In this unique book, Lois Lowry ponders the connections we all have to one another. I listened to the audiobook featuring the author as the reader, but later checked out the ebook with digitally-edited pencil illustrations by Kenard Pak, and some Japanese calligraphy by Yoriko Ito. Both versions are wonderful. With WWII as the backdrop, Lowry begins with herself as a child on a beach in Honolulu, where, in the distance, the U.S.S. Arizona sits on the water. This Navy battleship was hit by Japanese torpedoes on December 7, 1941 with a loss of over 1,000 lives. Lowry evokes empathy in the reader through short descriptions of those affected by this event: how they came to be stationed on the Arizona, what they were doing in the hours or minutes before the tragedy, how they avoided death that day, or, for most, how they died. Lowry then moves on to a time when she and her family lived with her father while he was a Navy doctor stationed in Japan after the war. She offers brief accounts of those who were living in that area before her, in August of 1945, those who were there for the dropping of the hydrogen bomb: a teen trolley operator, a preschooler just learning to ride a tricycle, the commander of the Enola Gay, among others. In brief, lyrical sentences she paints a picture of the absolute devastation experienced by those living and working in the areas targeted by the bomb, as well as her own experience of the area as a child living there in the aftermath. Because of her childhood experiences living in both Hawaii and Japan before, during and after the events described, as well as her research into others involved, Lowry offers the reader a unique perspective in reflecting on these historical events. Her juxtaposition of two groups of people affected by the same war is simultaneously harrowing and thought-provoking. I am inspired by this book to think more deeply about my life, my timeline, my own human connectedness. This is a book that humbly requests to be read, reread, and shared. It gives a very human face to WWII, and is perfect for adults and fans of Lois Lowry, as well as older middle school or high school aged children.

Always liked Bill Murray and in this movies he plays a rich tv president and he is producing a live version of a christmas carol. He is scrooge in the movie. I enjoyed it very much

another Evanovich Stephanie Plum book. This is a christmas themed novel centered arounf=d Stephanie finding Sandy Claws" I enjoyed this one like the rest of her Stephanie Plum novels

OUR CHEMICAL HEARTS by Krystal Sutherland is a YA novel about Henry Page, a teenage boy who has never been in love but he’s not focused on girls and is more focused on his grades, becoming editor of the school paper, and getting into a good college. When his school gets a new student, Grace Town, Henry knows there is something about her. It’s not just because she walks with a cane, wears baggy clothes, and looks disheveled. Henry and Grace now have to work on the school paper together, which gives Henry a chance to get to know Grace more. However, Grace is broken, but all Henry wants to do is make her whole again.

 

This is a story of a first love and how someone who enters your life can change it forever. Part of me enjoyed this book. I liked Henry and I could relate a lot to him. There was humor in this book when it came to his friends, parents, and sister. Henry’s life was fun to read. Now, when Grace comes along, I do like their friendship. But that’s it. When they become something more, I feel like Grace is just playing with Henry’s heart too much. Grace was in charge of how the relationship was going instead of them being a team. She led Henry on a lot. Grace had a very hard past and moved to Henry’s school for a reason, and we eventually get to know her secrets and pain.

 

I’m not always fond of the stories where the “guy fixes the broken girl”, especially if she can’t be fixed or doesn’t want to be. Overall, the story was enjoyable, but there was just something about it where I wasn’t impressed by it. I think there needed to be more uniqueness to the story. In a relationship, you both help out each other, but I don’t know what Grace was doing for Henry, and in a love story, both partners need to be all in.

The Skeleton Twins starring Bill Hader and Kristin Wigg is about a brother and sister who haven't spoken in 10 years, but come into each other's lives when they need it the most. The movie starts off with Milo (Hader) about to kill himself at his house and Maggie (Wiggs) about to kill herself in her house until she gets a call that her brother attempted suicide and is in the hospital. Milo ends up staying with Maggie temporarily, but during their stay, Milo visits someone from his past and Maggie struggles through her marriage.

