The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea
Book
A desperate orphan turned pirate and a rebellious imperial daughter find a connection on the high...
The Mystery of Samba: Popular Music and the National Identity in Brazil
Book
Samba is Brazil's "national rhythm," the foremost symbol of its culture and nationhood. To the...
Dreams of African Alabama
Book
Winner of the 2007 Wesley-Logan Prize of the American Historical Association, the 2009 G. Sulzby...
‘Tho I Be Mute by Heather Miller
Book
Home. Heritage. Legacy. Legend. In 1818, Cherokee John Ridge seeks a young man’s education at...
Historical Fiction Romance
The Good Lord Bird
Book
Now a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke and Daveed Diggs Winner of the National Book...
A Royal's Touch (The Royal Gordanos Series #1)
Book
Two worlds, two hearts, one desire. For half-fey, half-Royal vampire Ava Gordano, keeping...
Paranormal Romance Erotic
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated 12 Years a Slave (2013) in Movies
Sep 6, 2017
The story of Solomon Northrup entails a free black man in America being kidnapped and then sold into slavery. He is gifted and educated, on top of having led a free life with his wife and children, hence in many ways it can be seen as even more traumatic knowing what is already out there.
What's interesting is the complicity of others involved, including other African Americans who have had to turn the other cheek in order to survive. The white men are despicable in this film, the brutality is truly horrifying.
It goes without saying Chiwetel Ejiofor is fantastic as Solomon, he's understated which makes his acting all the more moving. Michael Fassbender is particularly gratuitous in his role as a slave owner. Lupita Nyong'o is absolutely outstanding, playing a woman brutalized by the master for his own disgusting needs. The women go through a particular hell in this horrid period of history. You'll need a strong countenance to watch this.
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Grey Bastards in Books
Jul 12, 2018
This grimdark fantasy tale takes place in a world where human-orc halfbreeds (half-orcs) have been freed from slavery and grudgingly given patches of land by the humans in thanks for their help in vanquishing the bloodthirsty orcs. These half-orcs roam the land in biker gangs looking to protect their Lots from orcs and the occasional mindless centaur raid. These hoofs have a fierce brotherhood with strict laws and rules and take no nonsense.
The story follows the Grey Bastards, one such hoof, as they inadvertently anger their human opposites and put their truce at danger. There then follows a twisting, turning adventure revealing more and more of the land's past as Jackal, the main PoV character, looks to strengthen and protect his hoof from internal and external forces.
A fantastically written tale set in an exciting land with a fresh feel to it - some standard fantasy races portrayed differently here, and in a world that feels like the Mexican borderlands.
An utterly gripping story with brilliant narrative and an enjoyable complex plot revealed at perfect pace.
Charlemagne: Father of a Continent
Alessandro Barbero and Allan Cameron
Book
The most important study of Charlemagne in a generation, this biography by distinguished medievalist...
Minister of Money: Henry Duncan, Saving Banks, Poetry and the Kirk
Book
Henry Duncan was a man of many parts: parish minister, savings bank founder, political lobbyist,...
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) Sep 7, 2017
Lindsay (1717 KP) Sep 7, 2017