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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.
Cyn Armistead (14 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 (3562 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!
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) in Movies
Dec 25, 2019
The Christmas Holiday Speical
The Rise of Skywalker- is better than the last jedi but worse than force awakens. I mean it has good parts, intresting parts and alot of bad parts, no spoilers. All of go to this place to get this thing, than go to that place, than that place and continues on until the end. Still alot of unanswered questions from the pervious movies, still alot of questions from this movie, that will be unanswered. Alot of what the fuck moments from this movie.
The Plot: The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more as Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron's journey continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle commences.
A fitting conclusion to this saga. I felt that this whole new sega was way overhyped, just so much hype for them, that their were all okay.
May The Force Be With You All, and a merry christmas. Happy holidays and a happy new year.
The Plot: The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more as Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron's journey continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle commences.
A fitting conclusion to this saga. I felt that this whole new sega was way overhyped, just so much hype for them, that their were all okay.
May The Force Be With You All, and a merry christmas. Happy holidays and a happy new year.
Emmy (14 KP) rated The Witcher in TV
Dec 31, 2019
Very entertaining!
I was very entertained watching the serie version of The Witcher. [Context: I have played the games and I haven't read the books.] I enjoyed discovering the "real" story, the first stories, that created the games later on. I really enjoyed the format because it was, to my opinion, an echo to the short stories format, while having a bigger plot line, and without falling into filler episodes. The choice they made in mixing the time lines was interesting and I personally liked it. However I can't imagine how someone who didn't have any knowledge of the universe understood anything as lots of the details and mechanics of the society and kind of people was barely explained; as someone who "knows how it works" I enjoyed not having too much exposition. I recommend!
Kate (493 KP) rated Tell Me Why in Books
Mar 4, 2020
This book was so intriguing and kept me guessing. I never guessed some of the things that happened.
I have knowledge in these books as they are the genre I generally read. This is one of the really good ones and I would definitely recommend.
I couldn't put the book down. I was totally hooked.
I was routing for Lauren the whole way through the book because I felt like I was invested. I liked how Lauren got stronger through out the book.
Anyone could read this book - anyone who likes thrillers, crime with twists and turns. Just when you think something is or isn't going to happen the opposite does. You can never guess the ending until quite close the end when the pieces fit together.
The book exceeded the blurb 100%.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I have knowledge in these books as they are the genre I generally read. This is one of the really good ones and I would definitely recommend.
I couldn't put the book down. I was totally hooked.
I was routing for Lauren the whole way through the book because I felt like I was invested. I liked how Lauren got stronger through out the book.
Anyone could read this book - anyone who likes thrillers, crime with twists and turns. Just when you think something is or isn't going to happen the opposite does. You can never guess the ending until quite close the end when the pieces fit together.
The book exceeded the blurb 100%.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
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The first step to obtaining a driving licence in Singapore is to sit the Basic Theory Test (BTT)...