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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Long Long Afternoon in Books
Mar 2, 2021
The Long, Long Afternoon really gives a sense of time and place - and I loved that about this book. We’re steeped in the 1950’s suburban world of perfect housewives, dosed up on their happy pills, trapped in their blissful domestic lives, keeping a perfect home and looking their best at all times for their hardworking husbands. Meanwhile, they employ black maids for a pitiful wage, taking advantage of them and treating them appallingly.
Ruby Wright arrives to start her afternoons work at Joyce Hanley’s house, and instead finds her young daughter outside and a screaming toddler upstairs in her bedroom. When Ruby goes in to the kitchen, she is confronted with a room awash with blood and signs of a struggle.
When the police arrive, they arrest Ruby for murder. After all, she was the first person there - and she’s black.
Detective Mick Blanke takes on the case. It’s an interesting book, because not only is Mick solving the crime (with some considerable help from Ruby), he’s also showing the social divides in the USA at this time - rich and poor, black and white. He’s clearly not comfortable about the way that white people treat black people in Santa Monica, but he’s still not quite brave enough to call people out on their racism.
This is an engaging, quick read - or perhaps I read it quickly because I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a clever, unpredictable story. In all, it’s a book I’d recommend without hesitation!
Ruby Wright arrives to start her afternoons work at Joyce Hanley’s house, and instead finds her young daughter outside and a screaming toddler upstairs in her bedroom. When Ruby goes in to the kitchen, she is confronted with a room awash with blood and signs of a struggle.
When the police arrive, they arrest Ruby for murder. After all, she was the first person there - and she’s black.
Detective Mick Blanke takes on the case. It’s an interesting book, because not only is Mick solving the crime (with some considerable help from Ruby), he’s also showing the social divides in the USA at this time - rich and poor, black and white. He’s clearly not comfortable about the way that white people treat black people in Santa Monica, but he’s still not quite brave enough to call people out on their racism.
This is an engaging, quick read - or perhaps I read it quickly because I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a clever, unpredictable story. In all, it’s a book I’d recommend without hesitation!
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated How I Lost You in Books
Jun 20, 2020
Oooooo ... this was good and I am annoyed with myself for not reading it earlier when it first came out in 2015 but better late than never I always say!
The book starts with a letter written by convicted child killer Susan Webster to the Parole Board seeking early release from her prison sentence that was handed down following her conviction for the murder of her 3 month old son, Dylan ... a murder she has absolutely no recollection of but had to admit she committed the crime because everyone was telling her she did. On release, Susan, now called Emma, is making attempts to rebuild her life however when she receives a picture of a toddler called Dylan, she starts to ask questions and so begins Susan/Emma's search for the truth of what actually happened on that fateful day.
Written mainly from the perspective of Susan/Emma with flashbacks of other characters, it's told at a good pace with good tension and twists. The characters are excellent and well developed but if I have one gripe, it's that Susan/Emma is a little naive and quick to trust despite her situation of having to live under a new identity to protect herself which I found a little odd.
Overall, I found this a gripping story that had me captivated until the end and I will most definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to Headline via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unedited review and I can only apologise that it has taken me so long to get round to reading it.
The book starts with a letter written by convicted child killer Susan Webster to the Parole Board seeking early release from her prison sentence that was handed down following her conviction for the murder of her 3 month old son, Dylan ... a murder she has absolutely no recollection of but had to admit she committed the crime because everyone was telling her she did. On release, Susan, now called Emma, is making attempts to rebuild her life however when she receives a picture of a toddler called Dylan, she starts to ask questions and so begins Susan/Emma's search for the truth of what actually happened on that fateful day.
Written mainly from the perspective of Susan/Emma with flashbacks of other characters, it's told at a good pace with good tension and twists. The characters are excellent and well developed but if I have one gripe, it's that Susan/Emma is a little naive and quick to trust despite her situation of having to live under a new identity to protect herself which I found a little odd.
Overall, I found this a gripping story that had me captivated until the end and I will most definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to Headline via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unedited review and I can only apologise that it has taken me so long to get round to reading it.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Moana (2016) in Movies
Jul 12, 2019
Moana (pronounced MoWAHnah) is a spirited and determined young daughter of an overprotective father who happens to be the chief of Motunui Island.
On this idyllic, mystical Polynesian island, Moana (voiced by Hawaiian actress Auli’i Cravalho),grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories about the legendary demigod Maui and how he stole the Heart of Te Fiti, condemning his people to an uncertain fate.
