Search

Search only in certain items:

The Signalman
The Signalman
Charles Dickens | 1998 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I've never read a Dicken's novel before, I always felt like I would come out of them dumbfounded... his writing seems too intellectual and educational for my little brain. But, this is just a ghost story, so it was easy enough to get on with!

Yes, I enjoyed this, but it wasn't my favourite short story. A classic old school ghost story, but it could have been so much creepier than it was, so that let me down. There is a slight pang of shock at the tail end of this short, but it's nothing to write home about.

What's most interesting, to me, about this book, is the fact that it's been pulled out of a personal tragedy of Dicken's.
  
West Side Story (1961)
West Side Story (1961)
1961 | Drama, Musical, Romance
Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins' toweringly brilliant musical should be ring-fenced for eternity, regardless of what Steven Spielberg thinks. Racial tension and gang violence is rife on New York's west side, but when co-founder of the Jets Tony (Beymer) falls in love with Maria (Wood), sister of the leader of the Sharks, can this bring about peace and understanding between the two street gangs? (Probably not.)

Appealing leads and some soaringly beautiful love songs, but also whip-smart humour and social commentary in many of the other numbers, all superbly directed and choreographed. The darkening of the story into genuine tragedy is masterfully done. One of those transcendentally great films, especially on the big screen; the reason that we have a 10 on the scale.
  
40x40

Milleen (47 KP) rated Reservoir 13 in Books

Nov 14, 2018 (Updated Nov 14, 2018)  
Reservoir 13
Reservoir 13
Jon McGregor | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
6
5.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a slow meditative read but that is the skill of McGregor's hypnotic prose. A girl goes missing and the nearby village and it's inhabitants react to the trauma, search the surrounding moors and resevoirs and then absorb the loss in their everyday lives. The absense of drama makes this novel more of a continuing observation, pulling you into the intensity of the local community as time passes. McGregor notices the little things that compose life, the seasons, nature and the thread of unease that haunts the the village as life continues. This has won many awards and it's an outstanding piece of literature, not for any dramatic narrative but in recognition of McGregor's skillfully crafted depiction of life after tragedy.
  
Downton Abbey (2019)
Downton Abbey (2019)
2019 | Drama, History
Its so good to have our beloved characters back (0 more)
Too nice (0 more)
I wanted a touch more tragedy
Downton Abbey the TV series was incredible, I don't care how uncool people think i am for saying it. Its a spot on piece of British History with strong characters and a great cast.

The film in the same vein although was a little too nice. There was no undercurrent of darkness which stopped this getting full marks. The queen an King are coming to visit Downton along with their horrible staff who are trying to make preparations for the royal visit.

This movie is still wonderful and deserves props for highlighting the backwards thinking of homophobia and although a great film i was hoping for a little more.