Hazel (1853 KP) rated The Sunlight Pilgrims in Books
May 25, 2017
Note: I did not finish reading this book.
It is winter 2020 and the world is facing the most extreme winter for over 200 years. Jenni Fagan’s The Sunlight Pilgrims explores the potential disastrous effects of climate change beginning with a new ice age set in the very near future, only four years away. With the North Atlantic drift slowing and temperatures around the world dropping to -40 degrees, the Earth’s inhabitants fear a pending apocalypse.
The story is largely set in Clachan Fells, a Scottish caravan park situated at the base of a group of mountains. Tin houses are not the most practical form of abodes for cold weather, let alone the worst snowstorms the world has ever seen. This is the situation the main characters of The Sunlight Pilgrims find themselves. Dylan MacRae has moved into a mobile home he did not know he owned until the recent death of his mother and soon makes friends with his neighbour Constance and her daughter Stella. Although only twelve years old Stella is more concerned about her identity than she is the fatal weather condition outside. Born a boy, Stella is uncomfortable in her body and struggles to get other people to accept that she is really a girl.
Surprisingly, the dystopian snow scene seems to be more of a backdrop to a different storyline featuring identity, family and romance. Dylan is a lonely man falling in love with the woman next door, however she is tied up with relationship problems of her own. Stella, whilst seemingly carefree, is desperate to be accepted for who she is and live a happy and secure life.
Jenni Fagan does an exceptional job of portraying the confusion, thoughts and emotions of a transgender child experiencing stigma amongst her peers. Yet Fagan also emphasises the potential acceptance of people in this situation through the reception received from Dylan who did not bat an eyelid on discovering the truth about Stella’s identity.
The Sunlight Pilgrims combines popular current affairs that are likely to attract a wide audience. Sadly as a story it falls short of mediocrity. Without a clear storyline it is a struggle to remain interested. The readers’ lack of enthusiasm for the characters and their individual worries makes it a challenge to reach the end. As I never made it to the final chapter I cannot say whether the conclusion is worth sticking around for. Mixed reviews on Goodreads suggest that enjoyment depends on the individual reader rather than the novel itself. I, however, cannot recommend this book.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Until the Dawn (Until the Dawn, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Quentin Vandermark is of the belief that if you can't see it or touch it, then it doesn't exist. This includes God and the supernatural power his grandfather, Nickolaas Vandermark, believes is cursing Dierenpark. A tragedy occured 60 years ago and the Vandermark's left Dierenpark abandoned ever since. The family returns without notice, only to see it destroyed. Nickolaas is determined to tear down Dierenpark in hopes of demolishing the "curse" that seems to have haunted the family for centuries. Widowed and injured, Quentin brings his son Pieter with him to Dierenpark to tear down the beautiful home. He is just doing his grandfather's bidding when his life is drastically changed. At Dierenpark he meets Sophie van Riijn, Sophie is a volunteer for the newly established Weather Bureau. For the last nine years she has used the roof of Dierenpark for her weather station, without the permission of the owners. Pieter immediately takes to Sophie, not having a mother of his own, he craves a motherly figure. While Quentin is all cynicism, doubt, gloom and depression. Sophie exudes life, hope, joy and faith in every ounce of her being. The past is finally brought to light, but is it in time to save Dierenpark and Quentin? Will science be able to prove the strange goings on? Will Quentin open himself up to love? Or will he brood in his misery until his last breath?
"Above all else, love one another."
The progressive era is a fascinating time period to read. So many scientific advances and discoveries take place in this era. I am currently watching Murdoch Mysteries (Netflix). It is set in the same time as this book and the scientific progress that is witnessed is incredible! Until the Dawn is a story of good and evil, life and death, hope and despair. With our main characters so completely different it is very clear to see how our beliefs affect every aspect of our lives. The main theme throughout this story is love. Through the good times and difficulties, God has called us to love one another. I have heard that this story has been compared to Jane Eyre and I do see similarities. Quentin is a horrid, miserable man and Sophie longs to see him saved. I won't expand anymore because of spoilers, but if you are a fan of Jane Eyre, I believe you will enjoy this recent publication by Elizabeth Camden.
