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Good Joe Bell (2020)
Good Joe Bell (2020)
2020 | Biography, Drama
3
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The film has a great premise. An alpha male walks from his home in La Grange, Oregon to New York to tell the story of his gay son who was bullied so badly he committed suicide. Sounds interesting until you realize that it is nearly impossible to adapt into a cinematic story. It is one man traveling on the road. He is not rich; he is stubborn; he is kind of a jerk to other people. Mark Wahlberg is good as Joe Bell, but there is not much of a character to play. So you have to give him the spirit of his son, but the son would be his version of the son and not the real son so the actor playing him would need to distinguish the two versions. This never happens. Another huge problem is the ending. It comes too quickly and is extremely shocking (and not in a way a filmmaker would want). Yes, the event is foreshadowed in the first act and it would fit with the character, but there needed to be more story in order to achieve the desired effect of the event. The whole film has a problem by staying true to life instead of adding texture to the characters and story.
  
The Quirky Quiz Show Caper
The Quirky Quiz Show Caper
Sally Carpenter | 2016 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Does Sandy Know the Answer to the Big Question?
One Monday, Sandy stops by a small local theater to talk about an upcoming appearance and to talk to his brother, Warren, who moonlights at the theater’s organist when he’s not teaching at a nearby college. As Sandy is going to leave, he stumbles on a dead body in the building’s basement. The victim turns out to be one of Warren’s students, and the evidence seems to be pointing to Warren. Can Sandy find the killer before his brother goes down for a crime he didn’t commit?

Yes, I am teasing the right book. There is a quiz show, but it comes late to the story. I wasn’t bored waiting to get there, and it did tie into the bigger mystery. When we got to the climax, my questions about the plot were answered, but the way the villain tried to silence Sandy didn’t make any sense. I like how we are slowly getting to know the people in Sandy’s life as the series progresses. We get to see him in a different light as a result. The characters were all good. Yes, there were some obvious flaws to me, but overall, I enjoyed this book.
  
Skinny Me
Skinny Me
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jennifer is overweight and miserable. She has recently lost her mother and even more recently, her job. After a party at her cousins house, she is feeling even more miserable about her life. She decides to make a chand and finally lose some weight. She joins a gym and when she finds out her trainer is her cousin, Autumn's hot boyfriend, it's all the motivation she needs. If she loses the weight she knows she will be so much happier. She just has to reach that goal weight. But with so many other issues plaguing her life is this really what is going to make her happy? Will lusting after someone she knows is taken make her happy?

I could relate to Jennifer in some ways. There are days when I look in the mirror and am completely unhappy with my reflection. Then there are other days when it is no big deal. There are so many women with body image issues all over the world regardless if they are overweight or not. It's good to see Charlene Carr tackling an issue such as this one. Jennifer's issues were more than just the number on the scale and until she was ready to face those issues and deal with them head on. Along the way she ends and mends relationships and finds the person her family always knew existed, but hadn't seen behind all of the anger.
  
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Merissa (14132 KP) rated Elle's A to Z of Love in Books

Jun 25, 2021 (Updated Jul 18, 2023)  
Elle's A to Z of Love
Elle's A to Z of Love
Claire Huston | 2021 | Contemporary, Romance
8
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
ELLE'S A TO Z OF LOVE is another charming, genteel story from the wonderful Claire Huston. If you want bright lights and big city, then you're definitely in the wrong place. Here you will find the Village Fayre (with a y) and lots of bunting!

The thing I really enjoyed about this is that Elle doesn't find her 'one' immediately. And it's not the typical boy she's known forever and just didn't realise it. Instead, Ms Huston gives a more realistic version of Elle stumbling through life and trying to figure it out. Now, Elle is mostly a passive character. Don't get me wrong, she's very nice, but she does need to grow a backbone! Thankfully, she does and I was cheering along with everyone else. I loved how life got in the way and things changed and evolved.

The pacing is smooth and the story moves along steadily, helped by an amazing supporting cast of characters. There were no errors that I noticed which helped me enjoy this story.

As far as I am concerned, this is another winner by Claire Huston and absolutely recommended by me. Anyone for a slice of cake?!

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* 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!
Jun 25, 2021