Search

Search only in certain items:


This list is empty.
     
The Three Theban Plays (Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colunus)
10
7.2 (12 Ratings)
Book Rating
An important part of Greek mythology
This is essential reading for those who want to understand certain cultural references such as Freud and the Oedipus Complex. And as Greek mythology stands, it is an incredibly important part, aside from Oedipus, Antigone is his daughter and all the subsequent sacrifices she had to make due to the curse. It is dark, but intriguing, well worth the read.
  
Touched by Death
Touched by Death
T.L. Martin | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Touched by Death by T.L. Martin
Touched by Death is a simply amazing book that you have to read. There you go, review finished. I've said all that needs to be said. What? You want more details? *sigh* okay, here we go:

The story starts with Lou leaving all she knows behind - her home, her ex-boyfriend, everything. Why? Her grams has just died and she feels lost. She doesn't know what to do, so makes a decision to head to a place from her grams past where she may find a future. However a storm has a different idea, and Lou ends up going over a bridge into a lake. She doesn't die, is saved, but strange things begin to happen from that moment on.

And that is as much of the story as I am prepared to give away. You have the synopsis already anyway. What I can tell you is that Lou's 'journey' (and yes, I'm loathe to use that word) is astounding. The things she learns, the dreams she has, her general attitude, it all sticks with you. You are drawn into Lou's world, hoping against hope that she will get her HEA. The description of the broken heart about did me in, and that's the truth. Read it, find the quote, and tell me that you disagree. I dare you! I double dog-dare you!

It all ties in so perfectly, I can't honestly think of any way in which this story could be improved. The brothers, grams, Lou, Mr Blackwood, it's all here - and it's brilliant. There were no errors of any description, editing or grammatical, that disrupted my reading flow. However, in the case of being 100% accurate, I couldn't honestly say I would have noticed even if there were any. I was so completely engrossed in the story. Absolutely magnificent. Fantastic job by the author. Highly recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017)
Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017)
2017 | Biography, Family, History
My wife has the entire collection of Winnie the Pooh stories by A.A. Milne, featuring the illustrations by E.H. Shepherd, but they're not something I've ever actually read. I'm probably more familiar with the illustrations than the stories themselves and the fact that Christopher Robin was real, along with the stuffed toys that eventually became the characters and friends we all know and love. But I had no idea that the real Christopher Robin actually grew to hate being Christopher Robin and how much of a negative impact his fathers work had on his early years. Goodbye Christopher Robin tells us that story.

We begin with a brief scene of despair following the receipt of a telegram at the Milne home in 1941. Before we have time to fully understand what's going on, we're whisked back to World War I where A.A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) is fighting in the trenches. Following the war, Milne (or "Blue" to his friends) tries to live out a normal life in London, working as a writer with wife Daphne (Margot Robbie) and their young son Christopher Robin. Unfortunately though, Milne suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, meaning that the bright lights and loud noises of London regularly take him back to the horrors of World War I and begin to effect his life and his work. Deciding to move his family to a farmhouse in Sussex, Milne hopes that the peace and quiet of the countryside will allow him to concentrate on getting back into his writing.

As he struggles to write the book he wants to write, Daphne heads back to London, promising only to return when he begins writing again. At the same time, beloved nanny Olive (Kelly Macdonald) takes time off to look after her mother, meaning that Milne must finally spend some time with Christopher Robin, getting to know his son and enjoying time together in the large woods surrounding their home. It's a slow process though, with the occasional PTSD trigger affecting the already strained father-son relationship, but they soon begin fleshing out stories, characters and habitats for what will become Winnie the Pooh and friends. When Milne invites his friend E.H. Shepherd down to start sketching the woodland and Christopher Robin at play, things really begin to take shape and it's not long before Milne has published his Winnie the Pooh stories. And they're an instant hit.

To the disappoint of A.A. Milne, much of the books attention is focused towards Christopher Robin who is immediately thrust into the limelight. Forced to endure endless photo-shoots and interviews, participating in a tea party with children who have won a competition and being constantly hounded by the press. His parents revel in the success thought, not really acknowledging the effect it's all having on their young son while they swan off to parties and holidays leaving the nanny to look after Christopher Robin and his increasingly busy schedule. Even a telephone call home from Milne to Christopher Robin to see how he is turns out to be part of a radio broadcast. He feels his life isn't his own anymore, and that Christopher Robin is just a character in a book. Even when he heads off to boarding school, he cannot escape the curse of Christopher Robin and is constantly bullied because of it.

It's thanks to the amazing cast, particularly Gleeson and newcomer Will Tilston, that all of this works so well. Building to a highly emotional ending (yeah, I cried!), Goodbye Christopher Robin is a wonderfully touching story. Emotional and hugely enjoyable.
  

This list is empty.
     
40x40

Paula (19 KP) rated Psycho (1960) in Movies

Oct 2, 2017  
Psycho (1960)
Psycho (1960)
1960 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
  
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
1939 | Fantasy, Musical
  
24: Legacy  - Season 1
24: Legacy - Season 1
2017 | Action
Should really have been called "12". The series ends at the end of episode 12 with the line "12 hours later" and then a final scene.
It was a decent show, though a lot of it had been done before in 24. Having a non-CTU employed ex-marine as the new Jack Bower was an interesting premise but it also felt a bit hard to believe. Would he really risk everything like he did? Maybe, but I doubt it.
My advice would be to not think of this as being 24 and try to enjoy it in its own right.
  
Demons, space pirates, and more to add to your to-read pile this month...

There’s a ton of science fiction, fantasy, and horror books coming out in October that The Verge has been digging into.


Barbary Station

Barbary Station

R.E. Stearns

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Two engineers hijack a spaceship to join some space pirates—only to discover the pirates are...


Science fiction
Siege Line

Siege Line

Myke Cole

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Myke Cole continues to blow the military fantasy genre wide open with SIEGE LINE, an all-new epic...

Switchback: Nightshades Series

Switchback: Nightshades Series

Melissa F. Olson

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The Bureau of Preternatural Investigations returns in Switchback, the sequel to Melissa F. Olson's...


Fantasy
The Beautiful Ones: A Novel

The Beautiful Ones: A Novel

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

9.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

"Truly one of the most beautiful books I've read in a long time. This sweeping tale of love lost and...


Fantasy
Above the Timberline

Above the Timberline

Gregory Manchess

7.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

From renowned artist Gregory Manchess comes a lavishly painted novel about the son of a famed polar...


Fantasy graphic novels
and 11 other items
     
     
This year, Black History Month brings the release of several new non-fiction books that delve into the past, present and future of African-Americans in the country.

At the start of the month dedicated to African American history, here’s The Guardian's rundown of what to read, including Paul Beatty and Octavia Butler.


The Woman Next Door

The Woman Next Door

Yewande Omotoso

6.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Hortensia James and Marion Agostino are neighbours. One is black, one white. Both are successful...

Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for the Real James Brown

Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for the Real James Brown

James McBride

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The definitive biography of the soul legend James Brown by National Book Award-winning novelist...

The Sellout

The Sellout

Paul Beatty

9.0 (2 Ratings) Rate It

Book

'Outrageous, hilarious and profound.' Simon Schama, Financial Times 'The longer you stare at...

The Hate u Give

The Hate u Give

Angie Thomas

8.4 (54 Ratings) Rate It

Book

A powerful and brave YA novel about what prejudice looks like in the 21st century. Sixteen-year-old...


Race police shooting black lives matter prejudice witness murder
Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin

Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin

Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

On February 26th 2012 seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was walking home with a bag of Skittles and...

and 5 other items