I received a free digital copy of Until the Dawn from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Climate Change, Security Risks, and Conflict Reduction in Africa: A Case Study of Farmer-Herder Conflicts Over Natural Resources in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Burkina Faso (1960-2000): 2016
Book
Millions of people are already affected by weather-related shocks every year in West Africa and...
Japan Alert
Weather and Travel
App
日本警報は、地震及び津波を警報するアップケージョンである。この警報は、日本で被害される可能性の自然災害を警報する。我の警報サーバーは、世界中の天気予報サーバーから様々なリアルタイムデーターを集計する。 私達が利用する天気予報サーバーリストは、JMA(日本気象庁)、PTWC(太平洋津波警報センター)とTsunamiReadyです。我の警報サーバーは、上記の天気予報サーバーからリアルタイムデーターを集計し、iOS デバイスに警報データーを送信する。 Japan Alert is the earthquake and tsunami warning application. Notify natural disaster that would harm you in Japan. Notification Server collect a real time data from multiple weather servers around the world. There are great weather servers in our list; JMA (Japan Meteorological Agency), PTWC (Pacific Tsunami Warning Center), and TsunamiReady. The notification server consume real-time data from those servers and send notification to iOS Devices as threshold defined. * 地震発生後10分以内に警報 * 各地の震度に関する情報 * 地震の震度による警報フィルターが付いて震度 0.0-7.0 まで選べる(弱い地震からの警報防止) * 日本の現地時間で世界中からのアクセス * 地震発生後10分以内に津波警報の通知 * 津波到達予想時刻・ 予想される津波の高さのモニタ * 津波による災害の発生が予想される沿岸地域の特定 * 沿岸地域居住者の避難指標 * Less than 10 minutes warning after earthquake has been occurred. * Specify location of the earthquake, with local seismic intensity (how you receive the sensitive of the quake). * Notification filtering by the earthquake’s threshold between 0.0 to 7.0 Rickter (less annoying with often small quakes). * Worldwide access with local time in Japan. * Tsunami advisory indicator less than 10 minutes after earthquake. * Ability to monitor Tsunami’s status, when it will arrive and height. * Identify coastal area where Tsunami will be effect. * Evacuate indicator for near coastal regions resident.
Gira HomeServer/FacilityServer
Lifestyle and Productivity
App
Gira HomeServer/FacilityServer A simple and elegant way of operating complex building technology...
Timepage for iPad
Productivity and Business
App
Organize your life with Timepage, the incredible calendar app unlike any other. Selected by Apple as...
Aurora Forecast 3D
Weather and Education
App
The Aurora Forecast 3D is a tool to track down where the aurora is located in the sky from any...
Planes Live - Flight Status Tracker and Radar
Travel and Navigation
App
Planes Live is a simple yet powerful flight tracking tool that lets you watch the planes online all...
Andy K (10826 KP) rated Bone Tomahawk (2015) in Movies
Feb 25, 2018
Certainly not for the squeamish or faint of heart, the horribly awesome brutality in this film rivals any I have seen in my life and that's saying a lot.
The plot is your basic four men set out to find and rescue several townspeople who have been kidnapped by horrible cave-dwelling "Indians" who no one seems to know anything about. Along the way, they have to face the elements of the weather, their own injuries and the eminent threat of encountering the ferocious beats that they are always on edge.
Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins and Matthew Fox are all also wonderful as the men who set off with Russell on their rescue quest.
For what the movie sets out to do, it succeeds wholeheartedly. Thoroughly engaging throughout, I was glued to my seat the entire time and the 135 minute runtime goes by in a flash.
In reading about it afterwards, it is unbelievable to me the movie was shot in only 21 days and for only $1.8 million.
Who says creativity is dead in Hollywood? Just takes great writing. I'd watch this before Iron Man 12 anytime.
