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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Crucible in Books
Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)
Exceptional drama exploring paranoia and hysteria
I remember having to study this book in drama during my school days, which made me become fascinated with the Salem Witch trials and its parallel politics. It is a dramatised and partially fictionalised story of the trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692/93.
The play explores paranoia, the power of superstition and mass hysteria. It shows the dangers of using a scapegoat to fix problems in society. Classed as one of the great American plays along with the likes of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the US government ostracised people for being communists.
Many prominent people became victims of the Red Scare, Arthur Miller was one of many people who came to the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee. In his play The Crucible Miller drew comparisons with the Red Scare and the witch trials of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts.
Truly an awe-inspiring and essential read.
The play explores paranoia, the power of superstition and mass hysteria. It shows the dangers of using a scapegoat to fix problems in society. Classed as one of the great American plays along with the likes of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the US government ostracised people for being communists.
Many prominent people became victims of the Red Scare, Arthur Miller was one of many people who came to the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee. In his play The Crucible Miller drew comparisons with the Red Scare and the witch trials of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts.
Truly an awe-inspiring and essential read.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated 20th Century Women (2017) in Movies
Oct 15, 2017 (Updated Oct 15, 2017)
A solid drama with beautiful cinematography
I began watching this thinking it would be like Little Miss Sunshine aka dark humour but good comedy. But it's not at all - it's pure drama, but still good nevertheless.
Annette Bening plays a lonely 54 year old mother living with her teenage son, and various lodgers in 1979. There's a massive generational divide, Bening was born in the 1920's and feels overwhelmed with her son in this era where punk rock is all the rage and there's general apathy at the world.
At this point she asks for help from her lodger, a young feminist photographer in remission from cervical cancer and a much older hippy mechanic. Instead they seem to confuse the situation further due to a gap in understanding about one another's circumstances, causing mother and son to further drift apart.
It's a different style of coming-of-age film because it shows how the mother's role is also changing and adapting to a new age of politics and societal pressures. A poignant, beautifully shot drama.
Annette Bening plays a lonely 54 year old mother living with her teenage son, and various lodgers in 1979. There's a massive generational divide, Bening was born in the 1920's and feels overwhelmed with her son in this era where punk rock is all the rage and there's general apathy at the world.
At this point she asks for help from her lodger, a young feminist photographer in remission from cervical cancer and a much older hippy mechanic. Instead they seem to confuse the situation further due to a gap in understanding about one another's circumstances, causing mother and son to further drift apart.
It's a different style of coming-of-age film because it shows how the mother's role is also changing and adapting to a new age of politics and societal pressures. A poignant, beautifully shot drama.
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Young Bess (Elizabeth Trilogy, #1) in Books
Apr 27, 2018
While I was reading this book I had my moments where I was thinking “this is nice…this is cute…” the writing was very eloquent and good. However the plot was just… nonexistent. By page 85 not much had happened. I had no urge to continue reading and even though I enjoyed it while I was reading it, I had to force myself to sit down and read it. And you should never have to force yourself to read a book (except for school). I felt the same way about The Midnight Charter. Both of these were similar in that they both had a bit of politics in them.
I did like the characters (Loved Tom Seymour!) and the writing, again, was great. But nothing made me want to keep reading.
I didn’t get far enough into the book to be able to say what content was in it.
Young Bess was re-published by Sourcebooks March 1st. Please know that I am in the minority for those who didn’t like/finish it. See other reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
I did like the characters (Loved Tom Seymour!) and the writing, again, was great. But nothing made me want to keep reading.
I didn’t get far enough into the book to be able to say what content was in it.
Young Bess was re-published by Sourcebooks March 1st. Please know that I am in the minority for those who didn’t like/finish it. See other reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated The Art of Vanishing in Books
May 4, 2018
Someone is Out to Destroy Arts Week
Every spring semester, Stonedale University puts on an arts festival, and Lila has been roped into serving on the committee. The big name for the week is author Damon Von Tussel, who has just released his second book decades after his critically acclaimed debut. Lila is sent to interview him before the big event to gain some publicity, but before she can talk to him, he disappears. Then everyone on the committee starts to get threatening e-mails. What is going on?
I don’t read too many mysteries set in the academic world, so I enjoyed changing that with this book. The internal politics of the college and Lila’s worries since this is her first-year teaching there overshadowed the mystery at times. The mystery itself is a little different than many of the books I read, and I found it a refreshing break. The characters are fun, especially Lila’s mother, and I am curious how some of these relationships will develop in the future.
I don’t read too many mysteries set in the academic world, so I enjoyed changing that with this book. The internal politics of the college and Lila’s worries since this is her first-year teaching there overshadowed the mystery at times. The mystery itself is a little different than many of the books I read, and I found it a refreshing break. The characters are fun, especially Lila’s mother, and I am curious how some of these relationships will develop in the future.
