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Thank You For the Days
Thank You For the Days
Dan Brotzel | 2024 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Thank You For the Days is a thoroughly lovely read. Luke Milvaine, a man in his 30’s, seems to have lost his direction in life. He lives in the basement of his stepfathers house with his step-siblings living upstairs with their father. His mum died some years before and his dad is absent (he’s travelling around the world on business, and seems to have little time for Luke).

Luke inherits a cockapoo from an old school friend after he dies, he’s constantly yearning after the illusive Yasmine (who he refers to as ‘The One’) after a whirlwind holiday romance, and his job is really not what he wants to be doing.

To add challenge to his life, Luke decides to set himself a different challenge everyday for a year, and celebrates a different ‘Day’ every day. Some of them seem quite good, whilst others are FAR from good (shower with a friend, anyone? National Gimp day?).

I enjoyed seeing Luke grow throughout this book, and the way his relationship developed with his work colleague, Holly and his long-suffering stepdad. His bosses (a father and daughter who constantly bicker) were very funny, and some of the days he sets himself are certainly very challenging!

This book is a good reminder that we should make the most of the time that we have, and the people that we have in our lives.

Many thanks for the review copy that I received from the author (far too long ago, and I do apologise!), and this is an honest review!
  
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David McK (3857 KP) rated Soul (2020) in Movies

Dec 27, 2020  
Soul (2020)
Soul (2020)
2020 | Adventure, Animation, Comedy
Pixar's latest (at the time of reviewing), released exclusively on Disney+.

I don't know whether it was always intended to be so, or because of the current worldwide Covid-19 pandemic (I lean towards the latter).

In any case, this is somewhat along the lines of 'Inside Out', although more metaphysical in nature, examining just what life is all about. It takes a good 40 minutes or so - I felt - to get going, and probably could have trimmed the ending down a bit.

I guess what I'm trying to say is there there is the kernel of a good idea and film here, but - for me - it just doesn't really cut it, with too much padding (IMO) to make it a really enjoyable movie. Definitely not up there with the likes of any of the 'Toy Story' films, or even with the aforementioned 'Inside Out' despite the similarities

Animation is top-notch, though.
  
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Rachel (48 KP) rated Small Gods in Books

May 24, 2017  
Small Gods
Small Gods
Terry Pratchett | 1992 | Fiction & Poetry, Humor & Comedy, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences
10
8.9 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
Funny (4 more)
Philosophy
Fantasy
Terry Pratchett
Excellent fiction
The 13th Discworld book
Small God's is the 13th book in the Discworld series. You do not have to have read any of the other books to understand this one as it features characters that (mostly) only appear in this book.

As with all of Pratchett's work it is a subtle blend of humour and humanity. It uses amazing characters and situations to highlight the hypocrisy and insanity of real life.


This book focuses on Brutha; a 'slow', ordinary monk for the God Om. It is the biggest, and most ruthless, religion in this part of the Discworld.
Brutha is gardening, as he always is (not much use for anything else) when a tortoise literally drops into his life and changes his world......


This book questions the hierarchy of religion, the wisdom of power, philosophy, the righteousness of war and whether a tortoise really does make good eating.
  
Batman (1989)
Batman (1989)
1989 | Action
The Best Batman Joker movie yet
Bruce Wyane (Keaton) is a billionaire with a dark past on how his parents were killed. His motivation is life has become to never see crime like this happen in Gotham city again and becomes the crime fighter known as Batman. Jack Napier (Nicholson) is a life long criminal who gets dropped into a vat of chemicals and becomes the maniacal criminal villain known as Joker. Vicki Vale (Bassinger) is a reporter who wants to find out out more about the bat and becomes Bruce's love interest but, also strikes the fancy of the Joker. Who will Gotham and the girl belong to when it's all done?

The best Batman movie in my opinion. Keaton gives a great portrayal of Bruce/Batman and Nicholson as the Joker gives us the right emotions that he deserves. Bassinger is also very good as the love intrest. All in all a great watch
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Mary Queen of Scots (2018) in Movies

Jan 23, 2019 (Updated Jan 23, 2019)  
Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
2018 | Biography, Drama, History
There's Something About Mary
Yet another crack at the famous life-story of Mary Stuart. It's all a bit complicated and has to do with religious conflict and dynastic succession; if I understood it better I could probably get higher scores on Crusader Kings 2. This is a period of history that everyone sort-of knows a bit about without really understanding the details, and it would have been great if the film had really got to the heart of the politics and personalities involved, but instead the director seems more interested in giving the story more of a modern resonance than it really requires.

Still, good frocks, and many incidental pleasures to be found, especially amongst the supporting performances. Saoirse Ronan doesn't quite dominate the film as you might imagine; Margot Robbie is at least as impressive in a rather smaller part. In the end it's kind of okay if you just like costume dramas, but it doesn't really bring the story to life.