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Kate Mara recommended Lady Jane (1986) in Movies (curated)

 
Lady Jane (1986)
Lady Jane (1986)
1986 | Drama
(0 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

"You know, I haven’t seen the film in a very long time, but because it was another thing that my sister and I, as kids, would watch — the film Lady Jane, with Helena Bonham Carter. And Helena Bonham Carter was, I think she was like, 17. I feel funny saying that’s one of my favorite films, but it really inspired us, and we’re both actors now, and she is, to us, still amazing. When I watched it, I just remember thinking, “Oh my gosh, that’s my dream,” to play that role. I love her. Lady Jane started my love of period films and the British accent, which I’m obsessed with. I just did my first one. I did a medieval film [Ironclad] that… Do you know Jason Flemyng? He’s one of my really good friends. As soon as I heard Jason Flemyng was doing it and that it was medieval, I was like, I don’t even care what it’s about — I gotta do it just for the fun. I was the only girl on the movie. It was hilarious. And yes, I got to do my British accent."

Source
  
A1
6
6.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked this, it had a lot of good things going for it...but...there were a few things that bothered me.

I liked the characters, apart from the flashbacks of Craig obviously. I liked how Abel was so caring of his younger sister and hated himself for what had happened to her under his watch. I liked the camaraderie between all the club staff. I liked Devlin's insistence with his feelings for Abel.

However, I didn't really like the threesome--I knew it was done for a good reason but I can't say I enjoyed reading about Abel hooking up with someone who wasn't Devlin. I didn't like the use of no condoms--Okay, they're likely to be tested regularly working at a gay club but really? I also didn't really like how all the main characters used "babe" when talking to each other, it made them all sound alike and I couldn't really see Devlin using it.

I'll admit I'm intrigued where this is going to go next as I can't see Devlin quitting his pursuit of Abel after the club night and I really liked their relationships progression. I'll keep my eye out for it.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Halloween (1978) in Movies

Oct 30, 2020  
Halloween (1978)
Halloween (1978)
1978 | Horror
John Carpenter's landmark horror movie; not the first slasher movie, but pretty much the textbook example of the genre. A homicidal maniac (and, just possibly, vessel of pure evil) breaks out of an institution and returns to his home town, where he murdered his sister at the age of six. Obsessive doctor Donald Pleasence is in hot pursuit, but Jamie Lee Curtis (in her debut) is about to find that babysitting really deserves danger money...

Always interesting to watch these classic horror films back on the big screen: as usual, there was a lot of nervous sniggering at some of the technical shortcomings of a low-budget production (plus Halloween has been so extensively ripped off and parodied it's the kind of film you feel you've seen before, even if you haven't). However, there were yelps and screams in the appropriate places as the film got going: Carpenter handles the jump scares with consummate technical skill, but it works as well as it does because of the atmosphere he creates, helped mainly by Pleasance. A film that really sets out to do only one thing, and for the most part achieves that brilliantly.
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Feb 4, 2021  
Come read my rave book review for the Young Adult clean romance novel PUDGE & PREJUDICE by Allison Pittman Author Page. "I'm so happy that I did get a chance to read this book because I have become totally smitten with it!" Be sure to enter the giveaway to win a hair scrunchie, a signed copy of the book, and a $25 Visa gift card - three winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2021/02/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-pudge.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
A Mixtape of Big '80s Style, High School Angst, and a Classic Jane Austen Tale

It’s 1984 and after moving to Northenfield, Texas, with her family, Elyse Nebbit faces the challenge of finding her place in a new school, one dominated by social status and Friday night football. When Elyse’s effortlessly beautiful older sister Jayne starts dating golden boy Charlie Bingley, Elyse finds herself curious about Charlie’s popular and brooding best friend, Billy Fitz. Elyse’s body insecurities eventually complicate her relationship with Billy, leaving Jayne and Elyse’s exceedingly blunt friend, Lottie, to step in and help Elyse accept herself for who she is, pant size and all.
     
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ClareR (6001 KP) rated The Road Trip in Books

Aug 4, 2021  
The Road Trip
The Road Trip
Beth O'Leary | 2021 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved this book. The Road Trip has a different feel to it compared to Beth O’Leary’s previous two novels, and whatever direction she’ll take next, I’m going along for the ride (see what I did there!🤭)

I just love the way that O’Leary writes characters: in this book they’re funny, flawed and feel like genuine, real people. There are those with mental health problems, dysfunctional families and strong sibling relationships.

