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Nora Ephron recommended The Golden Notebook in Books (curated)

 
The Golden Notebook
The Golden Notebook
Doris Lessing | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"At an early point in this novel, Lessing’s heroine, Anna, says that she wishes she could write ‘a book powered with an intellectual or moral passion strong enough to create order, to create a new way of looking at life.’ That’s as good a way as any to describe this book and its effect on me—but it’s also a genuinely involving and surprisingly enjoyable read, especially given that it is by a writer with almost no sense of humor. There was a time when I believed that any modern woman had to read The Golden Notebook, but I’m no longer given to pronouncements that are quite so doctrinaire."

Source
  
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Erika (17789 KP) rated The Current War (2017) in Movies

Oct 29, 2019 (Updated Oct 29, 2019)  
The Current War (2017)
The Current War (2017)
2017 | Biography, Drama, History
I believe I have finally reached Benedict Cumberbatch fatigue; all I asked myself during the entire movie was... No other actor could have played Edison? No one else?
First, this movie was supposed to come out in 2017, but was held up because of something to do with Weinstein. This movie hit theaters in the US this past Friday as The Current War - The Director's Cut.
Well, the director didn't cut out enough, in my opinion. It was one of the longest hour and 41 minute movies of my life. Cumberbatch's Alan Turing, sorry, Thomas Edison, was fine. My main issue with the film was that, I didn't know what the point was, it just kept going. I found out at the end, the point was who was going to light The World's Fair in Chicago. That probably should have been introduced a little bit earlier in the film.
I was mostly looking forward to Nicholas Hoult's Tesla. The movie needed more Tesla, and probably shouldn't have sidelined him for the majority of the movie. Shannon's Westinghouse and Macfayden's JP Morgan were both good too.
If anything comes out of this movie's release, hopefully it's that people stop thinking we use the current Edison used.
  
The Haunting (1999)
The Haunting (1999)
1999 | Horror, Mystery
5
5.8 (16 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The CGI (0 more)
Hill House
The Haunting- doesnt live up to the oringal, now thats with most horror remakes, and this is one of them. Liam Neeson and Lili Taylor did a good job. Why cast owen wilson, he does nothing in the film but just say "wow". Catherine Zeta-Jones was just there.

The plot: This horror tale focuses on visitors to the secluded mansion of Hill House who have been called to the isolated location by Dr. David Marrow (Liam Neeson) as part of a study on insomnia. However, Marrow is really investigating fear, and he plans to scare the subjects, including the introverted Nell (Lili Taylor) and the seductive Theo (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Unfortunately for Marrow and everyone staying at Hill House, the manor is actually haunted by an evil spirit out to torment its guests.

Steven Spielberg talked to Stephen King about doing a haunted house movie, and the two agreed that Robert Wise's 1963 film "The Haunting" was a benchmark of cinematic house horror, but after they started writing, the two had creative differences. Spielberg agreed with King's idea to use the real-life Winchester Mystery House, in San Jose, California, as a source of inspiration.

Just watch the oringal.
  
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Darren (1599 KP) rated 1408 (2007) in Movies

Jun 20, 2019  
1408 (2007)
1408 (2007)
2007 | Horror, Mystery
Story: With the story of a sceptic investigating paranormal events but then ends up stuck in these paranormal events he so very much doesn’t believe in, is a very clichéd story. This has most of this and adds in that he is a writer with a dark past involving loss you know where this is going. Mixing it all together we get the idea of redemption for the mistakes we may have done in life. One weak point of this film is that there are two endings that paint a very different picture of the events that happen in the film, I personally prefer the Director’s Cut as I find it has more answer than the Theatrical Cut. (8/10)

 

Actor Reviews

 

