An intriguing insight into the wonderfully talented Bette Davis - an essential read for all fans. The audiobook performance is especially good - I wouAn intriguing insight into the wonderfully talented Bette Davis - an essential read for all fans. The audiobook performance is especially good - I would have thought it was Bette Davis herself reading it....more
I think anyone who reads this (and her first book) end up wanting to be best friends with Mamrie (even if it will require a spare liver). Whilst I stiI think anyone who reads this (and her first book) end up wanting to be best friends with Mamrie (even if it will require a spare liver). Whilst I still slightly preferred the first book, this was still very entertaining - though I am super jealous of all her travelling! Good for a chuckle - Recommended....more
Kabi Nagata has a real talent of making her mangas so true-to-life and relatable, and I particularly enjoyed the latter half of this manga. Some of itKabi Nagata has a real talent of making her mangas so true-to-life and relatable, and I particularly enjoyed the latter half of this manga. Some of it was a bit meta - focusing on her response to the success of MLEWL, which was less of a relatable and shared experience than her other writing, but otherwise, I really enjoyed this book....more
Truly fascinating insight into the experiences of black and ethnic minorities in Britain - it certainly helped to open my eyes to the systemic racism Truly fascinating insight into the experiences of black and ethnic minorities in Britain - it certainly helped to open my eyes to the systemic racism prevalent in Britain today. I recommend everyone reads this one....more
After the disappointment of the previous volume, where Shiro genuinely considered cheating, this volume thankfully brings a close to that. However, thAfter the disappointment of the previous volume, where Shiro genuinely considered cheating, this volume thankfully brings a close to that. However, there wasn't a lot of character development in this volume. The food, as always, looks delicious....more
This is a very unique book - the writing style is very different to what I'm used to; it is scare in the word choices, structure and delivery of the sThis is a very unique book - the writing style is very different to what I'm used to; it is scare in the word choices, structure and delivery of the story. Each chapter gives a glimpse into the world of Sophia, Grandmother and Papa during their summers on the island, and the bond between Sophia and Grandmother is magical - both are young at heart and up for adventure, but are embedded in the reality of their squabbles and misunderstandings as well....more
What I will say, is that Anne clearly had a talent for writing - she, and the others in the annex, come How do you rate this? Nothing is appropriate.
What I will say, is that Anne clearly had a talent for writing - she, and the others in the annex, come to life in these pages with vibrancy and relatability, and at moments Anne is wise beyond her years. I think we can all learn something from Anne. Whilst (thankfully) I have never had to hide due to persecution, I have been a teenager, and Anne's diary is relatable in that sense. As this is her diary, she shares both the good times and the bad, the terrifying and the loving, and in her frankness (excuse the pun) a bond is connected between her and the reader. As an historical document it is highly important as it humanizes those statistics, those numbers, those images from concentration camps, and thus reinforces that we should never allow such attrocities and persecutions to ever happen again. The fact that her life, and six others from the secret annex, were lost days, weeks and months before liberation is even more heartbreaking. This book really hit me in the heart, and it's one I think I will continue to think back to. I'm glad I read it.
On another note, I listened to this edition read by Helena Bonham Carter, and I would highly recommend it....more
A perfectly enjoyable short novel about the damaging nature of Hollywood and how despite witnessing suffering, we become immune to these disasters. WhA perfectly enjoyable short novel about the damaging nature of Hollywood and how despite witnessing suffering, we become immune to these disasters. Whilst enjoyable, unfortunately there was no 'spark' that transformed this into a masterpiece for me. However, at moments the prose was beautifully written....more
I chose to read this book because I've always liked Alan Cumming - he's a great actor and always seemed like a really nice guy. So I was completely shI chose to read this book because I've always liked Alan Cumming - he's a great actor and always seemed like a really nice guy. So I was completely shocked to hear about the abuse he endured during his childhood (and even emotionally as an adult) from his father. The first chapter perturbed me, but I was compelled to keep reading. This book is a fascinating story, weaving together Cumming's distressing and abusive childhood, his love for his mother, brother, and partner, and the emotional roller-coaster he experienced when uncovering his grandfather's life history whilst simultaneously being emotionally manipulated and abused by his father's (false) revelations that he was not his biological son. A sad, yet truly amazing story, Cumming's expression, moments of humour and detailing traumatic experiences is compelling - so much so that I binged reading the whole thing. I would love to read more of his writing, though I hope for his sake that, if autobiographical, it holds more happiness....more
If you're feeling alone as an asexual, or just wondering what 'one of those' is, this is a light-hearted introduction to asexuality and the experienceIf you're feeling alone as an asexual, or just wondering what 'one of those' is, this is a light-hearted introduction to asexuality and the experiences some Aces go through. Really, it's like having a conversation with another Ace, and it's pretty cool.
