tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54682731205883370622024-03-14T16:30:46.137+08:00A Moot Pointbecause my film/book opinions won't change anything, but I'll still say it anyway.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-3693808260946112452015-11-02T13:44:00.000+08:002017-02-15T11:34:04.348+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X8RIbjvTzEI/VjblPmW-zaI/AAAAAAAADw8/66w3CXk8Fsk/s1600/MURakami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X8RIbjvTzEI/VjblPmW-zaI/AAAAAAAADw8/66w3CXk8Fsk/s320/MURakami.jpg" width="256"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author: <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Haruki%20Murakami" target="_blank">Haruki Murakami</a><br>
Country: Japan<br>
# of pages: 296<br>
Year: 1987</td></tr>
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<i>Norwegian Wood</i> is so beautiful that the minute I closed the book, a deluge of conflicting emotions swelled inside me, overwhelming me with feelings and thoughts that only a great piece of literature could ever do. I felt like crying and wasn't even sure why. Excuse me for being sappy. It's a rare occurrence, believe me.<br>
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Of course, the book isn't without flaws. While I identify and relate with most of the characters, there are instances where I question myself if I could actually believe this guy or that gal. Sometimes I find their lifestyle or attitude unrealistic. It reminds me of those Japanese manga boys that are too mature to be true - drinking whiskey, having sex (and being so gosh darn good at it) etc. etc. But that's just a minor issue for me. Maybe that's how teenagers were in that era. It's highly possible. We all are different after all. And I welcome the straightforwardness of the story. It was a simple narrative riddled with real human emotions - what's more effective than that?<br>
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Murakami writes about isolation, emptiness, grief, and loss, and then he messes you up by adding love and warmth, friendship, or whatever it is that keeps people going in this dark & insane world - all in one book. There's always a feeling of heaviness in his themes that is hard to shake off even after you're done with the book for quite some time. <b><span style="font-size: large;">This is why I could never read one Murakami book after another. It will destroy me.</span></b><br>
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It's ironic, really, connecting with the characters' disconnect, sensing hope in their hopelessness, seeing a glimmer of light in their darkness, and finding comfort in their utter sense of isolation. You just connect, one way or the other, whether you see yourself in <i>Kizuki, Hatsumi, Reiko, Naoko, Nagasawa, Watanabe, Midori</i> or even <i>Storm Trooper</i>, whether you have an intense need to be loved or have that warmth inside or to not feel anything at all, not knowing where you are, just empty... whatever. It's all in this book.<br>
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Surprisingly though, despite all the heavy stuff I mentioned,<i> Norwegian Wood</i> turned out to be a fairly easy read for me. A lighter story than Murakami's usual style that didn't leave me feeling dark and bogged down, pretty much like what <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-kafka-on-shore.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Kafka on the Shore</i></b></a> did to me.<br>
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It's just perfect. I could re-read this over and over through the years like <i>Watanabe</i> trying to recall his dimming memories of the past, reliving the intensity of each past experiences. This book makes me <i>feel</i>.<br>
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I love it. <br>
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<b>I love that it tore me apart and then patched me right back up and destroyed me all over again.</b><br>
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I love <i>Midori</i>. I connected with her the most. Without her, I wouldn't even bother writing a review, it just wouldn't be worth it. <i>Midori </i>symbolizes everything that is beautiful in this life. That even when you long for death, even when your soul have died several times and you go through the motions waiting for that sweet moment of release from this world, you see things that makes life worth living. A beautiful sunset, a strong cup of coffee, a great book, deep conversations, wind on your face, fresh sheets etc. That's <i>Midori</i>. She reminds you that despite the bad in this life, there's also good in it. And you only need to live day by day, be honest and brave, and just <i>feel</i>. Suck it up and feel.<br>
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“<i>Just remember, life is a box of cookies. You know how they’ve got these cookie assortments, and you like some but you don’t like others? And you eat up all the ones you like, and the only ones left are the ones you don’t like so much? I always think about that when something painful comes up. ‘Now i just have to polish these off, and everything’ll be O.K.’ Life is a box of cookies.</i>” - Midori</blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">If you're a Murakami fan, what book would you recommend for me to read next?</span></b></div>
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<br>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-12325504658709896042015-03-29T00:11:00.000+08:002015-03-29T00:56:07.648+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xN5eeYPxCpY/VRaVi8hpzRI/AAAAAAAADu4/JrbBYqDEL3Q/s1600/eat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xN5eeYPxCpY/VRaVi8hpzRI/AAAAAAAADu4/JrbBYqDEL3Q/s1600/eat.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Author: <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Elizabeth%20Gilbert" target="_blank">Elizabeth Gilbert</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Country: U.S.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Year: 2006</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"># of pages: 334</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Genre: Non-fiction, memoir</span></td></tr>
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Amidst the mind-numbing chatter which made this reading experience a bit shaky for me, I was pleasantly surprised how insightful and amusing <i>Eat, Pray, Love</i> actually is. Relatable in a way, because I agree with some of her realizations. Of course I had to patiently sift through all the pasta talk (my mouth watered with all that pizza talk though!), boy problems, "me, me, me" issues, "I, I, I" crap, and all that first-world soul-searching dilemma that Liz felt like sharing to her readers, before I get to the meatier parts of her memoir. I mean one moment I'm silently cursing Ms. Gilbert for her neverending self-absorbed ramblings, like seriously - yakkity yak yak yak! - but then I read this and I can't help but forgive her. "<i>To be honest, I've been talking too much my whole life, but I've really been talking too much during my stay at the Ashram. I have another two months here, and I don't want to waste the greatest spiritual opportunity of my life by being all social and chatty the whole time.</i>" I massage my throbbing temple and convince myself to give her another chance. Then there she goes again. The struggle is real. But maybe it's just me.<br />
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The essential, more philosophical parts of her memoir penetrated my heart and mind. She has some interesting things to say. If I could meet her I would probably wanna ask her lots of questions. And truthfully, I've highlighted lots of passages in her book, so yeah, it's not at all a bad reading experience. But my soul is a bit standoffish to be honest, my soul says she's not that amused at Ms. Liz - they just didn't connect. Such is life. To put it simply, this book was better than I expected, but it's truly nothing more than a fluffy attempt at being something really substantial. A level one, "A-for-effort-but-sadly-unsatisfying" guide for the spiritually & philosophically-hungry lost souls (with money to afford several trips abroad) in need of enlightenment. Almost there, but the more important & deeper things got lost with all of the author's hang-ups. I found myself wanting to meditate while reading this just to tune out Gilbert's self-absorbed rants.<br />
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It's still worth reading, especially for people wanting to break free from society's stifling conventionality. Let go and live life. I learned things from this book, that's for sure. It made me wanna go to that awesome pizzeria in Italy and taste all that cheesy thin crust pizza and learn their language from some dreamy Italian guy with a twin, it made me wanna meet Ketut and have my own medicine man pal, it made me want to not shave my legs and still meet that perfect Brazilian lover. But you see? It's all just a tad shallow. Liz was so focused on talking about her sex-related kidney infections and her "should I take on a lover or not?" dilemma, and juggling life's pleasures and finding oneself through meditation while teaching us how to let go of unhappiness & real life problems, that something just got lost in the process. And that's why my soul didn't buy all this crap. That this book is simply one privileged person's rant about how her life sucked, but then she went to all these places and cleansed her aura (and kidneys!) and became a better, more enlightened person than the rest of the mortals around her, and even ended up taking a lover. How so terribly cliched and fashionably elitist. Coz seriously, can anyone do that? Airfare, man, airfare!<br />
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But of course she has all the right to share her story (it's not like she promised this is gonna be some heavy, deep philosophical stuff). And I'm not dismissing the fact that this could be a good read for others. So, as a story, I'm giving it a decent rating. I don't hate it, I don't love it, I'm not sure if I like it, but it's passable I guess.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: 3/5</span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-25383919586895017112015-02-01T01:27:00.002+08:002015-02-01T09:43:34.615+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog by Edgar Calabia Samar<b>"<i>Mahaba ang kuwento ni Teresa, paulit-ulit, paikot-ikot, gaya ng alon sa dagat na biglang tataas at huhupa, subalit maya-maya'y muling magbabalik ang bangis, ang galit, damang-dama kahit ng mga nag-aakalang nasa dalampasigan, nasa pampang na sila.</i>"</b><br />
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Ganyan na ganyan ang pwedeng kong sabihin sa librong ito ni Sir Egay Samar. Paikot-ikot, pasikot-sikot. Akala mo ang simple lang, pag minsan ang lalim... akala mo ang obvious, pag minsan nakakalito... akala mo boring, pero teka, asan na ba ako? Ayan nawawala na ako.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z9lGyjYS42o/VM0IoJWzAzI/AAAAAAAADuM/Y0G_Ig2R4Js/s1600/wake%2Bbook%2Bhaul%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z9lGyjYS42o/VM0IoJWzAzI/AAAAAAAADuM/Y0G_Ig2R4Js/s1600/wake%2Bbook%2Bhaul%2B001.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author: <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Edgar%20Calabia%20Samar" target="_blank">Edgar Calabia Samar</a><br />
Country: Philippines<br />
Language: Filipino <br />
# of pages: 232<br />
Year published: 2008<br />
(English translation: Eight Muses of the Fall)</td></tr>
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Aaminin ko, sa unang parte ng libro ay naging mahirap talaga para sakin. <b>Pag minsan parang zombie na lang ako na nakatingin sa mga letra at salita, parang robot na automatic ko na lang na iniiscan ang mga linya. Pero dahil ang isang bookworm ay may konsiyensya sa pagbabasa, heto't uulit-ulitin ko ang mga paragraphs, pag minsan mga pahina. Nahirapan akong sakyan ang flow.</b> Hindi dahil mahirap intindihin (ang ibang mga salita oo. Lalim men!) kundi dahil disjointed. Putol-putol dahil nga binabagtas mo ang kwento kung saan ang iyong guide ay medyo naliligaw din ng landas. Sa una medyo wala akong amor sa bida - si <i>Daniel</i>. Ilang beses ko rin naramdaman ang yamot dahil sa pagkahaba-habang mabulaklak na prose na hindi ko naman alam ang mga nangyayari. Frustrating ang unang 60 pages ng libro para sa akin.<br />
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Pero pagkatapos nun, nag-iba na ang takbo ng istorya. Di ko alam ano ang nangyari, pero tuloy-tuloy ko na syang binabasa. Pag minsan ay mararamdaman ko parin ang panandaliang inip. Tipong "jusko andami mong satsat Daniel walang kwenta ang sinasabi mo!", pero tulad ng alon sa dagat, hahampasin ulit ako ng isang matinding "feels" at madadala ulit ako sa dagat ng mapaglarong panulat ni Egay.<br />
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<b>Pinoy Murakami</b>. Naiinis ako na sobrang daming references lalo na kay Murakami. Sa mga ibang libro ay nag-eenjoy talaga ako kapag may nababasa akong pamilyar na kanta o awtor na binabanggit, pero dito, medyo naumay ako. Ewan ko bakit. Siguro dahil sa sobrang daming beses na may references or quotes, ay parang nawawala ang bilib ko sa may akda dahil pakiramdam ko ay wala siyang orihinal na ideya. Feeling ko puro hiram sa mga ibang pilosopo tasyo at mga manunulat.<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Kinabog ko si Darna dahil nilunok ko lahat ng maling akala ko. </b>Binabawi ko ang mga huli kong sinabi. Peace na tayo Ding.<br />
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Natatawa ako sa sarili ko kasi 3/4 ng libro ay desidido ako na bibigyan ko ng ratings na 3/5 stars sa Goodreads ang Walong Diwata. Sabi ko pa maswerte na yan sa 3. Dapat 2.5 lang. Umabot ako ng pahina 185, nagbago isip ko. Sabi ko, shet. 3.5 na sige. Heto yung moment na gusto kong basahin ulit mula sa simula. Alam ko maraming magbabago. Marami akong na-miss, at marami akong mas maaappreciate. Tuloy sa pagbabasa, at unti-unti na namang bumababa ang ratings ko. 3 stars ulit. Taas-baba, taas-baba. Para bang sinasadya lang ng author na bwisitin ako.<br />
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Gusto ko ng tapusin. Parang may mala-tiyanak na majika ang librong ito dahil hindi matapos-tapos. 3/5! 3/5 na nga sabi eh! Hanggang narating ko ang huling pahina. Leche. 4/5 ang "feels".<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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Unfair kay Egay na sabihin ko na boring ang libro niya. Sa hinaharap, balak kong basahin ulit ito at hihimayin ng mabuti. Siguro hindi lang talaga ako sanay sa mabulaklak na panulat, lalo na't sa wikang Filipino. Pero gaya ng sinabi ko, ang mga huling chapters ay wasak na wasak. At mas gets ko na kung bakit di ako masyadong maka-konek kay Daniel. Kasi..<br />
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<i><b>"Kagaya ng sinabi ko, karamihan sa kanila, nagiging dakilang manunulat. Pero hindi na rin sila ganap na ganap na tao, kaya marami sa kanila, bagaman nabubuhay sa mundong ito, parang laging wala ang espiritu, ang diwa, ang isip. Parang laging lumilipad sa kung saan.</b></i>"<br />
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Sadyang ganon ang karakter, parang unsympathetic, parang nandiyan pero wala. Kasi nga ganon talaga. Yun na lang ang gusto kong paniwalaan.<br />
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Anak ng diwata si Sir Egay. Ibang klase siyang mag-habi ng kuwento at maglaro ng mga salita. Pagkatapos ka niyang paikut-ikutin sa kanyang pinagtagpi-tagping kwento eh <i>saka ka niya gagaguhiiiiiiinnn, oh diyos ko! </i>--- este, saka ka niya itutulak sa bangin. Sa bangin kung saan makikita mo ang kabuuan ng misteryo ng universe.<br />
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Basta. Binawi ng ilang huling chapters ang so-so feel ko sa libro. Magaling, magaling.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Rating: 3.5/5 (4 sana, pero 3.5 na lang muna sa ngayon)</b> -Kung tinangka mo itong basahin at kagaya ko ay parang feeling mo hindi mo ito maeenjoy, inuudyok kita na ituloy mo lang ang pagbabasa. Baka magbago ang isip mo. Sa huli, magustuhan mo man o hindi, kakaibang reading experience ang ibibigay sayo ng librong ito, panigurado.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-2089410167160763122014-11-23T02:53:00.001+08:002015-02-01T11:09:51.303+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Responde by Norman WilwaycoLabindalawang maiikling kwento ni Norman Wilwayco na nagbigay sakin ng iba't ibang emosyon. Labindalawa ring beses winarak ang puso ko. Labindalawang istorya ng iba't ibang klaseng kaadikan, kahalayan, kabastusan, kawalan ng dignidad, kahindik-hindik, at kamulat-mulat na mga kwentong Pinoy. Welcome to the dark side.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6IRUW8ZNGo/VHDVqJMhRBI/AAAAAAAADtw/NnUlJC9hNN0/s1600/responde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6IRUW8ZNGo/VHDVqJMhRBI/AAAAAAAADtw/NnUlJC9hNN0/s1600/responde.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Author:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Norman%20Wilwayco" target="_blank">Norman Wilwayco</a></span><span style="font-size: small;"> (Iwa)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Year published:</b> 2012</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b># of pages:</b> 246</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Country/Language: </b> Philippines (Filipino)</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Drug War</span></b><br />
<b>3.5/5</b></div>
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Akala ko kung ano ang positive. Tragic pero nakakatawa. Magugustuhan ito ni Bob Marley. Hithit pa ng damo! Yan ang solusyon at magsasalba sayo sa buhay. Buti pa ang adik sa damo may sariling mundo basta may sinisindihan, pero ang taong mapanghusga ay mas malalang klase ng nilalang. Dito ko rin nakita ang paborito kong linya - "<i>Ano'ng aasahan mo sa mga reaksyonaryong bobo?</i>"</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. ASIN LIVE!</span></b><br />
<b>5/5</b></div>
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Ibang klase. Dreams crushed by your parents. Quitting before failing. Failing because of quitting. Lumbay. Naiyak ako.<br />
"<i>Sa pagbalik natin sa memory lane, susukatin at panghihinayangan natin ang mga pangarap na binaril at pagkakataong pinalampas, at tutuklasin natin kung kailan tayo nagsimulang tumanda, kung kailan tayo bumitiw sa mga paniniwalang bakal na sinusunod natin dati...</i>"<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Larawan</span></b></div>
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<b>3.5/5</b></div>
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Ok lang. Kahapon nawala ko ang larawan ng dati kong terror teacher noong elementary. Sana ayos lang sya.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Dangal</span></b></div>
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<b>4/5</b></div>
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Hinayupak. Ano nga ba ang meron ang pera at sex at kung bakit yan ang nagpapa-ikot sa mundo? Kasama ng pride na sya rin ang ikakabagsak ng isang tao.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Kung paano ko inayos ang buhok matapos ang mahaba-habang paglalakbay.</span></b></div>
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<b>4.5/5</b><br />
Na-feel ko ang saksak. Na-imagine ko si Leonardo di Caprio at si Hans Zimmer naman sa background. Ganon ka-intense.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Dugyot</span></b></div>
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<b>4/5</b><br />
"<i>T*ng-in@, maghapong pinagpaguran, ipambibili lang ng droga. Yan ang tunay na Pinoy, walang pakialam sa kinabukasan!"</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Imat</span></b></div>
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<b>4.5/5</b><br />
Isang masalimuot na kwento ng isang buhay na nawasak dahil sa kagarapalan ng mga lalake na alisan ng dignidad ang isang babae para lamang sa panandaliang ligaya. Eto rin ay para sa mga taong may dinadalang bigat sa isip at puso na kailanma'y di malilimot. Ang tinding epekto ang binigay sakin ni Imat bilang ako'y isa ring babae. Langhya ka Iwa, ba't ang galing mong tumusok sa puso?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Kahon</span></b></div>
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<b>4/5</b><br />
Gusto kong lumabas sa kahon. Pero mahirap diba?<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Mga Bagay na Wala Kami</span></b></div>
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<b>3/5</b></div>
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Ito siguro ang pinaka-hindi ko masyadong na-enjoy, hindi dahil pangit ang pagkakasulat, kundi dahil ipinakita nito ang pinaka ayokong aspeto ng realidad sa mundo. Na ang mga lugmok sa kahirapan ay kadalasang hindi tinatratong tao ng mga mayayaman, politiko, o kahit na ordinaryong mamamayan na angat lang ng konti sa mga pobreng walang magawa sa buhay kundi ang umasa sa kawanggawa ng iba. Naiinis ako dahil alam kong nangyayari ito sa bawat sulok ng mundo. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Pulutan</span></b></div>
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Sobrang sakit mabasa ang isang kwento na nagdedepikto ng karahasan sa hayop lalo na kung mas mahal mo ang mga ito kaysa sa tao. Hinukay ng kwentong ito ang matagal ko ng binaon sa limot na mga karanasan na nasaksihan ko noong bata ako - noong usong-uso pa ang kaswal na pagpatay sa mga alagang aso para gawing pulutan ng mga lasenggo. Leche. Wala akong ibibigay na rating. Buset.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">11. Tony Heart Floren</span></b><br />
<b>5/5</b><br />
Kinilig ako ewan ko kung bakit. Kabog ang Marvin-Jolina tandem or Bobby-Angelu loveteam sa pagka-nostalgic nitong istoryang ito. Kinabog din ang <i>Paraluman</i> ng Eraserheads sa pagbibigay ng balik-tanaw "feels" sa mga readers. Ito ang pinaka light read sa buong libro para sakin.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">12. Trip Kong Lumipad</span></b><br />
<b>4.5/5</b><br />
Ewan ko ha, pero medyo nihilistic ang dating nito sakin. Nung una inisip ko, bakit kaya ito ang ginawang finale ni Iwa sa kanyang libro eh parang napaka-"safe" ng kwento. Wala masyadong impact kung ikukumpara mo sa ibang wasak/bastos/nakakabiglang mga naunang kwento niya. Feeling ko nga pagkasara ko ng aklat eh nakalimutan ko na kaagad ang kwento ni <i>Jack</i> at <i>Ton</i>. Pero pagkatapos kong himay-himayin ang lahat eh napaisip ako. Tipong, teka, langhya - iba ka Iwa, iba ka. Pagkatapos tayong bastusin at warakin ang kamulatan sa mga naunang 11 na kwento, eh bibigyan tayo ng ganitong istorya na sa panlabas na anyo eh parang malamya ang dating. Pero hinde, kumbaga sa asong may rabies eh titirahin ka ng tahimik, kakagatin sa pwet habang nakatalikod. Na hindi natin namalayan na sa pagtatapos ng mundong hinabi ni Iwa, pagsara ng aklat, eh bibigyan tayo ng isang emosyon na may matinding tama satin - na magiging dahilan na kung bakit hinding hindi natin makakalimutan ang librong ito. Na matapos nating pagdaanan ang mga masasaklap na karanasan ng mga karakter dito ay bibigyan tayo ng isang pasimpleng mensahe. Bakit nga ba natin kailangang maglinis ng bahay? Dig mo?<br />
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Kadalasan sa mga ganitong klase ng babasahin (Phil. Lit) ay may halong socio-politikal kaya pilit kong iniiwasan sa kadahilanang gusto kong magbulag-bulagan sa mga katotohanan na nangyayari sa ating bansa pero hindi ako nagsisisi na binuklat ko ang libro ni Iwa. Dahil dito parang gusto ko pa iexplore ang literaturang Pilipino, lalong-lalo na ang mga akda ni Norman Wilwayco.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ang aking rating: 4.5/5 - </span></b>Ito lang ang masasabi ko sa <i>Responde</i>: <b>WASAK NA WASAK.</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SNoUsajhMKs/VHDWv3YiB6I/AAAAAAAADt4/L7R1Oqjzkb8/s1600/responde%2Bcollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SNoUsajhMKs/VHDWv3YiB6I/AAAAAAAADt4/L7R1Oqjzkb8/s1600/responde%2Bcollage.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Photo courtesy of Miche R.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sila ang mga kasabay kong bumasa at napa-mura sa </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">bawat </span><span style="font-size: small;">pahina </span><span style="font-size: small;">at titik na tagos hanggang kaluluwa.</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-66664715954709790742014-11-18T22:47:00.004+08:002016-01-16T18:14:24.353+08:00[MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS]: Interstellar (2014)<div style="text-align: center;">
It's rare for me to be so confused after watching a film. Confused, not because of the plot, but because I was trying to gauge my feelings towards it. Did I love it? Did I hate the spine of the story? From standing up from my seat, to peeing, to walking out of the movie house, down the escalator, and to the parking lot, I was thinking. My mind was like in a jumbled time-space continuum, struggling, wondering, puzzling over the movie I just saw. Even on the way home, I was mostly silent, well, at a loss for words is more appropriate - which is unusual for me. Any other movie I would have been gushing or ranting.</div>
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What got me so confused is that for a highly anticipated movie,<b> Interstellar made me feel overwhelmed <i>and </i>underwhelmed at the same time.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gk7W-Sf0plg/VGskxQMPVMI/AAAAAAAADtc/mDYxpNiUxvA/s1600/interstellar%2Bdock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gk7W-Sf0plg/VGskxQMPVMI/AAAAAAAADtc/mDYxpNiUxvA/s1600/interstellar%2Bdock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Directed by: </b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Christopher%20Nolan" target="_blank">Christopher Nolan</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Written by: </b> Jonathan & Christopher Nolan</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Music by: </b> Hans Zimmer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cinematography by: </b> Hoyte van Hoytema</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Edited by: </b> Lee Smith</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Running time:</b> 169 mins</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Budget: </b> $165 million</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Box Office:</b> over $322 million</span></td></tr>
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I was expecting <i>more</i>, visually-speaking. I wanted to be awestruck like I have been when I've seen <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/04/2001-space-odyssey.html" target="_blank"><b><i>2001: A Space Odyssey</i></b></a> and I wanted to get lost in space (well, not literally) as I have felt watching <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/10/gravity-2013.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Gravity</i></b></a> on IMAX format. <b>Interstellar has its own beauty, don't get me wrong. It's grandiose & somber, and it succeeds in making you feel the vastness of the cosmos by showing us what a tiny speck we are in the universe. </b>The homage to <i>2001 </i>is really obvious but it's not a bad thing, I mean all Jedi should pay his respects to Yoda, don't they? And I really enjoyed seeing bits and pieces of Kubrick's classic in this movie. It was both nostalgic and fun. I was half-hoping to see a floating pen somewhere in there. lol. But as I've said, while the photography was good, I didn't feel the same awe I felt with the other films I've mentioned. <b>The ambition to make something greater than <i>2001</i> was obvious, but for me, it fell short.</b><br />
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<b>Human drama... in space. That's what Interstellar really is about.</b> Yes it dabbled in space-time continuum and all that 4th/5th dimension thingie, and that excited me - to not just read about it in books but to see it executed in films. While the plot as a whole has all the necessary "feels" especially since <b>Hans Zimmer</b> properly set the mood with his striking, but sometimes too overwhelming score, it's not entirely faultless. At times, the drama borders on cliches that it distracts me from being amazed by the ideas this movie presented. <b>Anne Hathaway</b> telling us something about LOVE is both cheesy and thought-provoking (if you believe in the infinite possibilities of fringe science and all that). <b><u><span style="color: red;">(SPOILERS)</span></u></b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> <b>Matthew McConaughey floating inside the black hole, his eyes opening to the other dimensions, discovering the <i>Inception</i>-like fabrics of time, meddling with the past/future (occuring at the same time, in a different plane) while watching his daughter from "the other side", finally "penetrating" and succeeding in communicating, thus saving the world - with the help of a watch. Yeah. Love, it transcends everything, apparently.</b></span> <b>Matt Damon </b>didn't really need to be there. His story arc was too melodramatic, in my opinion. I know, I know, they wanted to show just how <i>human</i> we can be, no matter where we are. Survival instinct, I get it. But as I've said, Matt Damon shouldn't have been there. <b>But McConaughey makes everything worth it. He's simply awesome in here.</b> And the Cullens' scary-looking baby has grown and she has outshone Jessica Chastain & Anne Hathaway.<br />
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Interstellar planted more questions in my mind than enlightenment - no, not about the science. For an almost-three-hour long movie, they should have had ample time to seamlessly piece together a coherent plot with real character development. Instead, some scenes only felt like fillers, and others were just big on showcasing sentimentality, all fluff. They have had almost 3 hours, and still Nolan and his team chose to settle on a cliched plot with sometimes-amazing-but-mostly-disappointing visual effects. Gargantua and those docking scenes were amazing though.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVqjGC-lDZ8/VGskxFKNfQI/AAAAAAAADtY/kZ8JSD7BJ-8/s1600/interstellar%2Bgargantua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVqjGC-lDZ8/VGskxFKNfQI/AAAAAAAADtY/kZ8JSD7BJ-8/s1600/interstellar%2Bgargantua.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Interstellar is an ambitious film, or at least it tried to be</b>. It's not as great as the other SF films that made their well-deserved mark in cinematic history, but it was good enough for me, all in all. It's not perfect, and some concepts/scenes may seem outlandish to some. But for me, I'd rather believe that we haven't even scratched the surface of the mysteries of the universe. That science is just a baby. The possibilities are infinite. I'd rather not close my mind to other theories. That's what this film made me feel. That while at times feeling clunky, shifting from the human drama to space talks, what's consistent is the feeling of being lost somewhere - in space, on earth, I don't know. Nolan is great at that, the manipulation of man's sense of isolation. It's reminiscent of <i>Solaris (</i>both films)<i>,</i> the mood.<br />
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And as I've said, I like this film. It left a somber mood in my soul, the larger than life IMAX experience brought me to another dimension, and from the screen to my soul I felt something transcend, and doused me with some feeling I can't pinpoint. However shaky the screenplay was, the movie wasn't bad. It wasn't an epic fail. I like it. The sad thing about this - all the efforts of serving us with thought-provoking ideas & great images of space & blackholes & wormholes, the cool docking scenes that could have made Interstellar great despite its flaws - it could have been awesome if it was released a few years back. Before <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/10/gravity-2013.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Gravity</i></b></a>. That what Nolan tried doing this year, Cuaron already did a year ago and much better, that everything about Interstellar seems second-rate (talking about the use of visual effects/technology), its uneven character development and plot becomes glaring, that despite the immense effort, it simply just pales in comparison to its predecessors. What separates Interstellar, unlike Gravity which was focused mainly on giving us a feel of space more than the plot and 2001 which was in a whole 'nother level of mindf*ck in space, is the human drama (Matthew's relationship with his daughter specifically) and with that angle Nolan made it work. Is it fair to compare it with other space films? Maybe not. On its own, it probably is one of the most curious film experiences I've had this year, but as a film buff, one can't help not to compare it with the Yoda & Obi-Wan of space-drama movies.<br />
