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Lindsay (1693 KP) rated A Plain and Simple Christmas: A Novella in Books
Feb 15, 2018
WAnna Mae McDonough is shunned by her family and the Amish community. She left her community to marry Kellen McDonough who is an Englisher and moved to Baltimore. She is know expecting her first child and is now long to reconnect with her family and with the approaching of the holidays.
Anna Mae reach out to her sister in law to make arrengments to come and visit her family for the holidays. Her sister in law talks to her husband David. Her husband tell her not to do this and agrees to take her and the children to visit Anna Mae and Kellen in the spring. Katherine goes against her husband wishes and plans this visit for Anna Mae.
Anna Mae reach out to her sister in law to make arrengments to come and visit her family for the holidays. Her sister in law talks to her husband David. Her husband tell her not to do this and agrees to take her and the children to visit Anna Mae and Kellen in the spring. Katherine goes against her husband wishes and plans this visit for Anna Mae.
Lindsay (1693 KP) rated A Plain and Simple Christmas: A Novella in Books
Aug 30, 2018
WAnna Mae McDonough is shunned by her family and the Amish community. She left her community to marry Kellen McDonough who is an Englisher and moved to Baltimore. She is know expecting her first child and is now long to reconnect with her family and with the approaching of the holidays.
Anna Mae reach out to her sister in law to make arrengments to come and visit her family for the holidays. Her sister in law talks to her husband David. Her husband tell her not to do this and agrees to take her and the children to visit Anna Mae and Kellen in the spring. Katherine goes against her husband wishes and plans this visit for Anna Mae.
Anna Mae reach out to her sister in law to make arrengments to come and visit her family for the holidays. Her sister in law talks to her husband David. Her husband tell her not to do this and agrees to take her and the children to visit Anna Mae and Kellen in the spring. Katherine goes against her husband wishes and plans this visit for Anna Mae.
Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated Richard Jewell (2019) in Movies
Aug 4, 2020
I presume that most people have all but forgotten the crazy story of Richard Jewell and the events surrounding the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bomb. This retelling is done very well with a cast that fires on all cylinders.
There are some times that the moving gets a bit slow, but it almost has to in order to tell the story it's conveying.
Sam Rockwell deserves far more credit that he received for his role, and Kathy Bates might have been shunned for a supporting actress award, as well as Jon Hamm for supporting actor.
If you have any interest in history or events from American (or world) history, this movie is definitely worth the time.
There are some times that the moving gets a bit slow, but it almost has to in order to tell the story it's conveying.
Sam Rockwell deserves far more credit that he received for his role, and Kathy Bates might have been shunned for a supporting actress award, as well as Jon Hamm for supporting actor.
If you have any interest in history or events from American (or world) history, this movie is definitely worth the time.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Annie's Recipe in Books
Jun 14, 2018
Annie’s Recipe by Lisa Jones Baker is the second book in the Hope Chest of Dreams series. Annie Mast and Levi Miller were childhood best friends. Then one day Levi was gone. Levi’s father, John, had broken the rules of the Ordnung and was shunned. John quickly packed up his family and moved away. Ten years later, Annie is at the wedding of Katie and Jeremiah when she notices an Englischer in the crowd. Upon closer inspection, she notices that it is Levi. They agree to meet at their special place at Pebble Creek. When they meet, it is like they have never been apart. Over the next few days, the two meet whenever Annie can get away. Levi wants to spend the rest of his life with Annie, but, there is a big obstacle in the way of their happiness. Levi does not feel he can return to Arthur, Illinois and live. He feels he will always be known as the son of the shunned man. Levi knows that Annie would not be happy in the Englisch world and asks if she would be willing to compromise. Annie’s heart, though, is in the Amish world where she grew up. Annie believes that God can work miracles and, if she is meant to be with Levi, God will find a way.
Annie’s Recipe is nicely written and is easy to read. The book reminds me of a sappy romance novel with Christian faith and theology tossed in. Annie’s journal entries remind me of those written by a lovesick teenager. Annie’s sponge cakes are mentioned frequently throughout the book.
