Search
Search results
Ruth Frampton (577 KP) rated What Does Consent Really Mean? in Books
Apr 10, 2018
Where to start? Well, this is certainly the book I wish I'd had when I was growing up and when my own children were of the age to need this advice for that fact. This book, "What does consent really mean?" is presented as a graphic novel and shows multi-cultural characters discussing and growing in knowledge about the topic of consent. This inclusion of such a range of opinions, yet, still coming to a consensus, also demonstrates to young people how you can and should be able to discuss matters openly in a healthy relationship. I found especially good the part where the teenage girls were more able to discuss this area than the teenage lads although through their clearly good friendships they worked through this, once again demonstrating a mature attitude to the audience.
I can certainly recommend this book as a reference book for any teenagers, schools or those involved with working with this age group.
I can certainly recommend this book as a reference book for any teenagers, schools or those involved with working with this age group.
Ruth Frampton (577 KP) rated What Does Consent Really Mean? in Books
Apr 10, 2018
Where to start? Well, this is certainly the book I wish I'd had when I was growing up and when my own children were of the age to need this advice for that fact. This book, "What does consent really mean?" is presented as a graphic novel and shows multi-cultural characters discussing and growing in knowledge about the topic of consent. This inclusion of such a range of opinions, yet, still coming to a consensus, also demonstrates to young people how you can and should be able to discuss matters openly in a healthy relationship. I found especially good the part where the teenage girls were more able to discuss this area than the teenage lads although through their clearly good friendships they worked through this, once again demonstrating a mature attitude to the audience.
I can certainly recommend this book as a reference book for any teenagers, schools or those involved with working with this age group.
I can certainly recommend this book as a reference book for any teenagers, schools or those involved with working with this age group.
David McK (3663 KP) rated The Blood of Rome in Books
Apr 11, 2019
Hmmm ... I'm not sure what to make of this one, if I'm honest.
Book #17 (yikes!) in the Cato and Macro series (initially all with the name 'Eagle' somewhere in the title) this, if anything, is probably best described as a 'bridging' novel: there's a new Emperor on the Imperial Throne (see the previous instalment, Day of the Caesars), and war is brewing between Rome and Parthia.
Cato and Macro are tasked with restoring the ousted King Rhadamistus to his Armenian throne, but the King proves to be ruthless, ambitious, untrustworthy and (to the Armenians especially) unpopular.
Alongside those professional concerns (i.e. a dangerous mission into unmapped and unfriendly territory), Cato also still struggles with private concerns: was his now-deceased wife unfaithful to him, or not, that leads him to - at times - act completely out of character. Because of those concerns, I would not recommend this as a good 'jumping-on' point in the series: a little background knowledge in this, at least, would be useful.
Book #17 (yikes!) in the Cato and Macro series (initially all with the name 'Eagle' somewhere in the title) this, if anything, is probably best described as a 'bridging' novel: there's a new Emperor on the Imperial Throne (see the previous instalment, Day of the Caesars), and war is brewing between Rome and Parthia.
Cato and Macro are tasked with restoring the ousted King Rhadamistus to his Armenian throne, but the King proves to be ruthless, ambitious, untrustworthy and (to the Armenians especially) unpopular.
Alongside those professional concerns (i.e. a dangerous mission into unmapped and unfriendly territory), Cato also still struggles with private concerns: was his now-deceased wife unfaithful to him, or not, that leads him to - at times - act completely out of character. Because of those concerns, I would not recommend this as a good 'jumping-on' point in the series: a little background knowledge in this, at least, would be useful.
Bostonterrio (13 KP) rated The End of Your Life Book Club in Books
Jan 23, 2018
Inspirational reading
Contains spoilers, click to show
The premise of this book is sad and touched on some triggers for me as both my parents died as a result of cancer. I pushed past the triggers and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Who wouldn't want to be in a secret book club with someone close to them who shares their love of reading! Each book they read had depth and was thought provoking. I have read several of the books from their list and each one has added something to my knowledge base. My reading habits needed a boost and this book was the catalyst into my being more selective in my reading choices. The love of reading seemed to truly help the mother as her disease progressed. The flow of thoughts and ideas contained in their discussions was inspirational. I have suggested a grandmother/grandson book club to my book loving grandson but he was not entirely receptive. I am going to keep working on that.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Darkest Hour (2017) in Movies
Jan 23, 2018 (Updated Jan 23, 2018)
Fantastic turn from Gary Oldham
This is a very fascinating story about Churchill and a hugely interesting film. Gary Oldman's performance deserves all of the hype, he's almost unrecognisable and he really convinces both with the serious, vulnerable and numerous sides to Churchill. Indeed the film itself shows a different vulnerable side to Churchill that I never knew existed and it was nice to see. My knowledge on this part of history is lacking, so I found the wartime politics really interesting. The supporting cast do well and the dialogue is brilliant.
But the dialogue is the problem with this film too as it's far too dialogue heavy. They throw in a few bits of action and humour, but it doesn't quite break the dialogue heavy scenes. Which I found made the film drag a little and I think they could've cut parts out without being of a detriment to the story.
Worth seeing for Oldman's performance alone, although not one I'd necessarily rush to see again.
But the dialogue is the problem with this film too as it's far too dialogue heavy. They throw in a few bits of action and humour, but it doesn't quite break the dialogue heavy scenes. Which I found made the film drag a little and I think they could've cut parts out without being of a detriment to the story.