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Who knows? Maybe twenty, thirty years later, Interstellar will be as big as <i>2001: A Space Odyssey</i>. If love can transcend dimensions, anything is possible.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: 3.5/5 </span></b><br />
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You know what's really funny? They have all this space exploration technology, they even have these awkward-looking but kick-ass robots, and yet, ladies and gentlemen, Professor Brand still uses manual wheelchair. Ain't that cute?<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Letterbox'd: </b></span><b><a href="http://lucresiastrange/" target="_blank">lucresiastrange</a></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My personal blog: <a href="http://lucresiastrange.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ravings of a Madwoman</a></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Or contact me via email: <span style="color: #c27ba0;"> jukangliwayway@yahoo.com</span></span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-30868104801316857942014-09-29T22:50:00.001+08:002014-11-08T18:35:22.156+08:00MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS: Dementia (2014)<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS"</b><i> is when I review films currently shown in theaters. Also, I rarely watch new releases in the cinemas, but when I do, there are always face-palming incidences that make me regret going. So humor me and let me tell you what I think before you waste your ticket money, while refreshing your memory of the ABCs of movie house etiquette!</i></div>
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<b>STRAIGHT TO THE POINT:</b> A rarity in Pinoy horror genre, <i>Dementia</i> stays away from blood & hysterics, instead, it capitalizes on the gothic setting & tension. Nora Aunor blows us away with her mesmerizing non-verbal performances, that we pardon the average plot - something that the usual nitpicking critic will tear apart if it wasn't for Aunor's superb acting and Intalan's impressive direction.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-clbr7z-lT1Y/VCk9btu05NI/AAAAAAAADqU/qeb2EHekrnk/s1600/dementia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-clbr7z-lT1Y/VCk9btu05NI/AAAAAAAADqU/qeb2EHekrnk/s1600/dementia.jpg" height="236" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Percival%20Intalan" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Percival Intalan</span></a> (directorial debut)<br /><b>Screenplay/Story:</b> Renei Dimla, Jun Lana<br /><b>Starring:</b> Nora Aunor, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Bing Loyzaga, Yul Servo, Chynna Ortaleza</span></td></tr>
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It's so hard for me to take Filipino horror films seriously what with their typical borrowed Hollywood formula that fails so miserably, cheap CGI & scare tactics, and untalented actors mainly cast for their face value/celebrity status more than anything else, to cite a few reasons. I remember laughing so hard at <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/01/nag-pagpag-ka-ba-siyam-na-buhay-na.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay</i></b></a> or <i><b>Dalaw</b> </i>(at Kris Aquino, more than anything else), that my mind registers "comedy" whenever I see a Pinoy horror movie showing in the cinemas. <i>Dementia</i>, is something else.<br />
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Not knowing anything much about it except that it's starring Ms. <b>Nora Aunor</b>, it was just a stroke of luck that I found out it's already showing in theaters - just twice a day though, in the mornings. I grabbed the chance. With my mom tagging along, we waited at the entrance for the mall to open up, and stood in line patiently as senior citizens line up to avail their free movie. After getting the tickets, we hurried up excitedly and went inside Cinema 2 and had the entire theater to ourselves. You heard right. It's only me and my mom. Not one living soul can be seen anywhere. It was creepy. And when the movie started, showing a bunch of gothic scenery, I kinda missed the chaos a jam-packed theater offers.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Review:</span></b><br />
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Intalan sets the mood right with a bunch of amazing shots, showcasing the somber beauty of the island, and I was really impressed. It's like watching something of Bergman or any other black & white classics. <b>When the camera focuses on Aunor's face - her eyes eternally glimmering, her expression reflecting a thousand emotions, I was like "<i>Yeah. Money well-spent!</i>" That's like 3-5 minutes into the movie. I was already content.</b><br />
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The plot itself is nothing new. It's been told before, maybe more intricate, maybe even better. A family caring for a relative with dementia, thrown together by circumstances finding themselves in a remote island, in a gloomy-looking ancestral home. Ghostly apparitions. Musical score perfectly-timed with the building suspense & a couple of scare shots. A malevolent ghost, that despite its resemblance of a <b>Jabbawockeez</b> dancer, I couldn't laugh even if I had a momentary urge to giggle, because its first appearance was so creepy I forgot about my sense of humor.<br />
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But what truly makes this film stand out is <b>Nora Aunor</b>. It's so rare nowadays for a horror film to rely on the actual emotions or mood because we all have gotten used to being served blood & guts, lots of screaming & hysteria that I get surprised if I see a really well-made horror movie (Roden's <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/08/kasambahay-deads-grin-2008.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Kasambahay</i></b></a> is also a good example). That's the beauty of <i>Dementia</i>. <b>Intalan maximizes his lead's greatest strength - that is her ability to relay a story without opening her mouth.</b> The most memorable scene for me involves Nora Aunor staring at the camera, so many emotions in a span of seconds or minutes, and hitting me like a laser gun straight to the heart. I shed tears.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZa7Bu51x24/VCk9boeyFfI/AAAAAAAADqQ/DalqMvaneL8/s1600/dementia%2Baunor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZa7Bu51x24/VCk9boeyFfI/AAAAAAAADqQ/DalqMvaneL8/s1600/dementia%2Baunor.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I also commend the rest of the cast. But <b>Jasmine Curtis-Smith</b> surprised me the most. For a newbie, surrounded by<b> Nora Aunor, Bing Loyzaga, Yul Servo, Chynna Ortaleza, </b>and even <b>Lou Veloso</b>, she was a natural. Not teeny-bopper, not camera-conscious, no affected projections nor stilted dialogues - she was actually good. I will be watching out for her. <b>Ortaleza</b>, who in my opinion is such an underrated actress (and one of my favorites, since her <i>Click</i> days), also delivers a chilling performance as <i>Olivia</i>. As always, she makes the most of every character she portrays, and she always delivers. A huge part of me wishes to see her in more challenging & bigger roles.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How scary is Dementia?</span></b><br />
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If you have read my previous horror film reviews you would know that I'm a huge wimp. I cover my eyes half the time while watching ghost movies. So my gauge of how scary this film is might be vastly different than you guys. The movie doesn't bombard you with cheap scare tactics. All throughout, it winds you up into a big ball of tension, stretches you like an elastic band, ready to snap at the slightest hint of shadow/sound. There were only several really scary scenes - but they were very effective. The appeal of this as a horror film, like I've said, relies on the cast's acting, the score, the mood, and the superb photography. It's really great to see something with a hint of Korean/Japanese/Hollywood horror being applied in this film, but also retaining its native flavor - what I mean is, there were horror formulas (cliches, whatever) used, but unlike other mainstream flicks, this one felt real. It was masterfully handled by everyone, not just the director or the lead. It's like watching a world-class movie that's distinctly Filipino - it makes me proud.<i> Dementia</i> is not just paranormal-scary, though. It's also a psychological horror - making me realize the sad face of getting older; being a burden to relatives, losing yourself, forgetting your past. It put me in a cold, cold place.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: </span></b>4/5 - this is something worth watching. (5/5 for Aunor's subtle performance)<br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My personal blog: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://lucresiastrange.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ravings of a Madwoman</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-24536068594015710922014-09-07T12:09:00.001+08:002016-02-14T11:05:23.282+08:00My Ultimate Book Bucket List<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="text-align: left;">*</span><i style="text-align: left;"><b>Titles in <span style="color: purple;">violet</span></b></i><b><i style="text-align: left;"> are those I have already </i><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple;">read</span></span><i style="text-align: left;">. Those marked with </i><span style="text-align: left;">(</span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></span><span style="text-align: left;">)</span><i style="text-align: left;"> at the end of each title are books that I already</i><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"> <span style="color: yellow;">own</span></span></b><i style="text-align: left;"><b>.</b> </i><i style="text-align: left;">Books are listed alphabetically and are linked to <b>Goodreads</b> (GR) if unreviewed, or to <b>my</b> blog (</i><span style="text-align: left;">labeled </span><i style="text-align: left;">"REVIEWED" if linked to blog, "GR REVIEWED" if linked to my Goodreads). </i><br />
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<b><u>WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS LIST</u>: </b> I scoured the net for hours just to assemble a diverse list which include, not only my favorite genres (sci-fi, gothic fiction, philosophical fiction), but almost all kinds of books. Lists that I checked are: <b> 100 Greatest/Best Books of All Time, Top Banned Books, Best-selling books of all time, Greatest Philosophical Fiction, Top Ten Asian Novels, Most Challenging Books Ever, Essential Works of Postmodern Fiction, Best Experimental Novels, Best Modern Novels/Books of the 21st Century, Best Existentialist Books, 50 Coolest Books Ever, Nobel/Man Booker/Pulitzer/Asian Literary Prize winners... etc. etc.</b> Every day I keep on checking other lists which I may have missed, and I'm still adding titles - even <b>books that have gained notoriety or the worst reviews</b>. Some titles here are personal choices (not from any top lists) - just books that I'm curious about.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><b>(*this list is updated regularly*)</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23568138-14?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">14</a> by Manix Abrera<br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5470.1984?from_search=true" target="_blank">1984</a></span> by George Orwell (1949)<b> </b><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> - </b><span style="text-align: left;">"</span><i>The imagery and language of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four permeated society in the 20th century and continues to do so in the 21st. Perhaps the most visionary novel ever written, it foretold a world of surveillance and totalitarian regime. Big Brother, thoughtcrime, Room 101, newspeak and doublespeak; all chilling portents which become more valid by the day.</i><span style="text-align: left;">" - Shortlist.com</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63032.2666?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">2666</span></a><span style="color: purple;"> </span>by Roberto Bolano (2004)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/373755.Absalom_Absalom_?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">Absalom, Absalom!</span></a> by William Faulkner (1936)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12914.The_Aeneid?ac=1" target="_blank">The Aeneid</a> by Virgil (29 BC) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53835.The_Age_of_Innocence?ac=1" target="_blank">The Age of Innocence</a> by Edith Wharton (1920) (<b>Pulitzer</b>, 1921) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">* </span></b><i> - "The Age of Innocence is Edith Wharton’s masterful portrait of desire and betrayal during the sumptuous Golden Age of Old New York, a time when society people “dreaded scandal more than disease."" </i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/298230.Agnes_Grey?ac=1" target="_blank">Agnes Grey</a> by Anne Bronte (1847)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>At age 19 Anne Brontë left home and worked as a governess for a few years before becoming a writer. Agnes Grey was an 1847 novel based on her experience as a governess.</i>" GR<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5787.The_Aleph_and_Other_Stories?ac=1" target="_blank">The Aleph and Other Stories</a> by Jorge Luis Borges (1945) - <i>"Full of philosophical puzzles and supernatural surprises, these stories contain some of Borges’s most fully realized human characters. With uncanny insight he takes us inside the minds of an unrepentant Nazi, an imprisoned Mayan priest, fanatical Christian theologians, a woman plotting vengeance on her father’s “killer,” and a man awaiting his assassin in a Buenos Aires guest house."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18143977-all-the-light-we-cannot-see?from_search=true" target="_blank">All the Light We Cannot See</a> by Anthony Doerr (2014)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Doerr's gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3985.The_Amazing_Adventures_of_Kavalier_Clay?ac=1" target="_blank">The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay</a> by Michael Chabon (2000) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Joe Kavalier, a young Jewish artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdini-esque escape, has just smuggled himself out of Nazi-invaded Prague and landed in New York City. His Brooklyn cousin Sammy Clay is looking for a partner to create heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit America - the comic book.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28676.American_Psycho?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">American Psycho</span></b></a> by Bret Easton Ellis (1991) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - or any books by Ellis, because dammit, his books are disturbing! But like any "normal" person, you know you don't wanna be a part of it but you just can't look away. You need to read more. -_- Damn you Ellis!<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6862.Amsterdam?ac=1" target="_blank">Amsterdam</a> by Ian McEwan (1998, <b>Booker</b>) - "<i>On a chilly February day, two old friends meet in the throng outside a London crematorium to pay their last respects to Molly Lane. Both Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday had been Molly's lovers in the days before they reached their current eminence: Clive is Britain's most successful modern composer, and Vernon is editor of the newspaper The Judge.Gorgeous, feisty Molly had other lovers, too, notably Julian Garmony, Foreign Secretary, a notorious right-winger tipped to be the next prime minister.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27297.The_Analects?ac=1" target="_blank">Analects</a> by Confucius (400 BC)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1433333.Ang_Paboritong_Libro_ni_Hudas" target="_blank">Ang Paboritong Libro ni Hudas</a> by Bob Ong (2003)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7613.Animal_Farm?from_search=true" target="_blank">Animal Farm</a> by George Orwell (1945) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15823480-anna-karenina?ac=1" target="_blank">Anna Karenina</a> by Leo Tolstoy (1877)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/93101.The_Arabian_Nights?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights</a> India/Iran/Iraq/Egypt, (900)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10387214-the-art-of-fiction" target="_blank">The Art of Fiction</a> by Henry James (1884) - "<i>In this classic essay which originally appeared in his 1888 collectionPartial Portraits, Henry James argues against rigid proscriptions on the novelist's choice of subject and method of treatment. He maintains that the widest possible freedom in content and approach will help ensure narrative fiction's continued vitality.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10534.The_Art_of_War?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Art of War</a> by Sun Tzu</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77013.As_I_Lay_Dying?from_search=true" target="_blank">As I Lay Dying</a> by William Faulkner (1930)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/865879.A_Tale_of_a_Tub?ac=1" target="_blank">A Tale of a Tub</a> by Jonathan Swift (1704)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/662.Atlas_Shrugged?from_search=true" target="_blank">Atlas Shrugged</a> by Ayn Rand (1957) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6867.Atonement?ac=1" target="_blank">Atonement</a> by Ian McEwan (2001) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70240.The_Atrocity_Exhibition?ac=1" target="_blank">The Atrocity Exhibition</a> by J.G. Ballard (1970) - "<i>The Atrocity Exhibition practically lies outside of any literary tradition. Part science fiction, part eerie historical fiction, part pornography, its characters adhere to no rules of linearity or stability.</i>" - GR<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58345.The_Awakening?ac=1" target="_blank">The Awakening</a> by Kate Chopin (1899)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Chopin's depiction of a married woman, bound to her family and with no way to assert a fulfilling life of her own, has become a foundation for feminism and a classic account of gender crises in the late Victorian era.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57891.Battle_Royale?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Battle Royale</span></b></a> by Koushun Takami (1999) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14284.The_Beggar_Maid?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose</a> by Alice Munro (1991) - <i>"Alice Munro has a unique place in Booker Prize history; The Beggar Maid is the only short story collection to have been shortlisted. (It was shortlisted in 1980.)"</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10033.Being_and_Nothingness?ac=1" target="_blank">Being and Nothingness</a> by Jean-Paul Sartre (1943) - <i>"</i>Being & Nothingness <i>is without doubt one of the most significant philosophical books of the 20th century. The central work by one of the century's most influential thinkers, it altered the course of western philosophy. Its revolutionary approach challenged all previous assumptions about the individual's relationship with the world. Known as 'the Bible of existentialism', its impact on culture & literature was immediate & was felt worldwide."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92307.Being_and_Time?ac=1" target="_blank">Being and Time</a> by Martin Heidegger (1927)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6514.The_Bell_Jar?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">The Bell Jar</span></b></a> by Sylvia Plath (1963)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12321.Beyond_Good_and_Evil?ac=1" target="_blank">Beyond Good and Evil</a> by Friedrich Nietzsche (1886) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">The Bible</span> <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>partly read</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38333.Black_Hole?ac=1" target="_blank">Black Hole</a> by Charles Burns (2000) - "<i>Charles Burns released his 12-issue comic book series Black Hole over a decade from 1995, a bleak but brilliant tale of suburban alienation when teenagers who contract a mysterious sexually transmitted disease start to develop bizarre physical mutations, all drawn in eerie black and white, evoking the feel of classic teen horror films.</i>" - Shortlist.com<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78433.The_Blind_Assassin?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Blind Assassin</a> by Margaret Atwood (2000, <b>Booker</b>) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2526.Blindness?ac=1" target="_blank">Blindness</a> by Jose Saramago (1991) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/321950.Blood_and_Guts_in_High_School?from_search=true" target="_blank">Blood and Guts in High School</a> by Kathy Acker (1978) - "<i>Janey lived in the locked room. Twice a day the Persian slave trader came in and taught her to be a whore. Otherwise there was nothing. One day she found a pencil stub and scrap of paper in a forgotten corner of the room...</i>" - GR<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/394535.Blood_Meridian_or_the_Evening_Redness_in_the_West?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Blood Meridian, Or the Evening Redness in the West</a> by Cormac McCarthy (1985) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11728.The_Blue_Flower?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Blue Flower</a> by Penelope Fitzgerald (1995) - <i>"In eighteenth-century Germany, the impetuous student of philosophy who will later gain fame as the Romantic poet Novalis seeks his father's permission to wed his true philosophy -- a plain, simple child named Sophie. The attachment shocks his family and friends. This brilliant young man, betrothed to a twelve-year-old dullard! How can it be? A literary sensation and a bestseller in England and the United States, The Blue Flower was one of eleven books- and the only paperback- chosen as an Editor's Choice by the New York Times Book Review. The 1997 National Book Critics Circle Award Winner in Fiction.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7164497-the-boat-to-redemption?ac=1" target="_blank">The Boat to Redemption</a> by Su Tong (2009)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/460635.The_Bone_People?ac=1" target="_blank">The Bone People</a> by Keri Hulme (1984) (<b>Booker</b>, 1985) -<i> "Winner of both a Booker Prize and Pegasus Prize for Literature, The Bone People is a work of unfettered wordplay and mesmerizing emotional complexity."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45974.The_Book_of_Disquiet?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Book of Disquiet</a> by Fernando Pessoa (1982)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5479.Brave_New_World_Brave_New_World_Revisited?from_search=true" target="_blank">Brave New World/ Brave New World Revisited</a> by Aldous Huxley (1932) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251688.Breakfast_at_Tiffany_s?ac=1" target="_blank">Breakfast at Tiffany's</a> by Truman Capote (1958)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20893314-a-brief-history-of-seven-killings?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">A Brief History of Seven Killings</a> by Marlon James (2015) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>From the acclaimed author of The Book of Night Women comes a masterfully written novel that explores the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in the late 1970s.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3869.A_Brief_History_of_Time?ac=1" target="_blank">A Brief History of Time</a> by Stephen Hawking (1987) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13507212-bring-up-the-bodies?ac=1" target="_blank">Bring Up the Bodies</a> by Hilary Mantel (Thomas Cromwell Trilogy #2) (2012) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4934.The_Brothers_Karamazov?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Brothers Karamazov</a> by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1876)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8718597-the-call-of-cthulhu" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Call of Cthulhu</b></span></a> by Edgar Allan Poe (1926) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> - </b><span style="text-align: left;">"</span><i>One of the feature stories of the Cthulhu Mythos, H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Call of Cthulhu” is a harrowing tale of the weakness of the human mind when confronted by powers and intelligences from beyond our world."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19380.Candide?ac=1" target="_blank">Candide</a> by Voltaire (1759) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2696.The_Canterbury_Tales?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Canterbury Tales</a> by Geoffrey Chaucer (1390) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/333538.The_Castle?ac=1" target="_blank">The Castle</a> by Franz Kafka (1926)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/168668.Catch_22?ac=1" target="_blank">Catch-22</a> by Joseph Heller (1961) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/244484039?book_show_action=false" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Catcher in the Rye</b></span></a> by J.D. Salinger (1951) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>GR REVIEWED.</i> I plan to read this again to see if my feelings regarding Holden have changed.<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91202.Chariots_of_the_Gods?ac=1" target="_blank">Chariots of the Gods</a> by Erich von Daniken <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">* </span></b>- <i>"Erich von Daniken's Chariots of the Gods is a work of monumental importance--the first book to introduce the shocking theory that ancient Earth had been visited by aliens. This world-famous bestseller has withstood the test of time. But here is where it all began--von Daniken's startling theories of our earliest encounters with alien worlds, based upon his lifelong studies of ancient ruins, lost cities, potential spaceports, and a myriad of hard scientific facts that point to extraterrestrial intervention in human history."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/134821.Children_of_Gebelawi?from_search=true" target="_blank">Children of Gebelawi</a> by Naguib Mahfouz (1959)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/169848.A_Christmas_Carol_The_Chimes_and_The_Cricket_on_the_Hearth" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, and The Cricket on the Hearth</span></b></a> by Charles Dickens (1843)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23878.Chronicle_of_a_Death_Foretold?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Chronicle of a Death Foretold</span></b></a> by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1981) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/529243.Clarissa_or_the_History_of_a_Young_Lady?ac=1" target="_blank">Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady</a> by Samuel Richardson (1748)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227463.A_Clockwork_Orange?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>A Clockwork Orange</b></span></a> by Anthony Burgess (1962) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49628.Cloud_Atlas?from_search=true" target="_blank">Cloud Atlas</a> by David Mitchell (2004) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14289.Coin_Locker_Babies?ac=1" target="_blank">Coin Locker Babies</a> by Ryu Murakami (1980)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11486.The_Color_Purple?ac=1" target="_blank">The Color Purple</a> by Alice Walker (1982) (<b>Pulitzer,</b> 1983)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>The Color Purple is a 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker which won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction. The novel has been the frequent target of censors and appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000-2009 at number seventeen because of the sometimes explicit content, particularly in terms of violence.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30474.The_Communist_Manifesto?ac=1" target="_blank">The Communist Manifesto</a> by Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels (1848)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22917.The_Complete_Grimm_s_Fairy_Tales" target="_blank">The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales</a> by Brothers Grimm (1812)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20723939-the-penguin-complete-novels-of-jane-austen?ac=1" target="_blank">The Complete Novels of Jane Austen</a> by Jane Austen <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - (<b><span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14935.Sense_and_Sensibility?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">Sense & Sensibility</span></a> </span></b>(1811), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1885.Pride_and_Prejudice?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Pride & Prejudice</b></span></a> (1813), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45032.Mansfield_Park?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Mansfield Park</b></span></a> (1814), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6969.Emma?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Emma</span></b></a> (1815), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50398.Northanger_Abbey?ac=1" target="_blank">Northanger Abbey</a> (1817), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2156.Persuasion" target="_blank">Persuasion</a> (1817)) </div>