I received an advanced reader's copy from Kensington Books and Zebra via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Annie’s Recipe is nicely written and is easy to read. The book reminds me of a sappy romance novel with Christian faith and theology tossed in. Annie’s journal entries remind me of those written by a lovesick teenager. Annie’s sponge cakes are mentioned frequently throughout the book.
I received an advanced reader's copy from Kensington Books and Zebra via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Paths of Glory (1957) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020
Meanwhile, producer Kirk Douglas had met a promising young director he liked called Stanley Kubrick. Douglas, whose humanitarian work was also becoming a big part of his life around this time, was looking for a script that championed pacifism over the gung-ho attitude of American heroism that he found distasteful. The rest is history. Possibly the one film in his career that can still be called perfect. Again, it was way ahead of its time, and therefore unfairly shunned as an Oscar contender. Shot in stunning black and white, it is an economical film of great power, replete with memorable moments and striking dialogue. The evidence of Douglas’ increasing skill at the quiet moments is all the better for the big pay-off when he erupts, calling out his superiors on their morality and cowardice. Of all films on this list, this is the one most likely to endure as a work of pure art.
Dean (6921 KP) rated Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) in Movies
Aug 8, 2022 (Updated Dec 6, 2022)
Daisy Edgar-Jones (1 more)
Cinematography
A touching story
I haven't read the book but after seeing the trailer it looked like it might have a Murder mystery element to it. It's actually a mix of genres from life story, courtroom drama, mystery and Romance.
It looks lovely from the setting and cinematography as most of it is filmed out in the Marsh land. Daisy Edgar-Jones stands out the most from the cast. Playing a girl who becomes a loner and recluse almost shunned by the small local town. She becomes accused of Murder of a young man she was once dating but is there anything to it more than town gossip. A entertaining film although the courtroom side of it is only a small back drop to her life story. Almost a Romance story at the heart of it as well, with a Notebook vibe. Maybe not as deep or clever as it might imply but I definitely enjoyed the story.
It looks lovely from the setting and cinematography as most of it is filmed out in the Marsh land. Daisy Edgar-Jones stands out the most from the cast. Playing a girl who becomes a loner and recluse almost shunned by the small local town. She becomes accused of Murder of a young man she was once dating but is there anything to it more than town gossip. A entertaining film although the courtroom side of it is only a small back drop to her life story. Almost a Romance story at the heart of it as well, with a Notebook vibe. Maybe not as deep or clever as it might imply but I definitely enjoyed the story.
Ducklady (1174 KP) rated Cats (2019) in Movies
Jan 15, 2020 (Updated Jan 15, 2020)
*shudders*
I have never seen cats before in the theatre, so I thought a film would be a good gateway to knowing a bit more about it. I was so wrong. From the opening scene I was instantly confused. I had no idea what the word Jellicle meant and they just kept repeating it. The scene where they were talking about their names didn't make any sense. They kept saying they had 3 names when they only mentioned 2? Hmm..
The CGI was incredibly off-putting and a few times in the background the cats looked like creepy demons, nightmarish.
The repetition in the songs really grated. The scenes didn't flow well and I felt like I was watching 1 big scene that didn't connect.
The shunned glam cat confused me so much as I couldn't work out why everyone hated her, seemed super forced.
The Jellicle ball seemed to consist of a whole bunch of performing cats competing to...die? And possibly be reborn?
Meh
Either way, don't watch this non-sensical, plot-lacking disaster.
The CGI was incredibly off-putting and a few times in the background the cats looked like creepy demons, nightmarish.
The repetition in the songs really grated. The scenes didn't flow well and I felt like I was watching 1 big scene that didn't connect.
The shunned glam cat confused me so much as I couldn't work out why everyone hated her, seemed super forced.
The Jellicle ball seemed to consist of a whole bunch of performing cats competing to...die? And possibly be reborn?
Meh
Either way, don't watch this non-sensical, plot-lacking disaster.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated The Yanks Are Starving: A Novel of the Bonus Army in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[The Yanks Are Starving] by [Glen Craney] was a very well written book that I really did not want to put down. Which is why I often found my eReader on the floor the next morning where it dropped. As a student of history I am glad to see one of the most glossed over and darkest times in American history addressed. The Bonus Army was a real thing. Our government asked young men to defend democracy overseas but when they returned they were shunned and treated as criminals.
