The terrifying detail shown of the effects of a high dose of radiation had was hard to watch, even for my horror hardened eyes. Seeing dogs being killed almost broke me but it was the little personal narratives (on the whole very well acted) throughout that brought home what a huge tragedy this event was. The whole thing is depicted with perfectly haunting cinematography.
The timing of this seems to also have a poignant feel to it with a close look at the consequences of the secretive nature of the Soviet government and the spin they wanted to put on the accident in the news for the rest of the world to see. Fake news is no new phenomenon….
This is one of those important real life stories that has a lot for us to learn from it and also happens to be an incredibly well done piece of TV. Everyone should watch (age appropriately, of course.)
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated A Change of Fortune (Ladies of Distinction, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
A Change of Fortune is filled with the quirky humour that I have grown to love in Jen's writing. Fun characters, mystery, wit, and romance. A fun quick read that is sure to lift your spirits and bring a smile (or two) to your face. There are also plenty of situations that will keep you on the edge of your seat and biting your nails. You won't want to put it down until you know the ending. While Hamilton and Eliza must deal with hurts and betrayals from the past, God uses the troubling circumstances to bring them closer to Himself.
Set in New York City, 1880. The Gilded Age is one of my favorites to read. The fashion, the society, the adventure, is something you won't want to miss! A Change of Fortune is the first full length book in Jen's first series, Ladies of Distinction. Don't miss her other fabulous books.
David McK (3652 KP) rated The City of Shifting Waters (Valérian and Laureline, #1) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Reading the interviews with the stars that came out at around about that time, I learnt that Valerian was actually a French comic, and that it had influenced elements of the really-rather-fun Bruce Willis flick 'The Fifth Element'. I caught Valerian when it showed up on Netflix and, while it was OK, it wasn't really anything special.
When I saw this comic given away as a freebie on Comixology, I thought I would give it a try: I don't know what I was expecting (something closer to the movie?), but this most definitely wasn't it!
This is set largely in the (then) future of the mid-80s, where the world is in ruins and New York is about to be swallowed by the ocean. Valerian and Laureline are both time-travelers, who must travel back to this period of their history: a period in which little is known about, a sort-of second Dark Ages.
This comic does show it's age, particularly in it's treatment of Laureline (who doesn't seem to really do all that much) and in Sun Rae: truth be told, it just never really gripped me at all.
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