Overall: Unfunny comedy.