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The Grand Tour
The Grand Tour
2016 | Adventure, Comedy, Documentary, Reality-TV, Talk Show
Humourous presenting combined with factual knowledge and entertainment. This show never fails to make me feel better and brighter than I did before starting each episode. (0 more)
However, has begun to get predictable and repetitive. Can miss an episode nowadays (easy to do since there is such a large gap between episodes) and still get deja vu. (0 more)
A feel good journey
  
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Janeeny (200 KP) rated The Black Death in Books

Sep 13, 2019  
The Black Death
The Black Death
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was actually my reading roulette for July, but I was a bit behind on Julys books so it got bumped to Augusts reads.

I bought this book when it was first released as it interested me, gradually my interest waned and it’s now been sitting on my shelf for seven years.

The Black Death is a non-fiction account of a little village in Suffolk during the plague years. Each chapter starts with a factual account of what was going on in the rest of the world regarding the spread of the disease then it launches into the story of this little village.

Hatcher has taken factual records and accounts and added a little poetic licence to create an engaging story that really involves you in the day to day life. He does take great pains to reiterate how poor the records were for that time and how much of a liberty he was taking, but I feel it’s unnecessary.
  
Dunkirk (2017)
Dunkirk (2017)
2017 | Action, History, War
Production value is dramatically immersive. (4 more)
4 different POVs about one historic event complimented the story nicely.
The quality of the actors was incredible, although I wish Cillian Murphy's character had more of an arc.
Remarkable special effects!
Brilliantly & patriotically British.
I understand that it's a factual event, but the ending was an unsatisfying portrayal. (1 more)
The soundtrack built too much tension which created a few anti-climatic scenes.
Where time is the true enemy.
  
The hosts are so likeable, you could probably enjoy the show even if you aren’t into true crime (2 more)
Production Values are excellent
Murderinos (listeners of the show and true crime buffs) feel like friends and fans of the show often do meet ups and contribute to charity
The ads (2 more)
The stories are only generally researched and might not be completely factual
The hometown murders segments have evolved into content that doesn’t pertain to the show’s subject matter
Yeah, I’m a murderino
  
Kohinoor: The Story of the World s Most Infamous Diamond
Kohinoor: The Story of the World s Most Infamous Diamond
William Dalrymple, Anita Anand | 2016 | Art, Photography & Fashion
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Extremely detailed account of the origins of one of the most famous diamonds and why there is so much contention (0 more)
Sometimes too much detail makes you lose track (0 more)
Dalrymple's no holding back factual account
This was the missing piece of the puzzle in terms of attempting to find out the truth behind the Kohi-Noor diamond. Absolutely no frills account on how the diamond left in its path so much wanton death and destruction. William Dalrymple as always - a detailed historian putting forward the facts. Fascinating and both historically and currently important.
  
Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic
Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic
David Frum | 2018 | History & Politics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A thoughtful, well-argued factual account of the US presidency
I actually enjoyed this rather Republican perspective of the Trump administration, especially as it seems to be less sensationalist than Michael Wolff's controversial book, @Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.

Former George W. Bush speechwriter, David Frum, writes about the biggest threat to democracy in a factual, scholarly way without resorting to tabloid remarks. Frum carefully builds his argument using well-recognised sources from across the political, historical and media spectrum.

While he is clearly not a fan of the President, his critique mostly focusses on how Trump distorts and uses his power unconstitutionally, attempting to subvert institutions for his own benefit. But he also criticises those around him who have helped him stay in power such as Paul Ryan and Michael Flynn. What is worrying is the increase of military personnel and financiers who surround him, similar to those of many authoritarian nations, who exacerbate irrational decision-making.

He speaks about his voter base which also includes swathes of young white men, who are disillusioned and care less about religion and sexism - hence why Hillary Clinton was unable to change their minds. It is a well-argued, eye-opening book that does not resort to character bashing.
  
Casting JonBenet (2017)
Casting JonBenet (2017)
2017 | Crime, Documentary
No where near as good as the trailer made it seem. It was interesting to learn if the crime but I would rather watch a documentary that goes into the factual details of the case and the police's theories rather than theories which were a bit out there and just put forward by actors and actresses, which are just random members of the public. The Buzzfeed Unsolved episode on Jon Benet is a lot more factually interesting and goes into a lot more detail. If you want to learn about the case I would say watch that instead.
  
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Paige (277 KP) rated Alien Abduction (2014) in Movies

Nov 15, 2018 (Updated Nov 15, 2018)  
Alien Abduction (2014)
Alien Abduction (2014)
2014 | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
8
6.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Reference to The Blue Book. (2 more)
Reference to The Brown Mountain Lights.
Character Development.
Initially Slow. (0 more)
Alien Abduction (2014).
Alien Abduction (2014) is highly recommended. ✔

Initially, Alien Abduction (2014) can be perceived as slow with little action. However, reference to The Blue Book and the visual depiction of The Brown Mountain Lights promptly obtains the attention of its viewers.

To elaborate on this, reference to The Blue Book and The Brown Mountain Lights is indicative of the extent to which this film refers to factual occurrences and governmental intervention, which also contributes towards engaging those whom watch Alien Abduction (2014).
  
An eclectic mix of crimes

Basically what it says on the cover. A mix of different crimes that have been committed over the years some I haven't even heard of. In some parts it seemed like it was a rush to get to the end of the information and in others although it was in someway related to what was written it just slightly seemed to go off track which to me made it a bit awkward for smooth reading.

A very factual book and a lot of research has been done for the information. 4/5
  
Based on a True Story
Based on a True Story
Delphine de Vigan | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A clever psychological thriller
How many books do you trust to be actually based on reality and are non fiction books completely factual? These are some of the questions that arise in this descriptive, slick psychological thriller. It follows the journey of a novelist with writer's block who seems to have been befriended by a woman who takes a lot of interest in her. The woman is enigmatic and secretive and who knows how much of her is real. It is written in the perspective of the writer and so it shows in detail how her mind unravels and is manipulated.

It leaves you pondering whether the protagonist actually imagined the entire thing?