Search
Search results
Fails to Disappoint :)
This book certainly deserves its status as an essential modern classic.
It provides a somewhat sinister feel, but remains thought provoking. The overall story is short, but it incorporates such strong ideas that it makes up for it being a short read. Not only is it enjoyable, but it also serves to educate the reader on the dangers of attempting a utopian society. Its concept of why it is important to retain human memories – even the bad – in order that wisdom can exist, adds to the fascinating factor.
This book would be great to spur discussion and introspection. Although fans of contemporary dystopian novels will be sure to love this series, the book isn't solely the story of a depressing utopia. It's mainly the story of the relationship between the main characters: the Giver, Jonas, and... I won't say her name, and of course, the baby Gabe. This book is a more of a mystery in which things don't much get answered- they're left to linger. That's part of the beauty and hopefulness in this book! Just read the damn book, then call me.
You won't be disappointed if you read it, because it's an enjoyable read. It contains a great plot, the community is interesting, and the ending is fantastic and JUST a little ambiguous!-- cool!
It provides a somewhat sinister feel, but remains thought provoking. The overall story is short, but it incorporates such strong ideas that it makes up for it being a short read. Not only is it enjoyable, but it also serves to educate the reader on the dangers of attempting a utopian society. Its concept of why it is important to retain human memories – even the bad – in order that wisdom can exist, adds to the fascinating factor.
This book would be great to spur discussion and introspection. Although fans of contemporary dystopian novels will be sure to love this series, the book isn't solely the story of a depressing utopia. It's mainly the story of the relationship between the main characters: the Giver, Jonas, and... I won't say her name, and of course, the baby Gabe. This book is a more of a mystery in which things don't much get answered- they're left to linger. That's part of the beauty and hopefulness in this book! Just read the damn book, then call me.
You won't be disappointed if you read it, because it's an enjoyable read. It contains a great plot, the community is interesting, and the ending is fantastic and JUST a little ambiguous!-- cool!
LucyB (47 KP) rated Big Little Lies in Books
Jul 23, 2017
Magnificently clever, darkly humorous, thought-provoking read.
Sigh. I do so love it when I finish a book and wish it wasn't finished! Big Little Lies is absolutely one of the best books I've read for a while, and absolutely had me hooked from start to finish.
The story focuses on three main characters: bolshy Madeleine, mousy Jane and beautiful Celeste - who share a common bond; they have children starting the same kindergarten class. However, things go swiftly wrong when Jane's child Ziggy is accused of trying to strangle another child - a situation that soon escalates with alarming consequences.
The book captures playground politics to perfection (I'm wagering the author MUST have kids of her own), but goes far beyond exploring the behaviour of over-zealous school mums. It also examines the insanity of bullying, how quickly situations can spiral out of control, and the horror of domestic abuse. In spite of handling some weighty issues, it also manages to be quite darkly amusing and highly wry.
The characters are likeable, engaging and relateable (I'd guess most mothers reading this book would instinctively 'gravitate' towards one of the three protagonists). And the ending? I won't spoil it - but put it like this, I certainly didn't see it coming.
Love love love this book. Definitely one to read, folks!
The story focuses on three main characters: bolshy Madeleine, mousy Jane and beautiful Celeste - who share a common bond; they have children starting the same kindergarten class. However, things go swiftly wrong when Jane's child Ziggy is accused of trying to strangle another child - a situation that soon escalates with alarming consequences.
The book captures playground politics to perfection (I'm wagering the author MUST have kids of her own), but goes far beyond exploring the behaviour of over-zealous school mums. It also examines the insanity of bullying, how quickly situations can spiral out of control, and the horror of domestic abuse. In spite of handling some weighty issues, it also manages to be quite darkly amusing and highly wry.
The characters are likeable, engaging and relateable (I'd guess most mothers reading this book would instinctively 'gravitate' towards one of the three protagonists). And the ending? I won't spoil it - but put it like this, I certainly didn't see it coming.
Love love love this book. Definitely one to read, folks!
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated In Plain Sight: Seeing God's Signature throughout Creation in Books
Apr 27, 2018
Rating: 4.5
As an artist, a writer, and a creator, God has left His fingerprints in His work. Look at an eyeball… now look at gold particles. Look at a cabbage leaf… now look at blood vessels. One of my favorite comparisons: The birth of a cell, a nebula in space. A cell is so small… a nebula is so big. Both are small or big to the point that we really can't wrap our minds around how small and big they are… and yet the similarities are striking.
Gordon has created a beautiful book with 40 days of photographs and daily devotions, scripture verses, and some thought provoking questions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through his thoughts and devotional guides. This book really opened my eyes to what was meant when God said that He had clearly exposed himself in creation, so that man had no excuse.
In Plain Sight was a joy to explore, and left me with a whole new way of looking at God's creation.
Recommendation: This book would be great for a family devotion, a small group, a Bible study, or an individual of any age. I would recommend keeping a notebook to answer the questions, and instead of reading the one verse in the text, read the paragraph or chapter that it came from, for the sake of keeping the verses in context.
As an artist, a writer, and a creator, God has left His fingerprints in His work. Look at an eyeball… now look at gold particles. Look at a cabbage leaf… now look at blood vessels. One of my favorite comparisons: The birth of a cell, a nebula in space. A cell is so small… a nebula is so big. Both are small or big to the point that we really can't wrap our minds around how small and big they are… and yet the similarities are striking.
