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Nikki G. (48 KP) rated The Maimie Papers: Letters from an Ex-Prostitute in Books
Sep 2, 2017
This was fascinating. I love reading letters and journals from real, everyday people, as I feel they can whole a sense of place and time like no history book ever could.
Maimie Pinzer was a prostitute at the beginning of the twentieth century, and had become addicted to morphine after losing one of her eyes. She must have cut an unusual figure with her eye patch. The charity workers gave her the name of one Mrs. Howe to write to, a society lady with philanthropic interests. What developed was a lifelong friendship. Unfortunately, Mrs. Howe's letters are no longer extant, but Maimie stands on her own, and you can watch her shyness in letters begin to blossom and become a most admirable character, especially considering all of the adversity she faced.
Maimie Pinzer was a prostitute at the beginning of the twentieth century, and had become addicted to morphine after losing one of her eyes. She must have cut an unusual figure with her eye patch. The charity workers gave her the name of one Mrs. Howe to write to, a society lady with philanthropic interests. What developed was a lifelong friendship. Unfortunately, Mrs. Howe's letters are no longer extant, but Maimie stands on her own, and you can watch her shyness in letters begin to blossom and become a most admirable character, especially considering all of the adversity she faced.
Quinn Blackburn (3 KP) rated Svaha in Books
May 1, 2018
Potential and Change
Set in a future where people have retreated to walled cities, if they are lucky. Between the cities lies ravaged wasteland, mutants, polluted landscapes, disaster. Only Native American Enclaves have avoided the pollution running rampant through land and society. Years ago they withdrew with their superior technology, waiting for the day when their skills are needed to restore the Earth and heal the people. Gazhee, dogscout of the People, has been sent from his Enclave to report back on conditions and serve as the eyes of his people. His first task is to find out what happened to the Enclave plane brought down by someone in the nearest city. Has the time for healing begun, or is all hell about to break loose?
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) rated Tag (2018) in Movies
Feb 3, 2019
Yikes
Contains spoilers, click to show
This movie started off as a fun, mindless romp but in the second half of the movie, one of the characters pretends to have a miscarriage and it is used as a joke among the other characters. As a woman who endured four traumatic miscarriages, this was a very dark turn for me and I could not focus so much on the movie as my nerves were made raw from their callous treatment of a sensitive, traumatic event that happens to more women than you think. Miscarriage has been a taboo topic in society and women have had to suffer in silence. It should not be used so lightly as a plotline in a freaking comedy. As I said, it ruined the movie for me and I do not recommend it.
Awix (3310 KP) rated A Private War (2018) in Movies
Feb 23, 2019 (Updated Feb 24, 2019)
Solid biopic detailing the last years of the celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin, including visits to Sri Lanka, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. To some extent it constitutes a catalogue of recent sources of liberal shame, and there are moments when the film threatens to become sanctimonious, trite, and portentous, but the performances from Pike and Dornan are strong and keep it authentic.
Obviously the film is about the role of war correspondents and the role they play in our society, but the film also works on a more personal level, about what exactly it was that drove someone like Colvin to put her life in danger time after time. If it never quite gets to the bottom of this, that's probably excusable as she herself probably couldn't have said. A serious, well-made film.
Obviously the film is about the role of war correspondents and the role they play in our society, but the film also works on a more personal level, about what exactly it was that drove someone like Colvin to put her life in danger time after time. If it never quite gets to the bottom of this, that's probably excusable as she herself probably couldn't have said. A serious, well-made film.
Jill528 (15 KP) rated Before We Were Yours in Books
Jun 16, 2018 (Updated Jun 16, 2018)
I was completely blown away by this powerful and heart-wrenching story about family, love, perseverance, and loss!
This novel was inspired by the horrifying true events of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, run by Georgia Tann from the 1920’s-1950’s. The plot is written from two points of view, weaving between past and present, this is the story of how one family’s past has shaped its present. Lisa Wingate’s writing is absolutely flawless. She pulls you deep into the lives of each character where you feel like you are inside the novel witnessing all these heinous events up close.
Before We Were Yours is one of the best historical fiction books I have read to date, it will definitely stay with me for a very long time. Highly recommend!