Bubblesreview (110 KP) rated The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared in Books
Mar 13, 2019
Farcical (2 more)
Political and history based
Name dropping
Disappointing.
I really really really thought this was going to be a good book, a funny book, an adventurous book and I tried so hard to enjoy this... but it was so utterly boring and I really can't understand what the hype was about.
Some of the present day parts in it were admittedly funny... SOME. However, the majority of the book was about his past which involved too many very unlikely events and coincidences, too much name dropping of historical leaders and politics and wars and bla bla bla... If you want to learn about European history and gain some knowledge on some historical leaders and events then sure read this book, but I personally didn't pick this book up expecting to be in a history lesson. It got so unrealistic it wasn't even the slightest bit funny anymore, I just wanted it to end ? I can't say I'll put myself through watching the apparent 'major motion picture'.
Some of the present day parts in it were admittedly funny... SOME. However, the majority of the book was about his past which involved too many very unlikely events and coincidences, too much name dropping of historical leaders and politics and wars and bla bla bla... If you want to learn about European history and gain some knowledge on some historical leaders and events then sure read this book, but I personally didn't pick this book up expecting to be in a history lesson. It got so unrealistic it wasn't even the slightest bit funny anymore, I just wanted it to end ? I can't say I'll put myself through watching the apparent 'major motion picture'.
Auburn (57 KP) rated The Stone's Heart (The Queen's Wing #2) in Books
Apr 10, 2019
This jumps us right back into the story after the end of the first. If you have not read the first book one should really begin there.
In the second book we get a new voice along with Bel and it is a refreshing addition. New threats are gained just as old are defeated. Petra is added as the second voice. I had thought it would be Col her fiance but I found having Petra was better. She sounded a bit like Bel as the author didn't do a great job of differentiating the differences in personality but it was still refreshing to see a different POV.
As with the first book you need to hang in there for the first part in order to get to the fast paced action. That happens later in the book. I understand why two POV were needed as the book continued. Bel became quite hard to follow by the end of the book.
A good addition to the series that revolves around politics, marriage, and friendship.
In the second book we get a new voice along with Bel and it is a refreshing addition. New threats are gained just as old are defeated. Petra is added as the second voice. I had thought it would be Col her fiance but I found having Petra was better. She sounded a bit like Bel as the author didn't do a great job of differentiating the differences in personality but it was still refreshing to see a different POV.
As with the first book you need to hang in there for the first part in order to get to the fast paced action. That happens later in the book. I understand why two POV were needed as the book continued. Bel became quite hard to follow by the end of the book.
A good addition to the series that revolves around politics, marriage, and friendship.
UnKamen Soul (7 KP) rated Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection (2019) in Movies
May 14, 2019 (Updated May 16, 2019)
Continuation of the anime series (3 more)
Plot worthy of running time
Majority, if not all, of the series' voice actors return
Twists and mind games as strong as the series
Even explained, Lelouch's existence may not make sense (1 more)
No sense in watching without knowing series/film recap series
The true Zero returns.
Contains spoilers, click to show
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection is effectively a continuation of the plot-twist-filled anime series in the ways it matters. The major characters who were alive at series' end are still the major players, the politics and mind games are still as intense as the mech battles if not moreso, many, if not all, of the series' voice actors have gracefully returned to their roles, and the length fits the scope of the plot. Series protagonist Lelouch's return given his death can remain an enigma to some fans, even if they try to explain it, but it was also a shock to appreciate in that same vein. One question that remains is this: after this, where will its 10 year plan go from here?
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2387 KP) rated Die Like an Eagle (Meg Langslow, #20) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Meg’s twins have joined the local youth baseball league, and Meg is quickly learning what a tyrant Biff Brown, the head of the league, can be. While most of the parents hate him, he hasn’t damped the enthusiasm any, and most of the town turns out for opening day. However, there is a major delay when Meg finds a dead body in the field’s only porta potty.
The politics of local baseball seemed to be more of the focus than the mystery this time, although Meg still spends plenty of time investigating. I’m not complaining, however, since there were so many great scenes and so much conflict I couldn’t put the book down. We get some nice twists before the logical conclusion as well. It’s always wonderful to spend time with these characters, and one I’d been wanting to see showed up again here, which I loved. This may be book 20, but the series is still going strong.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-die-like-eagle-by-donna.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The politics of local baseball seemed to be more of the focus than the mystery this time, although Meg still spends plenty of time investigating. I’m not complaining, however, since there were so many great scenes and so much conflict I couldn’t put the book down. We get some nice twists before the logical conclusion as well. It’s always wonderful to spend time with these characters, and one I’d been wanting to see showed up again here, which I loved. This may be book 20, but the series is still going strong.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/08/book-review-die-like-eagle-by-donna.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.