This movie focuses on mental health, suicide, love, secrets, and family. I think this is a very underrated movie and has never been talked about that much. Hader and Wigg do so well in playing siblings. While they have their ups and downs, Milo and Maggie have one another and you can tell towards the end of the movie that they are going to be okay. While this is a heavy movie, it's a beautiful story.

Drama.  Suspenseful . Emotional. Family.  Slow-moving.

This film based on facts is interesting in how it takes a look at two sides of a story and how people deal with tragedy in different ways. After the death of a man's wife and daugther in a plane crash he deals with depression and bouts of anxiety. The person responsible for the crash is dealing with some of the same feeling. 

Although this movie was slow moving it had a very strong point about mental health and what can happen when it goes untreated.  After a devasting event occurs suddenly in your life you may not always be able to deal with it without some type of therapy.

CLAP WHEN YOU LAND by Elizabeth Acevedo is a YA novel-in-verse showing two perspectives of teenage girls whose lives will be forever changed. Camino Rios lives in Dominican Republic and always looks forward to the summers where her dad visits her from New York in the Dominican Republic. While waiting for the plane to arrive, Camino finds out the plane crashed and there are no survivors. Yahaira Rios, lives in New York and said goodbye to her father as he was going to the Dominican Republic, but she finds out her father’s plane has crashed. This novel focuses on grief, secrets, and love between a father and daughter.

 

This was a beautiful novel and my favorite one written by Acevedo. There are so many things this novel shows, like class and sexual harassment. It’s a novel that shows something positive can come out of something terrible. Camino and Yahaira don’t know that their lives are linked together. They don’t know how much they need each other until they meet. The writing was so beautiful and Acevedo played with words in so many ways. Your heart will be broken, but the relationship these girls get to have will patch it up. Sometimes you may feel like you’re drowning or you have no move on the chess board, but you will be able to pull yourself up and move to the next space.

 

I recommend this novel to teens 13+ as it really focuses on important themes of family and just being a teenage girl. If you haven’t already, read more of Acevedo’s books as her writing and poetry is so beautiful that you’ll crave more of it. I’ll be thinking about this novel for a long time and thanks to this book, no matter what struggles come my way, I’ll be able to land on my feet.

Violent. Action-packed. Drugs. Suspenseful. Romance. 

This fast moving movie has violence from start to finish.  After a young girl's parents was killed in front of her ..she was determined to avenge their death.  Her mission to get revenge also brought about pain that she would have to forever live with.  Zoe Saldana performance was gripping, but, classy.  If you like non-stop violence and lots of action...this film is for you.

 

Once Upon A Hollywood, directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Brad Pitt, is a comedy-drama about Rick Dalton (DiCaprio), a star of the 1950's western Bounty Law. Now in 1969, Dalton feels like his career is going downhill. His stunt double and friend, Cliff Booth (Pitt), drives Dalton around as his license was suspended from a lot of DUI's. This movie focuses on Hollywood in the 60's, hippies in the 60's, and shows the Manson Family, a cult leaded by Charles Manson where he makes people kill others.

This movie was long and weird. I went into this movie knowing it was a Quentin Tarantino movie, so it had to be strange,, but I was still surprised  at certain scenes. At times, I was confused, but I did like exploring Hollywood as it was in the 60's. There is even a subplot with real life actress Shannon Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski, and that plot confused me a lot as I'm not sure how it related and fit in to the overall story of Dalton and Booth. I will say that DiCaprio and Pitt both did a great job in this, but for me personally, I just don't think this kind of movie was my cup of tea. It's one of those movies you either will like or won't.

Always liked watching the cartoon version of this every holiday season. I really enjoyed the movie version. Still gives me a warm feeling inside as to what Christmas is all about. Will  never get old . I will always enjoy watching this.

Comedy. Heart-warming. Companionship. Family. Greed.