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The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/310612.A_Confederacy_of_Dunces?ac=1">A Confederacy of Dunces</a> by John Kennedy Toole (1980) - "A <i>Confederacy of Dunces is an American comic masterpiece. John Kennedy Toole's hero is one Ignatius J. Reilly, "huge, obese, fractious, fastidious, a latter-day Gargantua, a Don Quixote of the French Quarter. His story bursts with wholly original characters, denizens of New Orleans' lower depths, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the zaniest series of high and low comic adventures"</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/84743.Confessions_of_Zeno?from_search=true" target="_blank">Confessions of Zeno</a> by Italo Svevo (1923)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/96337.The_Conservationist?ac=1" target="_blank">The Conservationist</a> by Nadine Gordimer (1974) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>Mehring is rich. He has all the privileges and possessions that South Africa has to offer, but his possessions refuse to remain objects. His wife, son, and mistress leave him; his foreman and workers become increasingly indifferent to his stewarsship; even the land rises up, as drought, then flood, destroy his farm.</i>"<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17061.Coraline?from_search=true" target="_blank">Coraline</a> by Neil Gaiman (2002)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>The line between pleasant and horrible is often blurred until what's what becomes suddenly clear, and like Coraline, we resist leaving this strange world until we're hooked. Unnerving drawings also cast a dark shadow over the book's eerie atmosphere, which is only heightened by simple, hair-raising text.</i>" - GR</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28703.Cosmopolis?ac=1" target="_blank">Cosmopolis</a> by Don DeLillo (2003) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15584.Cosmos?from_search=true" target="_blank">Cosmos</a> by Witold Gombrowicz (1965)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70105.The_Counterfeiters?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Counterfeiters</a> by Andre Gide (1925) - <i>"An honest treatment of homosexuality and the collapse of morality in middle-class France. The themes of the book explore the problem of morals, the problem of society and the problems facing writers."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7126.The_Count_of_Monte_Cristo?ac=1" target="_blank">The Count of Monte Cristo</a> by Alexandre Dumas (1844) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70241.Crash?ac=1" target="_blank">Crash</a> by J.G. Ballard (1973)</span> <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><span style="text-align: left;"> - "</span><i>A classic work of cutting edge fiction, Crash explores the disturbing potentialities of contemporary society's increasing dependence on technology as intermediary in human relations.</i><span style="text-align: left;">"</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/956358996?book_show_action=false" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Crime and Punishment</b></span></a><span style="color: purple;"> </span>by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1866) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> - </b><i>GR REVIEWED.</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2794.The_Crying_of_Lot_49?ac=1" target="_blank">The Crying of Lot 49</a> by Thomas Pynchon (1966) - "<i>Bizarre, brilliant, and for Pynchon, brief, The Crying of Lot 49 concerns his heroine Oedipa Maas and her quest to uncover a conspiracy surrounding a shadowy alternative postal service working on the US underground. Though only short, Pynchon weaves multi-threaded plot in what might be a parody of post-modernism, despite being a notable example of the genre.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10603.Cujo?from_search=true" target="_blank">Cujo</a> by Stephen King (1981)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77661.The_Daughter_of_Time?ac=1" target="_blank">The Daughter of Time</a> by Josephine Tey (1951) -<i> "Tey’s 1951 novel is widely praised as one of the best crime novels of all time, but has never really crossed over into genre-blind classic. A shame, because it incorporates history, mystery, crime, and the way we construct the truth into a brilliant, important work." - </i>Flavorwire<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58696.David_Copperfield?ac=1" target="_blank">David Copperfield</a> by Charles Dickens (1850) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27426.The_Death_of_Virgil" target="_blank">The Death of Virgil</a> by Hermann Broch (1945)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19400.The_Decline_and_Fall_of_the_Roman_Empire?ac=1" target="_blank">The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire</a> by Edward Gibbon (1771)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46941.The_Demon?ac=1" target="_blank">The Demon</a> by Hubert Selby Jr. (1976)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/85867.Dhalgren?ac=1" target="_blank">Dhalgren</a> by Samuel R. Delaney (1974)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/412732.The_Dharma_Bums?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Dharma Bums</a> by Jack Kerouac (1958) - "<i>Penned in the breathlessly inventive style that made On The Road so alluring, The Dharma Bums is a superior novel to its more illustrious older sibling. Recounting Kerouac’s dichotomic lifestyle – between the booze-sodden life of the neon urban sprawl and his contemplative, Buddhist influenced days spent in the idyllic outdoors – in a typically evocative manner, the book remains a countercultural bible.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13298080-dianetics?from_search=true" target="_blank">Dianetics</a> by L.Ron Hubbard (1988) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>partly read. I just wanna finish this piece of crap so I can proudly say it's a total waste of time.</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22284.Diary?ac=1" target="_blank">Diary</a> by Chuck Palahniuk (2003)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Another stunner from Chuck Palahniuk, this bleak but blackly humourous horror is more psychological in tone, rather than the viscerally explicit style that he also turns his hand to. Taking the form of a coma diary, written while protagonist Misty’s husband is in a coma following a suicide attempt, it’s a peculiar and deeply unsettling fable of small town conspiracy.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28382.Diary_of_a_Madman_and_Other_Stories?ac=1" target="_blank">Diary of a Madman and Other Stories</a> by Nikolai Gogol (1835)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48855.The_Diary_of_a_Young_Girl?ac=1" target="_blank">The Diary of a Young Girl</a> by Anne Frank (1947)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70912.The_Dice_Man?ac=1" target="_blank">The Dice Man</a> by Luke Rhinehart (1971)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>A psychiatrist called Luke Rhinehart (the novel was written under the pen name by George Cockcroft) begins making his life decisions on the roll of a dice, entering a subversive world of sex and violence. Banned variously, The Dice Man is pretty much the definition of a cult novel, have a wildly fanatical fan base, and having influenced hundreds books and movies ever since.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/337116.The_Difference_Engine?ac=1" target="_blank">The Difference Engine</a> by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling (1990) - <i>"It is widely regarded as a book that helped establish the genre conventions of steampunk. It posits a Victorian Britain in which great technological and social change has occurred after entrepreneurial inventor Charles Babbage succeeded in his ambition to build a mechanical computer (actually his analytical engine rather than the difference engine). The novel was nominated for the British Science Fiction Award in 1990, the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1991, and both the John W. Campbell Memorial Award and the Prix Aurora Award in 1992.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6192.Disgrace?ac=1" target="_blank">Disgrace</a> by J.M. Coetzee (1999, <b>Booker</b>) -<i> "Set in post-apartheid South Africa, J. M. Coetzee’s searing novel tells the story of David Lurie, a twice divorced, 52-year-old professor of communications and Romantic Poetry at Cape Technical University. Lurie believes he has created a comfortable, if somewhat passionless, life for himself. He lives within his financial and emotional means. Though his position at the university has been reduced, he teaches his classes dutifully; and while age has diminished his attractiveness, weekly visits to a prostitute satisfy his sexual needs. He considers himself happy. But when Lurie seduces one of his students, he sets in motion a chain of events that will shatter his complacency and leave him utterly disgraced."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383994-divergent-series-complete-box-set?ac=1" target="_blank">Divergent series</a>: (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13335037-divergent?ac=1" target="_blank">Divergent</a> (2011), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11735983-insurgent?from_search=true" target="_blank">Insurgent</a> (2012), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18710190-allegiant?ac=1" target="_blank">Allegiant</a> (2013)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> ) by Veronica Roth - <i>because this list is sorely lacking some YA flavor.</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6656.The_Divine_Comedy?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Divine Comedy</a> by Dante Alighieri (1306) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7082.Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep_?ac=1" target="_blank">Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</a> by Philip K. Dick (1968) - "<i>A final, apocalyptic, world war has killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending the majority of mankind off-planet. Those who remain, venerate all remaining examples of life, and owning an animal of your own is both a symbol of status and a necessity. For those who can't afford an authentic animal, companies build incredibly realistic simulacrae: horses, birds, cats, sheep . . . even humans.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34440.Doctor_Faustus?from_search=true" target="_blank">Doctor Faustus</a> by Thomas Mann (1947) - "<i>Thomas Mann's last great novel, first published in 1947 and now rendered into English by acclaimed translator John E. Woods, is a modern reworking of the Faust legend, in which Germany sells its soul to the Devil."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78249.Don_Juan?ac=1" target="_blank">Don Juan</a> by Lord Byron (1824) - <i>"Don Juan is a satiric poem by Lord Byron, based on the legend of Don Juan, which Byron reverses, portraying Juan not as a womaniser but as someone easily seduced by women. Byron himself called it an "Epic Satire". When the first two cantos were published anonymously in 1819, the poem was criticised for its 'immoral content', though it was also immensely popular."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3836.Don_Quixote?from_search=true" target="_blank">Don Quixote</a> by Miguel de Cervantes (1605)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234225.Dune?from_search=true" target="_blank">Dune</a> by Frank Herbert (1965) </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/736876805?book_show_action=false" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Dracula</b></span></a> by Bram Stoker (1897) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> - </b><span style="text-align: left;"><i>GR REVIEWED</i></span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214805.The_Dwarf?ac=1" target="_blank">The Dwarf</a> by Par Lagerkvist (1944) - </span><i>"Pär Lagerkvist's richly philosophical novel The Dwarf is an exploration of individual and social identity. The novel, set in a time when Italian towns feuded over the outcome of the last feud, centers on a social outcast, the court dwarf Piccoline."</i><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24970.Either_Or?ac=1" target="_blank">Either/Or: A Fragment of Life</a> by Soren Kierkegaard (1843) - <i>"'What if everything in the world were a misunderstanding, what if laughter were really tears?' Either/Or is the earliest of the major works of Søren Kierkegaard, one of the most startlingly original thinkers and writers of the nineteenth century, and the first which he wrote under a pseudonym, as he would for his greatest philosophical writings. Adopting the viewpoints of two distinct figures with radically different beliefs--the aesthetic young man of Part One, called simply 'A', and the ethical Judge Vilhelm of the second section--Kierkegaard reflects upon the search for a meaningful existence, contemplating subjects as diverse as Mozart, drama, boredom, and, in the famous Seducer's Diary, the cynical seduction and ultimate rejection of a young, beautiful woman. A masterpiece of duality, Either/Or is an exploration of the conflict between the aesthetic and the ethical--both meditating ironically and seductively upon Epicurean pleasures, and eloquently expounding the noble virtues of a morally upstanding life.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1565490.The_Elected_Member?ac=1" target="_blank">The Elected Member</a> by Bernice Rubens (1969) (<b>Booker,</b> 1979) -<i> "Norman is the clever one of a closely-knit Jewish family in London's East End. Infant prodigy, brilliant barrister, the apple of his parents' eyes—until at 41 he becomes a drug addict, confined to his bedroom, at the mercy of his hallucinations and paranoia."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33514.The_Elements_of_Style?ac=1" target="_blank">The Elements of Style</a> by William Strunk Jr., E.B. White (1918) - <i>"This style manual offers practical advice on improving writing skills. Throughout the emphasis is on promoting a plain English style. This little book can help your students communicate more effectively by showing them how to enliven their sentences."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/323980.El_Filibusterismo?ac=1" target="_blank">El Filibusterismo</a> by Jose Rizal (translated by Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin) (1891) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8513471-elmer?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Elmer</span></b></a> by Gerry Alanguilan (2009)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> -<i> "Elmer is a window into a world where chickens have suddenly acquired the intelligence and consciousness of humans, where they can now consider themselves a race no different than browns, black, or whites. Recognizing themselves to be sentient, the inexplicably evolved chickens push to attain rights for themselves as the newest members of the human race."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9265453-embassytown?ac=1" target="_blank">Embassytown</a> by China Mieville (2011) - "<i>In the far future, humans have colonized a distant planet, home to the enigmatic Ariekei, sentient beings famed for a language unique in the universe, one that only a few altered human ambassadors can speak. Avice Benner Cho, a human colonist, has returned to Embassytown after years of deep-space adventure. She cannot speak the Ariekei tongue, but she is an indelible part of it, having long ago been made a figure of speech, a living simile in their language.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11713.The_English_Patient?ac=1" target="_blank">The English Patient</a> by Michael Ondaatje (1992) (<b>Booker</b>) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>With ravishing beauty and unsettling intelligence, Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel traces the intersection of four damaged lives in an Italian villa at the end of World War II."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90570.Enjoy_Your_Symptom_?ac=1" target="_blank">Enjoy Your Symptom!</a> by Slavoj Zizek (1991) - "<i>His inimitable blend of philosophical and social theory, Lacanian analysis, and outrageous humor are made to show how Hollywood movies can explain psychoanalysis-and vice versa using films such as Marnie and The Man Who Knew Too Much."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1227184.Enquiry_Concerning_Political_Justice_and_Its_Influence_on_Modern_Morals_and_Happiness?from_search=true" target="_blank">Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and Its Influence on Modern Morals and Happiness</a> by William Godwin (1793) - "<i>To his contemporaries, Godwin was simply "the philosopher", and this title is a statement of rational anarchism, its ideas echoing through Kropotkin's mutual aid and Marx's vision of the post-revolutionary paradise.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205218.Ethics?ac=1" target="_blank">Ethics</a> by Baruch Spinoza (1867) - <i>"Published shortly after his death in 1677, Ethics is undoubtedly Spinoza’s greatest work—a fully cohesive philosophical system that strives to provide a coherent picture of reality and to comprehend the meaning of an ethical life. Following a logical step-by-step format, it defines in turn the nature of God, the mind, human bondage to the emotions, and the power of understanding, moving from a consideration of the eternal to speculate upon humanity’s place in the natural order, freedom, and the path to attainable happiness. A powerful work of elegant simplicity, Ethics is a brilliantly insightful consideration of the possibility of redemption through intense thought and philosophical reflection."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256566.Everything_Is_Illuminated?ac=1" target="_blank">Everything Is Illuminated</a> by Jonathan Safran Foer (2002)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>With only a yellowing photograph in hand, a young man - also named Jonathan Safran Foer - sets out to find the woman who may or may not have saved his grandfather from the Nazis. Accompanied by an old man haunted by memories of the war; an amorous dog named Sammy Davis, Junior, Junior; and the unforgettable Alex, a young Ukrainian translator who speaks in a sublimely butchered English, Jonathan is led on a quixotic journey over a devastated landscape and into an unexpected past.</i>"<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/497199.Factotum?ac=1" target="_blank">Factotum</a> by Charles Bukowski (1975) - "<i>The ‘laureate of American lowlife’, in Factotum Bukowski presented his alter-ego Henry Chinaksi, a shambling booze-hound meandering from one disastrous menial job to the next with an increasing level of disdain as he struggles to get himself published as a writer. Set in the seamy world of the 40s LA barfly, this is a grubby classic.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/765427.The_Faerie_Queene?ac=1" target="_blank">The Faerie Queene</a> by Edmund Spenser (1590)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6356046-fairy-tales-of-hans-christian-andersen?ac=1" target="_blank">Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen</a> by Hans Christian Andersen</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11991.The_Fall?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Fall</b></span></a> by Albert Camus <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/101094.The_Famished_Road?ac=1" target="_blank">The Famished Road</a> by Ben Okri (1991) (<b>Booker</b>) - <i>"In the decade since it won the Booker Prize, Ben Okri's Famished Roadhas become a classic. Like Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children or Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, it combines brilliant narrative technique with a fresh vision to create an essential work of world literature.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/406373.Faust?ac=1" target="_blank">Faust</a> by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1832)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7745.Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas?ac=1" target="_blank">Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</a> by Hunter S. Thompson (1971) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> - </b><span style="text-align: left;">"</span><i>Chaotic, psychedelic, and dripping in hallucinogens, this is Thompson’s crowning work of gonzo madness. Centring around the exploits of journalist Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr Gonzo, things rapidly degenerate (including the integrity of the narrative) as the pair ditch their assignment to cover a motorbike race and lose themselves in a haze of acid, ether, cocaine and mescaline in Sin City.</i><span style="text-align: left;">"</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9654.Fear_of_Flying?ac=1" target="_blank">Fear of Flying</a> by Erica Jong (1973) - "</span><i>A clear indicator of a novel permeating, and in some cases transforming, everyday life is in the adoption of the book’s language. Erica Jong achieved this in spades with her remarkable debut novel. An intelligent, captivating, vivid and not to mention highly contentious account of a woman’s desires, it has become a key feminist tract since its publication. The origin of the phrase ‘zipless f**k’ can be traced back to this fascinating novel.</i><span style="text-align: left;">" - Shortlist.com</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/908311.The_Female_Man?ac=1" target="_blank">The Female Man</a> by Joanna Russ (1975)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/426504.Ficciones?ac=1" target="_blank">Ficciones</a> by Jorge Luis Borges (1944) - "<i>First published in 1945, his Ficciones compressed several centuries' worth of philosophy and poetry into 17 tiny, unclassifiable pieces of prose. He offered up diabolical tigers, imaginary encyclopedias, ontological detective stories, and scholarly commentaries on nonexistent books, and in the process exploded all previous notions of genre. Would any of David Foster Wallace's famous footnotes be possible without Borges? Or, for that matter, the syntactical games of Perec, the metafictional pastiche of Calvino? For good or for ill, the blind Argentinian paved the way for a generation's worth of postmodern monkey business--and fiction will never be simply "fiction" again. </i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5759.Fight_Club?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Fight Club</span></b></a> by Chuck Palahniuk (2005) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8664368-the-finkler-question?ac=1" target="_blank">The Finkler Question</a> by Howard Jacobson (2010) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11013.Finnegans_Wake?from_search=true" target="_blank">Finnegans Wake</a> by James Joyce (1939)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17841.Foucault_s_Pendulum?ac=1" target="_blank">Foucault's Pendulum</a> by Umberto Eco (1988)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2122.The_Fountainhead?ac=1" target="_blank">The Fountainhead</a> by Ayn Rand (1943) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18490.Frankenstein?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Frankenstein</span></b></a> by Mary Shelley (1818) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">* </span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/733473.The_Futurological_Congress?ac=1" target="_blank">The Futurological Congress</a> by Stanislaw Lem (1971) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/299813.G_?from_search=true" target="_blank">G.</a> by John Berger (1972) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>In this luminous novel -- winner of Britain's prestigious Booker Prize -- John Berger relates the story of "G.," a young man forging an energetic sexual career in Europe during the early years of this century. With profound compassion, Berger explores the hearts and minds of both men and women, and what happens during sex, to reveal the conditions of the Don Juan's success: his essential loneliness, the quiet cumulation in each of his sexual experiences of all of those that precede it, the tenderness that infuses even the briefest of his encounters, and the way women experience their own extraordinariness through their moments with him. </i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12031532-the-garden-of-evening-mists?ac=1" target="_blank">The Garden of Evening Mists</a> by Tan Twan Eng (2012) (<b>Asian Literary Prize</b>)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18266.Gargantua_and_Pantagruel?ac=1" target="_blank">Gargantua and Pantagruel</a> by Francois Rabelais (1532) - "<i>The dazzling and exuberant moral stories of Rabelais (c.1471-1553) expose human follies with their mischievous and often obscene humour, while intertwining the realistic with carnivalesque fantasy to make us look afresh at the world.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/998133.The_Gathering?ac=1" target="_blank">The Gathering</a> by Anne Enright (2007) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Anne Enright is a dazzling writer of international stature and one of Ireland’s most singular voices. Now she delivers The Gathering, a moving, evocative portrait of a large Irish family and a shot of fresh blood into the Irish literary tradition, combining the lyricism of the old with the shock of the new. The Gathering is a daring, witty, and insightful family epic, clarified through Anne Enright’s unblinking eye. It is a novel about love and disappointment, about how memories warp and secrets fester, and how fate is written in the body, not in the stars.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3378.Generation_X?ac=1" target="_blank">Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture</a> by Douglas Coupland (1991) - "<i>Andy, Dag and Claire have been handed a society priced beyond their means. Twentysomethings, brought up with divorce, Watergate and Three Mile Island, and scarred by the 80s fall-out of yuppies, recession, crack and Ronald Reagan, they represent the new generation - Generation X.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6439873-gerilya?ac=1" target="_blank">Gerilya</a> by Norman Wilwayco (2008)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98160.Gertrude_And_Claudius?from_search=true" target="_blank">Gertrude and Claudius</a> by John Updike (2000) - "<i>As its title suggests, this is a prelude to the actual play (</i>Hamlet)<i>, focusing not on the sulky star but on his mother and fratricidal stepfather</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/151926.The_Ghost_Road?ac=1" target="_blank">The Ghost Road</a> (Regeneration trilogy #3) by Pat Barker (1995) (<b>Booker</b>) -<i> "The Ghost Road is the culminating masterpiece of Pat Barker's towering World War I fiction trilogy."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19581.Ghost_Story?from_search=true" target="_blank">Ghost Story</a> by Peter Straub (1979) - "<i>The novel was a watershed in Straub's career. Though his earlier books had achieved a limited amount of critical and commercial success, Ghost Story became a national bestseller and cemented the author's reputation.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62953.Ghost_World?ac=1" target="_blank">Ghost World</a> by Daniel Clowes (1998) - "<i>Celebrated author and cartoonist Daniel Clowes constructed an immersive narrative in his Ghost World comics, which were brought together as a single volume in 1997. Enid and Rebecca are best friends, searingly witty consumers and critics of pop culture, living in a nameless suburbia. Both are classic outsiders, nerdy but also effortlessly cool. A blueprint for hipster culture.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68210.Gilead?ac=1" target="_blank">Gilead</a> by Marilynne Robinson (2006)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Twenty-four years after her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with an intimate tale of three generations from the Civil War to the twentieth century: a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage at America's heart. Writing in the tradition of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman, Marilynne Robinson's beautiful, spare, and spiritual prose allows "even the faithless reader to feel the possibility of transcendent order" (Slate)</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9913.Glamorama" target="_blank">Glamorama</a> by Bret Easton Ellis (1998)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Victor Ward, a model with perfect abs who exists in magazines and gossip columns and whose life resembles an ultra-hip movie, is living with one beautiful model and having an affair with another. And then it's time to move on to the next stage. But the future he gets is not the one he had in mind.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9777.The_God_of_Small_Things?ac=1" target="_blank">The God of Small Things</a> by Arundhati Roy (1997) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>"They all crossed into forbidden territory. They all tampered with the laws that lay down who should be loved and how. And how much."</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17333223-the-goldfinch?ac=1" target="_blank">The Goldfinch</a> by Donna Tartt (2013) - <i>because the reviews/ratings are so polarizing.</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18405.Gone_with_the_Wind?ac=1" target="_blank">Gone with the Wind</a> by Margaret Mitchell (1936)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18114322-the-grapes-of-wrath?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Grapes of Wrath</a> by John Steinbeck (1936)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/415.Gravity_s_Rainbow?ac=1" target="_blank">Gravity's Rainbow</a> by Thomas Pynchon (1973)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4671.The_Great_Gatsby?ac=1" target="_blank">The Great Gatsby</a> by F.Scott Fitzgerald (1925) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2623.Great_Expectations?ac=1" target="_blank">Great Expectations</a> by Charles Dickens (1861) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7733.Gulliver_s_Travels?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Gulliver's Travels</b></span></a> by Jonathan Swift (1726) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12616853-h-p-lovecraft-goes-to-the-movies?ac=1" target="_blank">H.P. Lovecraft Goes to the Movies: The Classic Stories That Inspired the Classic Horror Films</a> by H.P. Lovecraft <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>- partly read <span style="color: purple; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(The Call of Cthulhu, Dagon, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, The Dreams in the Witch House)</span><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1420.Hamlet?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Hamlet</b></span></a> by William Shakespeare (1602) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span> - <i>"To be or not to be, that is the question." Enough said.</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38447.The_Handmaid_s_Tale?ac=1" target="_blank">The Handmaid's Tale</a> by Margaret Atwood (1985) - <i>"Already a classic in some circles perhaps, but let’s be real — the more time goes by, the more it’s essential that everybody read this book." - </i>Flavorwire<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4953.A_Heartbreaking_Work_of_Staggering_Genius?ac=1" target="_blank">A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius</a> by Dave Eggers (2000)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Dave Eggers is a terrifically talented writer; don't hold his cleverness against him. What to make of a book called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Based on a True Story? For starters, there's a good bit of staggering genius before you even get to the true story, including a preface, a list of "Rules and Suggestions for Enjoyment of This Book," and a 20-page acknowledgements section complete with special mail-in offer, flow chart of the book's themes, and a lovely pen-and-ink drawing of a stapler (helpfully labeled "Here is a drawing of a stapler:")</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/117837.Heart_of_Darkness?from_search=true" target="_blank">Heart of Darkness</a> by Joseph Conrad (1899) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3692.The_Heart_of_the_Matter?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">The Heart of the Matter</a> by Graham Greene (1948)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3853.Heat_and_Dust?ac=1" target="_blank">Heat and Dust</a> by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (1975) (<b>Booker</b>) - <i>"A profound and powerful novel, winner of the Booker Prize. Set in colonial India during the 1920s, Heat and Dust tells the story of Olivia, a beautiful woman suffocated by the propriety and social constraints of her position as the wife of an important English civil servant. Longing for passion and independence, Olivia is drawn into the spell of the Nawab, a minor Indian prince deeply involved in gang raids and criminal plots."</i><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6551.Herzog" target="_blank">Herzog</a> by Saul Bellow (1964)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/543095.His_Family?ac=1" target="_blank">His Family</a> by Ernest Poole (1917) (<b>Pulitzer</b>, 1918) - "<i>Widower Roger Gale struggles to deal with the way his children and grandchildren respond to the changing society. His Family is the story of a sixty-year-old New York man who reflects on his life and the lives of his three daughters. The women represent three separate types - one maternal, the second devoted to social movements, and the third living a happy and carefree existence - and the father sees something of himself in each.