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Awix (3310 KP) rated Moxie (2021) in Movies
Mar 28, 2021
Superior Netflix high-school comedy-drama. A teenage girl is provoked into starting a feminist club at her high school and resist the double-standards she sees everywhere. (There are jokes, too.)
Sounds like another crashingly didactic piece of post-Weinstein agitprop, but director Amy Poehler is smart enough to mix a little more grit and nuance into the formula. There are still things about the movie which grate slightly - the female principal of the school is almost comically indifferent, there's a rather-too-glib piece of plotting about a rape, and the demonisation of white men is surely problematic - but this is subtle and funny and occasionally sweet and tender, and you do care about the characters and their situations. The film is insightful enough to imply that even if an injustice is brazen and obvious, it doesn't necessarily follow that the solution to it is straightforward. This is an openly feminist film with an axe to grind, but still an accessible piece of entertainment.
Sounds like another crashingly didactic piece of post-Weinstein agitprop, but director Amy Poehler is smart enough to mix a little more grit and nuance into the formula. There are still things about the movie which grate slightly - the female principal of the school is almost comically indifferent, there's a rather-too-glib piece of plotting about a rape, and the demonisation of white men is surely problematic - but this is subtle and funny and occasionally sweet and tender, and you do care about the characters and their situations. The film is insightful enough to imply that even if an injustice is brazen and obvious, it doesn't necessarily follow that the solution to it is straightforward. This is an openly feminist film with an axe to grind, but still an accessible piece of entertainment.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus recommended The Wizard of Oz (1939) in Movies (curated)
Connor Jessup recommended Late Spring (1949) in Movies (curated)
Connor Jessup recommended There Was a Father (1942) in Movies (curated)
Connor Jessup recommended Good Morning (1959) in Movies (curated)
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated The Forgiving Jar in Books
Feb 25, 2019
Many of y'all know me, and know that one of my favorite genres to read is Amish fiction. Among that Amish fiction, there is this really amazingly talented author who never fails to hook me, keep me focused on the story, and make me feel as if I was a character within the pages as I follow the ups, downs, ins and outs of her beloved characters' lives. That author is Wanda Brunstetter. She is phenomenal. So, I looked forward to opening up the next book in her Prayer Jars series. Let me tell you this: She did not disappoint me. In fact, I was blown away with this story.
Ms. Brunstetter has woven a tender story with this book. It's full of secrets and twists, but also full of hope, longing, forgiving and grace. Sara and Brad's characters are tenderly chiseled together to create a few sparks of romance blooming within the book, and Michelle's character.....well, let me say that at first, I wanted to hate her, for assuming a life that wasn't her own. But, through the words of Ms. Brunstetter, through the forgiving grace of God, I was able to see why she did it, and much like the story line suggests, and forgive her for it, the same as if she truly did it to me.
The way Ms. Brunstetter makes me feel at the end of the book, like she wrote solely for me (which, of course, I know she did not but that's how good her writing is!), has once again left me ready for her next book in the series so I can feel this way again. The Forgiving Jar is a tender story, one that makes the reader sit and reflect about forgiving and letting go of the pain and the past, and focus on the here and now. Anything less than a 5 star praise for this book, would not be doing it justice. Well done, Ms. Brunstetter. Well done.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shiloh Run Press and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Ms. Brunstetter has woven a tender story with this book. It's full of secrets and twists, but also full of hope, longing, forgiving and grace. Sara and Brad's characters are tenderly chiseled together to create a few sparks of romance blooming within the book, and Michelle's character.....well, let me say that at first, I wanted to hate her, for assuming a life that wasn't her own. But, through the words of Ms. Brunstetter, through the forgiving grace of God, I was able to see why she did it, and much like the story line suggests, and forgive her for it, the same as if she truly did it to me.
