Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Gail (4 KP) rated A Sadness Within in Books

Jun 4, 2018  
AS
A Sadness Within
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This story is a new beat on an old tune. The story follows Will and Julia and their journey on finding the light in life even when all you hold dear is taken away. Will is living on the dark side. He doesn’t care who he hurts he lives for the next drop of fresh blood. Julia has lost her whole family and everyone is just waiting for her to explode. They meet when Celia Will's sister begs him to come home.
At times this book was very long winded. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. I felt that a lot of the conversations were unnecessary. It was very slow and when the climax happened I wasn’t excited.
With that being said I gave it 4 stars because I liked her characters and how they learned from mistake and forgave each other. The ending was very mysterious hinting at something more. It was a story on how no matter your pain you can always find your way back with the help of love.
  
Dans ma peau (2002)
Dans ma peau (2002)
2002 | Drama, Horror
"Dans ma peau" is a film that got me into French cinema (along with Martyrs, but this is a different breed of film). It's both horrific and real. An allegory about the pressure of life, specifically as a woman, protagonist Esther injures her leg at a party and develops a fixation on the wound. She begins to mutilate the wound further, using the pain as a distraction from office politics and a hard decision in her romantic life.

Brief interlude: if you struggle with self harm, do yourself a favor and either avoid this film, or watch when you're in a good frame of mind.

This movie is filmed in an innocuous way. That is to say, it doesn't FEEL like a horror movie. In fact, it's hard to even call it that, despite the horrific content. There are scenes which stretch on to the point where the audience is horribly uncomfortable. But they're also REAL. How many times have you felt inadequate or embarrassed and wished you could disappear? That's what this film embodies.
  
Pretty Ugly Lies
Pretty Ugly Lies
Pamela Crane | 2018 | Thriller
10
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
A moving, incredible book for every woman who has ever felt a moment of unappreciation, exhaustion or of just never being enough. Not for the weak of heart, we get a glimpse into the lives on Oleander Way... Following four different women throughout each of their own daily private struggles to be a wife and mother, providing for their families while getting so little in return - all while upholding the image they have created about their perfect lives. Jo, Ellie, Shayla, and June, each dealing with their own private turmoil, never finding a moments peace or an outlet for the growing pain inside them.

I can't imagine there isn't a woman or mother alive who could not connect with this story on some personal level. We get a glimpse into four not-so-perfect lives and witness the heartbreak of a woman finally losing it. Incredibly painful yet such a beautiful story, I was brought to tears at not only the struggle and loss but of the strength of those who held on and found the good in their lives.
  
Being a part of the Gothic subculture I have followed these events since they happened. I have donated to the charity and I have joined marches through Plymouth in memory of Sophie. This collection of poems truly moved me, it did not matter that the poetry wasn't written in a style I'm more used to, I still very much enjoyed them and believe more people should read them. The subject matter brought tears to my eyes and the last poem made my heart ache. After recently becoming a mum myself I can not even begin to imagine the pain her family felt when she slipped away from them. Even though I did not know Sophie I still feel connected to her and am unbelievably sad that she was taken from this world in such a brutal and disgusting way...just because she and her boyfriend were different.
This is a beautiful collection, handled in a very sensitive way, I hope for this to reach more people as things need to change.
Rest in peace beautiful Sophie.
  
Breaking the Rules
Breaking the Rules
Emma Leigh Reed | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Isabelle LaFayette attempts but fails, to end her own life in what her mother calls a selfish act. Her suicide attempt haunts her, along with her other past regrets and the inability to forgive herself.

Jack Riley comes into Isabelle’s life and becomes her first love. He makes her feel alive, but she cruelly pushes him away, mistakenly believing that she doesn't deserve to be happy. Can she find the strength to confront her pain and be released from her troublesome past?

Isabelle needs to break the rules that have been imprisoning her. It is the only way for her to move on and piece her heart back together again.

Izzy, as she is known to her friends, is an extremely likeable character and I could really empathise with her. I thought this book was very insightful and thought-provoking. Although I thought that some of the dialogue between Izzy and her new beau, Nick Sterling, was a little repetitive, I found it a very enjoyable read, The author's writing has depth and the ending was very good.