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10692.The_Historian?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Historian</a> by Elizabeth Kostova (2003) - <i>"Late one night, exploring her father’s library, a young woman finds an ancient book and a cache of yellowing letters addressed ominously to ‘My dear and unfortunate successor’. Her discovery plunges her into a world she never dreamed of – a labyrinth where the secrets of her father’s past and her mother’s mysterious fate connect to an evil hidden in the depths of history. </i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243685.A_History_of_Western_Philosophy?ac=1" target="_blank">A History of Western Philosophy</a> by Bertrand Russell (1340)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5907.The_Hobbit?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Hobbit</b></span></a> by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2066739.Holiday?ac=1" target="_blank">Holiday</a> by Stanley Middleton (1974) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>This is an extremely subtle story, a consummate portrait of English provincial life told with all Stanley Middleton's artistry and depth of feeling. It was joint winner of the Booker Prize in 1974. Review quotation: "At first glance, or even at second, Stanley Middleton's world is easily recognizable...The excellence of art, for Middleton, is an exact vision of real things as they are. And because he is himself so exact an observer, his world at third glance can seem strange and disturbing or newly and brilliantly lit with colour."</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53413.Hopscotch?ac=1" target="_blank">Hopscotch</a> by Julio Cortazar (1963)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251665.Hotel_du_Lac?ac=1" target="_blank">Hotel du Lac</a> by Anita Brookner (1984) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>In the novel that won her the Booker Prize and established her international reputation, Anita Brookner finds a new vocabulary for framing the eternal question "Why love?" It tells the story of Edith Hope, who writes romance novels under a psudonym. When her life begins to resemble the plots of her own novels, however, Edith flees to Switzerland, where the quiet luxury of the Hotel du Lac promises to resore her to her senses.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24800.House_of_Leaves?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">House of Leaves</span></b></a> by Mark Z. Danielewski (2000) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Danielewski’s intensely claustrophobic novel uses almost every trick in the book: multiple narrators, text in unusual places, insane typography, and copious footnotes. The story remains unchanged, focusing on a young family that moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside." </i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17728.The_House_of_Mirth?from_search=true" target="_blank">The House of Mirth</a> by Edith Wharton (1905) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89208.How_Late_It_Was_How_Late?ac=1" target="_blank">How Late It Was, How Late</a> by James Kelman (1994) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>One Sunday morning in Glasgow, shoplifting ex-con Sammy awakens in an alley, wearing another man's shoes and trying to remember his two-day drinking binge.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18919.How_to_Read_Lacan" target="_blank">How to Read Lacan</a> by Slavoj Zizek (2006) - "<i>is Žižek’s trademark blend of Lacanian analysis and pop culturewith the emphasis on explaining Lacan and clarifying his notoriously difficult writings with wit and humor.</i>" - severalfourmany<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30597.The_Hunchback_of_Notre_Dame?ac=1" target="_blank">The Hunchback of Notre-Dame</a> by Victor Hugo (1831) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32585.Hunger?ac=1" target="_blank">Hunger</a> by Knut Hamsun (1890)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12505.The_Idiot?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Idiot</a> by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1869)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/374233.If_on_a_Winter_s_Night_a_Traveler?ac=1" target="_blank">If on a Winter's Night a Traveler</a> by Italo Calvino (1979) - "<i>Mind-bending and thoroughly post-modern, Calvino’s masterpiece of self-reference (‘you’ are part of the plot), its dizzyingly clever, labyrinthine construction has made it a classic. If there was ever a novel to make you look like an urbane Poindexter on the train/bus, then this is it.</i>" - Shortlist.com</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1371.The_Iliad?ac=1" target="_blank">The Iliad</a> by Homer (800 BC)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6905480-ilustrado?ac=1" target="_blank">Ilustrado</a> by Miguel Syjuco (2008)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Garnering international prizes and acclaim before its publication, Ilustrado has been called “brilliantly conceived and stylishly executed . . .It is also ceaselessly entertaining, frequently raunchy, and effervescent with humor” (2008 Man Asian Literary Prize panel of judges). Exuberant and wise, wildly funny and deeply moving, Ilustrado explores the hidden truths that haunt every family. It is a daring and inventive debut by a new writer of astonishing talent.</i>"<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70101.The_Immoralist?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Immoralist</a> by Andre Gide (1902) - "<i>“I have reached a point in my life where I can’t go on. It’s not a question of weariness — I no longer understand anything… Knowing how to free oneself is nothing; the difficult thing is how to live with that freedom.” In the opening pages of the novel, Gide gives us the anguished voice of Michel, who searches for happiness in a past that cannot be found again." - </i>Flavorwire<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6493208-the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks?ac=1" target="_blank">The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks</a> by Rebecca Skloot (2010)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Henrietta Lacks, as HeLa, is known to present-day scientists for her cells from cervical cancer. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells were taken without her knowledge and still live decades after her death. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks was buried in an unmarked grave.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49742.In_a_Free_State?ac=1" target="_blank">In a Free State</a> by V.S. Naipaul (1971) (<b>Booker</b>, 1971) - "<i>No writer has rendered our boundariless, post-colonial world more acutely or prophetically than V. S. Naipaul, or given its upheavals such a hauntingly human face. A perfect case in point is this riveting novel, a masterful and stylishly rendered narrative of emigration, dislocation, and dread, accompanied by four supporting narratives.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/168642.In_Cold_Blood?from_search=true" target="_blank">In Cold Blood</a> by Truman Capote (1965) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> - </b><span style="text-align: left;">"</span><i>Without question the crowning achievement of Truman Capote’s career, his coverage in non-fiction novel form of the 1959 murder of a devout farmer, his wife and two of their daughters in Holcomb, Kansas, is utterly, page-turningly gripping. Capote took six years to write it, befriending murderer Perry Smith while he awaited execution.</i><span style="text-align: left;">" - Shortlist.com</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6759.Infinite_Jest?ac=1" target="_blank">Infinite Jest</a> by David Foster Wallace (1995) - "<i>Explores essential questions about what entertainment is, why we need it, and what it says about who we are.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9914.The_Informers" target="_blank">The Informers</a> by Bret Easton Ellis (1994) - "<i>Set in Los Angeles, in the recent past. The birthplace and graveyard of American myths and dreams, the city harbours a group of people trapped between the beauty of their surroundings and their own moral impoverishment. This novel is a chronicle of their voices.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95186.The_Inheritance_of_Loss?ac=1" target="_blank">The Inheritance of Loss</a> by Kiran Desai (2005) (<b>Booker</b>, 2006) - <i>"Kiran Desai’s brilliant novel, published to huge acclaim, is a story of joy and despair. Her characters face numerous choices that majestically illuminate the consequences of colonialism as it collides with the modern world."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18796.In_Search_of_Lost_Time?ac=1" target="_blank">In Search of Lost Time</a> / <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/863599.Remembrance_of_Things_Past?from_search=true">Remembrance of Things Past</a> by Marcel Proust (1932) - "<i>A 3000-page pseudo-autobiographical novel told mostly in a stream-of-consciousness style. It is an intimate 7-volume epic, an excavation of the self, and a comedy of manners by turns and all at once. Proust is the twentieth century's Dante, presenting us with a unique, unsettling picture of ourselves as jealous lovers and unmitigated snobs, frittering our lives away, with only the hope of art as a possible salvation.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237209.In_the_Woods?ac=1" target="_blank">In the Woods</a> by Tana French (2007) -<i> "As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1845.Into_the_Wild?ac=1" target="_blank">Into the Wild</a> by Jon Krakauer (1996)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5130.Island?ac=1" target="_blank">Island</a> by Aldous Huxley (1962) - "<i>In Island, his last novel, Huxley transports us to a Pacific island where, for 120 years, an ideal society has flourished. Inevitably, this island of bliss attracts the envy and enmity of the surrounding world.</i>" </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18342.It?from_search=true" target="_blank">It</a> by Stephen King (1986)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18212.Jacques_the_Fatalist?ac=1" target="_blank">Jacques the Fatalist</a> by Denis Diderot (1778)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34072.Jimmy_Corrigan_the_Smartest_Kid_on_Earth?ac=1" target="_blank">Jimmy Corrigan, The Smartest Kid on Earth</a> by Chris Ware (2000) - "<i>A comic/graphic novel that won the Guardian First Book Award 2001. It is the first graphic novel to win a major British literary prize.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51606.Johnny_Got_His_Gun?from_search=true" target="_blank">Johnny Got His Gun</a> by Dalton Trumbo (1939)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88076.Joseph_and_His_Brothers" target="_blank">Joseph and His Brothers</a> by Thomas Mann (1948)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12395.Journey_to_the_End_of_the_Night?from_search=true">Journey to the End of the Night</a> by Louis-Ferdinand Celine (1932)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41681.The_Jungle?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Jungle</a> by Upton Sinclair (1905) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - not really excited to read this one but I feel it's a mortal sin not to. "<i>The book depicts working class poverty, the absence of social programs, harsh and unpleasant living and working conditions, and a hopelessness among many workers. These elements are contrasted with the deeply rooted corruption</i> <i>of people in power"</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20764876-kama-sutra?from_search=true" target="_blank">Kama Sutra</a> by Vatsyayana</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50275.Last_Exit_To_Brooklyn?ac=1" target="_blank">Last Exit to Brooklyn</a> by Hubert Selby Jr. (1964) - "<i>Depicting a rundown area of New York in the 1950s, Last Exit to Brooklyn features drug addicts, wanton violence, rape, crime and any other deviancy you care to mention. Penned in everyman, spontaneous prose, it’s the book most aspiring writers hope to emulate."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5068.Last_Orders?ac=1" target="_blank">Last Orders</a> by Graham Swift (1996) (<b>Booker</b>) -<i> "Four men once close to Jack Dodds, a London butcher, meet to carry out his peculiar last wish: to have his ashes scattered into the sea. For reasons best known to herself, Jack's widow, Amy, declines to join them. On the surface the tale of a simple if increasingly bizarre day's outing, Last Order is Graham Swift's most poignant exploration of the complexity and courage of ordinary lives.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27494.Leaves_of_Grass?from_search=true" target="_blank">Leaves of Grass</a> by Walt Whitman (1855)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6648041-les-miserables?from_search=true" target="_blank">Les Miserables</a> by Victor Hugo (1857)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/828741.Letters_from_LA" target="_blank">Letters from LA</a> by Bret Easton Ellis (2005)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1320279.Life_and_Death_are_Wearing_Me_Out?ac=1" target="_blank">Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out</a> by Mo Yan (2008)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6193.Life_and_Times_of_Michael_K?ac=1" target="_blank">Life and Times of Michael K</a> by J.M. Coetzee (1983) (<b>Booker</b>) - "Life and Times of Michael K goes to the centre of human experience - the need for an interior, spiritual life, for some connections to the world in which we live, and for purity of vision."<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4214.Life_of_Pi?ac=1" target="_blank">Life of Pi</a> by Yann Martel (2001) (<b>Booker</b>, 2002) - "<i>Life of Pi is a fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel published in 2001. The protagonist, Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, a Tamil boy from Pondicherry, explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a boat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31093.Lila?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Lila: An Inquiry into Morals</span></a> by Robert M. Pirsig (1991)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>"In this best-selling new book, his first in seventeen years, Robert M. Pirsing, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, takes us on a poignant and passionate journey as mysterious and compelling as his first life-changing work. Instead of a motorcycle, a sailboat carries his philosopher-narrator Phaedrus down the Hudson River as winter closes in. Along the way he picks up a most unlikely traveling companion: a woman named Lila who in her desperate sexuality, hostility, and oncoming madness threatens to disrupt his life."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/139087.The_Line_of_Beauty?ac=1" target="_blank">The Line of Beauty</a> by Alan Hollinghurst (<b>Booker</b>, 2004) </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1934.Little_Women?from_search=true" target="_blank">Little Women</a> by Louisa May Alcott (1868) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Lives of the Mayfair Witches</span> by Anne Rice - (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11901.The_Witching_Hour?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Witching Hour</b></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31340.Lasher?ac=1" target="_blank">Lasher</a> (1992)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119091.Taltos?ac=1" target="_blank">Taltos</a> (1994) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7604.Lolita?ac=1">Lolita</a> by Vladimir Nabokov (1955)<br />
LOTR Trilogy: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34.The_Fellowship_of_the_Ring?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">The Fellowship of the Ring</span></b></a> <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15241.The_Two_Towers?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">The Two Towers</span></b></a> <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18512.The_Return_of_the_King?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">The Return of the King</span></b></a> <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30935.The_Loved_One?ac=1" target="_blank">The Loved One: An Anglo-American Tragedy</a> by Evelyn Waugh (1948)</div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9712.Love_in_the_Time_of_Cholera?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Love in the Time of Cholera</span></b></a><b> </b></span>by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1985) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17333230-the-luminaries?ac=1" target="_blank">The Luminaries</a> by Eleanor Catton (2013) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>"Richly evoking a mid-nineteenth-century world of shipping, banking, and gold rush boom and bust, The Luminaries is a brilliantly constructed, fiendishly clever ghost story and a gripping page-turner."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4031.Lunar_Park" target="_blank">Lunar Park</a> by Bret Easton Ellis (2005) - "<i>'Lunar Park' confounds one expectation after another, passing through comedy and mounting psychological and supernatural horror toward an astonishing resolution - about love and loss, fathers and sons - in what is surely the most powerfully original and moving novel of an extraordinary career.</i>"<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8852.Macbeth?ac=1" target="_blank">Macbeth</a> by William Shakespeare <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2175.Madame_Bovary?from_search=true" target="_blank">Madame Bovary</a> by Gustave Flaubert (1856) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66657.Magic_for_Beginners?ac=1" target="_blank">Magic for Beginners</a> by Kelly Link (2005) - <i>"The nine stories in Link's second collection are the spitting image of those in her acclaimed debut, Stranger Things Happen: effervescent blends of quirky humor and pathos that transform stock themes of genre fiction into the stuff of delicate lyrical fantasy."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88077.The_Magic_Mountain?ac=1" target="_blank">The Magic Mountain</a> by Thomas Mann (1924)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58367.The_Making_of_Americans?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Making of Americans</a> by Gertrude Stein (1925)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29999.The_Maltese_Falcon?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Maltese Falcon</a> by Dashiell Hammett (1930) - <i>"In 1998, the Modern Library ranked The Maltese Falcon 56th on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/527756.The_Man_Without_Qualities?ac=1" target="_blank">The Man Without Qualities</a> by Robert Musil (1930)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/117833.The_Master_and_Margarita?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Master and Margarita</a> by Mikhail Bulgakov (1967)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Mikhail Bulgakov's devastating satire of Soviet life was written during the darkest period of Stalin's regime. Combining two distinct yet interwoven parts-one set in ancient Jerusalem, one in contemporary Moscow-the novel veers from moods of wild theatricality with violent storms, vampire attacks & a Satanic ball; to such somber scenes as the meeting of Pilate & Yeshua, & the murder of Judas in the moonlit garden of Gethsemane; to the substanceless, circus-like reality of Moscow.</i>" - GR</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/752900.Medea?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Medea</b></span></a> by Euripides (431 BC) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">* </span></b><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54270.Mein_Kampf?ac=1" target="_blank">Mein Kampf</a> by Adolf Hitler (1925) - "</span><i>In Mein Kampf (My Struggle), often called the Nazi bible, Hitler describes his life, frustrations, ideals, and dreams. It is a glimpse into the mind of a man who destabilized world peace and pursued the genocide now known as the Holocaust.</i><span style="text-align: left;">" - GR</span><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/930.Memoirs_of_a_Geisha?from_search=true" target="_blank">Memoirs of a Geisha</a> by Arthur Golden (1997)</span><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><span style="text-align: left;"> "</span><i>In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12172.Memoirs_of_Hadrian?from_search=true" target="_blank">Memoirs of Hadrian</a> by Marguerite Yourcenar (1951)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/287490.Memoirs_of_My_Nervous_Illness" target="_blank">Memoirs of My Nervous Illness</a> by Daniel Paul Schreber (1903) - "<i>In his madness, the world was revealed to him as an enormous architecture of nerves, dominated by a predatory God. It became clear to Schreber that his personal crisis was implicated in what he called a "crisis in God's realm," one that had transformed the rest of humanity into a race of fantasms. There was only one remedy; as his doctor noted: "This, however, he could only do by first being transformed from a man into a woman...."</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1715.Metamorphoses?ac=1" target="_blank">Metamorphoses</a> by Ovid</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/485894.The_Metamorphosis?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Metamorphosis</b></span></a> by Franz Kafka (1915) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>- "<i>When Gregor Samsa awoke as a grotesque insect, he was forced to ponder his existence both as a man and a beast. </i>" - DBC</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19089.Middlemarch?ac=1" target="_blank">Middlemarch</a> by George Eliot (1872)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1848266.Mga_Ibong_Mandaragit?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Mga Ibong Mandaragit</a> by Amado V. Hernandez (1969)</div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14836.Midnight_s_Children?ac=1" target="_blank">Midnight's Children</a> by Salman Rushdie (1981) (<b>Booker</b>) - <i>"In 1993 to mark the 25th anniversary it was decided to choose a Booker of Bookers Prize. Three previous judges of the award, Malcolm Bradbury, David Holloway and W. L. Webb, met and chose Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children (the 1981 winner) as "the best novel out of all the winners. A similar prize known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_of_the_Booker">The Best of the Booker</a> was awarded in 2008 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the prize. The winner was again Midnight's Children. </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"> </span><i>Midnight's Children not only won the 1981 Booker, but also the special 1993 Booker of Bookers prize, which commemorated the award's 25th anniversary. This represented an unprecedented third Booker victory for Rushdie."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10614.Misery?from_search=true" target="_blank">Misery</a> by Stephen King (1987)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153747.Moby_Dick_or_The_Whale?ac=1" target="_blank">Moby-Dick</a> by Herman Melville (1851) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - tried reading this in college. Only managed a few chapters. Will try again in the future.</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12279.Molloy_Malone_Dies_The_Unnamable?ac=1" target="_blank">Trilogy: Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable</a> by Samuel Beckett (1958)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7760011-mondomanila?ac=1" target="_blank">Mondomanila</a> by Norman Wilwayco (2002)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18825.Money?ac=1" target="_blank">Money</a> by Martin Amis (1984) - "<i>Time Magazine included the book in its list of the 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005. The story of John Self and his insatiable appetite for money, alcohol, fast food, drugs, porn and more,Money is ceaselessly inventive and thrillingly savage; a tale of life lived without restraint, of money and the disasters it can precipitate.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/93157.The_Monk?ac=1" target="_blank">The Monk</a> by Matthew Lewis (17960) - "<i>Set in the sinister monastery of the Capuchins in Madrid, this is a violent tale of ambition, murder, and incest. The struggle between maintaining monastic vows and fulfilling personal ambitions tempts its main character into breaking his vows.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/130028.Moon_Tiger?ac=1" target="_blank">Moon Tiger</a> by Penelope Lively (1987) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>The elderly Claudia Hampton, a best-selling author of popular history; lies alone in a London hospital bed. Memories of her life still glow in her fading consciousness, but she imagines writing a history of the world."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/526164.Morvern_Callar?ac=1" target="_blank">Morvern Callar</a> by Alan Warner (1995) - "<i>When Movern Callar wakes up to find her boyfriend dead in the kitchen, having taken his own life, she decides to steal and sell his unpublished novel, passing it off as her own work. Warner won the prestigious Somerset Maugham prize for his debut novel.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10739.The_Moviegoer?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">The Moviegoer</span></b></a> by Walker Percy (1960) </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14942.Mrs_Dalloway?from_search=true" target="_blank">Mrs. Dalloway</a> by Virginia Woolf (1925) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16328.The_Murder_of_Roger_Ackroyd?ac=1" target="_blank">The Murder of Roger Ackroyd</a> by Agatha Christie (1926) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1621194.The_Mythology_Class?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">The Mythology Class</a> by Arnold Arre (2005) -<i> "The story centers on University of the Philippines Anthropology student Nicole Lacson, a girl who holds a passionate love for Filipino myths passed down from her grandfather. Together with a motley assortment of companions, she meets the mysterious Mrs. Enkanta and races to recapture enkantos (supernatural creatures) who have escaped and are causing havoc in the human world. The story also references historical and mythological Filipino heroes like Kubin, Sulayman and Lam-ang."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11987.The_Myth_of_Sisyphus_and_Other_Essays?ac=1" target="_blank">The Myth of Sisyphus</a> by Albert Camus (1942) - <i>"One of the most influential works of this century, this is a crucial exposition of existentialist thought. Influenced by works such as Don Juan and the novels of Kafka, these essays begin with a meditation on suicide: the question of living or not living in an absurd universe devoid of order or meaning."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16111860-mythspace?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank">Mythspace</a> by Paolo Chikiamco (2012)<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7437.Naked_Lunch?from_search=true" target="_blank">Naked Lunch</a> by William S. Burroughs (1959)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9732136-naermyth?ac=1" target="_blank">Naermyth</a> by Karen Francisco (2010) - <i>"The world ended. It was not because of a comet, prophecy, natural disaster or whatever garbage foretold on the internet, but because every myth ever written turned out to be an account of historical fact. These monsters we’ve read about as children waged a war that lead to the human race’s downfall. And the unlucky who survived are hunted down or, worse, tortured."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119073.The_Name_of_the_Rose?ac=1" target="_blank">The Name of the Rose</a> by Umberto Eco (1980)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>The year is 1327. Franciscans in a wealthy Italian abbey are suspected of heresy, and Brother William of Baskerville arrives to investigate. When his delicate mission is suddenly overshadowed by seven bizarre deaths, Brother William turns detective. His tools are the logic of Aristotle, the theology of Aquinas, the empirical insights of Roger Bacon—all sharpened to a glistening edge by wry humor and a ferocious curiosity.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: left;"> </span>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17905709-the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north?ac=1" target="_blank">The Narrow Road to the Deep North</a> by Richard Flanagan (2013) (<b>Booker</b>, 2014)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Taking its title from 17th-century haiku poet Basho's travel journal, The Narrow Road To The Deep North is about the impossibility of love.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/298275.Nausea?from_search=true" target="_blank">Nausea</a> by Jean-Paul Sartre (1938)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43797.Pandora_Vittorio_the_Vampire?ac=1" target="_blank">New Tales of the Vampires</a> by Anne Rice (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31343.Pandora?ac=1" target="_blank">Pandora</a> (1998)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31342.Vittorio_The_Vampire?ac=1" target="_blank">Vittorio the Vampire</a> (1999)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22328.Neuromancer?from_search=true" target="_blank">Neuromancer</a> by William Gibson (1984) - "<i>The Matrix is a world within the world, a global consensus- hallucination, the representation of every byte of data in cyberspace . . . Hotwired to the leading edges of art and technology, Neuromancer ranks with </i>1984<i> and </i>Brave New World<i> as one of the century's most potent visions of the future.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25373.Nick_Norah_s_Infinite_Playlist?ac=1" target="_blank">Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist</a> by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan (2005) - Because Dashiell Hammett's <i>The Thin Man</i> protagonists are named Nick & Nora.</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19068.The_Nicomachean_Ethics?ac=1" target="_blank">The Nicomachean Ethics</a> by Aristotle (350)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1617.Night?ac=1" target="_blank">Night</a> by Elie Wiesel (1958) - "<i>Night is a work by Elie Wiesel about his experience with his father in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944–1945, at the height of the Holocaust and toward the end of the Second World War. In just over 100 pages of sparse and fragmented narrative, Wiesel writes about the death of God and his own increasing disgust with humanity, reflected in the inversion of the father–child relationship as his father declines to a helpless state and Wiesel becomes his resentful teenage caregiver.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/653651.Nights_at_the_Circus?from_search=true" target="_blank">Nights at the Circus</a> by Angela Carter (1984) -<i> "Ah, Angela Carter, you can do no wrong, and all the world should know it. This spellbinding novel follows a beloved aerialiste who is also half swan, and the journalist who runs off with the circus, bent on discovering the truth. Full of myth and magic and delight, and also postmodern playfulness and political power." -</i> Flavorwire</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53101.Nightwood?ac=1" target="_blank">Nightwood</a> by Djuna Barnes (1936)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123933.No_Exit?from_search=true" target="_blank">No Exit</a> by Jean-Paul Sartre (1944)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Jean-Paul Sartre, the great French existentialist, displays his mastery of drama in NO EXIT, an unforgettable portrayal of hell.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20334107-noli-me-tangere?