Not going to lie - sometimes it gets a bit disjointed, and there are numerous spelling errors - it isn't perfect. But it's comforting and insightful to read about someone else's experience with asexuality when there doesn't seem to be too many of them out there (and fewer candid books)....more
Of course I enjoyed this - it's E.M.Forster and he writes beautifully! I think what I liked the most was how honest it was - Maurice spends a lot of tOf course I enjoyed this - it's E.M.Forster and he writes beautifully! I think what I liked the most was how honest it was - Maurice spends a lot of the novel discovering his sexuality, denying it, and finally coming to terms with it and is ultimately prepared to alter his life dramatically to live happily and true to himself. That is REVOLUTIONARY for a book written in this time, where a gay man is not demonized, but ultimately allowed to be true to himself even if that sets him at odds with society. Additionally, Maurice isn't perfect - he's a misogynist conceited snob - and yet, relatable, honest and humanized.
Sano is starting to open up about personal things, and he accidentally meets Mizuki in a hot water spring. That's all that really happens in this voluSano is starting to open up about personal things, and he accidentally meets Mizuki in a hot water spring. That's all that really happens in this volume. Also, not really liking Julia - she's too much of a distraction!...more
I liked this a lot, but not quite as much as Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and for obvious reasons - I already knew some of the customs described in this bI liked this a lot, but not quite as much as Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and for obvious reasons - I already knew some of the customs described in this book, but I knew nothing about the behind-the-scenes of the American Funeral/Death industry. So naturally, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes was more eye-opening to me, and thus more enjoyable. However, that is not to say that I didn't enjoy this - it was very interesting, I learnt about a few death customs around the world that I didn't know before, and all with a dry wit and sense of humour. I also particularly enjoyed the part in the end, as I am fascinated with the Tower of Silence, and would love to have a similar end myself (though in the UK that is unlikely to happen). ...more
Certainly an interesting concept with some moments of humour - perhaps my favourite Fitzgerald yet (which is saying quite a bit as I usually find him Certainly an interesting concept with some moments of humour - perhaps my favourite Fitzgerald yet (which is saying quite a bit as I usually find him over-rated). ...more
Understandingly the most contemplative segment of In Search of Lost Time, Proust finally starts to realise that his own anxieties and hangups have perUnderstandingly the most contemplative segment of In Search of Lost Time, Proust finally starts to realise that his own anxieties and hangups have perhaps resulted in him projecting his own needs onto his friends and lovers. He realises that perhaps he never really knew them, because he fixed them into this perceived idea he had of them. The scene at the masked ball was particularly interesting and philosophical about the movement of time, expectations, and understanding what is most important in life. A great way to finish this series....more
Marcel doesn't know what he wants. He's bored with Albertine, but still jealous and obsessed. He emotionally and physically restrains her in order to Marcel doesn't know what he wants. He's bored with Albertine, but still jealous and obsessed. He emotionally and physically restrains her in order to possess her, but when he is away from her he feels separation-anxiety, but when she's near she irritates him. Her life ends in tragedy, and it should be a lesson for Marcel to mature in love and to appreciate people, but whilst he mourns her it is a selfish grief - he knows he will forget her, just as he has his previous loves, and he pities himself.
The writing is beautiful, and the story is enjoyable, but Marcel is one of few protagonists that I really dislike....more
This was a particularly funny volume - I think Umeda is my favourite! That "repellent"! Hilarious!
Though, not going to lie, the Namba Minami story witThis was a particularly funny volume - I think Umeda is my favourite! That "repellent"! Hilarious!
Though, not going to lie, the Namba Minami story with a 14 year old and college student having a physical affair... kinda grossed me out. That's hebephilia....more
Re-read for work. Still perhaps one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and certainly my favourite Tragedy. Just absolutely stunning. The language in pRe-read for work. Still perhaps one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and certainly my favourite Tragedy. Just absolutely stunning. The language in particular is breathtaking, and it is one of those rare instances where I think you can get just as much out of reading the play as seeing it performed. Always a joy to read....more
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