This movie implies that if given the right amount of money... anything and anyone can be bought. Hopefully we all know that to not be true.

Unemployed journalist Jack Brown (Richard Pryor) is attempting to make ends meet as the night janitor in a department store owned by a millionaire U.S. Bates (Jackie Gleason).  Bates' son, Eric, is told he can choose one item in the toy department.  He chooses Jack.

This movie is funny. Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason are hilarious together. This should be watched by anyone who think that having money and power can solve any problems.

 

Funny Memorable Characters. Family Movie. Christmas. A Little Creepy.

How hard could it be to follow three simple rules: “No Bright Light”, “Don’t Get Them Wet” and “Don’t Feed Them After Midnight”.   

Well, all of this happens and the result is a gang of gremlins that decide to tear up the town on Christmas Eve.

Very funny movie. I recommend the family watch this film together (it may frighten younger children a bit). 

Four to score another Stephanie Plum book by Evanovich. This one has stephanie's life in danger. Someone wants to kill her. In this adventure she becomes carless and homeless both items blown up on her. Another novel that keeps you guessing who is the criminal until the end. Another good book

This movie was very good. For everyone who had someone to never believe in them this movie proves if you put efort into it you can achieve all your dreams. I really enjoyed this movie

cute movie. reminded me of a Christmas carol except it was  on the eve of his brother wedding and he was visited by previous girlfriend. A romantic comedy. i enjoyed it

 

Comedy. Drama. Good Music. Romance.  Uplifting. 

Darren (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), a fast- talking  con man from New York trying to climb the corporate ladder.  He is drowning in debt, so when a relative dies in his  Georgia hometown, he heads south to see what she left him. Darren discovers that a $150,000 stock inheritance awaits him if he can lead his dead aunt’s gospel choir to glory at the annual Gospel Explosion talent contest. His big score is Lilly (Beyonce), a pretty, single mom resistant to his charms, but willing to lend her golden voice to the group. The people here are involved in the church choir ..not to glorify God but to  get what they want (Power. A mate. Money. First prize at Gospel Explosion). It doesn’t matter what they have to do or who they must recruit (some prison inmates) to satisfy their goal.

The gospel music is terrific and edifying. It’s great to see people—including T-Bone, Shirley Caesar and The Blind Boys of Alabama—singing about God with such inspiration.  The character are memorable.

The song that the choir sing for the big show is all about God accepting us as we are. A very important message.

I reccomend the soundtrack from this movie.

Inspiring · Comedy ° Amazing Music · Heart-Warming · Spiritual...

The Preacher's Wife” is a sweet and good-hearted comedy about the holiday season. A Pastor begining to doubt himself is visited by a angel to remind him of some of the important things in his life that he's been overlooking. This movie is well put together and acted out well.  The soundtrack is filled with gospel and Christmas music. I would recommend this movie to you if you are a Whitney Houston or Denzel Washington fan. Courtney B. Vance plays the preacher and his performance is also awesome.  Touching and inspiring.. this a beautiful Christmas movie that the family can enjoy together.

I reccomend the soundtrack from this movie.

great movie based on the real life landing of an american airline airplane in the hudson river. The pilot chose to land in the river because he couldn't make it to an airport. Not one of the 155 assengers ere lost. Enjoyed watching this movie.

A movie where you find yourself rooting for the underdogs. The football league is on strike and they get a group of replacement player (they once played given a second chance to play again). an enjoyable feel good movie.

Drama. Humanity.  Emotional. Inspiring. Heartwarming.  This movie brings to light some of the current situations we are facing today in the US Healthcare System. It shows how a system that was supposed to help patients in need can fail you when you need it the most. The storyline is moving and emotional. When you think about it.. people are dying everyday because they can't afford healthcare or the healthcare they have will not cover the services that they need. John Archibald (played Denzel Washington) does a marvelous job fighting the system in order for his son to receive a heart transplant.  You will enjoy this movie.