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Homo Ludens
Book
In Homo Ludens, Johan Huizinga defines play as the central activity in flourishing societies. He...
The Dean: The Best Seat in the House, from FDR to Obama
Book
John David Dingell, the longest serving United States' Congressman in history, and one of the...
politics history
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Truth (2015) in Movies
Aug 22, 2017
Good film but at times hard to watch if you already know about the true story
This was like watching a train crash for all those who know about Rathergate. Thanks to a cocktail of management pressure, ego, self-esteem and politics, a group of CBS journalists broadcasted the most extraordinary claims about George W Bush jnr ahead of the elections in 2004 - without verification. Memos were published without authentification, showing the worst of journalism.
This film is literally the opposite of the Spotlight investigations on church abuse, which took careful planning over the span of a year. This on the other hand was a slapdash job in 5 days, costing a lot of jobs in the process. It's hard to watch knowing the outcome but acting from Cate Blanchett was fabulous.
This film is literally the opposite of the Spotlight investigations on church abuse, which took careful planning over the span of a year. This on the other hand was a slapdash job in 5 days, costing a lot of jobs in the process. It's hard to watch knowing the outcome but acting from Cate Blanchett was fabulous.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The White Crow (2018) in Movies
Mar 28, 2019 (Updated Mar 28, 2019)
Left-field remake focuses less on vengeful undead Goths and more on cold war politics and ballet dancing. Talented, driven, arrogant dancer Rudolf Nureyev chafes against the Soviet system seeking to exploit and control him; a visit to Paris offers him the hope of freedom. (You know, the more I think about it, the more I suspect this doesn't actually have anything to do with that Brandon Lee movie...)
Solid, typically measured stuff from Ralph 'Little Sunbeam' Fiennes; strong performances and good photography, together with a thoughtful script, make this engaging even if you're not that into people bounding around doing plies and what-have-you. Sags a bit in the middle, but the scenes depicting Nureyev's defection are gripping. Oleg Ivenko isn't quite the full Rudolf, but he gets near enough (thanks everyone, I'm here all week).
Solid, typically measured stuff from Ralph 'Little Sunbeam' Fiennes; strong performances and good photography, together with a thoughtful script, make this engaging even if you're not that into people bounding around doing plies and what-have-you. Sags a bit in the middle, but the scenes depicting Nureyev's defection are gripping. Oleg Ivenko isn't quite the full Rudolf, but he gets near enough (thanks everyone, I'm here all week).
David McK (3576 KP) rated Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, #4) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
The fourth installment of jim Butchers' "The Dresden Files" series, this sees the eponymous PI/Wizard-for-hire (the only professional wizard in the Chicago Phone Book) becoming embroiled in Faerie politics, as he is hired by the Winter Queen to solve a murder. Meanwhile, Harry has also to deal with the backlash from the Wizard High Council, who blame him for starting a war between the Wizards and the Vampire Courts, as he's also desperately looking for a cure for his ex-girlfriend who was bitten by a vampire towards the end of 'Grave Peril'.
This book also sees a welcome return of Karrin Murphy to a larger role than in the last novel, and with Harry still wise-cracking his way through the plot it also 'felt' (if that's the word I'm looking for) lighter than that previous installment.
This book also sees a welcome return of Karrin Murphy to a larger role than in the last novel, and with Harry still wise-cracking his way through the plot it also 'felt' (if that's the word I'm looking for) lighter than that previous installment.
Jake (52 KP) rated A Memory Called Empire (Teixcalaan, #1) in Books
Jul 25, 2019
Great premise but poor execution, and poor ending.
Some of the concepts and the worldbuilding were fantastic. Some of the names and places were a little too crazy (using old Mayan language as a basis? Teixalaan is the easiest of the weird words you'll find). Some of the world systems and culture didn't seem to make sense but I went with it anyways.
I was debating on rating it 4 stars but the ending was so poor. See spoiler below for some high-level spoils.
<spoiler>No huge climax, no really interesting turn of events, no facing the alien threat, no facing your darkest fear or something. Just... blah.</spoiler>
Anyway I won't be reading any sequels and I almost wish I would have stopped 3/4 of the way through when I understood the politics fully. Good luck.
Some of the concepts and the worldbuilding were fantastic. Some of the names and places were a little too crazy (using old Mayan language as a basis? Teixalaan is the easiest of the weird words you'll find). Some of the world systems and culture didn't seem to make sense but I went with it anyways.
I was debating on rating it 4 stars but the ending was so poor. See spoiler below for some high-level spoils.
<spoiler>No huge climax, no really interesting turn of events, no facing the alien threat, no facing your darkest fear or something. Just... blah.</spoiler>
Anyway I won't be reading any sequels and I almost wish I would have stopped 3/4 of the way through when I understood the politics fully. Good luck.
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Dying Light (Logan McRae #2) in Books
Feb 6, 2020
A successful return of this gritty Scottish police procedural.
I feel I could just copy a lot from my review of the first book in this series; Cold Granite. This was like tuning in to the second series of a program you liked and they haven’t changed much - thankfully. We still have a gloomy atmosphere but this time we are facing an arsonist and a dog killer so still horrific on the crime front. We have a police investigation, some internal politics and a bit of banter. All feels very BBC post 9pm drama and I loved listening to Steve Worsley’s narration in the audiobook version.
We do get a lot more of DI Steel in this book and this is welcome as she’s a vivid character. Can’t wait for the next season oh wait book I meant next book……….
We do get a lot more of DI Steel in this book and this is welcome as she’s a vivid character. Can’t wait for the next season oh wait book I meant next book……….
Shooting Niagara and After? The Second Reform Act and its World
Book
Shooting Niagara And After? is a wide-ranging examination of Britain s Second Reform Act of 1867 and...
Thank You for This Moment: A Story of Love, Power and Betrayal
Valerie Trierweiler and Clemence Sebag
Book
The breakdown of Valerie Trierweiler's relationship with French President Francois Hollande was...
Decline & Fall: Diaries 2005-2010
Book
On the backbenches but still in the thick of it, Decline and Fall runs from Chris Mullin's sacking...