Although some of Craney's characters were fictional(as he states in his notes) they were based on real life people. The hurricane that is referred to at the end of the book where WWI vets were left to fend for themselves is also a true event often called "Hemingway's Hurricane" because of the scathing report he wrote after being one of the first to see it's aftermath.
I think this is a must read book for anyone who wants to learn the truth about American history. Even though it is a fiction story it is purely based on fact and the author really did his research well.
Although some of Craney's characters were fictional(as he states in his notes) they were based on real life people. The hurricane that is referred to at the end of the book where WWI vets were left to fend for themselves is also a true event often called "Hemingway's Hurricane" because of the scathing report he wrote after being one of the first to see it's aftermath.
I think this is a must read book for anyone who wants to learn the truth about American history. Even though it is a fiction story it is purely based on fact and the author really did his research well.
rebeccareadsyt (8 KP) rated Fire and Heist in Books
Jan 17, 2019 (Updated Jan 17, 2019)
Quick read
I received this in December 2018 Fairyloot box.
In this novel, we meet Sky. Sky and her family are wyverns, who mix with humans but also have their own schools etc. In order to impress and go anywhere int he world or BE anyone of status, you need to be able to steal gold. At the beginning of the novel, Sky's mother has gone.nissing following a failed heist, presumed dead by everyone but Sky, get father and brothers. The family have been shunned from the community as a result, and Sky's now ex-boyfriend publicly humiliated her by dumping her and making everyone aware of his thoughts.
But Sky doesn't care about that. Well she does, but she just wants her mother back.
I was pleasantly surprised by this, as the first 50 or so pages felt very "meh" nd I was debating DNF'ing it. In a way, I'm pleased I didn't, as there was such a quick change of events and pacing in the book around chapter 16 (not sure of page number) that kept me hooked until the bitter end.
Definitely something to read if you like dragons, gold and quick reads.
In this novel, we meet Sky. Sky and her family are wyverns, who mix with humans but also have their own schools etc. In order to impress and go anywhere int he world or BE anyone of status, you need to be able to steal gold. At the beginning of the novel, Sky's mother has gone.nissing following a failed heist, presumed dead by everyone but Sky, get father and brothers. The family have been shunned from the community as a result, and Sky's now ex-boyfriend publicly humiliated her by dumping her and making everyone aware of his thoughts.
But Sky doesn't care about that. Well she does, but she just wants her mother back.
I was pleasantly surprised by this, as the first 50 or so pages felt very "meh" nd I was debating DNF'ing it. In a way, I'm pleased I didn't, as there was such a quick change of events and pacing in the book around chapter 16 (not sure of page number) that kept me hooked until the bitter end.
Definitely something to read if you like dragons, gold and quick reads.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Illusionary (Minefield Enforcers #1) in Books
Mar 28, 2020
As one of the few Enhanced humans whose gifts encompass the mental and physical spectrums, Nathalee lives a life separate from others. Even amongst those who the world segregates as potential weapons, Nat is shunned for her telepathic abilities; until she finds her opportunity to make a difference in their tiny world as an enforcer.
Part of a new experimental team, Nathalee must wade through muddied mental waters if they hope to put a stop to the illusions which are coming to violent, life-ruining ends. The suspect pool is large and powerful, but the repercussions of failure put everyone she knows and loves at risk.
With so many possibilities of both suspects and victims, Nat will test the limits of her ability -and her sanity- in order to track the illusionist and stop their tyranny.
Good storyline, decent characters but something was missing for me. I got a little bored towards the end I expected a much bigger baddie and ending. Not sure half the stuff between Nat and Holden were Really needed. I will continue to book 2 as I did like the idea of it.
Part of a new experimental team, Nathalee must wade through muddied mental waters if they hope to put a stop to the illusions which are coming to violent, life-ruining ends. The suspect pool is large and powerful, but the repercussions of failure put everyone she knows and loves at risk.
With so many possibilities of both suspects and victims, Nat will test the limits of her ability -and her sanity- in order to track the illusionist and stop their tyranny.
Good storyline, decent characters but something was missing for me. I got a little bored towards the end I expected a much bigger baddie and ending. Not sure half the stuff between Nat and Holden were Really needed. I will continue to book 2 as I did like the idea of it.