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Noli Me Tangere</span></b></a> by Jose Rizal (translated by Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11297.Norwegian_Wood?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Norwegian Wood</span></b></a> by Haruki Murakami (1987)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17876.Notes_from_Underground?from_search=true" target="_blank">Notes from Underground</a> by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1864) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>- "<i>“I am a sick man…I am a wicked man. An unattractive man. I think my liver hurts.” Dostoyevsky’s classic opens with perhaps the most memorable line in literature. Certainly one of the foremost works of existentialist fiction." - DBC</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38502.Notes_of_a_Dirty_Old_Man?ac=1" target="_blank">Notes of a Dirty Old Man</a> by Charles Bukowski (1969) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">The Nova Trilogy:</span> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23937.The_Soft_Machine?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Soft Machine</a> (1961), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/600506.The_Ticket_That_Exploded?ac=1" target="_blank">The Ticket That Exploded</a> (1962), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23931.Nova_Express?ac=1" target="_blank">Nova Express</a> (1964) by William S. Burroughs - "<i>Commenting on the trilogy in an interview, Burroughs said, "I am attempting to create a new mythology for the space age."</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/254308.Oblomov?from_search=true" target="_blank">Oblomov</a> by Ivan Goncharov (1859)<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15783514-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">The Ocean at the End of the Lane</span></b></a> by Neil Gaiman (2013)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1381.The_Odyssey?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Odyssey</a> by Homer (800 BC) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/108615.Offshore?ac=1" target="_blank">Offshore</a> by Penelope Fitzgerald (1979) (<b>Booker</b>) - <i>"It is Nenna’s domestic predicament that, as it deepens, draws the relations among this scrubby community together into ever more complex and comic patterns. The result is one of Fitzgerald’s greatest triumphs, a novel the Booker judges deemed “flawless.”</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31548.Of_Human_Bondage?from_search=true" target="_blank">Of Human Bondage</a> by W. Somerset Maugham (1914)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/366427.The_Old_Devils?ac=1" target="_blank">The Old Devils</a> by Kingsley Amis (1986) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Malcolm, Peter and Charlie and their Soave-sodden wives have one ambition left in life: to drink Wales dry. But their routine is both shaken and stirred when professional Welshman, Alun Weaver (CBE) and his wife, Rhiannon, join them.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/578367.Old_Goriot?from_search=true" target="_blank">Old Goriot</a> by Honore de Balzac (1835)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2165.The_Old_Man_and_the_Sea?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Old Man and the Sea</a> by Ernest Hemingway (1952)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18254.Oliver_Twist?ac=1" target="_blank">Oliver Twist</a> by Charles Dickens (1839) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/332613.One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo_s_Nest?ac=1" target="_blank">One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest</a> by Ken Kesey (1962) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1053713295?book_show_action=false" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">One Hundred Years of Solitude</span></b></a> by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1967)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70401.On_the_Road?ac=1" target="_blank">On the Road</a> by Jack Kerouac (1957)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22463.The_Origin_of_Species?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Origin of Species</a> by Charles Darwin (1859) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - partly read<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46756.Oryx_and_Crake?from_search=true" target="_blank">Oryx & Crake</a> by Margaret Atwood (2003)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/316496.Oscar_and_Lucinda?ac=1" target="_blank">Oscar and Lucinda</a> by Peter Carey (1988) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Peter Carey's Booker Prize winning novel imagines Australia's youth, before its dynamic passions became dangerous habits. It is also a startling and unusual love story. Oscar is a young English clergyman who has broken with his past and developed a disturbing talent for gambling. A country girl of singular ambition, Lucinda moves to Sydney, driven by dreams of self-reliance and the building of an industrial Utopia.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12996.Othello?ac=1" target="_blank">Othello</a> by William Shakespeare (1603) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25365.Out?ac=1">Out</a> by Natsuo Kirino (1997)<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30512.Paddy_Clarke_Ha_Ha_Ha?ac=1" target="_blank">Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha</a> by Roddy Doyle (1993) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>In Roddy Doyle's Booker Prize-winning novel Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, an Irish lad named Paddy rampages through the streets of Barrytown with a pack of like-minded hooligans, playing cowboys and Indians, etching their names in wet concrete, and setting fires. Roddy Doyle has captured the sensations and speech patterns of preadolescents with consummate skill, and managed to do so without resorting to sentimentality.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7805.Pale_Fire" target="_blank">Pale Fire</a> by Vladimir Nabokov (1962) <span style="color: yellow;">*</span> - "<i>An engrossing metafictional spiral into the increasingly deluded mind of an obsessive editor, the book is filled with literary mania, questionable motives, and endnotes that refer to and contradict each other.</i>" - GR<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6139137-para-kay-b?ac=1" target="_blank">Para Kay B (o kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin)</a> by Ricky Lee (2008) - "<i>Alam mo ba ang ibig-sabihin ng "CONJURE"? Isa ka bang Capital S? Me quota ang pag-ibig. Sa bawat limang umiibig ay isa lang ang magiging maligaya. Kasama ka ba sa quota?"</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18910.The_Parallax_View?ac=1" target="_blank">The Parallax View</a> by Slavoj Zizek (2006) - "<i>The Parallax View is Slavoj Zizek's most substantial theoretical work to appear in many years; Zizek himself describes it as his magnum opus.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15997.Paradise_Lost?from_search=true" target="_blank">Paradise Lost</a> by John Milton (1667) - <i>"In Paradise Lost, Milton produced a poem of epic scale, conjuring up a vast, awe-inspiring cosmos and ranging across huge tracts of space and time. And yet, in putting a charismatic Satan and naked Adam and Eve at the centre of this story, he also created an intensely human tragedy on the Fall of Man. Written when Milton was in his fifties – blind, bitterly disappointed by the Restoration and briefly in danger of execution – Paradise Lost’s apparent ambivalence towards authority has led to intense debate about whether it manages to ‘justify the ways of God to men’, or exposes the cruelty of Christianity." - </i>GR<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68494.Perdido_Street_Station?ac=1" target="_blank">Perdido Street Station</a> by China Mieville (2000) - <i>"Beneath the towering bleached ribs of a dead, ancient beast lies the city of New Crobuzon, where the unsavory deal is stranger to no one--not even to Isaac, a gifted and eccentric scientist who has spent a lifetime quietly carrying out his unique research."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/343.Perfume?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Perfume: The Story of a Murderer</span></b></a> by Patrick Suskind (1985)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>In the slums of eighteenth-century France, the infant Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with one sublime gift: an absolute sense of smell. But Grenouille's genius is such that he is not satisfied to stop there, and he becomes obsessed with capturing the smells of objects such as brass doorknobs and frest-cut wood. Then one day he catches a hint of a scent that will drive him on an ever-more-terrifying quest to create the "ultimate perfume"—the scent of a beautiful young virgin. </i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Perks of Being a Wallflower</a> by Stephen Chbosky (1999)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21956738-phenomenology-of-the-spirit?ac=1" target="_blank">Phenomenology of the Spirit</a> by Hegel<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/229432.The_Pickwick_Papers?ac=1" target="_blank">The Pickwick Papers</a> by Charles Dickens (1837) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>‘Rising rage & extreme bewilderment had swelled the noble breast of Mr Pickwick, almost to the bursting of his waistcoat’ Few first novels have created as much popular excitement as The Pickwick Papers–-a comic masterpiece that catapulted its 24-year-old author to immediate fame.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5297.The_Picture_of_Dorian_Gray?ac=1" target="_blank">The Picture of Dorian Gray</a> by Oscar Wilde (1890) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5043.The_Pillars_of_the_Earth?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Pillars of the Earth</a> by Ken Follett (1989) - <i>"The spellbinding epic set in twelfth-century England, The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of the lives entwined in the building of the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known—and a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206172.The_Pit_and_the_Pendulum?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Pit and the Pendulum</a> by Edgar Allan Poe (1842) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/428.Play_It_as_It_Lays?from_search=true" target="_blank">Play It as It Lays</a> by Joan Didion (1970) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8574333-please-look-after-mom?ac=1" target="_blank">Please Look After Mom</a> by Shin Kyung-Sook (2008) (<b>Asian Literary Prize, 2011</b>) - <i>"You will never think of your mother the same way again after you read this book.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/415634.Plutarch_s_Lives_Volume_1?from_search=true" target="_blank">Plutarch's Lives</a> by Plutarch (100) - <i>"Plutarch's Lives, written at the beginning of the second century A.D., is a brilliant social history of the ancient world by one of the greatest biographers and moralists of all time. In what is by far his most famous and influential work, Plutarch reveals the character and personality of his subjects and how they led ultimately to tragedy or victory." - </i>GR<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19083.Politics?ac=1" target="_blank">Politics</a> by Aristotle <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/264.The_Portrait_of_a_Lady?ac=1" target="_blank">The Portrait of a Lady</a> by Henry James (1881) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">* </span>-</b><i> "When Isabel Archer, a beautiful, spirited American, is brought to Europe by her wealthy Aunt Touchett, it is expected that she will soon marry. But Isabel, resolved to determine her own fate, does not hesitate to turn down two eligible suitors. She then finds herself irresistibly drawn to Gilbert Osmond, who, beneath his veneer of charm and cultivation, is cruelty itself."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7588.A_Portrait_of_the_Artist_as_a_Young_Man?ac=1" target="_blank">The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man</a> by James Joyce (1916) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41219.Possession?ac=1" target="_blank">Possession</a> by A.S. Byatt (1990) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>An exhilarating novel of wit and romance, an intellectual mystery, and a triumphant love story. This tale of a pair of young scholars researching the lives of two Victorian poets became a huge bookseller favorite, and then on to national bestellerdom.</i>"<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/646462.The_Quran?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Quran</a> (632)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16171608-rashomon?ac=1" target="_blank">Rashomon</a> by Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1915)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/264158.The_Raven?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Raven</b></span></a> by Edgar Allan Poe (1844) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17899948-rebecca?ac=1" target="_blank">Rebecca</a> by Daphne du Murier (1938)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>"National Book Award for Fiction (1938), Best Novel of the 20th Century/Bouchercon World Mystery Convention"</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/395058.The_Recognitions?ac=1" target="_blank">The Recognitions</a> by William Gaddis (1955) - <i>"Organized like a triptych, this book, whose many shifting scenes and characters are concerned with fallacy, mistaken identity, and forgeries — an extreme of the Holden Caulfield syndrome, as it were. Characters lose their names and gain others, dialogue may float unattributed, allusions abound." </i>(-Flavorwire)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14662.The_Red_and_the_Black?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Red and the Black</a> by Stendhal (1830)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30005.Red_Harvest?from_search=true" target="_blank">Red Harvest</a> by Dashiell Hammet (1929) - "<i>Time magazine included Hammett's 1929 novel Red Harvest on a list of the 100 best English-language novels published between 1923 and 2005.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28921.The_Remains_of_the_Day?ac=1" target="_blank">The Remains of the Day</a> by Kazuo Ishiguro (1988) (<b>Booker</b>, 1989) - "<i>Ishiguro’s dazzling novel is a sad and humorous love story, a meditation on the condition of modern man, and an elegy for England at a time of acute change."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30289.The_Republic?ac=1" target="_blank">The Republic</a> by Plato (380)</div>
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<a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/11/responde-by-norman-wilwayco.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Responde</b></span></a> by Norman Wilwayco <span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">* </span>- REVIEWED.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48328.Revolutionary_Road" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">Revolutionary Road</span></a> by Richard Yates (1961) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14431.Rites_of_Passage?ac=1" target="_blank">Rites of Passage</a> by William Golding (1980) (<b>Booker</b>) - <i>"In the cabin of an ancient, stinking warship bound for Australia, a man writes a journal to entertain his godfather back in England. With wit and disdain he records mounting tensions on board, as an obsequious clergyman attracts the animosity of the tyrannical captain and surly crew."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2932.Robinson_Crusoe?ac=1" target="_blank">Robinson Crusoe</a> by Daniel Defoe (1719) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/914594886?book_show_action=false" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead</span></b></a> by Tom Stoppard (1966) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>GR REVIEWED.</i> Highly recommended if you liked Hamlet. One of the best plays I've read. "<i>Hamlet told from the worm's-eye view of two minor characters, bewildered Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Echoes of Waiting for Godotresound, reality and illusion mix, and where fate leads heroes to a tragic but inevitable end.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/300736.The_Royal_Family?ac=1" target="_blank">The Royal Family</a> by William T. Vollmann (2000)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9912.The_Rules_of_Attraction?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">The Rules of Attraction</a> by Bret Easton Ellis (1987) - "<i>Set at a small affluent liberal-arts college in New England eighties, The Rules of Attraction is a startlingly funny, kaleidoscopic novel about three students with no plans for the future—or even the present—who become entangled in a curious romantic triangle.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239592.Sacred_Hunger?ac=1" target="_blank">Sacred Hunger</a> by Barry Unsworth (1992) (<b>Booker</b>) -<i> "Sacred Hunger is a stunning and engrossing exploration of power, domination, and greed. Filled with the "sacred hunger" to expand its empire and its profits, England entered full into the slave trade and spread the trade throughout its colonies.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/162332.The_Sailor_Who_Fell_from_Grace_with_the_Sea?ac=1" target="_blank">The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea</a> by Yukio Mishima (1963) - <i>"</i>The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea<i> tells the tale of a band of savage thirteen-year-old boys who reject the adult world as illusory, hypocritical and sentimental, and train themselves in a brutal callousness they call "objectivity."</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12781.The_Satanic_Verses?ac=1" target="_blank">The Satanic Verses</a> by Salman Rushdie (1988)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/171833.Saville?ac=1" target="_blank">Saville</a> by David Storey (1976) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>Colin Saville grows up in a mining village in South Yorkshire, against the background of war, of an industrialised countryside, of town and coalmine and village."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12296.The_Scarlet_Letter?ac=1" target="_blank">The Scarlet Letter</a> by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/375013.Schindler_s_List?ac=1" target="_blank">Schindler's List</a> by Thomas Keneally (1982) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>Thomas Keneally's Booker Prize-winning novel recreates the story of Oskar Schindler, an Aryan who risked his life to protect Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland, who continually defied and outwitted the SS, and who was transformed by the war into an angel of mercy. It is an unforgettable tale, all the more extraordinary for being true.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3656.The_Sea?ac=1" target="_blank">The Sea</a> by John Banville (2005) (<b>Booker</b>)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11229.The_Sea_the_Sea?ac=1" target="_blank">The Sea, The Sea</a> by Iris Murdoch (1978) (<b>Booker</b>) - <i>"In exposing the jumble of motivations that drive Arrowby and the other characters, Iris Murdoch lays bare "the truth of untruth"--the human vanity, jealousy, and lack of compassion behind the disguises they present to the world. Played out against a vividly rendered landscape and filled with allusions to myth and magic, Charles's confrontation with the tidal rips of love and forgiveness is one of Murdoch's most moving and powerful tales."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/669780.Season_of_Migration_to_the_North?ac=1" target="_blank">Season of Migration to the North</a> by Tayeb Salih (1966)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/457264.The_Second_Sex?ac=1" target="_blank">The Second Sex</a> by Simone de Beauvoir (1949)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29044.The_Secret_History?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Secret History</a> by Donna Tartt (1992)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>A contemporary of Brett Easton Ellis, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History is a murder mystery presented in reverse, a modern Greek tragedy involving a group of students studying classics at an upscale Vermont college who stage a wild ‘bacchanal’ which ends in the death of a local farmer. The murder soon exposes the fault lines in the tight-knit group’s relationship.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5693.Selected_Stories?ac=1" target="_blank">Selected Stories</a> by Anton Chekhov (1900) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10746542-the-sense-of-an-ending?ac=1" target="_blank">The Sense of an Ending</a> by Julian Barnes (2011) (<b>Booker</b>) -<i> "Tony Webster and his clique first met Adrian Finn at school. Sex-hungry and book-hungry, they would navigate the girl-less sixth form together, trading in affectations, in-jokes, rumour and wit. Maybe Adrian was a little more serious than the others, certainly more intelligent, but they all swore to stay friends for life. Now Tony is in middle age. He’s had a career and a single marriage, a calm divorce. He’s certainly never tried to hurt anybody. Memory, though, is imperfect. It can always throw up surprises, as a lawyer’s letter is about to prove."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2183.Sentimental_Education?ac=1" target="_blank">A Sentimental Education</a> by Gustave Flaubert (1869) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17411348-seroks-iteration-1?ac=1" target="_blank">Seroks, Iteration 1: Mirror Man</a> by David Hontiveros (2013)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>In this Iteration, paired with the singular artistic sensibilities of Alan Navarra, Hontiveros continues to explore this clone-littered world where everything is a commodity, and everything can be pirated, even people. A world where the truth is ugly and a fake can be a hero. </i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22588751-seroks-iteration-2?ac=1" target="_blank">Seroks, Iteration 2: Once in a Lifetime</a> by David Hontiveros (2014)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>"In this second Sekorks Iteration, we return to the dystopic future world that Iteration 1: Mirror Man introduced us to. In Iteration 2: Once in a Lifetime, we meet two more of the 8 seroks of the world's first superhero, Paladin, engineered from the DNA of popular yesteryear movie star-slash-disgraced ex-Philippine President Federico Rubio. And we find out more about the ones we've already met."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256280.The_Siege_of_Krishnapur?ac=1" target="_blank">The Siege of Krishnapur</a> (Empire Trilogy #2) by J.G. Farrell (1973) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<i>India, 1857 the year of the Great Mutiny, when Muslim soldiers turned in bloody rebellion on their British overlords. This time of convulsion is the subject of J. G. Farrell's The Siege of Krishnapur, widely considered one of the finest British novels of the last fifty years.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7332.The_Silmarillion?ac=1" target="_blank">The Silmarillion</a> by J.R.R. Tolkien (1977) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/118345.Sixty_Stories?ac=1" target="_blank">Sixty Stories</a> by Donald Barthelme (1981) - "<i>Barthelme’s work is rife with allusions, intertextuality, and a supreme disregard for the traditional (at the time, at least) form of the short story — stories may be just a few words, or several pages without a punctuation mark, or an accumulation of details that make the reader search for the plot themselves. They are mostly, however, amazing.</i>" - Flavorwire</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4981.Slaughterhouse_Five?ac=1" target="_blank">Slaughterhouse-Five</a> by Kurt Vonnegut (1968)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1045823220?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Solaris</span></b></a> by Stanislaw Lem (1961) <span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow; font-weight: bold;">*</span><b> - </b><i>GR REVIEW linked. "</i></span><i>Lem’s weird, surrealist space novel is a classic of sorts for those in the know, but epidemically under-read. The book vacillates between beautifully ruminative and action-packed exciting, as the inhabitants of a space station deal with the clones of their loved ones that the sentient planet they’re on continually sends their way. Also, best depiction of an alien sea that has ever been committed to print." - </i>Flavorwire<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4449027-something-to-answer-for?ac=1" target="_blank">Something to Answer For</a> by P.H. Newby (1968) (<b>Booker</b>, 1969) -<i> "It was 1956 and he was in Port Said. About these two facts Townrow was reasonably certain. He had been summoned there, to Egypt, by the widow of his deceased friend, Elie Khoury. Having been found dead in the street, she is convinced he was murdered, but nobody seems to agree with her. What of Leah Strauss, the mistress?"</i><br />
<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;">A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones series) </span>by George R.R. Martin (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13496.A_Game_of_Thrones" target="_blank">A Game of Thrones</a> (1996), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10572.A_Clash_of_Kings" target="_blank">A Clash of Kings</a> (1998), <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62291.A_Storm_of_Swords" target="_blank">A Storm of Swords</a> (2000)</span><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><span style="text-align: left;">, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13497.A_Feast_for_Crows" target="_blank">A Feast for Crows</a> (2005)</span><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><span style="text-align: left;">, </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10664113-a-dance-with-dragons" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">A Dance with Dragons</a><span style="text-align: left;"> (2011)</span><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><span style="text-align: left;"> )</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11334.Song_of_Solomon?ac=1" target="_blank">Song of Solomon</a> by Toni Morrison (1977) - <i>suggested by a fellow bookworm</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228560.Sophie_s_Choice?ac=1" target="_blank">Sophie's Choice</a> by William Styron (1976) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10959.Sophie_s_World?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Sophie's World</span></b></a> by Jostein Gaarder (1991) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16640.The_Sorrows_of_Young_Werther?ac=1" target="_blank">The Sorrows of Young Werther</a> by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1774)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10975.The_Sound_and_the_Fury?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Sound and the Fury</a> by William Faulkner (1929) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62793.Spring_Snow?from_search=true" target="_blank">Spring Snow</a> by Yukio Mishima (1968)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149267.The_Stand?ac=1" target="_blank">The Stand</a> by Stephen King (1978) - "<i>This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death. And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides -- or are chosen.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/414824.Staying_On?ac=1">Staying On</a> by Paul Scott (1977) (<b>Booker</b>) -<i> "Both funny and deeply moving, Staying On is a unique, engrossing portrait of the end of an empire and of a forty-year love affair."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16631.Steppenwolf?ac=1" target="_blank">Steppenwolf</a> by Hermann Hesse (1927) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/166997.Stoner?ac=1" target="_blank">Stoner</a> by John Edward Williams (1965) - "<i>William Stoner is born at the end of the nineteenth century into a dirt-poor Missouri farming family. Sent to the state university to study agronomy, he instead falls in love with English literature and embraces a scholar’s life, so different from the hardscrabble existence he has known.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49552.The_Stranger?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Stranger</b></span></a> by Albert Camus (1942)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Through the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd."" - GR</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/66659.Stranger_Things_Happen?ac=1" target="_blank">Stranger Things Happen</a> by Kelly Link (2001) - <i>"This first collection by award-winning author Kelly Link takes fairy tales and cautionary tales, dictators and extraterrestrials, amnesiacs and honeymooners, revenants and readers alike, on a voyage into new, strange, and wonderful territory. The girl detective must go to the underworld to solve the case of the tap-dancing bank robbers. A librarian falls in love with a girl whose father collects artificial noses. A dead man posts letters home to his estranged wife. Two women named Louise begin a series of consecutive love affairs with a string of cellists. A newly married couple become participants in an apocalyptic beauty pageant. Sexy blond aliens invade New York City. A young girl learns how to make herself disappear. These eleven extraordinary stories are quirky, spooky, and smart.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18912.The_Sublime_Object_of_Ideology?ac=1" target="_blank">The Sublime Object of Ideology</a> by Slavoj Zizek (1989) - "<i>In this provocative and original work, Slavoj Žižek takes a look at the question of human agency in a postmodern world. From the sinking of the Titanic to Hitchcock’s Rear Window, from the operas of Wagner to science fiction, from Alien to the Jewish Joke, the author’s acute analyses explore the ideological fantasies of wholeness and exclusion which make up human society.</i>"</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22018424-tabi-po?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank">Tabi Po: Isyu 1</a> by Mervin Malonzo (2014)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23569895-tabi-po?ac=1&from_search=1" target="_blank">Tabi Po: Isyu 2</a> by Mervin Malonzo (2014)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7042.The_Tale_of_Genji?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Tale of Genji</a> by Shikibu Murasaki (1008)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1953.A_Tale_of_Two_Cities?ac=1" target="_blank">A Tale of Two Cities</a> by Charles Dickens (1859) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17225311-tampa?ac=1" target="_blank">Tampa</a> by Alissa Nutting (2013)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57854.Tao_Te_Ching" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Tao Te Ching</span></b></a> by Lao Tzu (500)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/899492.The_Tell_Tale_Heart?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>The Tell-Tale Heart</b></span></a> by Edgar Allan Poe (1843) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32261.Tess_of_the_d_Urbervilles?ac=1" target="_blank">Tess of the d'Urbervilles</a> by Thomas Hardy (1891) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80616.The_Thin_Man?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Thin Man</a> by Dashiell Hammett (1934) - "<i>The Thin Man was Hammett's last published novel.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37781.Things_Fall_Apart?ac=1" target="_blank">Things Fall Apart</a> by Chinua Achebe, Nigeria, (b. 1930)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35743.The_Tin_Drum?