Worth seeing for Oldman's performance alone, although not one I'd necessarily rush to see again.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Storied Life of AJ Fikry in Books
Mar 15, 2018
If you need something sweet and uplifting in your life at any point, I strongly suggest you pick up this wonderful little book. While the plot follows the titular bookstore owner over the course of many years of his life, it is really about love above all else. Given the title and the main character's occupation, it is unsurprisingly about a love of reading and writing, but more than that it is about our capacity to love each other, how we can discover it in the most unexpected ways, and the impact that love can have on the lives of those around us. By the end of this book you'll find that you too have fallen in love with the fictional Island Books shop and its accompanying characters, with your sadness at it being over assuaged only by the knowledge that you can restart the story and revisit the shop whenever you want.
Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated Tails of Wonder and Imagination in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I finished it, but I didn't read every story. I couldn't. This is not a collection for cat-lovers, and I am an unabashed ailurophile. I appreciated the introductions, as the helped me avoid some stories, and I regret reading others—most particularly "Not Waving" by Michael Marshall Smith. It was a very well-written story, showing first-hand knowledge of bulimia and the way it can twist those who have it and those who love them. I was nauseated, though, and hated the twist even though I knew how it would end.
I strongly recommend that people who seek out every cat-related collection avoid this tome. If, however, you simply enjoy good writing, go for it. Datlow has, as always, selected fine pieces, every one. I didn't find one piece that rang false. I would have chosen a darker title, as I found less of wonder than the macabre, but what do I know?
I strongly recommend that people who seek out every cat-related collection avoid this tome. If, however, you simply enjoy good writing, go for it. Datlow has, as always, selected fine pieces, every one. I didn't find one piece that rang false. I would have chosen a darker title, as I found less of wonder than the macabre, but what do I know?
Olivia (102 KP) rated We Are Okay in Books
Aug 13, 2018
This book will make you unable to breathe. This book will make you ache.
It's such a simple story; but Nina LaCour's writing took me somewhere that so few stories have.
The entire time I read this, I was filled with this overwhelming sense of serenity, yet ached with despair. What a contradiction! But isn't that life? At least some of the time. Captured perfectly.
With every page I turned, I saddened. Due entirely to the progression of the story. With every secret brought to light. With the knowledge that every page I turned brought me closer to the end.
The only thing I found myself not absolutely loving was the ending. Not because it ended, as I thought would be the case whilst reading, but with how it ended. It wasn't bad, quite the opposite. I just wish it were different.
If you have the chance to read We Are Okay, do it. You won't be sorry.
It's such a simple story; but Nina LaCour's writing took me somewhere that so few stories have.
The entire time I read this, I was filled with this overwhelming sense of serenity, yet ached with despair. What a contradiction! But isn't that life? At least some of the time. Captured perfectly.
With every page I turned, I saddened. Due entirely to the progression of the story. With every secret brought to light. With the knowledge that every page I turned brought me closer to the end.
The only thing I found myself not absolutely loving was the ending. Not because it ended, as I thought would be the case whilst reading, but with how it ended. It wasn't bad, quite the opposite. I just wish it were different.
If you have the chance to read We Are Okay, do it. You won't be sorry.
David McK (3663 KP) rated Hunting the Eagles: 2: Eagles of Rome in Books
Jan 30, 2019
I actually read this in a busy period, as a sort of on-again-off-again kind of deal amongst a couple of other (shorter, less involved) novels.
This is the second in Ben Kane's 'Eagles of Rome' series, that deals with - in the first novel (Eagles at War) perhaps Rome's most famous defeat of all: that which led (according to legend) the Emperor Augustus Caesar to cry 'Varus, give me back my legions' after that general lost three legions and - horror of horrors! - their eagles in the battle (ambush) of Teutoberg Forest.
This novel follows some key characters from that novel (and survivors of the ambush), from a revolt by the Legionaries through to another battle in a forest/bog land and is told from both the point of view of the Romans and from the German war leader Arminius (who successfully carried out that ambush).
Like the previous entry in the series, Ben Kane's knowledge of the period definitely shines through in this!
This is the second in Ben Kane's 'Eagles of Rome' series, that deals with - in the first novel (Eagles at War) perhaps Rome's most famous defeat of all: that which led (according to legend) the Emperor Augustus Caesar to cry 'Varus, give me back my legions' after that general lost three legions and - horror of horrors! - their eagles in the battle (ambush) of Teutoberg Forest.
This novel follows some key characters from that novel (and survivors of the ambush), from a revolt by the Legionaries through to another battle in a forest/bog land and is told from both the point of view of the Romans and from the German war leader Arminius (who successfully carried out that ambush).
Like the previous entry in the series, Ben Kane's knowledge of the period definitely shines through in this!
Well, now, that was ... unusual.
Unusual in that I don't think I've ever come across history told in such a manner before.
And, I have to say: I think it worked.
This tells the life story of Manfred von Richtohofen, otherwise (and perhaps more famously) known as The Red Baron - a German ace during the infancy of flight, and of warfare in the air (during The Great War, or World War One as it would later become known).
While it does, perhaps, gloss over the more horrific aspects of the war in the air (no parachutes,with the planes being death-traps, and with Richtohofens policy of aiming for the pilot rather than the plane) I have to say that I did learn more from this than I was already aware of - and no, unlike some of my American counterparts, my knowledge of him did NOT come from the Peanuts (right? isn't that the one with Snoopy?) cartoon!
Unusual in that I don't think I've ever come across history told in such a manner before.
And, I have to say: I think it worked.
This tells the life story of Manfred von Richtohofen, otherwise (and perhaps more famously) known as The Red Baron - a German ace during the infancy of flight, and of warfare in the air (during The Great War, or World War One as it would later become known).
While it does, perhaps, gloss over the more horrific aspects of the war in the air (no parachutes,with the planes being death-traps, and with Richtohofens policy of aiming for the pilot rather than the plane) I have to say that I did learn more from this than I was already aware of - and no, unlike some of my American counterparts, my knowledge of him did NOT come from the Peanuts (right? isn't that the one with Snoopy?) cartoon!