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ClareR (5955 KP) rated The Truants in Books

Feb 22, 2023

The Truants

Kate Weinberg | 2020 | Crime, Mystery

7.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Jess arrives at university in East Anglia, chosen purely because she wants to be taught by a specific lecturer - the charismatic Lorna. She makes friends with another girl, Georgie, in her halls of residence, who is very Upper Class and more interested in having fun than going to lectures.

When they meet Alec, a South African journalist on sabbatical at the University, Georgie has the confidence to start a relationship with him, whilst the shy Jess misses out.

This is a story that meanders along, occasionally revealing a secret (some of which are pretty major!). I empathised with both Jess and Georgie, two quite vulnerable, inexperienced young adults, who were taken in and manipulated by both Lorna and Alec.

This is a compelling read though, and the grey, windy atmosphere, the bleakness, all adds to the feel of this novel.
I enjoyed this!

Kudos

ClareR (5955 KP) rated The Good Women of China in Books

Nov 4, 2017

The Good Women of China

Xinran | 2017 | Biography, History & Politics

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

An unflinching view of the lives of Chinese women in communist China. (0 more)

Eye opening

Xinran was a radio journalist in China who collected the stories of women who had stories to tell. This is a side of China that we don't really hear of: women who had lived through the cultural revolution and the damage it had inflicted on their lives. How women were still pretty much regarded as chattel, homosexuality was a criminal offence, women were sexually coerced, raped and unwillingly married off to high standing officials. This is just a small selection of the lives of women in these stories. You can hear the voices of these women as though they're in the room with you. The stories are often heartbreaking. I'm so glad I picked this book up - and all because the authors name began with an X (for an alphabet reading challenge!!).

Kudos

Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Child in Books

Jan 20, 2018 (Updated Jan 20, 2018)

The Child

Fiona Barton | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

8.3

(15 Ratings)

Book Rating

Good twist at the end

Fiona Barton's thrillers are always very accessible, it truly feels like you're reading an updated whodunit. The story surrounds various women with lots of secrets, that seem to emerge after the discovery of the remains of a baby at a building site.

Emma, a neurotic writer, her cold mother Jude, the mother of a missing infant Angelica, and of course, journalist Kate Walker take centre stage in this book. Each voice is unique with Kate being driven and ambitious, Emma appearing secretive, and the fragile Angelica breaking down fairly regularly. In this way, you're unlikely to become confused as the characters are distinct.

No doubt, a lot does happen so there is a question of whether Barton may have overdone the story. However, the last twist at the end was less obvious than the others and so the story concluded satisfactorily. An enjoyable read.

Kudos

Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Ace in the Hole (The Big Carnival) (1951) in Movies

Mar 3, 2020

Ace in the Hole (The Big Carnival) (1951)

1951 | Comedy, Drama, Film-Noir

9.0

(5 Ratings)

Movie Rating

It ran with the tagline “You’ll think about it… You’ll talk about it… You’ll Remember it”, and we have! Considered now as one of the most ahead of its time films ever made, thanks to the Oscar nominated writing of Billy Wilder, and his eye for how real human beings behave. A massive box office flop in 1951, it is now one of the highest rated films of Douglas’ career, still clinging on in the IMDb top 250 films of all time. As down on his luck journalist Chuck Tatum, Douglas growls his way through a performance about ambition, selfishness and media exploitation, as he attempts to rescue a man trapped in a rock fall, whilst seducing his wife and putting the life of the victim secondary to his own needs at every turn. “Not below the belt, but from the gut!” A classic in every sense.