This novel was inspired by the horrifying true events of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, run by Georgia Tann from the 1920’s-1950’s. The plot is written from two points of view, weaving between past and present, this is the story of how one family’s past has shaped its present. Lisa Wingate’s writing is absolutely flawless. She pulls you deep into the lives of each character where you feel like you are inside the novel witnessing all these heinous events up close.
Before We Were Yours is one of the best historical fiction books I have read to date, it will definitely stay with me for a very long time. Highly recommend!
Nadya R (9 KP) rated A Paris Apartment in Books
Jul 2, 2018
At first sign I knew that I should read this book. The story is so familiar with "Sarah's key'story so I couldn't passed by. It's so easy to read and I didn't even realised when I turned over the half of the book. I had feeling that I know what is going to happen - Marthe is April's grand-grandmother, but I was wrong and this satisfied me, because I hate books with predictable ending. Although this feeling follow me through the hole book I really enjoyed it. This novel brings you to sunny Paris in Belle epoque mixed with XXI century routine. The best thing this book can offer is curiosity. It made me open Google and search for more information about Marthe, Giovanni Boldini, Victor Hugo and other characters from Beautiful epoch's high society.
Dominique Marie (7 KP) rated The Hunger Games in Books
Nov 28, 2018
So, here is what I thought. This was a very entertaining story. I think that the romance was too contrived. It is a young adult fiction, so I sort of expect that, but it doesn't mean that I should expect that. Collins could have done a better job on that. Also, I was hoping for a bit more development in certain areas, and a more "in your face" to the Capitol ending, but there are two more books, so I'm sure that will come later. The writing could have been more polished as well. Other than that, I really enjoyed it. It has themes of redemption, loyalty, and forgiveness, and being set in a culture of death, I think that this book is very relevant to today's society.
Fatima Figueira (106 KP) rated Detroit: Become Human in Video Games
Jan 4, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
I'm not normally a fan of videogames but this one was a surprise. It was refreshing to be pulled in not only by the game but for the story itself and the philosophy behind it. It's not however a game for everyone due to its extreme violence, therefore more suitable for adults and people that don't mind being faced with an imperfect society and the prohlems that come with it. I also lived the fact that the main character is not only an outsider ( a feeling that most of us are familiar with) but is female which opens the market for a whole new wave of players that are often tired of a male dominated industry.
James Williams (5 KP) rated Joker (2019) in Movies
Oct 26, 2019
Joaquin Phoenix's Performance (1 more)
Nostalgic Feel
Outstanding!
This falls just short of a true masterpiece. I felt there was no need to reference bruce wayne in the film at all or show the death of his parents as most avid fans will already know the deal but i can see why this may have been done for a new audience. There were a few things that I love about this movie...you show this to someone who has never heard or seen it and you could believe it was a film made 20 even 30 years ago. The other is that even if you don't like comic book movies, you could still enjoy this as a film about a struggling man in society. Saw it twice and was just as mesmerising the 2nd time.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Sorry to Bother You (2018) in Movies
Jan 16, 2019
Boisterous, anarchic satire with absurdist elements, concerning the socio-political awakening of a young African-American man. Cash Green (it's not always subtle) discovers a talent for telemarketing, but only while he uses his 'white voice' (the actor is ostentatiously dubbed at these moments). Success beckons, but can he overlook the moral consequences of the things his employers do?
Scatter-gun satire is mixed in with some not-especially-profound commentary on the nature of American society and economics; luckily the film is filled with enough energy and ideas to stay interesting and entertaining throughout. Comes a bit unravelled towards the end, but still features some of the funniest, most provocative scenes in recent memory. Very good performances from Stanfield and Hammer in particular. A passionate, vibrant, very inventive film.
Scatter-gun satire is mixed in with some not-especially-profound commentary on the nature of American society and economics; luckily the film is filled with enough energy and ideas to stay interesting and entertaining throughout. Comes a bit unravelled towards the end, but still features some of the funniest, most provocative scenes in recent memory. Very good performances from Stanfield and Hammer in particular. A passionate, vibrant, very inventive film.