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Tin Drum</a> by Gunter Grass (1959)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7190.The_Three_Musketeers?ac=1" target="_blank">The Three Musketeers</a> by Alexandre Dumas (1844) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7097443-three-sisters?ac=1" target="_blank">Three Sisters</a> by Bi Feiyu (2003) (<b>Asian Literary Prize, 2010</b>)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51893.Thus_Spoke_Zarathustra?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Thus Spoke Zarathustra</span></b></a> by Friedrich Nietzsche (1883) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>To Kill a Mockingbird</b></span></a> by Harper Lee (1960)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59716.To_the_Lighthouse?from_search=true" target="_blank">To the Lighthouse</a> by Virginia Woolf (1927) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/135836.Trainspotting?ac=1" target="_blank">Trainspotting</a> by Irvine Welsh (1993)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249.Tropic_of_Cancer?ac=1" target="_blank">Tropic of Cancer</a> by Henry Miller (1934)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/250.Tropic_of_Capricorn?ac=1" target="_blank">Tropic of Capricorn</a> by Henry Miller (1938) - <i>"Banned in America for almost thirty years because of its explicit sexual content, this companion volume to Miller’s Tropic of Cancer chronicles his life in 1920s New York City. Famous for its frank portrayal of life in Brooklyn’s ethnic neighborhoods and Miller’s outrageous sexual exploits, The Tropic of Capricorn is now considered a cornerstone of modern literature."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256279.Troubles?ac=1" target="_blank">Troubles (Empire Trilogy #1)</a> by J.G. Farrell (1970) (<b>Booker</b>) - "<b>Winner of the Lost Man Booker Prize</b><i>"</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17690.The_Trial?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Trial</a> by Franz Kafka (1925) - "<i>Josef K. is our humble protagonist who is arrested on the first page of Kafka’s unfinished novel. When he asks at the station, the officers say, “We don’t answer questions like that.” What is a man to do but surrender to his fate?"</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23247049-tristram-shandy?ac=1" target="_blank">Tristram Shandy</a> by Laurence Stern (1759) - <i>"As its title suggests, the book is ostensibly Tristram's narration of his life story. But it is one of the central jokes of the novel that he cannot explain anything simply, that he must make explanatory diversions to add context and colour to his tale, to the extent that Tristram's own birth is not even reached until Volume III."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/110090.True_History_of_the_Kelly_Gang?ac=1" target="_blank">True History of the Kelly Gang</a> by Peter Carey (2000) (<b>Booker</b>, 2001) - <i>"I lost my own father at 12 yr. of age and know what it is to be raised on lies and silences my dear daughter you are presently too young to understand a word I write but this history is for you and will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak false." <br />In True History of the Kelly Gang," " the legendary Ned Kelly speaks for himself, scribbling his narrative on errant scraps of paper in semiliterate but magically descriptive prose as he flees from the police."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9873759-tutubi-tutubi-wag-kang-magpahuli-sa-mamang-salbahe?ac=1" target="_blank">Tutubi, Tutubi, 'Wag Kang Magpahuli Sa Mamang Salbahe</a> by Jun Cruz Reyes (1987) - "<i>Ang Tutubi, Tutubi, 'Wag Kang Magpahuli sa Mamang Salbahe ay pagtatangka ng awtor na isalaysay ang mga unang araw ng batas militar "sa panahong hindi puwedeng sabihin nang deretso ang nasa isip." Bunga ito ng kanyang eksperimento sa paggamit ng satire upang masabi ang bawal "nang hindi makakagalitan" o sa paraang matatawa lang ang nakarinig (mula sa Paunang Salita ng may-akda). Nanalo ang nobelang ito ng grand prize sa Palanca noong 1982. Unang inilathala ng New Day Publishers noong 1987, nagkamit din ito ng National Book Award mula sa Manila Critics Circle."</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/338798.Ulysses?from_search=true" target="_blank">Ulysses</a> by James Joyce (1920)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9717.The_Unbearable_Lightness_of_Being?ac=1" target="_blank">The Unbearable Lightness of Being</a> by Milan Kundera (1981)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11324.Under_the_Net?ac=1" target="_blank">Under the Net</a> by Iris Murdoch (1954) - <i>"Under the Net was the first novel of Iris Murdoch, published in 1954. Set in London, it is the story of a struggling young writer, Jake Donaghue. Its mixture of the philosophical and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picaresque">picaresque</a> has made it one of Murdoch's most popular" </i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40117.The_Unconsoled?ac=1" target="_blank">The Unconsoled</a> by Kazuo Ishiguro (1995) - <i>"Never Let Me Go gets all the love these days, and maybe The Remains of the Day picks up the scraps, but The Unconsoled might be the best (and most difficult, and most rewarding) of Ishiguro’s novels. Or worst, depending on whom you ask — but when a novel is this polarizing, you know it’s pushing some essential buttons. Those crazy, psychological mystery/Proustian dream-state buttons. Does everyone not have those?" - </i>Flavorwire</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11761.Underworld?ac=1" target="_blank">Underworld</a> by Don DeLillo (1997)</div>
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<span style="color: orange;">The Vampire Chronicles</span> by Anne Rice (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43763.Interview_with_the_Vampire?ac=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Interview with the Vampire</b></span></a> (1976)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43814.The_Vampire_Lestat?ac=1" target="_blank">The Vampire Lestat</a> (1985)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43758.The_Queen_of_the_Damned?ac=1" target="_blank">The Queen of the Damned</a> (1988)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31336.The_Tale_of_the_Body_Thief?ac=1" target="_blank">The Tale of the Body Thief</a> (1992)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31338.Memnoch_the_Devil?ac=1" target="_blank">Memnoch the Devil</a> (1995)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31332.The_Vampire_Armand?ac=1" target="_blank">The Vampire Armand</a> (1998)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43781.Merrick?ac=1" target="_blank">Merrick</a> (2000)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31341.Blood_And_Gold?ac=1" target="_blank">Blood and Gold</a> (2001)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31337.Blackwood_Farm?ac=1" target="_blank">Blackwood Farm</a> (2002)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31331.Blood_Canticle?ac=1" target="_blank">Blood Canticle</a> (2003)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21412673-prince-lestat?ac=1" target="_blank">Prince Lestat</a> (2014) )<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/472966.The_Vampyre?ac=1" target="_blank">The Vampyre</a> by John Polidori (1819) - <i>"The Vampyre was the first vampire story in English prose, and as such had a wide-ranging influence, almost singlehandedly creating the now-popular image of the vampire as an aristocratic seducer.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5797.Vanity_Fair?ac=1" target="_blank">Vanity Fair</a> by William M. Thackeray (1847) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11711.Vernon_God_Little?ac=1" target="_blank">Vernon God Little</a> by D.B.C. Pierre (2003) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Fifteen-year-old Vernon Gregory Little is in trouble, and it has something to do with the recent massacre of 16 students at his high school. Soon, the quirky backwater of Martirio, barbecue capital of Texas, is flooded with wannabe CNN hacks, eager for a scapegoat.</i>"<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17716.Waiting_for_Godot?ac=1" target="_blank">Waiting for Godot</a> by Samuel Beckett (1952)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/656.War_and_Peace?ac=1" target="_blank">War and Peace</a> by Leo Tolstoy (1869)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8909.The_War_of_the_Worlds?ac=1" target="_blank">The War of the Worlds</a> by H.G. Wells (1897) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/567678.The_Wasp_Factory?from_search=true" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">The Wasp Factory</span></b></a> by Iain Banks (1984)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Vastly disturbing, Banks’ first novel caused a storm of controversy for the blank violence emitting from its troubled protagonist Frank Cauldhame, who describes a childhood growing up on the rugged north east coast of Scotland. The impending arrival of Frank’s brother Eric, who has escaped from an asylum, coupled with Franks bursts of mindless anger, create an unsettling gothic horror.</i>" -Shortlist.com (I'm a lot hesitant to read this book because it has been mentioned in some GR reviews that it involves animal abuse/killings. That's a big no-no for me. But we'll see.)<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6283781-wasted" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Wasted</span></b></a> by Gerry Alanguilan - <i>"A story of love and tragedy. Jenny fell out of love from Eric. Eric started a killing spree out of desperation for the love of his life."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/607900.Water_from_the_Sun_and_Discovering_Japan" target="_blank">Water from the Sun and Discovering Japan</a> by Bret Easton Ellis (2006) - "<i>Bret Easton Ellis' two short stories chronicle the lives of a group of Los Angele's residents all of them suffering from nothing less that death of the soul. Ellis has immense gift for dialogue, off-the-wall humour, merciless description and exotic bleakness.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126512.The_Way_of_All_Flesh?ac=1" target="_blank">The Way of All Flesh</a> by Samuel Butler (1903) - "<i>Hailed by George Bernard Shaw as "one of the summits of human achievement," Butler's autobiographical account of a harsh upbringing and troubled adulthood satirizes Victorian hypocrisy in its chronicle of the life and loves of Ernest Pontifex. Along the way, it offers a powerful indictment of 19th-century England's major institutions."</i><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30119.Where_the_Sidewalk_Ends?from_search=true" target="_blank">Where the Sidewalk Ends: The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein</a> by Shel Silverstein (1974) - <i>"Come in … for where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein's world begins. You'll meet a boy who turns into a TV set, and a girl who eats a whale. The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who will not take the garbage out. It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens, a place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist."</i><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11762.White_Noise" target="_blank">White Noise</a> by Don DeLillo (1984)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1768603.The_White_Tiger?ac=1" target="_blank">The White Tiger</a> by Aravind Adiga (2008) (<b>Booker</b>)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>"The White Tiger recalls The Death of Vishnu and Bangkok 8 in ambition, scope, and narrative genius, with a mischief and personality all its own. Amoral, irreverent, deeply endearing, and utterly contemporary, this novel is an international publishing sensation—and a startling, provocative debut. "</i></div>
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<a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-wide-sargasso-sea-prequel.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Wide Sargasso Sea</span></b></a> by Jean Rhys (1966) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - REVIEWED<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1335601.The_Willows?ac=1" target="_blank">The Willows</a> (1907) by Algernon Blackwood - "<i>Blackwood is one of the legends of early horror. This English writer was called one of the “Masters” by no less than H.P. Lovecraft. In fact, Lovecraft considered Blackwood’s tale The Willows to be the finest weird tale ever written.</i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31785.The_Will_to_Power?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Will to Power</a> by Friedrich Nietzsche (1901) - "<i>Represents a selection from Nietzche's notebooks to find out what he wrote on nihilism, art, morality, religion, and the theory of knowledge, among others.</i>" </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11275.The_Wind_Up_Bird_Chronicle?ac=1" target="_blank">The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle</a> by Haruki Murakami (1994) - "<i>Norwegian Wood might be his best known work, but The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is arguably his best. A typically mesmeric story, it focusses on the supposedly ordinary life of Toru Okada. In expertly drawing Okada in a bewildering variety of colours, Murakami succeeds in saying much about the confusion of late 20th century life.</i>" - Shortlist</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51506.Wittgenstein_s_Mistress?ac=1" target="_blank">Wittgenstein's Mistress</a> by David Markson (1988)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - <i>"The postmodern giant’s seminal work is a dizzying, disturbing book either about a woman who has gone mad, or about a woman who is the last woman on earth, or both." - </i>Flavorwire<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6101138-wolf-hall?ac=1" target="_blank">Wolf Hall</a> by Hilary Mantel (2009) (<b>Booker</b>) (Thomas Cromwell Trilogy #1)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b> - "<i>Tudor England. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is charged with securing his divorce. Into this atmosphere of distrust comes Thomas Cromwell - a man as ruthlessly ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages. </i>"<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1217728.Wolf_Totem?ac=1" target="_blank">Wolf Totem</a> by Jiang Rong (2007) (<b>Asian Literary Prize</b>)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6185.Wuthering_Heights?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;"><b>Wuthering Heights</b></span></a> by Emily Brontë (1847) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">* </span></b>- I only have 3 different editions, I plan to collect more. I don't know why. </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7815.The_Year_of_Magical_Thinking?from_search=true" target="_blank">The Year of Magical Thinking</a> by Joan Didion (2005) <b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/629.Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance?ac=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: purple;">Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</span></b></a> by Robert M. Pirsig (1974)<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Total: </span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">Books I Own: </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Books I Have Read: </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i>Pulitzer:</i></span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i>Man Booker:</i></span><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i> </i> </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Currently Reading: </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">These are authors whose complete works I want to read:</span></b></div>
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Agatha Christie</div>
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Michael Crichton</div>
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Fyodor Dostoevsky</div>
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Arthur Conan Doyle</div>
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Bret Easton Ellis</div>
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H.P. Lovecraft<br />
Gabriel Garcia Marquez</div>
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Haruki Murakami</div>
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Friedrich Nietzsche<br />
Edgar Allan Poe</div>
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Jean-Paul Sartre</div>
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Jules Verne</div>
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H.G. Wells</div>
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Edith Wharton<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">More wishlist:</span></b><br />
Any graphology books (Handwriting Analysis): <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22010217-you-are-what-you-write" target="_blank">You Are What You Write</a> by Huntington Hartford<br />
Personology/Physiognomy books<br />
Books about the Aryan Race, Atlantis, Mayan civilization etc.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-50296383617034453022014-09-06T15:18:00.003+08:002015-01-11T03:42:45.997+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn<div>
<b>SPOILER-FREE SUMMARY:</b> A twisted page-turner that's a perfect fit for the "<i>Well that escalated quickly!</i>" meme. Engrossing, disturbing, well-paced, well-written: while the plot isn't exactly mind-blowing, still, the theme, the characters, and the narrative efficiently reels you in and deliciously messes with your mind that makes you forgive the occasional Wisteria Lane-ish domestic drama. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2zCGaBn1sU/VAqrd96VDeI/AAAAAAAADqA/CNQM96auIPw/s1600/gone%2Bgirl%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2zCGaBn1sU/VAqrd96VDeI/AAAAAAAADqA/CNQM96auIPw/s1600/gone%2Bgirl%2B001.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Author: </b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Gillian%20Flynn" target="_blank">Gillian Flynn</a><br /><b>Genre: </b> Thriller<br /><b>Year published: </b> 2012<br /><b>Country: </b> U.S.<br /><b># of pages:</b> 555 (mmpb)</span></td></tr>
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<u><b><span style="color: red;">SPOILERS:</span></b></u> It's not like it hasn't been done before - this "surprise plot twist" (which is fast becoming the "expected plot twist" nowadays) that is supposed to make a book (or a movie) look cool. No, that wasn't surprising at all. But I think Gillian Flynn didn't expect us to fall for that particular plot twist halfway through the book. It's too obvious, the way she painted the scenes and words pointing to Nick's part in the "crime", so my mind keeps on telling me not to believe any of it because I'm sure it'll all turn around 360 degrees. And so it did. What actually shocked me was the ending. Now that's the real plot twist.<br />
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<b>What makes Gone Girl different is the obviously unreliable narration that readers are supposed to digest while being well aware that the two central characters are both manipulative psychos (I know I'm being too harsh. Demented, maybe? lol) with a penchant for lying and selfishness, yet we still (or at least I am) root for one character or the other. </b>You hate Nick for being a spineless, cheating bastard - you enjoy seeing him get punished for his infidelity. Then you hate Amy for being the ultimate evil bitch - you wanna see her get slammed face-first against a pit of burning charcoal. You can't wait how this story ends. Who gets their well-deserved punishment? Then <i>that</i> ending. It's like a resounding bitchslap to my face when I read that part up to the final sentence. I was like WTF? Then I smile. And I mumble something like "I like this girl. (pertaining to Flynn). Because I realize that, yes, they do belong to each other. They're both twisted and dark to the highest degree and that kind of twistedness couldn't be complemented by a normal human being. So yes they deserve each other. And for that ending I give Gillian Flynn a <b><span style="font-size: large;">4/5</span></b>.</div>
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Check out <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/09/books-i-want-to-read-before-i-die.html" target="_blank">MY ULTIMATE BOOK BUCKET LIST</a> </i>or the books I wanna read before I die!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-26219042509920760172014-08-10T11:52:00.002+08:002014-08-11T21:25:39.287+08:00Sana Dati (2013): IF ONLY we have more of these films instead of our usual dose of Love/Sex/Cheat-All-You-Can mainstream melodrama.It's so rare for me to rave about a Pinoy movie, but that's not to say that there aren't any good Filipino movies out there. Obviously there are, somewhere, out there - but the ones shown in theaters are either downright silly or blatant money-milking franchises that it makes me cringe knowing that the Philippine Cinema is eating dust from other Asian countries because the movie industry continues to spurt turd after turd of soulless movies simply because it's what the<b> majority</b> of the audience wants.<br />
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It's only sometimes that I watch local movies, but when I do, I try to find quality films. Most of it I couldn't see even if I wanted to. But sometimes, just sometimes, I manage to find such gems and it makes my soul cry to witness such beauty and yet it goes unnoticed by most of us. I have raved about Erik Matti's <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/01/on-job-2013.html" target="_blank"><i><b>On the Job</b></i></a>, but I'm here to talk about another film.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Screenplay & Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Jerrold%20Tarog" target="_blank">Jerrold Tarog</a><br />"If Only" </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(with english sub)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><b>Running Time:</b> 100 mins<br /><b>Country:</b> Philippines </span></span></td></tr>
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<b><i>Sana Dati</i></b> is a 2013 romantic drama film by <b>Jerrold Tarog</b>, as the final installment of his <i>Camera trilogy</i> (which I haven't seen), and which competed in the prestigious Cinemalaya festival and reaped raves and awards, one of which is <i>Best Film</i>.<br />
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I'm so glad I have managed to see this and I wish that it gets a wider release. While watching, I wonder why we can't get such films of this quality a mainstream release. I wonder why people continue to ignore films which gives us stories that pluck at the innermost strings of our emotions, and yet feed such drivel that only have pseudo-witty one-liners and slapstick humor and shameless product placements. It's a pity.<br />
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<b>What I like about this film is its simplicity. I'm not saying it lacks depth or sophistication because it also has that. <i>Sana Dati</i> is a quiet beauty. Everything is natural. The acting is heartfelt, the script is striking, the cinematography is beautiful, and the direction is simply masterful.</b><br />
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And I admit, I cried. I cried at the ending (the way that was handled deserves a standing ovation). The whole film prepares us for that. It invites us to sympathize with the characters <b>and when the film finally concludes, it hits us so hard, despite its subtlety, that we actually feel the emotions the characters are probably feeling at that time. It couldn't be helped. Sana Dati makes you</b><i><b> feel</b>.</i><br />
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What I really like about this film is how Tarog created a story, not for the sake of making a formulaic movie, but for the sake of telling one. It's not a typical love story where there's an antagonist hindering two people in love. There are no hysterics, no antics, it's just a simple story showing us different facets of love. <b>Lovi Poe</b> (<i>Andrea</i>), <b>Paulo Avelino</b> (<i>Dennis</i>), <b>Benjamin Alves</b> (<i><b>Andrew</b></i>) all did great. Even the side characters added weight & appeal to the entire film. My favorite character though was <b>TJ Trinidad</b>'s <i>Robert. </i><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: red;">SPOILERS:</span></u></b><i> </i>Trinidad did a superb job playing a character that initially seems unlikeable. <b>A character that could be easily used as an antagonist - simply a device to add conflict to a movie. But no. Tarog refused to go down that way.</b> The bigger part of the movie, we were shown Andrea's past, how she found real love, and how she lost it - naturally, we will be more sympathetic to Andrea's character. We are rooting for her to break away from a potential loveless marriage, to pursue something connected to her past love. And we easily cheer as Robert tries so hard, and fail, to find her runaway bride. Even when he manages to find her, some part of us still wishes the Andrea leaves him at the altar. Because she doesn't love him right? <span style="font-size: large;">The final act made me see Robert's side and that's when I cried. Because we were blinded by a love story right? That we failed to see the selfishness of Andrea</span> - she left everything to elope with Andrew. When tragedy happens, she comes back, asks Robert (fully knowing how he has some feelings for her) to convince her to marry him despite knowing within herself that she loves someone else. Simply put, she used Robert's love for her. That's selfish. Now we realize that how Robert acted before is justified. He knew. But he loves her. So he suffered in silence, only wishing that she makes the decision to choose him after all is said and done.<b><span style="font-size: large;"> So in the end - <i>that ending </i>- opened the gates to my dam of tears</span></b>, because when Andrea FINALLY decides to let go, when she leaves the shoes behind symbolizing the final act of fully letting go of her past, she finally realizes that she CAN be capable of loving that person who stood by her despite of everything. That even if Robert wasn't her great love, still, he can be someone she COULD love. When she said <i>I love you</i> to him, it marks the start of a new beginning, a clean slate. No need for explanations or questions. Just acceptance.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A MOOT RATING: 5/5</span></b> - the film had a slow second act (just a very minor one) but it's all so worth it.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-41966452424084441422014-08-06T00:47:00.001+08:002014-11-08T18:34:05.312+08:00[MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS]: Guardians of the Galaxy and Why You Need To See It. <div>
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<b>"MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS"</b><i> is when I review films currently shown in theaters. Also, I rarely watch new releases in the cinemas, but when I do, there are always face-palming incidences that make me regret going. So humor me and let me tell you what I think before you waste your ticket money, while refreshing your memory of the ABCs of movie house etiquette!</i></div>
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<i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i> is one of those movies which you think will suck so bad that you go to the cinemas expecting nothing more than the obligatory action, snarky characters, & CGI fest. Cliched and trying hard to be the next big Marvel blockbuster. A wham bham thank you mam kind of thing. But then you're proven wrong. And then it makes you happy and wanting more. It was so good that you let it slide when the guys behind you are constantly discussing the characters as if nobody else knows who they are. I didn't even have the urge (not once) to poke those people's eyes with a stick for coming in halfway through the movie with their flashlight on as if they're on a search and rescue mission. No. I was too busy being entertained by GotG. That's how good it was!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/James%20Gunn" target="_blank">James Gunn</a><br /><b>Screenplay: </b> James Gunn, Nicole Perlman<br /><b>Running Time:</b> 122 mins<br /><b>Budget</b>: $170 million<br /><b>Box Office: </b> $160 million & counting</span></td></tr>
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I really didn't plan on watching this. I saw the trailer and I huffed and puffed and turned up my nose and said "Ugh, that's soooo lame!" and I stubbornly planted my feet on the ground, refusing to budge. When it hit the theaters, critics were raving about it. My facebook feed was filled with "Groot references" and typical fanboying crap. I was getting curious. Finally, I caved in. And my god was I thankful I saw this! I won't say it's perfect, but it's close to being one - it's really a well-made movie considering how unknown this particular comicbook world is and James Gunn managed to keep us interested & entertained. </div>
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There were lots of awesome scenes but let me give this special mention to <b>Vin Diesel's <i>Groot</i></b>. He is the heart of GotG, together with <b>Bradley Cooper</b>'s huggable rode- err - raccoon, <i><b>Rocket</b></i>, they added a more than adequate spark, though the other cast members are also great. <b>Chris Pratt</b> did well as <i><b>Star-Lord</b></i> (when I was a kid, I thought <i>Star-Lord</i> was gay though I can't remember what made me think so). I'm so contented with the set design & the visuals - it really feels like you're in another world... that was something I didn't expect since I was used to Marvel movies' basic Earth-to-some-neighboring-planet scheme. This one's a bit more vast and it impressed me. I could go on and on and on, but I won't. In fact I'll end this review now because ------</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously, if you haven't watched it yet, get off of that chair, quit reading this, and go to the nearest moviehouse and see this film. </span></div>
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To end this review, let me use the language of my favorite GotG character to sum it up quite nicely - and believe me, this is the only kind of convincing you need! <i> I am groot!!! I. AM. GROOT. I-Am-Groot, I am groot.... I am GROOOOOT!!! I am groot, groot?!!!! I am groot! ........ WE ARE GROOT! </i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A GROOT RATING: </span>4.5/5 - It's G-rrrrrroooot! I mean, GREAT!</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-3509990869501651372014-08-03T04:09:00.001+08:002014-08-03T12:39:58.107+08:00The Seventh Seal (1957)The first and only film by Ingmar Bergman that I've watched was <i><b>Persona</b></i>, and I remember being awed, at the same time confused, by it. It was truly a different cinematic experience and that sparked my passion to discover such kinds of films even more. My expectation for <i>The Seventh Seal</i> is, naturally, high.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by:</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Ingmar%20Bergman" target="_blank">Ingmar Bergman</a></span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Original Swedish Title: </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Det sjunde inseglet</i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starring: </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Max von Sydow, Bengt Ekerot</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Cinematography: </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gunnar Fischer</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running Time:</b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">96 mins</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>(subtitled)</u></b></b><br />
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I'll make this short. Striking visuals, unforgettable characters, great cast -<b> this film transports you to another dimension. But mid-way I was a bit torn between really liking this film or kicking it towards my "overrated artsy fartsy" list.</b> At times, the actors felt so goofy in a juvenile way and I wondered, how is this really a masterpiece? Now before you question my intellect or taste, let me tell you that I'm all for weird, old films, and like I've said I loved my first Bergman. Even the weirdest of all weird<i> <b><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/06/eraserhead-1977.html" target="_blank">Eraserhead</a> </b> </i>mesmerized me - and there's a lady in that guy's radiator I'm tellin' ya! This one, on the other hand, was so-so when it comes to holding my attention, but maybe it's because I was feeling hungry & distracted at midnight while watching.<br />
