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Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated An American Marriage in Books
Jan 18, 2019
Gut punching read
AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE has been on my radar for a while, I knew it was going to be a tough read so I had to be ready to go in. This isn’t a love story, it is a life story. It was a tough read but I am all the richer for having read this story and the world of literature is richer for this realistic representation of hell raining down on an innocent black man.
Celestine and Roy didn’t have the perfect marriage but it was real, they argued, they communicated and they worked on it; they were happy. All that was stolen from them in an instant in a cruel and unjust way. What plays out is the passing of years and their experiences and those of their families and friends.
The trials Roy existed through were brutally tough to read but I felt transported to his lived experience and I was willing his position to a place of improvement. Celestine was a feminist, I admired her tenacity and ability to exist and continue...until I didn’t. What happened with these characters that I became so very invested in, made me feel very conflicted. Their decisions, their journeys were painful but real and I felt crushed at various junctures.
Sometimes love just isn’t enough, sometimes there isn’t enough love. My mind is still knotted, wondering about the what-ifs and the maybe if... One thing is for sure, this injustice happens, most likely on a daily basis and so this was an important story to tell.
I’ve come out of this read not feeling in love with these characters because, guess what, they were flawed. I have come out of this read incredibly impressed by the narrative voice of Tayari Jones and her ability to tell the tough tale with heart, passion and grit.
“Much of life is timing and circumstance, I see that now. Roy came into my life at the time when I needed a man like him...But how you feel love and understand love are two very different things.”
Celestine and Roy didn’t have the perfect marriage but it was real, they argued, they communicated and they worked on it; they were happy. All that was stolen from them in an instant in a cruel and unjust way. What plays out is the passing of years and their experiences and those of their families and friends.
The trials Roy existed through were brutally tough to read but I felt transported to his lived experience and I was willing his position to a place of improvement. Celestine was a feminist, I admired her tenacity and ability to exist and continue...until I didn’t. What happened with these characters that I became so very invested in, made me feel very conflicted. Their decisions, their journeys were painful but real and I felt crushed at various junctures.
Sometimes love just isn’t enough, sometimes there isn’t enough love. My mind is still knotted, wondering about the what-ifs and the maybe if... One thing is for sure, this injustice happens, most likely on a daily basis and so this was an important story to tell.
I’ve come out of this read not feeling in love with these characters because, guess what, they were flawed. I have come out of this read incredibly impressed by the narrative voice of Tayari Jones and her ability to tell the tough tale with heart, passion and grit.
“Much of life is timing and circumstance, I see that now. Roy came into my life at the time when I needed a man like him...But how you feel love and understand love are two very different things.”
Would it be Okay to Love You? (Would It Be Okay to Love You? #1)
Book
A robot fanboy. An erotic voice actor. When love comes calling, will they shed their armor? ...
M_M Contemporary Romance
The Story Home - Children’s Audio Stories
Book and Education
App
The Story Home - Children’s Audio Stories Downloaded over Two million times worldwide and...
Mothergamer (1622 KP) rated Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch in Video Games
Sep 26, 2017
Fantastic fantasy role playing game
I love this game so much and I've played it twice. The story is quite good and the game play is a lot of fun. The artwork of the game is beautiful and the music for it is great. There are tons of side quests to do along with the main story and just exploring is a lot of fun. It's a wonderful game that is enjoyable to play. You can read the full Mother Gamer review here: http://lorrie28-mothergamer.blogspot.com/2014/09/backlog-video-game-review-of-ni-no-kuni.html
MRAMIUS (0 KP) rated Justice League (2017) in Movies
Dec 14, 2017
Ben Affleck (1 more)
Gal Gadot
Cgi (3 more)
Story
Villain
Too short
Why?
OK, to be fair I am not a massive reader of all things DC or Marvel, but in my youth I read enough good story's about Batman, Superman et al to know that this film should have been amazing. Instead someone just shoved a lesser known villian in a short story using some DC lore they had read and decided to misuse. Such an absolute waste of a great cast and potential. I wanted to love the movie, and even convinced my wife to watch it with me!
Steph Freeman (26 KP) rated American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot in Books
Jan 5, 2018
Another Late Night Memoir
This book was just what I needed to help get me through the pre-holiday slump at work. Craig Ferguson's narration of the audio book felt like sharing a cuppa with a neighbor or an old friend as they shared their life story in an all night conversation. I fell in love with his comedy through the Late Late Show, and have enjoyed following his career ever since. As an entrepreneur it's encouraging to know success isn't perfect, or even planned.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Dunkirk (2017) in Movies
Jul 24, 2017
Cast (4 more)
Scale
Sound Design
Narrative structure
Direction
A return to form
I personally didn't love Nolan's last two efforts, (Interstellar and The Dark Rises,) but this is a return to form. This isn't Nolan telling an overly ambitious story about interdimensional space travel or a billionaire crime fighter, this is a story that actually happened. Although it feels epic in scope, this movie takes place in one location and it benefits from it. We get to see personal dramas and intimate conflicts and we feel like we are right there alongside the men on that beach. Also the sound design is utterly incredible.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Don't Go in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Scottoline has managed to do it again...another book that was hard to put down, with believable characters & plot. This one tells the story of Dr. Scanlon, a podiatrist who is serving as a combat surgeon in Afghanistan when he learns his wife has died at home from a knife wound. Mike returns home to bury her & that's when the intrigue begins. Just when I thought I had it figure out I was thrown another curveball. This was a heartbreaking & heartwarming story of war, family, love, loss, & rediscovering yourself after tragedies that seem like they will never end.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society in Books
Aug 30, 2017
Sweet tale, fluffy though some disturbing themes
I rather enjoyed this tale of back and forth letters between a journalist, her friends and the people on the island of Guernsey. It is lighthearted for the most part, though it describes the harrowing story of Elizabeth who was taken to a concentration camp during WWII and never returns. But the story centres around the main journalist who falls in love with the people and the island, and how she attempts to write an honest book about them. There's not much else to it, but it's a nice easy read.
HeathHart77 (8 KP) rated Beauty and the Beast (2017) in Movies
Aug 11, 2017
Contains spoilers, click to show
It was true to the animated classic that we all know and love!! There was a couple of added scenes and some things were altered for the sake of the live action shoot. My favorite added scene was the trip to where Belle was born, it added so much more to the story and the characters connection with each other. I also loved the development of the character Belle, the way we get more depth and background with her versus what we got in the original animated movie story. All in all I have to say was very impressed with the movie!!!