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The Zookeeper's Wife
8.5
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Book
Now a major motion picture, starring Jessica Chastain and Daniel Bruhl, based on a remarkable true...
ClareR (5686 KP) rated The Christie Affair in Books
Apr 1, 2022
The Christie Affair is a reimagining of the real disappearance of Agatha Christie - I actually had to do a quick internet search to see if any of this novel was true. It’s not. Agatha Christie really did go missing for 11 days, though. Her husband really did leave her for another woman (I have no idea if she was younger). But I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless!
This novel tells the story from the point of view of the mistress. Nan O’Dea (Nancy Neele in real life) gives her version of events: who she is, her past, why she became Archie Christie’s mistress, and why she is destroying their marriage. It’s all compelling reading. She has her reasons, and you can see why she has done what she has - but is it true?
It was fascinating hearing the story from the mistress’ point of view, and I really enjoyed reading about Nan’s early years, even though they were tragic. We see her going to help on a family farm in Ireland as a teenager, and a stay at a convent, reminiscent of a Magdalen Laundry (not quite). Then she returns to London and tries to rebuild her life.
You can never be quite sure as the reader, whether Nan is really telling Agatha’s side of the story, or whether she’s making it up. She’s a thoroughly unreliable narrator - but I liked that. The characters were really well developed, and it was an exciting story. Recommended!
This novel tells the story from the point of view of the mistress. Nan O’Dea (Nancy Neele in real life) gives her version of events: who she is, her past, why she became Archie Christie’s mistress, and why she is destroying their marriage. It’s all compelling reading. She has her reasons, and you can see why she has done what she has - but is it true?
It was fascinating hearing the story from the mistress’ point of view, and I really enjoyed reading about Nan’s early years, even though they were tragic. We see her going to help on a family farm in Ireland as a teenager, and a stay at a convent, reminiscent of a Magdalen Laundry (not quite). Then she returns to London and tries to rebuild her life.
You can never be quite sure as the reader, whether Nan is really telling Agatha’s side of the story, or whether she’s making it up. She’s a thoroughly unreliable narrator - but I liked that. The characters were really well developed, and it was an exciting story. Recommended!
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Minds of Billy Milligan in Books
Sep 26, 2019
Admittedly, I wanted to read this book after watching Split, and hearing that Billy Milligan inspired the character.
It seems like there are two camps in the psychology field, ones that believe in Multiple Personalities (now DID), and ones that do not. While at some points I thought to myself, surely, this couldn't be true. But, the brain is weird, and I believe it. I was also hesitant to believe a lot of the details because a)conversations were completely recreated and b) the author was the dude that wrote Flowers for Algernon.
This begins as a true crime novel, then goes into a narrative of Billy Milligan's various lives, then what happened after he told the author his story. I preferred the true crime section to all else, but it was all intensely interesting.
Now, the Split connection; there were some personalities straight up lifted from Milligan's case, and the fact there were 24. Split took a lot from this book.
Overall, an interesting, and at times, unsettling, read.
It seems like there are two camps in the psychology field, ones that believe in Multiple Personalities (now DID), and ones that do not. While at some points I thought to myself, surely, this couldn't be true. But, the brain is weird, and I believe it. I was also hesitant to believe a lot of the details because a)conversations were completely recreated and b) the author was the dude that wrote Flowers for Algernon.
This begins as a true crime novel, then goes into a narrative of Billy Milligan's various lives, then what happened after he told the author his story. I preferred the true crime section to all else, but it was all intensely interesting.
Now, the Split connection; there were some personalities straight up lifted from Milligan's case, and the fact there were 24. Split took a lot from this book.
Overall, an interesting, and at times, unsettling, read.
Anne Boleyn: A Kings Obsession (Six Tudor Queens #2)
8.0
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Book
Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession by bestselling historian Alison Weir, author of Katherine of Aragon:...
Andy K (10821 KP) rated The Old Man and the Gun (2018) in Movies
Apr 7, 2019
Redford is one of a kind!
The whole time I was watching this film, it felt like a cross between classic Redford like Butch Cassidy, Brubaker, or Jeremiah Johnson. The plot and story are also similar to the recent Clint Eastwood crime drama, The Mule.