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<b>And yet, there's something about this film that screams "classic" in a quirky kind of way.</b> The photography & cinematography is something else - there's always something so striking in every scenes and I can't help but be amazed by Bergman's attention to details. <b>Max von Sydow</b> is intriguing, and Death, played by <b>Bengt Ekerot</b>, even more so! I wish the whole film was focused on these two - that would have been more interesting! Oh, and that scene with the "witch" is also one of my favorite parts.<br />
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The whole thing about God, Life & Death is something that fascinates me, and combined with Bergman's shots and Fischer's cinematography, the themes tackled <b>made me forget that I was momentarily bored by the other characters' seemingly random scenes</b>. This is a great pick for film buffs who enjoy an intellectual art film, but I must say that this isn't for everybody.<br />
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I wouldn't elaborate on the philosophical meanings of this film and all that - well because I'm sure we all have our interpretation, you don't need mine. I admit I was partly distracted when Death & Sydow aren't onscreen, <span style="font-size: large;">but I would definitely give this a rewatch in the future, because Ekerot is so damn cool! </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A MOOT RATING:</span> 4/5 - the themes and visuals made me rate this higher.</b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-91172326843886805332014-07-27T23:22:00.000+08:002014-07-28T08:24:49.671+08:00Noah & Son of God (2014): Just waiting for Batman to save the day.<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Noah (2014)</span></b></div>
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Thought-provoking yet bland, this modern retelling of a popular biblical story seemed to be doomed from the beginning, <b>but considering the name behind this seeming big blunder of a movie actually makes you think twice. Is it really a grand yet failed attempt or is it an epic fail done on purpose? </b>Stone giants, a family drama worthy of a cheesy tv series, a womb-healing Methuselah crazy for berries, and - wait for it- "<i>Be fruitful AND MULTIPLY</i>!" -- for a moment I'm at a loss for words.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by: </b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Darren%20Aronofsky" target="_blank">Darren Aronofsky</a><br /><b>Written by: </b> Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel<br /><b>Cinematography by:</b> Matthew Libatique (<i>Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan</i>)<br /><b>Edited by:</b> Andrew Weisblum (<i>Fantastic Mr. Fox, Black Swan</i>)<br /><b>Music by: </b> Clint Mansell (<i>Black Swan, Stoker</i>)<br /><b>Distributed by:</b> Paramount Pictures<br /><b>Running Time:</b> 138 mins<br /><b>Budget: </b>$125 million<br /><b>Box Office:</b> over $350 million</span></td></tr>
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This movie a freakin' soap opera. It's a pity to see <b>Anthony Hopkins</b> & <b>Russell Crow</b>e in this film, though admittedly, this movie would be kaput without Crowe. It also hurts me to see <b>Emma Watson</b> in here (it's the end of the world and you risk missing the trip to Titanic, err Ark, just so you could get it on with your sexy sexy love the minute Mr. Berry Man Methuselah lightly touches your abdomen?). Uh huh.<br />
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<b><i>Noah</i> is so unlikeable that I truly wanted to see him drown or get ice-picked to death by his sons.</b> The way this movie was executed, you'd think that he just went a little bit cuckoo building that ark and talking to the clouds (and hearing no response) and became a psychotic religious extremist intent on eradicating humanity because that's "what God wants him to do". Sounds familiar?<br />
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<b>This film is not without merits.</b> There were bits of dialogue that made me stop and agree whole-heartedly. The photography is impressive, though I'm not to happy with the overall CGI. There's one scene that gave me chills - that scene where Noah sneaked into the enemies' territory and saw how depraved humanity has become. It's chilling because I believe humans can be (and are) the worst kind of animals God has created, and them being engulfed in eternal fire gives me a bit of satisfaction (I say <i>them</i> because I'm not human. I'm an alien. Shhh.) - that scene is so atmospheric it felt like I was actually Noah witnessing it all. <span style="font-size: large;">And the <b>Genesis</b> part makes the rest of the movie tolerable because it's amazing.</span> A mix of <i>The Tree of Life</i>, <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/04/2001-space-odyssey.html" target="_blank"><i><b>2001: A Space Odyssey</b></i></a> and all that artsy fartsy feel, that Genesis scene is a 2 to 3-minute visual treat complete with the backing of the theory of evolution (and The Big Bang Theory - though it's still a mix of religious & scientific) that elicited a happy smirk from me. Here's a slow clap for you, Aronofsky.<br />
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<b>And that's exactly why it's interesting to think that Darren Aronofsky directed this film with his tongue in his cheek the whole time.</b> Turning a biblical story into science fiction, mixing Creation & Evolution, and ending the film with Noah's speech about procreation - I think he is making a jab at his film's source material. Considering that the new batch of mankind begins with Noah's family, tell me, how the hell would they procreate without having to resort to incestuous affairs? Surely, Aronofsky is aware of that? Probably, he's telling us in his own stealthy way how ludicrous this story is? Adam & Eve - who did their sons procreate with? And the bible preaches against incest?<br />
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Again, considering Aronofsky's filmography, and the visual work done in Noah, it's really hard to accept that this project is an epic fail. I'd rather think that he's giggling the whole time he was adapting this bible story. <span style="font-size: large;">Still, this is an epic disappointment, both as a fantasy/science fiction and a biblical adaptation - it's boring, melodramatic, and just plain silly most of the time.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A Moot Rating:</span> 2/5</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Son of God (2014)</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d2I-479A0D8/U9P-N3Cd3NI/AAAAAAAADlo/3RW1QBW1LFw/s1600/son+of+god+cross.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d2I-479A0D8/U9P-N3Cd3NI/AAAAAAAADlo/3RW1QBW1LFw/s1600/son+of+god+cross.gif" height="226" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Christopher%20Spencer" target="_blank">Christopher Spencer</a><br /><b>Distributed by: </b> 20th Century Fox<br /><b>Running Time:</b> 138 mins<br /><b>Budget:</b> $22 million<br /><b>Box Office: </b>a little over $67 million</span></td></tr>
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Watching a pretty but wimpy Jesus (<b>Diogo Morgado</b>) who doesn't fail to "quote the bible" every few minutes in a 2-hour, 18-minute film (I mean TV movie) - now that's what I call "time thoroughly wasted." <b>It's not that I don't appreciate a movie about Christ, it's just that <i>Son of God</i> is truly an irrelevant seen-that-already, poorly executed by-the-numbers film that does nothing other than tell a story that has been told a gazillion times before, and not to mention, much better. </b>I wish Jesus would stop "acting" too much - the expressive eyes and the almost-always-breaking-voice as if every little scene was emotional for him makes me wanna laugh out loud at inappropriate times. But I don't. Only because my mom's watching with me and I know she's gonna tell me yet again that the devil makes me do such things. O_O<br />
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On a side note, it's very entertaining to see him with his shiny white teeth and perfect wavy hair and cool robe-y clothes, getting all touchy touchy & kissy kissy with Judas and the other dudes - it's just funny.<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Son of God</i> is not that bad,</b> the story is told in a straightforward manner and never resorting to any cheap tricks to attract audience (<i>*cough* The Passion of the *cough* Christ..</i>.although I prefer Gibson's than this bore) and I do think some of the actors did good enough (Peter, John, and sometimes Jesus if he's not being all too gooey-eyed), <b style="font-size: x-large;">BUT it's also not that good</b> because<b style="font-size: x-large;"> </b>that's all there is to it. It tells the story of Christ up until his crucifixion, but it doesn't go any deeper. <b>More like an abridged version because while it retained the vital aspects of Christ's journey, this movie is severely lacking in depth.</b> I guess I was just looking for the real essence - aside from the parables & teachings - that is Jesus' relationship with his disciples. The Judas-Jesus angle was severely underwhelming, in my opinion.<br />
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Given the hype and mainstream status of Son of God, one is bound to expect. But it does nothing - like a relic in a museum. It just tells you a story, one that we already know. One may find that good enough, others may be sorely disappointed.<br />
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On a side note, <i>John the Baptist</i> is so groovy!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A Moot Rating:</span> 1.5/5 - A one-time watch.</b><br />
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2014 is obviously a year for mainstream biblical adaptations. Can't wait for <b>Christian Bale</b>'s <b><i>Exodus: Gods and Kings</i></b>, and somehow I'm half-expecting <i>Moses</i> to battle killer sharks or aliens. Just for the heck of it. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-28774158538545610402014-07-20T16:27:00.000+08:002014-11-23T13:56:11.716+08:00[BOOK + MOVIE]: The Turn of the Screw and The Innocents<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>In BOOK + MOVIE, I feature one book and its film adaptation(s) and tell you if the movie versions are as good as the source material. I'm quite aware that films & novels are different mediums, but I'm only comparing the general mood and how it affects me as a reader & viewer.</i></div>
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With a plethora of movies nowadays with "I-betcha-didn't-see-that-coming" plots, sometimes, I just wanna think that <i><b>The Innocents</b></i> is just a simple ghost story. But after reading Henry James' <i><b>The Turn of the Screw</b></i>, I'm convinced that there's more to the story than ghosts or delusional protagonists. The way James wrote almost everything in an ambiguous way that forces the readers to decide and convince themselves what really happened makes this one of the best novella of its kind that I've read.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jbvrx1hhwhk/U8rNMwj1mwI/AAAAAAAADkg/QNCNywyxNsU/s1600/meow+lap+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jbvrx1hhwhk/U8rNMwj1mwI/AAAAAAAADkg/QNCNywyxNsU/s1600/meow+lap+012.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Author:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Henry%20James" target="_blank">Henry James</a><br /><b>Year Published:</b> 1898<br /><b># of pages:</b> 157<br /><b>Genre: </b> novella, horror gothic fiction<br /><b>Country: </b> U.K., U.S.</span></td></tr>
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Baffling us by clearly indicating that the main character could be unstable, and the one character that supports her could also be unreliable in a way that it's clear she's submissive, while supplying us with sufficient head-scratching moments coming from the uncannily intuitive children, makes us reconsider the plausibility of otherworldly presence in the house.<br />
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Are there really ghosts? Or are there just loose screws in The Governess' head? That's just what makes this story stand out.<br />
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It really doesn't matter if The Governess (Miss Giddens in the movie) is seeing ghosts or purely imagining everything. We, the readers, are obviously meant to be confused and guessing. Maybe it's a mix of both paranormal and psychological. What really struck me most about this, is the story within the story. What's actually being told in bits and pieces. The untold story. <b><u><span style="color: red;">SPOILERS AHEAD:</span></u></b> <span style="color: #cfe2f3;">What's up with Peter Quint & Miss Jessel? What are their links to the house & to the children? And what is the cause of Miles' expulsion from his school?</span> Have an answer for those, and you'll have a solid feel of the novella which may satisfy you.<br />
<b>My interpretation is this:</b> <span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Quint & Miss Jessel obviously had an affair - a relationship frowned upon by people around them, not only because Quint is not a gentleman, socially speaking, and is therefore considered lowly, but also because Quint is, well, <i>NOT A GENTLEMAN</i>. Miss Grose implied a few times that Quint is a vile creature and that Miss Jessel seem to like the weight of his hand. Maybe they were into some kinky, S & M escapades? After they died, their ghosts remained in Bly, literally or figuratively. I'm really not sure about the paranormal angle. What I'm sure of is the ghost of the past that remained etched, and probably has damaged, in the children's memories. They may have repressed it, but something has happened when they were under the care of Quint & Miss Jessel. Some form of abuse. Could be physical or sexual - I can never be sure of that. But definitely, there was some mental scarring involved. Finally, what was the cause of Miles' expulsion? I may be wrong, but when the governess asked why he was expelled, Miles said that he said some things that he supposed he shouldn't have, and only to those he liked. Then "they" said the same things to those they liked. I don't recall, but if Miles' school is an all-boys institution, shoot me if I'm being farfetched, but I'm guessing it's something that pertains to homosexuality. Considering James' supposed homosexuality, and the themes of repressed sexuality that's dominant in this era, is it really that implausible for the author not to include that angle? Miles & Flora may have been exposed at such an early age to certain levels of abuse and promiscuity or Miles could have been molested by Quint or other adults that took care of him. That's the only explanation I can think of that made his headmasters expel him & deem him unfit to be with other boys for fear of him <i>corrupting</i> them. </span><br />
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This is my first Henry James, and my initial reaction was "<i>wow, he really likes commas!</i>" It's like Inception in literature - there are sentences within sentences, five phrases in one sentence, and it could slow down even the fastest reader - but that's not a bad thing. The prose isn't hard to follow, but it's better slow down to take in every word, every subtle observations of the narrator, every change in views/expressions both from The Governess and the ones she is describing. It's really a tale written in superior technique. I loved every convoluted, un-straight-to-the-point narrative, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mind games I just endured.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Directed by: </b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Jack%20Clayton" target="_blank">Jack Clayton</a><br /><b>Starring: </b> Deborah Kerr<br /><b>Screenplay by: </b> William Archibald,<br />Truman Capote, John Mortimer<br /><b>Music by:</b> Georges Auric<br /><b>Cinematography by:</b> Freddie Francis<br /><b>Edited by:</b> Jim Clark<br /><b>Running Time:</b> 100 mins</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Innocents</i></b>,</span> while the bulk of it was derived from William Archibald's play rather than directly from James' novella, has still managed to retain the essence of the book. There's still the same level of mind games going on in every scenes.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Clayton's adaptation</b>, to cut to the chase, scared the crap out of me. There wasn't any fake scare tactics at all but god help me I was quivering in my seat </span>anytime Miss Giddens (the governess) sees something, or even when the kids are being extra creepy. Maybe because I watched it in the middle of the night, alone in the living room. It also has great cinematography, and the gothic feel is so delicious. The scene where Miss Giddens was in the dark hallway, seemingly at the end of her wits, almost snapping, stuck to me. It was so wonderfully executed and need I mention that I almost choked on my own saliva due to extreme tension? So yeah, it surprisingly stayed close to its source material, its scary & creepy, the acting was very commendable - especially Deborah Kerr as <i>Miss Giddens</i>, and Martin Stephens as <i>Miles. </i><br />
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<i><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dR_fVwsK4qE/U8tLagL00pI/AAAAAAAADkw/NgjquW_MTO0/s1600/the+innocents+candle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dR_fVwsK4qE/U8tLagL00pI/AAAAAAAADkw/NgjquW_MTO0/s1600/the+innocents+candle.gif" height="310" width="400" /></a></i></div>
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But despite the steady execution of Clayton and the film being a solid adaptation, I wasn't <i>that</i> entertained. It could have something to do with the time I watched it, the hint of sleepiness knocking on my consciousness, and I may need to rewatch this (and it does deserve a second viewing) to confirm, but right now, I'm saying I was bored at some point. Why? <span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Miss Giddens sees something, she tells Mrs. Grose, who in turn seems reluctant to believe but acquieses anyway, then Miss Giddens becomes paranoid more and more and keeps insisting that the kids sees what she's seeing and are just intent on denying it</span>... And the cycle continues. I had one bathroom trip and two kitchen raids and I come back without missing any essential part of the story. It worked well in the book because of James masterful weaving of words, but to see it translated as is, to the big screen - it somehow felt lacking.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">So, is it a ghost story or a psychological horror?</span></b><br />
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I really don't know. What I do know is this. Everything in this story is pure conjecture. We have an unreliable narrator that shifts from viewing the kids as nothing short of pure innocence, then changes her perception of them as something extremely opposite. Everything was told through unstable perception, and backed up by an obviously reluctant but submissive Mrs. Grose. <span style="color: #cfe2f3;">If you look at it this way, all we have are two kids, practically abandoned by their only relative - for reasons unknown, who have most likely experienced some sort of abuse from their previous caretakers and could have very well repressed those memories. Then here comes an unstable, sheltered governess, who pushes the kids to recall those dark memories. Until one of them couldn't handle it anymore.Was Quint, the ghost, to blame? Or is it Miss Giddens?</span><br />
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It's really up to you - the readers.. the audience. It's just a matter of whichever you believe in more - ghosts, or crazy people.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">MY RATING:</span></b><br />
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<b>The Turn of the Screw - 5/5</b><br />
<b>The Innocents - 3.5/5</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-52780882243028977892014-07-03T23:04:00.001+08:002014-07-26T10:40:21.465+08:00[MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS] Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS" is when I review films currently shown in theaters. Also, </i><i>I rarely watch new releases in the cinemas, but when I do, there are always face-palming incidences that make me regret going. So humor me and let me tell you what I think before you waste your ticket money, while refreshing your memory of the ABCs of movie house etiquette!</i><br />
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Sometimes, I think Michael Bay is really just a teenage boy on crack who is obsessed with his robots & cars & explosions - like a kid playing with his toys & bumping them against each other and not caring about anything else. Because that's evident yet again in his recent blockbuster <i>movie</i>, a term that I will grudgingly use in this post. It's not a movie, it's more like an extended video of metal clashing against metal & mind-numbing explosions, and product placements here & there -<b> this is not a film, it's an over-sized boy's overindulgent wet dream.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Michael%20Bay" target="_blank">Michael Bay</a><br /><b>Written by: </b> Ehren Kruger (<i>The Ring, Transformers 2 & 3, Scream 3 & 4</i>)<br /><b>Music by: </b>Steve Jablonsky (<i>Gangster Squad, Ender's Game, Lone Survivor)</i><br /><b>Cinematography:</b> Amir Mokri<br /><b>Running Time:</b> 165 mins<br /><b>Budget:</b> $210 million<br /><b>Box Office: </b>$381 million and counting</span></td></tr>
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Unfortunately, the way Michael Bay's indifference to critics' plea for a better plot & characterization, arrogantly justifying his lack of effort to make a substantial film that's more than loud explosions and crazy-ass robot action, this franchise is seriously losing its appeal to me. Not that <b><i>I</i> </b>matter when it comes to its box office returns. That's the problem. WE don't matter. Whether we like the <i>Bayformers</i> or not, MB, with the gratuitous urging from Hollywood big guys, will continue to do whatever he does best because they know the money will keep on flowing. A few harsh words & negative reviews won't hurt this franchise, because as Bay have said, people are gonna see it anyway.<b> Haters gonna hate, he'd still be riding Bee all the way to the bank.</b> <b>Besides, this franchise will continue to thrive, not because of Michael Bay, but because this is Transformers.</b> Giant talking alien robots-slash-cars, man! That'll never get old! (I'm still waiting for <b><i>Voltes V</i></b> though, c'mon Hollywood!)<br />
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Now, now, <b><span style="font-size: large;">I don't hate this film</span></b> - even if it's really stupid & loud & everything seems to be irritating. To be fair, <b>Mark Wahlberg</b> & <b>Stanley Tucci</b> made this one bearable, and some times fun. The daughter, boyfriend, & goofy friend on the other hand are incredibly stupid. And I definitely prefer this than that awful third installment. No, I don't hate it. Because the graphics are really awesome, the autobots are cute, & like I've said, Wahlberg & Tucci's charisma won me over. <b>But that's about it, aside from those I've mentioned - this is a pretty shallow & forgettable film.</b> First of all, for a movie with no seemingly cohesive plot/script, T:AofE is pretty darn long! I was getting irritated with the guy sitting next to me because he kept putting his elbow on my armrest (etiquette, dude!!) & I was having trouble getting my soda trying not to touch his icky arm, so I kept on looking at my watch and then wonder when the hell will the movie end? I get that Bay caters to people who love these robots & explosions & action, but Jesus H. Christ this guy doesn't know the meaning of <i>subtlety</i>! Granted that the CGI is amazing, in my opinion, and the robots are slick & mesmerizing, but the thing is, when they clash and wreck things, all becomes a blur that you won't even care what the hell is happening, not to mention the fact that since the characters aren't fully fleshed out - so whatever is going on in the screen, my reaction most of the time is a nonchalant "eh?" and an occasional "meh". There's too much of everything that the only feeling I've had halfway through is "jaded."<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You know you're looking at something attractive, but your brain becomes muddled as if it has short-circuited because of the garbage that it's trying to process, so half of the time you just sit there, munching on some overpriced popcorn, wondering if seeing this mind-numbing mess of a movie really worth it? Then again you can't think because your brain is temporarily fried. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8EYrJ58u12E/U7UpXcItCmI/AAAAAAAADjo/XXDug6PSJiI/s1600/transformers+dino+bot.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8EYrJ58u12E/U7UpXcItCmI/AAAAAAAADjo/XXDug6PSJiI/s1600/transformers+dino+bot.gif" /></a></div>
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But I really liked the fat autobot. He's funny.<br />
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And while there were minimal jaw-dropping scenes, there's one scene that made me snicker and mumble to myself "About time I see something special!" - and it's not even<i> that</i> special!<br />
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<b style="font-style: italic;">Who cares about plot & characterization? This is an action movie about robots and that's all that matters! </b>Note that that's the usual argument of Transformers' fans and while they may have a point, however superficial, of course it's ultimately flawed. To all the fanboys out there who accuse critics of being a bunch of arrogant pseudo-intellectuals for wanting something more than bangs & booms, be a little more open-minded and see the view from the other side. Is it really wrong to want something more than cliched characters/plot, cheesy dialogue, & shaky action (because I admit that during scenes where Bay just goes crazy & just puts every robots, ammos, grenades, & cars he has altogether - it all becomes a mess)? After all, we all paid for tickets. <b><span style="font-size: large;">But then again, by this time you already know how Michael Bay works & how much fudge he doesn't give, so seriously, this is a losing battle. I say, critics, back the hell off because no matter what you say you won't win this war. And that's quite obvious.... After 4 blockbuster Transformers movies.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: 2/5 -</span> </b>Let's face it, this franchise is nowhere near extinction and we will still be on the lookout for Transformers 5 despite the spider sense ringing inside our heads warning us to stay the hell away from it. Maybe that's Michael Bay's real (and <i>only</i>?) talent, that is, to successfully lure us into his trap with colorfully-wrapped candies - which if you think about it - too much will give you diabetes. Here's a nice thought to end this review: Wouldn't it be intriguing to see someone else direct Transformers, to maybe prevent us from having gangrene?<br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-31441525782800766772014-06-24T23:16:00.000+08:002014-08-03T09:59:50.892+08:00SOME RECENT MOVIES: The Raid 2, 300: Rise of an Empire, Oculus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kg0po86Xak/U6lraoc1LSI/AAAAAAAADiI/zJSnBhNx8V4/s1600/banner+raid+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0kg0po86Xak/U6lraoc1LSI/AAAAAAAADiI/zJSnBhNx8V4/s1600/banner+raid+2.JPG" height="315" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Here are my reviews of <i>The Raid 2, 300: Rise of an Empire, </i>and<i> Oculus</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">THE RAID 2 (BERANDAL)</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Written, Edited, & Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Gareth%20Evans" target="_blank">Gareth Evans</a><br /><b>Running Time: </b>150 mins<br /><b>Budget:</b> $4.5 million<br /><b>Box Office:</b> $5.2 million</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Large-scale, more ambitious, yet as tight & tense as the first one - Berandal is a must-see even for those who aren't into Asian movies. If <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-raid-redemption-2011.html" target="_blank"><i><b>The Raid</b></i></a></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hasn't changed your mind, this one will.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is best seen uncut and subbed. Never watch a foreign movie with English dub.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I really loved <i>The Raid</i> despite the lack of plot & dialogue. I couldn't imagine how Gareth Evans could up the ante and make an equally engaging action movie. Now, obviously trying for complexity & character development, <b>Evans serves us, not only a platter, but a buffet of interesting characters, unending action & gore, and a storyline that's bigger than a dilapidated building with cramped hallways</b>. It may take several minutes into the film to be able to memorize all those names (especially if you're also trying to recall the names in the first film) but hey you know what? It doesn't matter. <b>The minute the action starts, every little detail in your mind melts as you witness an insane amount of bone-crunching, blood-spurting, throat-gashing, jaw-breaking, ball-breaking, hammer-gouging scenes for more than two hours.</b> While that amount of time may usually be a weakness to typical action flicks as they may need some time to cool down, Berandal just keeps on going and going and going with the same intensity as when it started - that is if not more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Iko Uwais</b> as Rama is better than ever, and the new cast is absolutely charming in a gory way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've read that <i>Berandal</i> was supposed to be a stand alone film but Evans decided to connect The Raid with it to make it a part of the trilogy. Well it shows, because there are times when Rama just disappears from the story and the film focuses on <i><b>Uco</b></i> (Arifin Putra), <i><b>Bejo </b></i>(Alex Abbad) and their <i>"family"</i> issues, which sometimes makes Rama a supporting character, and not the major driving force to the film's plot. And as much as I love <i><b>Mad Dog</b></i>, his sudden appearance seems out of place. It's like he was put there just because he played a vital and unforgettable role in the first film, and even though his scenes were relevant to Berandal's plot, it just felt forced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also felt that sometimes the hand-to-hand combat was a bit repetitive but maybe that's me being sleepy & tired. My favorite is <b>Hammer Girl</b> and I would have wanted more scenes with her smashing and puncturing skulls & bones. Even if they seemed a bit too "graphic novel", being there more for style than anything else, she &<b> baseball bat man</b> are scene stealers. I just wonder how kick ass they would be if their enemies have guns. Then again we have to suspend our disbelief (as usual) since guns were rarely used in here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still, <i>The Raid 2</i> is in my list of best action films of all time - <i>The Raid</i> still a notch higher in my book though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>My Rating: 4/5</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Noam%20Murro" target="_blank">Noam Murro</a><br /><b>Screenplay by: </b> Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad<br /><b>Music by:</b> Junkie XL<br /><b>Cinematography by: </b>Simon Duggan<br /><b>Edited by: </b> Wyatt Smith, David Brenner<br /><b>Running Time: </b> 102 mins<br /><b>Budget:</b> $110 million<br /><b>Box Office:</b> more than $330 million</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wait, haven't I seen this before? Oh yeah that has Gerard Butler in it and this one has ships and a forgettable protagonist as flat as a cardboard that not even Eva Green bouncing up and down his man pole could spark some life in him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's not for the lack of trying, because it's evident from the gazillion gallons of blood used in this movie that they truly wanted to make a good film. Too bad that <b>Zack Snyder</b> did all of that in <i><b>300</b></i>. It's nice to see some familiar characters with the addition of Eva Green (though I'm not entirely sold with her character, it's just that she's the only memorable one), because without them,<b> it's like watching shirtless amateur actors with acting worthy of a TV movie</b>. The whole duration of the film I was wondering how the hell did <b>Noam Murro</b> bag this gig and if he really thought that all the non-stop blood-spurting & Eva Green's boobs will ensure positive critical & box office reception? It earned more than 300 million dollars so I guess it worked. LOL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh and by the by, I could suspend my disbelief with almost everything, but I just couldn't force myself to believe that <b>horse</b> will gallop so valiantly in that ship, plank to plank, and run through fire, and jump into the water. Unless he is a Spartan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Snyder's <i>300</i>, despite my "meh" attitude towards his green screen visuals, is still a solid action-pumped entertainment mainly because of Gerard Butler (and good ol' Fassie!). Now, without Snyder behind the camera and Butler on the screen shouting crazy yet awesome stuff like "<i>Tonight we dine in hell!!