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Ingrid Goes West (2017)
Ingrid Goes West (2017)
2017 | Comedy
Very disturbing
What worries me the most about this film is how disturbingly accurately it reflects today’s society. There is never a doubt about the realism of how the insta-celeb and the stalker-esque are depicted, and it makes for a very depressing watch. It really puts me off using certain social media.

Aubrey Plaza is a great choice, as she really knows how to do crazy stalker and she makes the film even more disturbing. My problem was the plot was a bit predictable, I didn’t think it was particularly funny and I felt the ending was a bit of a letdown and potentially not the right message to be sending? Its not a terrible film and I appreciate what it’s trying to do, it’s just not a film to watch if you need cheering up!
  
    McTeague

    McTeague

    Frank Norris

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    Book

    First published in 1899, this graphic depiction of urban American life centers around its title...

Sing, Unburied, Sing
Sing, Unburied, Sing
Jesmyn Ward | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.5 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Toni Morrison novel updated for modern times
This is no doubt a modern day version of reading a Toni Morrison novel. From the magical realism aspect to social issues affecting African Americans, this novel is both haunting and almost poetic.

The story follows a family on their way to a prison, in which the children's white father is due to be released. The teenage boy and his three year old sister are mostly dependent on one another as well as their grandparents Pop and Mam. The mother Leonie is absent, and rather aloof in their upbringing, forcing her son, Jojo to bring up his kid sister. In between are disturbing stories featured in flashbacks and ghostly apparitions, The novel explores interracial relationships, police brutality and even post traumatic stress disorder to a degree.

While it can seem haphazard, going back and forth in time, and random narratives appearing throughout, it leaves the reader with a sense of unease and despair at the violent nature of society. A truly intriguing read.
  
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ClareR (5721 KP) rated Spring in Books

Apr 28, 2019  
Spring
Spring
Ali Smith | 2019 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is Britain now.
This book describes what it is to live in Britain in 2019. The previous two books in the seasonal quartet looked at the Brexit vote, Trump’s election, and this one seems to have a central theme of borders and immigration (although you could argue that immigration seems to have been an overarching theme so far).
There is so much going on beneath the surface in these books if you want to research and find out, but it is just a fascinating and exciting book to read just for the joy of reading it.
I loved the “What we want”, “Any time at all. Here take it. Take my face”, and “Now for 140 seconds of cutting edge realism” chapters. They reflect society today so well: how people hide behind social media and the internet to say whatever they want to without fear of any repercussions, and the violence behind what they say (both obvious and insidious).
Ali Smith is just so clever, and I love her books. I can’t wait to see what Summer will hold for us.
  
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Kaz (232 KP) May 26, 2019

I've been thinking about reading some of Ali Smith's work for a while now. I might give this book a go. Great review!

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ClareR (5721 KP) May 26, 2019

Thanks @Kaz ! She’s one of my favourite authors - and I haven’t been disappointed with any of her books yet!?

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ClareR (5721 KP) rated Odette in Books

Jan 5, 2019  
Odette
Odette
Jessica Duchen | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A charming story
A lovely, magical book about a swan that crashes through Mitzi's flat window during a storm, and then at dusk turns into a young woman. This is a reworking of the Swan Princess/ Swan Lake, or rather a 'what would happen if her spell lasted for over 100 years'?
The Princess, Odette, is naive, even though she is over 100 years old (being a swan for half of your time and living in the woods on your own, will do that to a person, I suppose), and adjusting to life in the modern age is quite hard for her. She is adamant that she needs to find a man to love her to break the spell, and Mitzi just wants to protect her and help her where she can.
I really enjoyed this story, which is rich in magical realism. The contrast of old magic and modern British life, made it on the whole quite believable, really!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for the chance to read this story on their social platform!