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Touching. Witty. Heartbreaking. Emma Donoghue’s latest is all of those and more. This was such a wonderful read that I found myself savoring it, reading only a chapter or so a night, making it last.
Noah is a retired chemistry professor living in New York. His wife, Joan, passed away nearly a decade ago. Noah is originally from France, and he’s finally planned a trip to his birthplace, Nice. But shortly before his trip, he receives a call from social services: he is the only available relative able to take care of Michael, an eleven-year-old great-nephew he’s never even met. Noah reluctantly agrees to take Michael on his trip. This unlikely pair take on Nice together: looking at France through two very different lenses. But Michael’s tech savvy helps Noah as he attempts to unravel some details about his family’s past, and Noah can’t help but see some of his late troubled nephew in this funny, acerbic boy.
I fell hard for Noah and Michael. Donoghue captures them perfectly. Their wit, their banter, and their various insecurities. This book is alternately hilarious and heart wrenching. It’s beautifully written, touching, and just a lovely read. 4+ stars. Highly recommend!
Noah is a retired chemistry professor living in New York. His wife, Joan, passed away nearly a decade ago. Noah is originally from France, and he’s finally planned a trip to his birthplace, Nice. But shortly before his trip, he receives a call from social services: he is the only available relative able to take care of Michael, an eleven-year-old great-nephew he’s never even met. Noah reluctantly agrees to take Michael on his trip. This unlikely pair take on Nice together: looking at France through two very different lenses. But Michael’s tech savvy helps Noah as he attempts to unravel some details about his family’s past, and Noah can’t help but see some of his late troubled nephew in this funny, acerbic boy.
I fell hard for Noah and Michael. Donoghue captures them perfectly. Their wit, their banter, and their various insecurities. This book is alternately hilarious and heart wrenching. It’s beautifully written, touching, and just a lovely read. 4+ stars. Highly recommend!
Boyfriend Material
8.7
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WANTED: One (fake) boyfriend Practically perfect in every way Luc O'Donnell is...
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The Charity Shop Detective Agency
8.0
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A serial killer is stalking the elderly of Southbourne. The only clue left behind is a domino in the...
Dean (6926 KP) rated The Thing (1982) in Movies
Oct 7, 2017
A classic Horror
This is talked about as one of the best horror films ever made and a timeless classic. It is very good, it has some truly memorable scenes that are still pretty far out 35 years after it was made!!! It has some nice effects to, no CGI here and the creature in its forms looks great. Set in a great location for a horror, a strong cast, good director this can't fail to impress. If you've not seen it yet put it to the top of your want to see list.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Snowman (Harry Hole #7) (Oslo Sequence #5) in Books
Oct 16, 2017
A very good crime thriller
Crime thrillers are very common, especially series, but I really think the Harry Hole books are better than your average crime novels.
The Norwegian setting is a nice change from your usual UK or USA set novels. Harry Hole is an intriguing and flawed protaganist, even if he is a little bit cliched. The plot of this novel itself is very interesting, although it does wander slightly into disbelief at times. This doesn't stop it from being a very good read and probably one of the better stories in the Harry Hole series that I've read so far.
The Norwegian setting is a nice change from your usual UK or USA set novels. Harry Hole is an intriguing and flawed protaganist, even if he is a little bit cliched. The plot of this novel itself is very interesting, although it does wander slightly into disbelief at times. This doesn't stop it from being a very good read and probably one of the better stories in the Harry Hole series that I've read so far.
Kai (5 KP) rated Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination in Books
Nov 13, 2017 (Updated Nov 13, 2017)
This isn't a very long speech, it probably would fit onto maybe 20 pages written without illustrations, but I found this really powerful. I read it on my bus to work and, being in a transition period between jobs, it has helped me to think about the fact that it is okay to make mistakes. It is okay to experience failure. I think I embrace imagination already a lot, but it is really nice to get a reminder that this is a good thing. Jo Rowling's speech was really powerful and I think everyone should read it.
Erika (17788 KP) rated Suicide Squad (2016) in Movies
Aug 24, 2017
What can I say about Suicide Squad? To be nice, the soundtrack was great and Margot Robbie did a good job with Harley. I cannot understand why the relationship between Joker and Harley is always romanticized, because it's definitely not romantic. The plot was rushed and discombobulated, and they underutilized characters. Why did they killed off Slipknot five minutes after introducing him? Why even waste the time introducing him? I personally can't stand Jared Leto as an actor, but I understood where they were going with the new Joker. But, in comparison to Heath Ledger, he was trash.
Suswatibasu (1701 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.
Dean (6926 KP) rated The Uninvited (2009) in Movies
Apr 23, 2018 (Updated Nov 30, 2019)
Eerie Thriller
At last a very good suspenseful thriller in a similar mould to What lies beneath, The Number 23, Secret window. I wouldn't put this in the horror category although it has a few jumps along the way. A take on of a Korean film called A tale of two sisters. I really enjoyed this and thought it was a well made film with a good cast. It has a nice twist towards the end, although suspicious minds might make it out? Overall a very enjoyable film. If you like this type of thriller go see it soon!