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L'Art de la Simplicite: How to Live More with Less
Dominique Loreau and Louise Lalaurie
Book
If simplicity is an art, then Dominique Loreau is a master. Having lived in Japan for many years and...
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Nov 21, 2022
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated The Black Phone (2022) in Movies
Aug 8, 2022
After a swift MCU detour, Scott Derrickson is back in the horror business, and it's a welcome return. The Black Phone is unpleasant and tense, well crafted in its execution and pacing, and possesses quite a bit of heart, portrayed by a great cast, the stand-outs of course being Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw. The two child actors provide some outstanding performances and ensure that their character moments pack a punch. Opposite to them, Ethan Hawke gives us a genuinely creepy horror villain, a villain who is unhinged, and acts in a manner that is grounded in reality, reiterating what makes The Black Phone scary in the first place. This film plays on the very real fear that ones child could be taken. It's bleak, and hardly enjoyable, but it's effective. There are some moments of more supernatural horror, as well as a couple of well earned jump scares, and whilst this makes proceedings a little more unsettling, it doesn't take away from how utterly terrifying real life can be.
The Black Phone isn't perfect by any means, but it's a tight horror/thriller that looks great, and will worm its way under your skin.
The Black Phone isn't perfect by any means, but it's a tight horror/thriller that looks great, and will worm its way under your skin.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet in Books
Jan 15, 2018
First off the title of this book is entirely fitting!! The end was a bittersweet pill to swallow... it was the perfect ending to the story and yet so frustrating to have it end so abruptly!!
The story itself took me awhile to really get in to, but it is a fascinating story. One that is not touched on much in any WWII fiction.... that of the Japanese internment camps in the US. It focuses on 2 elementary students who are supposedly on opposite sides of the war in the pacific despite being classmates & born in America.
It had all the components of hope and heartbreak, putting you in the story & making you feel like you were there. I just didn't like how slow moving the plot was but what redeemed it was the colorful characters & the fact that it was well written. Being realistic fiction it is hard to make it too fast paced & believable at the same time.
The story itself took me awhile to really get in to, but it is a fascinating story. One that is not touched on much in any WWII fiction.... that of the Japanese internment camps in the US. It focuses on 2 elementary students who are supposedly on opposite sides of the war in the pacific despite being classmates & born in America.
It had all the components of hope and heartbreak, putting you in the story & making you feel like you were there. I just didn't like how slow moving the plot was but what redeemed it was the colorful characters & the fact that it was well written. Being realistic fiction it is hard to make it too fast paced & believable at the same time.
Frecklesxoxo (6 KP) rated A Place Called Here in Books
Feb 27, 2019
Wow, I really enjoyed this, With Cecelia Ahern you really can't go wrong.
I am in aww I think her imagination is off the charts, who else would have come with writing about a place where missing things go, makes me wonder where all my socks go.
I love the story of Sandy finding herself in this missing place and actually finding out who she is realising she has lost a lot of her life to her obsession with finding missing things and as well as the story of Jack on a similar journey but wasting his life away obsessively searching for his brother.
I love how it all comes together.
My favourite quote is...
"I can only assume that there's only one thing more frustrating than not being able to find someone, and that's not being found. I would want someone to find me, more than anything."
A truly brilliant read.
I am in aww I think her imagination is off the charts, who else would have come with writing about a place where missing things go, makes me wonder where all my socks go.
I love the story of Sandy finding herself in this missing place and actually finding out who she is realising she has lost a lot of her life to her obsession with finding missing things and as well as the story of Jack on a similar journey but wasting his life away obsessively searching for his brother.
I love how it all comes together.
My favourite quote is...
"I can only assume that there's only one thing more frustrating than not being able to find someone, and that's not being found. I would want someone to find me, more than anything."
A truly brilliant read.
Film and stuff (30 KP) rated Kin (2018) in Movies
May 30, 2019
Underrated
Contains spoilers, click to show
Kin is a modern twist on a story that feels very familiar.
Our hero is a boy that we assume was sent back in time to live in relative safety until his time to do something pivotal in a future war comes about.
The biggest issue is the ending. Audiences are unforgiving of sequel bait endings and this isn't subtle either.
Franco is a cookie cutter bad guy that just about reaches entertaining.
The relationship between our three main characters is thin and underdeveloped.