The way Ms. Brunstetter makes me feel at the end of the book, like she wrote solely for me (which, of course, I know she did not but that's how good her writing is!), has once again left me ready for her next book in the series so I can feel this way again. The Forgiving Jar is a tender story, one that makes the reader sit and reflect about forgiving and letting go of the pain and the past, and focus on the here and now. Anything less than a 5 star praise for this book, would not be doing it justice. Well done, Ms. Brunstetter. Well done.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shiloh Run Press and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Merissa (11779 KP) rated By The Book in Books
Jun 26, 2017
By the Book by Maria Vickers
By the Book is a story that will give you the warm fuzzies as you pray for Josh and Sam to get together, and to STAY together. This may sound easy, but these two have both families against them. Josh does act immature at times, but he is actually mature enough to realise it! Sam is trying so hard to do the right thing, that he may end up losing the best thing for him.
This is a wonderful story, excellently told, and giving great insight into how family can cause issues even if they are not on the doorstep! With plenty of situations to keep the characters on their toes, their characters grow throughout. This is definitely a feel-good book, that has no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed.
Hot, steamy, tender, poignant, it's all here. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is a wonderful story, excellently told, and giving great insight into how family can cause issues even if they are not on the doorstep! With plenty of situations to keep the characters on their toes, their characters grow throughout. This is definitely a feel-good book, that has no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed.
Hot, steamy, tender, poignant, it's all here. Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Scandal of the Season in Books
Jan 18, 2018
An absolute delight to read. Nothing pleases me more than a couple who genuinely loves each other. Its so hard to put into words how I feel about this novel. While its not groundbreaking or revolutionary, Scandal of the Season is a lovely read filled with mutual love built upon friendship. Its such a change from the romances where the couple fight the entire time or fall in love because they are forced into each others presence for extended periods of time (a.k.a soulmates trope).
I am not sure what I can say about this book. It had a simple but enjoyable storyline, entertaining characters, and a tender love story. The writer also has an easy style that make the story a pleasure to read. The only negative comment I have is that the title is a little misleading. I am still not sure what the scandal was
If you are a fan of historical romance, this should definitely be on your TBR list.
I am not sure what I can say about this book. It had a simple but enjoyable storyline, entertaining characters, and a tender love story. The writer also has an easy style that make the story a pleasure to read. The only negative comment I have is that the title is a little misleading. I am still not sure what the scandal was
If you are a fan of historical romance, this should definitely be on your TBR list.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated When I Hit You: Or, a Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife in Books
Nov 13, 2019
This book hit me
The writer searched for a tender embrace and found rape and punches. Kandasamy is a poet and beautifully she uses words to punch back or to make sense of a horrific and unimaginable monstrosity of a situation. However, when I say poetic please don't assume this is pretentious for it is not. you sometimes feel terrible for enjoying the words as a thing of beauty,and it is a beautiful piece of writing, but it is there to mind meaning in the inexcusable. It is a wonderful cathartic explosion of finding sense where there is none. of finding hope where there was only hatred in the name of love. My hope is it may give another legs to run or an abuser a reflection into their monstrosity. This may be listed as a feminist book but is fighting against evil cruelty, bullying and rape feminist or is it a struggle to be more human?
Merissa (11779 KP) rated All He Ever Needed in Books
Nov 5, 2018
All He Ever Needed by Cate Ashwood
All He Ever Needed is a gentle friends-to-lovers story. Ethan has known he was gay for over a decade, but didn't say anything. Not only did he want to make it work with his long-term, high school sweetheart, but the man he loves is completely unavailable, so he thinks. However, you can only live a lie for so long, and this book starts when Ethan's life comes crashing down.
This was very sympathetically written - you get to see how it affected ALL of the characters, and none of them were unnecessarily angsty about it either. There is some angst here, as Jase needs to figure out just how to be with Ethan when real life invades, but nothing too much.
This was an excellently written story, with no editing or grammatical errors. With low angst, charming characters, and a tender love story, I have no hesitation in recommending this book. Another winner by Cate Ashwood.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This was very sympathetically written - you get to see how it affected ALL of the characters, and none of them were unnecessarily angsty about it either. There is some angst here, as Jase needs to figure out just how to be with Ethan when real life invades, but nothing too much.
This was an excellently written story, with no editing or grammatical errors. With low angst, charming characters, and a tender love story, I have no hesitation in recommending this book. Another winner by Cate Ashwood.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!