We see the contrast of the carefree student on holiday, and the way that real life has a habit of sticking its oar in - and not always in a good way.

The road trip element was hilarious though. Deliciously awkward, thanks to Addie, Dylan and Dylan’s friend Marcus, with the devil-may-care attitude of Addie’s sister, Debs. And than there’s Rodney (I’l leave him right here - I don’t want to spoil THIS character for you!).

This book is a little darker in places in comparison to her other books, but I absolutely loved every page. I can’t wait to see what’s next from Beth O’Leary. Oh, and you should definitely read this book!!

Many thanks to Quercus for my copy via NetGalley.
  
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Dave Mustaine recommended Changesonebowie by David Bowie in Music (curated)

 
Changesonebowie by David Bowie
Changesonebowie by David Bowie
1976 | Pop
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This was a record I got in my youth; I was really, really young. My sister had previously turned me on to a lot of different music but this was the beginning of my own branching out. I was starting to get my own identity. I had gotten a few weird records of my own and one of them was KISS's Hotter Than Hell and this one came shortly afterwards. What a lot of people missed with Bowie was that he really knew how to jam on an acoustic. They were great pop rock songs but were mostly played on an acoustic. Of course he had a great lead guitar player in Mick Ronson and when you can mix that up with acoustic playing, then you've got something really cool. I have learned some of his songs and it may not be that the chord progressions are unusual, as some people say, but it's the exotic chord choices that make the music weird. Some of those chords always make me think of a dog when he turns his head sideways and looks at you as if to say, ""Are you going to eat that?"

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Rufus Wainwright recommended Racional Vols 1&1 by Tim Maia in Music (curated)

 
Racional Vols 1&1 by Tim Maia
Racional Vols 1&1 by Tim Maia
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This was after a trip to Brazil when I went down there with my mum and my sister and we did some shows. It was an intense moment in my life because Kate had been diagnosed with cancer and her health was pretty precarious. We saw there was a fairly decent run for the next couple of months – the treatment was kind of working and she was feeling relatively okay – so I booked some gigs in Brazil. We proceeded to have one of the most beautiful, decadent, life-affirming trips I ever took in my life, and it was during that little working vacation that I discovered Tim Maia's music, and I've been a fan ever since. He sadly passed away in the 1990s. I love that he represents a real amalgam of so many cultures, as a lot of great Brazilian artists do: African, Spanish, Portuguese, he's just this melting pot of great culture and music and also tremendously individual at the same time. He is certainly well known in large sections of the world, but is a bit of a kept secret in the West."

Source
  
Murders and Metaphors
Murders and Metaphors
Amanda Flower | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
9
9.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Local Author Returns to Murder
Charming Books is providing the books at a signing located at Morton Winery. The author is Belinda Perkins, a local who has become a respected sommelier. However, the evening ends in tragedy when Charming Books owner Violet Waverly finds Belinda’s body in the vineyard. Belinda was the estranged sister of Violet’s friend Lacey, and Lacey becomes the prime suspect. Can Violet figure out the messages that Charming Books is sending her to clear her friend?

It’s been years since I read the earlier books in the series, but I’m glad I reconnected with the characters. While I normally avoid paranormal themed cozies, I find this premise absolutely charming. The mystery is wonderful and kept me guessing right until the end. It’s filled with suspects who are perfect at keeping me confused. A few of the series regulars were fun but underdeveloped here, but that’s because they had little page time. The regulars we saw more of were great, and I especially appreciated the growth we saw in Violet. I hope to return to the next book in the series soon.
  
Little White Lies
Little White Lies
Philippa East | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences, Thriller
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The story is told from a dual perspective. Seven years ago Anne’s daughter disappeared, and now she has been found. Her daughter is a teenager now, so Anne needs to learn how to communicate with her again. Another person who is sharing the story is Jess, Abigail’s cousin sister, who was very close to her when they were both little. I think it was quite a strange character pick. I liked Anne’s thoughts in this book, she was lost, confused and kept fighting to get her daughter back, not this estranged child that she has found. But I didn’t really understand the need for Jess, she just kept repeating herself over and over again, not offering much to the book. I would have enjoyed the book more if Abigail shared her experiences and thoughts. That would’ve made the whole book more absorbing for me.

I really liked the way the author created the suspense in this novel. She kept building it up with very creative clues and mentions of some juicy details. I was absolutely engrossed to find out what this secret will be, and pretty disappointed when I found out what that “big” secret was.