Ever since she was an adorable toddler, the ocean has called to her. Her name means “ocean” after all. However her father forbids her from even considering the notion of sailing beyond the reef that protects Motunui.
But when Moana’s island starts showing signs of disease that threatens her people’s livelihood, she is convinced she can save her island by returning the Heart of Te Fiti. Against her father’s wishes she sets sail in search of Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson)in hopes of saving her people.
Pixar and Disney have long mastered the art of emotionally compromising their audience with characters and storylines that pluck at your heartstrings. Yet I was still surprised at how much Moana moved me. With her touching relationship with her grandmother, her deep respect of her culture, and her dauntless temperment, Moana quickly became my favorite Disney heroine.
From the gorgeous animation, the pitch perfect voice acting and the beautiful music, I really believe Disney has made something special with Moana that will deeply resonate with islanders and those who love the islander culture.
If you’re a Hamilton fan, you’ll easily recognize Lin-Manuel Miranda’s voice and his lyrical signature in the many memorable songs. So don’t be surprised if you leave the theatre singing “You’re welcome.”
On this idyllic, mystical Polynesian island, Moana (voiced by Hawaiian actress Auli’i Cravalho),grew up listening to her grandmother’s stories about the legendary demigod Maui and how he stole the Heart of Te Fiti, condemning his people to an uncertain fate.
Ever since she was an adorable toddler, the ocean has called to her. Her name means “ocean” after all. However her father forbids her from even considering the notion of sailing beyond the reef that protects Motunui.
But when Moana’s island starts showing signs of disease that threatens her people’s livelihood, she is convinced she can save her island by returning the Heart of Te Fiti. Against her father’s wishes she sets sail in search of Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson)in hopes of saving her people.
Pixar and Disney have long mastered the art of emotionally compromising their audience with characters and storylines that pluck at your heartstrings. Yet I was still surprised at how much Moana moved me. With her touching relationship with her grandmother, her deep respect of her culture, and her dauntless temperment, Moana quickly became my favorite Disney heroine.
From the gorgeous animation, the pitch perfect voice acting and the beautiful music, I really believe Disney has made something special with Moana that will deeply resonate with islanders and those who love the islander culture.
If you’re a Hamilton fan, you’ll easily recognize Lin-Manuel Miranda’s voice and his lyrical signature in the many memorable songs. So don’t be surprised if you leave the theatre singing “You’re welcome.”
ClareR (6256 KP) rated Send For Me in Books
Sep 7, 2021
Send For Me is an emotionally charged look at the lives of three generations of women: Klara, Annalise and Clare. Annalise is German, a Jew living in Feldenheim at a time when it was dangerous to be Jewish - whether you were a practicing Jew or not. After years of persecution, Annalise, her husband and her toddler daughter, manage to get permission to leave for the USA. But she has to leave her parents behind.
This was a different take on other books set at this time, and I liked that about it very much. I haven’t read many books about those who managed to escape the Nazi regime and immigrate to safe countries before the Holocaust really began. But it’s no less saddening for that. Annalise desperately misses her parents, and life is so utterly different in the US.
The story swaps between Annalise and her granddaughter, Clare, whose life couldn’t have been any more different. Clare has the much more liberated life of an American woman - whether that’s what she really wants, remains to be seen.
I really enjoyed seeing the juxtaposition between a 1930s immigrant and a modern young woman. Annalise’s fear of being in a big city with no English is palpable - I panicked along with her. It must be so scary to move somewhere that’s completely different to your own life experience, and not even have a common language - something that people have always had to endure for their own safety throughout the ages.
This is a really moving novel, made more so when I learnt that the letters between Annalise and her mother Klara were real - just that the names were changed.
This was a different take on other books set at this time, and I liked that about it very much. I haven’t read many books about those who managed to escape the Nazi regime and immigrate to safe countries before the Holocaust really began. But it’s no less saddening for that. Annalise desperately misses her parents, and life is so utterly different in the US.
The story swaps between Annalise and her granddaughter, Clare, whose life couldn’t have been any more different. Clare has the much more liberated life of an American woman - whether that’s what she really wants, remains to be seen.
I really enjoyed seeing the juxtaposition between a 1930s immigrant and a modern young woman. Annalise’s fear of being in a big city with no English is palpable - I panicked along with her. It must be so scary to move somewhere that’s completely different to your own life experience, and not even have a common language - something that people have always had to endure for their own safety throughout the ages.
This is a really moving novel, made more so when I learnt that the letters between Annalise and her mother Klara were real - just that the names were changed.