Gordon has created a beautiful book with 40 days of photographs and daily devotions, scripture verses, and some thought provoking questions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through his thoughts and devotional guides. This book really opened my eyes to what was meant when God said that He had clearly exposed himself in creation, so that man had no excuse.
In Plain Sight was a joy to explore, and left me with a whole new way of looking at God's creation.
Recommendation: This book would be great for a family devotion, a small group, a Bible study, or an individual of any age. I would recommend keeping a notebook to answer the questions, and instead of reading the one verse in the text, read the paragraph or chapter that it came from, for the sake of keeping the verses in context.
Midge (525 KP) rated The Sisters’ Secrets: Reen in Books
Apr 4, 2019
Well Worth A Read!
This is the second book in a series entitled ‘The Sisters’ Secrets.’ The first one is called ‘The Sisters’ Secrets: Rose’, which I haven’t read, though, whilst not ideal, I don’t think it matters that much if they are read out of sequence. It was still a great book for me and worked fine as a stand-alone read.
The Sisters’ Secrets: Reen has all the required ingredients that make a really fantastic story in its genre: from the mood and undercurrents to the good writing and the experience of love and friendship, not forgetting the feelings of hope and moving on from the past.
There is plenty of romance in this thought-provoking story and lots of lighter moments, but this is not lightweight paranormal dross. It examines issues around family and relationships as well as bereavement and loss.
I recommend this very engaging, if a little short, read to those with a fondness for the Romance and Women’s Fiction genres. There are more secrets to be revealed in the next book of the series ‘The Sisters’ Secrets: Pearl’ and I will be reading that book, too!
Thanks to NetGalley, HQ Digital and the author, Katlyn Duncan for my free ARC of The Sisters’ Secrets: Reen in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheSistersSecretsReen
The Sisters’ Secrets: Reen has all the required ingredients that make a really fantastic story in its genre: from the mood and undercurrents to the good writing and the experience of love and friendship, not forgetting the feelings of hope and moving on from the past.
There is plenty of romance in this thought-provoking story and lots of lighter moments, but this is not lightweight paranormal dross. It examines issues around family and relationships as well as bereavement and loss.
I recommend this very engaging, if a little short, read to those with a fondness for the Romance and Women’s Fiction genres. There are more secrets to be revealed in the next book of the series ‘The Sisters’ Secrets: Pearl’ and I will be reading that book, too!
Thanks to NetGalley, HQ Digital and the author, Katlyn Duncan for my free ARC of The Sisters’ Secrets: Reen in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #TheSistersSecretsReen
Awix (3310 KP) rated Vice (2018) in Movies
Jan 31, 2019
Adam McKay's attempt to reinvent himself as a sort of non-documentarian version of Michael Moore is not so much a hatchet-job as a machete-job - no, make that a chainsaw-job - on the reputation of Dick Cheney, Vice-Prez under Dubya. Christian Bale vanishes under layers of make-up and the Cheney who emerges is a disturbing, totally unprincipled monster, consumed by the acquisition and use of power, responsible for (amongst other things) the invasion of Iraq and the rise of ISIS. Potentially quite heavy stuff going on, then, but McKay takes care to cheer things up (relatively speaking) by including big performances from Sam Rockwell and Steve Carell, along with a few Monty Python ideas repurposed for this movie.
Highly entertaining in a ghastly sort of way, and illuminating with respect to the twisted logic employed by the Bush administration and the role they played in facilitating the current civic nightmare engulfing the USA. Unlikely to appeal to the Republican base, for obvious reasons, but the film inevitably has some jokes to make about its own liberal bias, too, as well as being smart enough to allow Cheney the chance to justify himself, which he does in a disturbingly persuasive way. Still probably a bit too partisan for its own good, but still very impressive and a lot of fun; thought-provoking too.
Highly entertaining in a ghastly sort of way, and illuminating with respect to the twisted logic employed by the Bush administration and the role they played in facilitating the current civic nightmare engulfing the USA. Unlikely to appeal to the Republican base, for obvious reasons, but the film inevitably has some jokes to make about its own liberal bias, too, as well as being smart enough to allow Cheney the chance to justify himself, which he does in a disturbingly persuasive way. Still probably a bit too partisan for its own good, but still very impressive and a lot of fun; thought-provoking too.
The tree that refused to shed - An inspiring story
Book, Education and Stickers
App
"The tree that refused to shed is a wonderful app, and it’s original story is even better. Kids...
Elton John: From Tin Pan Alley to the Yellow Brick Road
10.0
Rate It
Book
From Tin Pan Alley To The Yellow Brick Road is author Keith Hayward's sequel to the critically...
Mental Healers: Mesmer, Eddy and Freud
Stefan Zweig, Paul Cedar, Eden Paul and Man Ray
Book
Stefan's Zweig Mental Healers is a triple biography of Franz Mesmer, Mary Baker Eddy and Sigmund...
EO
Economies of Design
Book
How are the rise of design and neoliberalism connected? How does design change the way we operate as...
Gensler Research Catalogue: Volume 2
Book
This is the second in Gensler s Research Catalogue series, and the first to be made available for...