John Cusack: Mike Enslin after suffering a personal loss Mike travels around writing about so called haunted hotel and location, bringing out a string of top 10 books looking at his experiences or lack thereof. Mike gets a postcard and against all the advice of the hotel manager he enters the room 1408, were he really gets put to the test. Mike starts off being distant from people, be it fans or his general style of conversation, but soon after the events start happening he changes too quickly for what his character has been through. John does a good job with the role as most of the film is solely around him. (8/10)

 cusack

Samuel L. Jackson: Gerald Olin the manager of the Dolphin hotel trying to protect Mike from entering the room with all kinds of bribes, he tells the full history of the room but unfortunately lets him stay in the room. Good supporting performance from Jackson rarely seen, he is the dominant persona you would expect to see. (8/10)

sam

Director Review: Mikael Hafstrom – Creates some very good scares and keeps you guessing on what is going on, add in what I think is the better ending you get a very good piece of direction. (8/10)

 

Horror: Has some solid scares and some you really don’t see coming along with some nicely built up ones. (9/10)

Mystery: You are constantly wondering what is going on, but a lot is explained at the end. (9/10)

Thriller: Keeps you at the edge of your seat just wait to know what happens next. (9/10)

Settings: The hotel room feels very ordinary but once things starting to happen it turns into a nightmare, working very well for the genre. (9/10)
Special Effects: Strong special effects used throughout. (9/10)

Suggestion: If you are a fan of horror you will enjoy this, if you are a fan of Stephen King you will enjoy this otherwise this one isn’t really for you. (Horror Fans Watch)

 

Best Part: The vents scene.

Worst Part: The two different endings can confuse when talking about this film with others.

Scariest Scene: Vent scene.

Believability: I give this a one because there are people like Mike you investigate the paranormal, but what happens isn’t believable. (1/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

 

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $131,998,242

Budget: $25 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

Tagline: Based on the terrifying story by Stephen King

 

Overall: Good Atmospheric Horror

https://moviesreview101.com/2014/06/28/1408-2007/
  
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Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Allegedly in Books

Apr 10, 2019  
Allegedly
Allegedly
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mary Addison was nine years old when she allegedly killed 3 month old, Alyssa Richardson. Now, it's 6 years later and Mary finds herself pregnant with her own child. She doesn't want anyone to take the baby from her, but who would allow a baby killer to keep a baby. Mary is now living in a group home for juvenile girls. When she turns 18, who knows what is going to happen with her. She has always been a smart girl and is determined to turn her life around and make something of herself, for her and Bean(what she calls the baby). Mary doesn't talk much, but when she finds a way that may help her to keep the baby, she starts talking about that night and filling in gaps that the police were always missing in the story. Will Mary be able to walk away from these charges for good, or will they stick?

I have heard a lot of raving about this book, so I had to pick it up. This is the first book by Tiffany D. Jackson and it was amazing. I can't wait to read the rest of her books which I hear are just as good if not better.

Does a nine year old little girl have the ability and know-how to kill another child? Many people had different ideas about the type of child that Mary was. She was very quiet and very smart and took care of her mother. But did Mary really kill Alyssa? She loved Alyssa and Mrs. Richardson, so why would she hurt the baby? All through the book, you have a soft place in your heart for Mary. I was dying to find out what really happened that night according to Mary, and it took a while to get to that part.

Looking at Mary's life through the group home and back and forth from present day to the night of the accident and the investigation following you have to make your own decision about what truly happened and who is to blame. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from Tiffany D. Jackson.
  
Cut: One Woman's Fight Against FGM in Britain Today
Cut: One Woman's Fight Against FGM in Britain Today
Hibo Wardere | 2017 | Biography
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The need for globalwide FGM education
Female Genital Mutilation is an important and sombre topic to explore, so hats off to Hibo Wardere for covering this by speaking about her own experiences. It is harrowing when she explains her situation as a six year old in Somalia, watching bits of her flesh being cut off while almost passing out in between her screams. It is mutilation in every sense of the word.

Hence her story of becoming an anti-FGM activist in Britain years later is incredible, turning a life-changing trauma into an instigator for good for other young girls. I completely agree with her viewpoint, but she may have to revisit her sources given recent news stories. An essential read.