Hard to argue with watching Redford be Redford with his charm and grace portray a real sort of true true about an aging bank robber who can never seem to get enough wanting more and more, just addicted to the thrill of the caper.
Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek and Danny Glover are also along for the ride and turn in memorable performances.
I liked th beginning and ending more than the middle. At just over 90 minutes, it seemed as if there were some extra scenes included just t increase the running time to a 90 minute minimum rather than to further the story, but this is a minor complaint.
Here's to hoping I can write reviews for more Redford greats for the next 20+ years!
Hard to argue with watching Redford be Redford with his charm and grace portray a real sort of true true about an aging bank robber who can never seem to get enough wanting more and more, just addicted to the thrill of the caper.
Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek and Danny Glover are also along for the ride and turn in memorable performances.
I liked th beginning and ending more than the middle. At just over 90 minutes, it seemed as if there were some extra scenes included just t increase the running time to a 90 minute minimum rather than to further the story, but this is a minor complaint.
Here's to hoping I can write reviews for more Redford greats for the next 20+ years!
Out of the Shadows (2017)
5.3
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Movie Watch
In 2010 six reality television contestants entered an abandoned and haunted asylum known as the...
Horror
ClareR (5686 KP) rated The Queen’s Rival in Books
Dec 16, 2022
The Plantagenets and Tudors are my first love in historical fiction, and I seem to be reading more Anne O’Brien books lately. I like how she tells a story from the woman’s perspective. This is a side of the story that we rarely hear from in the real history books - men wrote them, and many women weren’t encouraged to read and write (I’m very sure some did, by the way!).
I liked the way this was set out: from the letters between characters, to the fictional England’s Chronicle (which had some great sarcastic comments).
Cecile Neville, Duchess of York, was Edward IV and Richard III’s mother. She lived through some pretty turbulent times, and must have feared for her own and the lives of her children on several occasions. But she always remained true to her husband and their belief that they were the true rulers of the realm. What a time to have lived!
The emotions were so well conveyed, the historical information so well explained, and it never felt like a history lesson. Just a really great read!
I liked the way this was set out: from the letters between characters, to the fictional England’s Chronicle (which had some great sarcastic comments).
Cecile Neville, Duchess of York, was Edward IV and Richard III’s mother. She lived through some pretty turbulent times, and must have feared for her own and the lives of her children on several occasions. But she always remained true to her husband and their belief that they were the true rulers of the realm. What a time to have lived!
The emotions were so well conveyed, the historical information so well explained, and it never felt like a history lesson. Just a really great read!
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
Book
The stunning story of an Alabama serial killer and the true-crime book that Harper Lee worked on...
JasonKeenan (9 KP) rated American Made (2017) in Movies
Sep 20, 2017
Watching this movie is had a good time, it was easy to watch, the acting was good, the story was good, unbelievably at time but the wierd thing is it's based on a true story
the only problem is for some reason it felt like it was on for 3hours, but it's only got a run time of 1hr 55mins, but it felt a lot longer, don't get me wrong i enjoyed it, it isn't felt like it was on too long, it might have been because I had already seen the funny parts in the trailers
But still a good movie
I would probably Wait till it's on Netflix or something
the only problem is for some reason it felt like it was on for 3hours, but it's only got a run time of 1hr 55mins, but it felt a lot longer, don't get me wrong i enjoyed it, it isn't felt like it was on too long, it might have been because I had already seen the funny parts in the trailers
But still a good movie
I would probably Wait till it's on Netflix or something
MissCagey (2652 KP) rated Hacksaw Ridge (2016) in Movies
Mar 1, 2018
I like a film that tells a good story and the fact this one is true just makes it even better. Desmond Doss is a hero and I am so glad this film was made as his story is definitely one that deserves to be told. I was captivated by both "halves" and I believe it managed to build a better understanding of his character and the man he grew up to be. The war scenes were graphic and really make you think of the horrors that occur. I don't like watching movies that have a lot of hype, as I am often disappointed, but this one deserved the plaudits it received.