The beginning catalyst of the father dying suffers from an underdeveloped relationship between him and his sons as well as the father figure being largely unlikable.
All this being said, as an entire piece of work there is plenty to enjoy and that's what you will need to do with this film.
A mild recommendation
Our hero is a boy that we assume was sent back in time to live in relative safety until his time to do something pivotal in a future war comes about.
The biggest issue is the ending. Audiences are unforgiving of sequel bait endings and this isn't subtle either.
Franco is a cookie cutter bad guy that just about reaches entertaining.
The relationship between our three main characters is thin and underdeveloped.
The beginning catalyst of the father dying suffers from an underdeveloped relationship between him and his sons as well as the father figure being largely unlikable.
All this being said, as an entire piece of work there is plenty to enjoy and that's what you will need to do with this film.
A mild recommendation
Karenbmwmew (0 KP) rated Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) in Movies
Sep 1, 2018
The Actors (1 more)
Updated version of a great movie
First all you would have to say is The Rock, Jack Black and Kevin Hart and you know it will be funny. Although I have to admit I was a little skeptical before seeing it because it is a reboot and let's face it they are doing a lot of those lately. Not all end up being as good or better then the original, however this is not the case with Jumanji. I thought this was a great reboot of a great movie. I like the updated idea of the game being a video game versus a board game but still follow along with the older version as well.
If you decide to see the movie and you are a Rock fan, or a Jack Black fan or a Kevin Hart fan I don't think you will be disappointed. I laughed quit a bit and my whole family enjoyed seeing it.
If you decide to see the movie and you are a Rock fan, or a Jack Black fan or a Kevin Hart fan I don't think you will be disappointed. I laughed quit a bit and my whole family enjoyed seeing it.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Choice: Escape Your Past and Embrace the Possible in Books
Oct 21, 2018
“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.” ― Edith Eger, The Choice
Oh my goodness, I can't even begin to tell you how good this book is. It's not just another Holocaust survivors life-story, it's so much more than that ... it's extraordinary!
Dr Eger is now 90 years old and what an amazing woman she is ... this book tells the story of being a teenager and her relationship with her parents and sisters, the truly horrific time she spent being a prisoner of the Nazis, her astonishing strength and bravery before, during and after the war and of her life once freedom had been achieved.
Once again, I can't tell you how good this book is. It's beautifully written and flows exceptionally well. Highly recommended.
My thanks go to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Oh my goodness, I can't even begin to tell you how good this book is. It's not just another Holocaust survivors life-story, it's so much more than that ... it's extraordinary!
Dr Eger is now 90 years old and what an amazing woman she is ... this book tells the story of being a teenager and her relationship with her parents and sisters, the truly horrific time she spent being a prisoner of the Nazis, her astonishing strength and bravery before, during and after the war and of her life once freedom had been achieved.
Once again, I can't tell you how good this book is. It's beautifully written and flows exceptionally well. Highly recommended.
My thanks go to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
David McK (3372 KP) rated Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command in Books
Jan 30, 2019
This is now part of the Star Wars 'Legend's (i.e. non-canon stories) following Marvel's acquisition of Lucasfilm; however - in many respects - I also feel that this is/was a strong candidate for remaining as part of the lore (or, like Grand Admiral Thrawn, being integrated into it).
This is set between the events of "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope" (or, if I was to place it as part of the lore now, between Sith and Rogue One), and sees Vader - who, at this stage, is still lamenting his loss of Padme - charged with hunting down and recovering Grand Moff Tarkin's son, who has disappearaed in the relatively unexplored Atoan Ghost Nebula.
Maybe a wee bit choppy, I still fouind this to be an interesting look into Vader's psyche - I also have to say that the opening panels, with Vader's limbs being, umm, 'reattached' may well have influenced a similar scene in Rogue One!
This is set between the events of "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope" (or, if I was to place it as part of the lore now, between Sith and Rogue One), and sees Vader - who, at this stage, is still lamenting his loss of Padme - charged with hunting down and recovering Grand Moff Tarkin's son, who has disappearaed in the relatively unexplored Atoan Ghost Nebula.
Maybe a wee bit choppy, I still fouind this to be an interesting look into Vader's psyche - I also have to say that the opening panels, with Vader's limbs being, umm, 'reattached' may well have influenced a similar scene in Rogue One!