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David McK (3649 KP) rated Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (Hornblower Saga: Chronological Order, #1) in Books

Jan 28, 2019

I remember when I read this at first, just before the Ioan Gruffudd led TV series, as part of a collection entitled 'The Young Hornblower', thinking that this would make a good TV series (although, when it cam e out, I also remember thinking that he was to old for the role as written here - he's meant to be all of about 14!).

I was also completely unaware at the time, and only found out within the last couple of weeks, that this is also (technically) a prequel - i.e. written later, but set earlier - to more than a few of Forester's other Hornblower works.

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, these are your typical 'boys own' adventures of naval derring-do, that quite obviously set the template for other authors to follow (think [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1240500522p2/12542.jpg] 'Sharpe' Series, or [a:Patrick O'Brian|5600|Patrick O'Brian|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1212630063p2/5600.jpg] 'Master and Commander' series).

Based on real life events, these novels (according to Wikipedia!) were also written in such a way that Hornblower was always off elsewhere when great naval battles occured during those wars, hence the reason he is never caught up in Trafalgar!

This particular entry, however, follows Hornblower's early career from when he first came on board (as a sea-sick Midshipman at Spithead), up until he receives his promotion to Lieutenant whilst a prisoner of the Spanish authorities, taking in night-time raids, 'cutting-out' expeditions, a (failed) attempt to start a revolt in France and his first examination for Lietunancy.

Kudos

Deborah (162 KP) rated The Last Days of Richard III and the Fate of His DNA: The Book That Inspired the Dig in Books

Dec 21, 2018

This is only a fairly short book with a limited focus, but nevertheless I found it very interesting. It's odd really, because opinion on the subject tends to be so polarised that it's easy to lose sight of a few simple facts and some of what Ashdown-Hill presents here should really be so obvious! For starters, for all the association of Bosworth with Richard III he didn't know it was going to happen and obviously didn't go in 'knowing' that he was going to be defeated - hindsight may be a great thing, but not if you want to look at historical events in context!

The Portuguese marriage proposals was something that I did know about, but here it's presented so logically it makes absolute sense. The chosen bride was a princes of Portugal, with a Spanish Infanta also in the playing as a reserve option. Both of these princesses were descended from the legitimate and senior branch of the House of Lancaster! Furthermore, it seems that a Portuguese marriage was also in the offing for Elizabeth of York. That being so, the letter supposedly written by her (reported by Buck, but now seemingly lost) makes more sense as does the confusion over Richard II wanting to marry Elizabeth, his niece, which never made any real sort of sense as, if we accept the truth of the Eleanor Butler pre-contract, then the children of Edward IV by Elizabeth Woodville were undoubtedly illegitimate, so there would be absolutely no point in Richard marrying her. On the other hand, Elizabeth and her sisters were the closest things available to Royal Princesses to be traded on the dynastic marriage market.

Kudos

JT (287 KP) rated The Orphanage (2007) in Movies

Mar 10, 2020

The Orphanage (2007)

2007 | Drama, Horror, Mystery

7.8

(5 Ratings)

Movie Rating

This is an eerie and creepy Spanish horror/thriller and was an outstanding achievement for foreign film. Executive produced by Guillermo del Toro the film centres around a young woman returning to her childhood home to open an Orphanage for disabled children.

The couples young son Simon is able to run freely around the old gothic house and play to his heart’s content, but when he begins playing with an imaginary friend things start to take a sinister turn.

The Orphanage is beautifully shot and the setting could not be more apt for a ghost story. The surroundings do enough to make the spine chill before we even catch sight of any odd goings on – but when we do it’s subtle, yet frightening.

The plot doesn’t need to rely on buckets of gore. Maybe with the exception of one particular scene. Instead it takes the audience on a roller coaster journey by manipulating their senses to what they “may or may not” have seen.

The acting too deserves a mention and Belen Rueda who plays Laura displays great emotional prowess as a mother who is on the verge of collapsing with only her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) to offer a glimmer of support. While there may be similarities drawn from other films of this genre; such as The Others and The Shining it doesn’t try to copy or imitate it in any shape or form.

Without spoiling it, the ending is one that will leave film goers everywhere asking many questions and in some cases these may never be answered, something which I love. It’s a brilliant and well scripted film and one I would highly recommend.