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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Crucible in Books

Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)  
The Crucible
The Crucible
8
7.6 (26 Ratings)
Book Rating
Exceptional drama exploring paranoia and hysteria
I remember having to study this book in drama during my school days, which made me become fascinated with the Salem Witch trials and its parallel politics. It is a dramatised and partially fictionalised story of the trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692/93.

The play explores paranoia, the power of superstition and mass hysteria. It shows the dangers of using a scapegoat to fix problems in society. Classed as one of the great American plays along with the likes of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the US government ostracised people for being communists.

Many prominent people became victims of the Red Scare, Arthur Miller was one of many people who came to the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee. In his play The Crucible Miller drew comparisons with the Red Scare and the witch trials of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts.

Truly an awe-inspiring and essential read.
  
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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Unspeakable in Books

Oct 22, 2017 (Updated Oct 22, 2017)  
Unspeakable
Unspeakable
David Talbot, Chris Hedges | 2016 | History & Politics
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A biting outlook on American politics by a veteran journalist
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges and Salon founder David Talbot have a frank conversation about political taboos in this new series of books on 'forbidden' topics.

Hedges writes about politics with a principled fury and an eye to pointing out injustice, even at the cost of his own career as an acclaimed war correspondent. The book is a long-running commentary on the many issues Hedges confronts in his writing, including war, Occupy Wall Street, and the New York Times's relationship to organs of state power.

At times, he sounds like a bitter preacher, at other times, he is focused and forms excellent arguments against the establishment. His views on the pornification of society are liberating, finally addressing the underlying issues of economics invading the private space.

His observation that the today's ruling elites are out of touch with the country they govern and has borne out in the 2016 election cycle, shows that even the most stridently expressed views aren't necessarily wrong.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Hunt (2012) in Movies

Feb 24, 2019  
The Hunt (2012)
The Hunt (2012)
2012 | Drama
9
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Dark and disturbing
This is definitely not an easy film to watch, but it really is very good. It's a stark and difficult to watch tale about the repercussions of lies in a close knit Danish tale. It deals with some very heavy topics and yet doesn't shy away from the subject matter in question, to the point where it's almost too difficult to watch. But this is why this film is so good, it hasn't Hollywood-ised such a difficult subject and instead you can really believe everything that happens.

It's helped of course by a brilliant performance from Mads Mikkelsen. His quiet mild mannered Lucas is a million miles away from what he gets accused of, and Mads' performances itself is very restrained, which is exactly what this film needed. This paired with a subtle score and well done cinematography make for a very haunting watch.

This really has a stark point to make about the judgemental nature of society, and it makes it very well, even if it is disturbing to watch.
  
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Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Passengers in Books

Apr 16, 2019  
The Passengers
The Passengers
John Marrs | 2019 | Contemporary, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller
9
9.3 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
A highly entertaining, twist filled read
When I first started this book i was a little concerned. The plot about 8 hijacked driverless cars seemed a little thin to be able to stretch over such a long 400+ page book, hug as soon as I started reading it had me hooked.

The 400+ pages flew past in record speed, I just couldn't put this book down. What seemed a fairly similar plot was filled with intriguing and well developed character, as well as some fantastic twists and reveals that I never saw coming. It also features quite a serious commentary on social media and bias and even racism, and despite being set in a society slightly more technologically advanced than our own, you can see the truth in the issues highlighted here. You can also imagine our societies becoming similar to this one in the very near future, which is a very sobering thought. This really is a highly entertaining read, and it's not often I get so enthralled in a story to not see the twists coming!
  
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ClareR (5885 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 (5885 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!?

My Very First Story Time: Cinderella
My Very First Story Time: Cinderella
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Cinderella: Fairy Tale with picture glossary and an activity (My Very First Story Time) by Pat-a-Cake, Rachel Elliot, Tim Budgen is a retelling of a much loved story, only with a difference, this has a multicultural slant.

Cinderella, (along with many of the other characters in this book) is portrayed as mixed heritage. She is also more capable of looking after herself, and a much better role model for young girls since this story is less about her being a slave to her ugly sisters and her “woe-is-me” pity-party and more about how she makes things happen for herself as a valued member of her society. Albeit a magical one.

I’d say this is great reading for children three years and up, as this has paper pages and doesn’t seem to be for an early self-reader, despite the title, but you can still read this story out loud to younger children at bedtime.

A charming book, full of diversity, simple rhythmic words and brightly coloured illustrations.
  
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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Florida in Books

Jan 17, 2018  
Florida
Florida
Lauren Groff | 2018 | Fiction & Poetry
8
6.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Wonderful short stories, despite disjointed flow
For those who are unfamiliar of the landscape and society of Florida, Lauren Groff's collection of stories is enticing and varied. Ranging from the usual depictions of alligators, to the atypical descriptions of those who just want to get away, Groff attempts to show the various characters found in the sweltering heat and stormy climes of southern USA.

I particularly enjoyed the story of the mother who takes her two young sons to France to escape the tropical summers and her restless life. It is detailed and you get a sense of her edginess throughout, worried that something may happen to her children or to have an unpleasant encounter with their overbearing landlord.

My only gripe would be that because each story is not clearly signposted, the flow of the stories become confusing and it takes a minute to realise you've begun a whole new chapter. It is a bit jarring, so shorter stories became completely unmemorable as a result. However, it is a pleasant read overall, I enjoyed her writing style.
  
This is one of those novels that has you smiling even after you have finished and placed it back on your shelf. First of all, it is very realistic, especially historically. I cannot tell you have many historical romance novels I have read that is completely of sex. Not only that, but they make the female protagonists out to be strong, independent woman who are so unique against the rest of society that the man immediately falls for her because she is different.

False!

If either of these is in my historical romance, I immediately assume it is trash and donate it. I am unique heroines, in the right time that is. I like my history to be accurate thank you.

Not only that, but I loved the humor. Despite villain and Kelsey's circumstance, it was a pretty lighthearted novel filled with laughter, an simple plotline that was easy to enjoy, and a great continuations of the novels that came before it.

I cannot, however, give it a five due to the predictability of it.
  
I was lucky enough to be able to read this book for one of my college courses regarding Bruce Lee. My professor was using both this biography and Bruce Thomas' biography to shed some light on Bruce Lee's life. I actually used your book as a reference for my research paper for the class. It was very interesting to see the differences and similarities in both this account and Thomas' about Lee's life. This book was actually very beneficial for when I had to write a research paper about Bruce Lee.

I enjoyed being able to see another side of Bruce Lee. Since most accounts only show him as being the bad ass martial artist he was, it was interesting to be able to see a softer and more human side to him rather than the mythic Bruce Lee that is so prevalent in society today.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Bruce Lee and his life outside of the image we see today.
  
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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Tampa in Books

Mar 15, 2018  
Tampa
Tampa
Alissa Nutting | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
8
6.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is meant to shock! Based on the case of Florida teacher Debra Lafave, this book explores a taboo subject with a twist. Not as often do you hear of a female teacher having an affair with a student, so it's a great book that flips this subject on its head to reveal a shocking double standard that's sadly present in our society.

I was so interested in where this story was going and how it was going to end that I hardly put it down! Definitely a NSFW book with some rather graphic scenes. Don't expect this book to be anything like Lolita in the sense that Nabokov writes in a such a way that you catch yourself slipping and feeling sorry for Humbert on occasion, Nutting makes no efforts to make us feel sorry for Celeste, she's presented as a lust driven woman who will stop at nothing to fufill her desires.

By liking this book I am not condoning the actions written within, I simply found this a fascinating read. Very different to anything I've read before.