</i>", <i><b>300: Rise of an Empire</b></i> crumbles to dust even before managing to actually rise. I was at least expecting some sort of "THIS. IS. SPARTA!", what I get is a half-hearted lame speech about democracy from Mr. Cardboard Man (gosh I don't even know his name).<b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Typical of Hollywood, this is just another cheap attempt to cash in on a successful movie, bungling its simple formula, and inadvertently killing (hopefully for eternity) this franchise.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My Rating: 1.5/5</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Written, Edited, & Directed by: </b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Mike%20Flanagan" target="_blank">Mike Flanagan</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Music by:</b> The Newton Brothers<br /><b>Cinematography by:</b> Michael Fimognari<br /><b>Running Time: </b> 103 mins<br /><b>Budget:</b> $5 million<br /><b>Box Office: </b>more than $34 million</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A surprisingly good horror flick that both tickles your mind and chills your spine, which in today's trend (horror genre) is pretty refreshing - and rare.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For the hardcore horror fans who don't flinch at the sight of <i>Sadako</i>'s hairy face or accidentally crap their pants while watching <i>The Exorcist</i>, well they may scoff at this movie's lack of scares. But for me, who screams at the sight of my own shadow, <b><i>Oculus</i></b> is just the right amount of creepy & thrilling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes it's a bit dragging, but the acting & <b>superb editing</b> keeps you glued and at the edge of your seat. The score which gives you a sense of foreboding also adds to the impending doom that has been masterfully manipulated by the director using a series of flashbacks intertwined with the siblings' present & increasingly is-it-delusion-or-is-it-really-the-mirror dilemma. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Karen Gillan</b> deserves a mention for an excellent performance as the lead character.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I'll seriously be on the lookout for Flanagan's future projects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Rating: 4.5/5</span></b> <b>- It's not the best horror film ever and I doubt if it's gonna be a cult classic, but for the genre it belongs to it surely deserves better recognition.</b></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">*Photos/GIFs courtesy of Tumblr.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Thank you for reading! :) <span style="color: #0b5394;">Like,</span> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">Share, </span>or<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span></b></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Follow </span>my blog (I'll follow yours back)</b></i><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b> if you've enjoyed this and don't forget to leave a comment below, let's talk!</b></i></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-42853479753635517422014-06-02T23:14:00.000+08:002014-07-26T10:40:42.714+08:00[MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS]: It's CGI weekend with Maleficent and the Mutant peeps!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>"MOVIEHOUSE MADNESS" is when I review movies currently shown in theaters. Also, </i><i>I rarely go to movie houses, but when I do, there are always face-palming incidences that make me regret going. So read on before you waste your ticket money while refreshing your memory of the ABCs of movie house etiquette!</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>NOW SHOWING:</u></b> </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-86hht8LnmNo/U4qRQnLY7bI/AAAAAAAADKs/NFM4wAlk2Qo/s1600/moviehouse+mouse+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-86hht8LnmNo/U4qRQnLY7bI/AAAAAAAADKs/NFM4wAlk2Qo/s1600/moviehouse+mouse+1.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are my spoiler-free reviews of <b><i>Maleficent</i></b> & <b><i>X-Men: Days of Future Past</i></b> and why you should (or shouldn't?) watch them. Oh and for one second I thought I saw Michael Jackson transform into a human ball of fire, but no, it's just <b><i>Sunspot</i></b>. O_O </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>MALEFICENT (2014)</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Robert%20Stromberg" target="_blank">Robert Stromberg</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (his directorial debut)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Screenplay by: </b>Linda Woolverton (<i>Beauty & the Beast, The Lion King)</i><br /><b>Music by: </b> James Newton Howard<br /><b>Cinematography: </b> Dean Semler<br /><b>Running Time: </b> 97 mins<br /><b>Budget: </b>$200 million</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A weird thing happened a few minutes before the movie started. I actually saw a trailer of an <b>"Annie"</b> remake starring <b>Jamie Foxx</b> and<b> Quvenzhane Wallis</b>. Annie as in <i>the sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun</i> - yes, that Annie! <i>Annie blackified</i>. Interesting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Angelina Jolie </b>is back and I don't care if she has horns or she is playing one of Disney's most evil villains. <i>Maleficent</i> has been my most-anticipated movie of 2014, not because I love dark fairytales or fantasy movies but simply because it has Jolie in it. I was really hopeful, at the same time very nervous (we know that this recent trend of "new take on an old fairy tale" usually backfires. <b><i>Snowhite & the Huntsman</i></b>, anyone? Oh and don't get me started on <b><i><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/05/quickies-orphan-rosemarys-baby-hansel.html" target="_blank">Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters</a></i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">! LOL).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I gotta be honest, the film in totality felt rushed & uneven. Visually speaking, the CGI overload was distracting. It's not bad, better than <i><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/08/2in1-mortician-and-not-really-giant.html" target="_blank">Jack the Giant Slayer</a></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that's for sure, but the overall flavor felt so cluttered and artificial. The Moors creatures are adorable though! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are several factors that made this movie disappointing, if not a failure, but the ultimate crime they did in this big-budgeted fumble of a movie is the <b>overuse of narration. </b>I could only take so much storytelling from a boring voice and several minutes into the movie I was sitting, my mind slowly getting numb, while the lady next to me was busily munching on her extra crunchy corn chips, and I wonder - does Hollywood really think that the audience are stupid? Everything is spoon-fed. <b>Please</b> <b><i>SHOW</i>, don't <i>tell</i></b>. Considering it's Stromberg's directorial </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">debut, maybe it's his way of avoiding the seemingly intimidating task of just doing a few minutes worth of montage. I'm pretty sure half of the film would be unnecessary if they did less narration. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That way, Stromberg could have added more interaction between Maleficent and Sleeping Beauty - I totally enjoyed <b>Vivienne</b>'s scene with Jolie, and I would have appreciated more scenes like that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the credits rolled, I felt nothing. In fact, I have forgotten half of the film already. The first act was kind of shaky for me, like I wasn't too sure what to feel - should I be bored or what? I really didn't know. Add in <b>Sharlto Copley's weird accent</b> that was so distracting that if it's possible to reach in and grab his messy hair I would have - so I could've karate-chopped his adam's apple! I don't know if he really has some foreign accent in real life, but it's like he's destined to play characters with weird distracting squeaky voices/accents. Yeah, he totally ruined the <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/03/back-2-back-oldboy-park-chan-wook-vs.html" target="_blank"><i>Oldboy</i></a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> remake for me. </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Elle Fanning</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, while being a good actress in her other films, seemed to pale in comparison whenever she's sharing screen time with Jolie. It also seems like she was just an afterthought when they made the screenplay - like "</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">oh wait, we forgot to add Sleeping Beauty! You know, the actual protagonist in the story?</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">" Yeah. </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her character was so dry, Fanning really couldn't do much but skippity hop in the moors playing with troll-like gremlin-ish creatures. Baby Aurora had more character development than her</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. It felt like a big chunk of the film was spent showing Maleficent blowing some fairy dust and making people sleep and make them float around like puppets. </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The ending was so blah</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I just wanted to get out of the cinema already. I mean what's up with </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><span style="color: red;">(spoilers alert)</span></u></b><span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <b>pretty boy prince (who can't act even if a machine gun is pointed at him) making gooey eyes with the newly-crowned Not-so-sleepy-Sleeping Beauty after we have established the fact that his kiss didn't pass the "true love kiss"? I don't know what that means, except that maybe there really is no true love except parental love, so why not marry the first handsome prince to come our way? I don't know. I didn't get that.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I still feel that despite the shaky direction and screenplay (not to mention the sometimes cringe-worthy dialogue) it's still one of the better re-telling of a classic fairy tale. The sole reason for that is Angelina Jolie as the titular character. Suffice to say, she owned this role! I do think that this movie doesn't deserve her, but it's really nice to see her play a role that only the likes of Johnny Depp might consider, and kick ass with the limp material they provided her with. Without her, this film would be total trash. At least now we know she can do quirky costumed character roles. I could easily get lost and forget about the effects and side characters just by looking at her expressions. Okay, I admit that when she wailed a few times I thought it was a bit cheesy. But damn it she saved this film even if the jilted lover angle is so cliched!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Maleficent is not terrible.</b> But with its ginormous budget and one of the biggest A-listers in the universe as the lead with a bunch of little popular names around her, and some seasoned technical people behind the camera/script, this <b>could have been better.</b> Way better than the lackluster spectacle (forgive the oxymoron) that it actually is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>My Rating: 3/5</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">Check out </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">Pax</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"> & </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">Zahara</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">'s cameo, Jolie's other kids, as some of the royal guests cowering in fear as Maleficent gatecrashed Princess Aurora's christening. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: TOOFAB</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST (2014)</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Directed by: </b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Bryan%20Singer" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Bryan Singer</a><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Screenplay by:</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Simon Kinberg</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Music & Editing by: </b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> John Ottman (known for his collaborations with Singer)</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running Time: </b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 131 mins</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Budget: </b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$200 million</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I never planned to watch this on the cinema. The oversaturation of comicbook/sci-fi/robots/dystopian movies in the theaters is so nauseating that I make it a point <b>NOT</b> to waste my money for these CGI all-you-can-eat buffet (with the exception of a few select movies). I haven't even watched the last Wolverine origins, because seriously, how many more origins film will you make about Logan?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But then I keep hearing that this is the best in the franchise. Fine! I removed my invisible blinkers & decided to see for myself what the fuss was all about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I gotta say that I'm really glad that I did, and I wish I have seen it in IMAX. Though I was feeling petulant before the movie even started because the people surrounding me seemed intent on annoying me with their people noises & movements! There were actually two boys sitting on my left that kept on asking their weary mother a bunch of stupid questions like "<i>Is that the blue girl, Mom?</i>" with their squeaky high-pitched voices. And blue girl meaning <b>Mystique</b>, and no, it's not her, it's <b>Beast</b>. Don't you know Beast, boy?! I resisted the urge to pinch him in his chubby arm. Just kidding. Then here's where I resent the cellphone companies for putting FLASHLIGHT features in every phone! From start to finish, there are flashes of bright lights here and there because oh they're either looking at their food or the stairs or just for the heck of it they seem to like bright lights in the darkened cinema. And oh boy don't get me started on the lady behind us who thought that <i>whispering </i>makes it okay for taking a call in the middle of the movie. No sister, you're not whispering! And I'm glad that you're friend went to the wrong mall and that you used up all the pre-paid load of your other friend who lent you that phone you're using. -_-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, I couldn't explain the appeal this movie has, but there's something different in <i>Days of Future Past</i>. I'm not sure, but <b>I think DoFP is more playful in terms of direction and narrative while retaining its serious tone - it's a perfect balance.</b> And while Logan takes center stage, yet again, I love the fact that he shared it with the others. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are three scenes that really caught my attention and made my butthole smile (or grin, whatever):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. QUICKSILVER.</span></b> Good lord that was awesome! I so wanted to stand up and clap and cheer but what I actually did was clench my butt and tried to hide my excitement. I would look like a dork if I ever did that - the standing ovation, not the butt-clenching. The slo-mo scene accompanied by a seemingly random Jim Croce song reminded me of <b><i>The Matrix</i></b> & <b>Quentin Tarantino</b> and I mean that in a good way. So good that I almost peed my pants. <b>Evan Peters</b> as <i>Quicksilver</i> looks so dorky & pale (a miscast at first sight) that when he actually proved that he's the coolest guy in the block, the surprise and joy I felt was overwhelming. I want more of him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Magneto wearing a fedora.</span></b> Sure, the helmet rocks. But seeing Fassbender in a fedora just made my intestines tingle with delight! And isn't amazing that after years of incarceration in the lowest, most-secured part of Pentagon, good ol' Mags still looks so spiffy & well-groomed?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Magneto's speech. </span></b>I know that X-Men is mainly about mutants trying to co-exist with humans (or how both sides try to wipe out each other's race), but I felt that there's something deeper than a silly comicbook story in Magneto's speech. I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">t's like he's speaking to anyone that has ever felt different, an outcast, misunderstood. I wouldn't dwell on this issue, but I've read an <a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_20497_5-great-movies-with-mind-blowing-symbolism-you-didnt-notice.html" target="_blank">article</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">before & it listed X-Men </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as a movie that's a metaphor for homosexuality. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Of course, it probably is just about him recruiting his fellow mutants and forming his own band of anti-heroes - the <i>Brotherhood of Evil Mutants</i>.</b> But phrases such as<i> "they fear us because they don't understand/know us", "it's time to come out", "We've been hiding for too long"</i> blah blah that points out that it's time for them to stand up and be proud of what & who they are, that the discrimination must end now, and they must never ever allow anyone to intimidate them again - there's something more to it than a simple recruitment speech. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's another </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2011/11/03/mutant_as_a_codeword_for_gay_in_the_x-men_movies/page/full" target="_blank">article</a></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that further proves that homo-angle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In conclusion</span></b>, DoFP is best seen in theaters and is well worth your ticket money, believe me. <b>Hugh Assman</b>, I mean <b>Jackman</b>, is even more awesome as <i>Wolvie</i>, if that's possible (and I feel sorry for the guy who has to play this role in the reboot - many years in the future - because it's almost impossible to outLogan Jackman's Logan.) <b>Fassie & McAvoy</b> are so cute together I almost have the urge to ship them. <b>Jennifer Lawrence</b> as <i>Smurfette</i>, erm, <b><i>Mystique</i></b> delivers a solid performance as one of the central characters. <b>Ian McKellen & Patrick Stewart</b> of course are the coolest old dudes I have ever seen! <b>Peter Dinklage </b>as the mutant-phobic <i><b>Bolivar Trask</b></i> also nailed it! Hell yeah DICKlage! I love the cast & characters (Bishop!) and I'm glad that Singer gave us new characters (with enough screentime) and mixed them with the old gang. The only thing that made me a bit sad is seeing less of the original cast (and for a few seconds of musing, I felt bad for <b>Halle Berry</b> - if this is the direction her career is veering to: white-haired, contact-lens-wearing costumed mutant with only two lines, then my god my heart hurts). Another thing that I loved is the fact that there was a lot of history-meddling - aside from the gang trying to re-write history, Singer also tries to mess with our own history adding the JFK part and whatnot. I love it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>One last thing,</b> I really really wanted to hear the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAkL2-vh2Sk"><b>intro</b></a> of the 90's X-Men cartoons so bad I was actually praying to God during that scene when the Sentinels were activated! I thought I heard some familiar beat and I was expectant. The disappointment I felt when there was none was devastating. That's one of the reasons why I'm giving this a lower rating. LOL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>My Rating: 4.5/5</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4h2UaCh5Vnc/U3yjM8ebqiI/AAAAAAAADHg/4rHBzx_s5ho/s1600/m+mark+coat.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4h2UaCh5Vnc/U3yjM8ebqiI/AAAAAAAADHg/4rHBzx_s5ho/s1600/m+mark+coat.gif" height="320" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by: </b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Fritz%20Lang" target="_blank"><b>Fritz Lang</b></a><br /><b>Written by: </b> Fritz Lang & his wife Thea von Harbou<br /><b>Based on: </b> a newspaper article by Egon Jacobson<br /><b>Starring:</b> Peter Lorre<br /><b>Music by: </b>Edvard Grieg<br /><b>Cinematography by:</b> Fritz Arno Wagner<br /><b>Editing by: </b> Paul Faulkenberg<br /><b>Running time:</b> 109 mins<br /><b>*subtitled*</b></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrkNwDFxElw/U3zJtFRJy9I/AAAAAAAADI0/_sixtNpG0Qw/s1600/m+mirror.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrkNwDFxElw/U3zJtFRJy9I/AAAAAAAADI0/_sixtNpG0Qw/s1600/m+mirror.gif" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Big, frog-like eyes accentuating that baby face with an unassuming facade - that's what makes <b><i>Hans Beckert</i></b>, played by <i>"the male Bette Davis"</i> <b>Peter Lorre,</b> one of the most unforgettable villains in any film I've seen. With a touch of innocence and malice, Lorre handles this character so well that even I was confused when it's time to "judge" him. Not <i>too </i>confused though that I forget the unspeakable horror this guy has brought upon this town. This is what makes him more scary. Sure, <i><b>Leatherface</b></i> might make you crap your pants when you find yourself face to face with him wielding a chainsaw in some woods, but men like <b><i>Norman Bates</i></b> or <i><b>Hannibal Lecter</b></i> makes your skin crawl with dread knowing that their kind is freely roaming our streets, all charming and innocent-looking, while in their minds their all thinking of ways on how to skin us alive. That's the horror that we face everyday. That's <i><b>Beckert</b></i> - the wolf under the sheep's clothing. The devil hiding under the mask of an angel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've read in some IMDb thread how utterly unrealistic this film is especially the lack of fear those children have. Talking & walking with "M". Taking candies from him. And how parents seem to be neglectful despite of the danger they are currently facing. Well, as a movie-goer, one must always remember three words: <b>SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF</b>. I mean, if you have trouble with this concept, I'm not sure you should be watching movies... or reading books.... or tv... or comics. Also, the first scene of the film shows us already how lightly these kids take the "M" situation. Even singing about it during playtime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sAqoaL50WzM/U3yi7f4VZII/AAAAAAAADHI/fwqGxpmYHqk/s1600/m+children's+song.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sAqoaL50WzM/U3yi7f4VZII/AAAAAAAADHI/fwqGxpmYHqk/s1600/m+children's+song.gif" height="250" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And parents have to work. If it's an ideal world, they will just be around their kids 24/7. But as what the film's first few scenes imply, when one mother was complaining about the kids singing the dreadful song, another mother said they should be grateful they can still hear their children (while they're doing chores). At least they know they're safe.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this scene is both creepy and amazing.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>This is Lang's first sound film and he considers it his finest work.</b> <i>"M"</i> is simply ahead of its time and quite influential, technically & thematically speaking. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are certain shots that are simply genius and up to now you can still see those techniques being used or copied.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The poster scene is the perfect mix of innocence, malice & danger that's always present in the world we live in.</b> The <i>poster</i> symbolizes the caution & awareness of our society to something bad or evil. The <i>shadow</i> literally is the shadow lurking waiting for its prey. And the <i>bouncing ball</i> of course symbolizes the innocent victims, the smearing of something good by something equally human - our evil side. That's one of my favorite shots. Like I said, this film is a gold mine & an inspiration to any directors and film buffs. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also love the way Lang intertwined the meeting between the police officials and the criminals and making us see how uncannily similar their ways are. That's awesome.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2WZS-xgCQs/U3y-ii_h5hI/AAAAAAAADIA/eGM3F0ajhfE/s1600/m+crotch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2WZS-xgCQs/U3y-ii_h5hI/AAAAAAAADIA/eGM3F0ajhfE/s1600/m+crotch.JPG" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good thing this was pre-3D era -_-</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>But there's this one scene that totally caught me off guard. </b>It was weird and I had to rewind and pause just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. Yes, I'm talking about the <b>sausage shot</b> which I'm pretty sure you guys have noticed too! I mean my god it's just there! In your face! You want to look away, but you can't! <i>I</i> can't! Like <i>a deer caught in the headlights</i> kind of thing. It's weird but it's also funny because it makes you think "why the hell did Lang do this shot?" Of course, film buffs all have different philosophical interpretations of this scene. Surmising it's to make the Inspector look bigger & more powerful. In control and all that crap. <b>I refuse to dig deeper into this scene. </b>For me, it'll always be the sausage & eggs shot, nothing more. lol.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE SENTENCE?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Possible spoilers ahead.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The ending cut abruptly as the judge (the real ones) was about to announce the verdict. Will Beckert be back in an asylum? Reclusion perpetua? Or will they sentence him to death? Unfortunately, we will never know. But we can assume. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The way the kangaroo court scene was handled, my opinion was that the real court sent Beckert to an asylum for rehabilitation. But then again, after hearing the last dialogue of the victim's mother implying that the verdict won't bring back their dead kids might mean that Beckert's death won't make their kids come back to life. I don't know... what do you think?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">M</span>others</u>.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lang leaves us with the victims' mothers' speech, telling us that whatever the punishment is, it won't change the fact that their kids are dead. The film ends with a warning to all the parents that it's their responsibility to take care of their children and to be more vigilant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">M</span>orality</u>.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While he has a point, if you think about it, really, there's something wrong with our society. The mothers could only do so much monitoring. Something has to be done. Explained so well in that kangaroo court scene, we as a society have a tendency of being so </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">moralistic</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that sometimes we forget how to be </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>realistic</b></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. When Beckert was apprehended by the criminals & beggars, he was "put into trial" with everybody in "court" knowing what the outcome will be - <b>death penalty</b>. Even the "lawyer" that was assigned to him has sealed Beckert's fate. This scene resonated to me the most because the criminals actually make sense! Sure, they steal, they lie, they're a bunch of lazy pigs who refuse to work an honest job and choose to do it the easy way (as Beckert have mentioned) but there's a boundary to what kind of evil they do. Child murder is disgusting. Beckert has to be eliminated. And they have a point. As the lead bad guy implied, in this society, what happens after the crimes were committed? The insanity plea? Then what? Rapists, murderers, crazy people either get sent to the asylum to be "rehabilitated" or sentenced to life imprisonment. Because it's the "moral thing" to do. And then they get pardoned or deemed fit to be back in society.... <b>and then they kill again.</b> So is that the moral thing to do, really? What about those innocent people that fall victim to these psychos? Let's face it, some people can't be cured. R</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ecidivists shouldn't have a spot in this already sick world. And the criminals know that. I just love that scene really. At one point I felt they're some kind of vigilante, doing the dirty work that the police couldn't legally do, to better the world (though of course they have an ulterior motive. lol), but I liked it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsdXqcWRhNI/U33R8Gpb4lI/AAAAAAAADKI/8a3YNFuQ01k/s1600/m+admit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsdXqcWRhNI/U33R8Gpb4lI/AAAAAAAADKI/8a3YNFuQ01k/s1600/m+admit.gif" height="321" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">It’s there all the time, driving me out to wander the streets,<br />following me, silently, but I can feel it there.<br />It’s me, pursuing myself! I want to escape, to escape from myself!<br />But it’s impossible. I can’t escape, I have to obey it.<br />I have to run, run… endless streets. I want to escape, to get away!<br />And I’m pursued by ghosts. Ghosts of mothers and of those children…<br />they never leave me. They are always there… always, always, always!<br />except when I do it, when I… Then I can’t remember anything. And<br />afterwards I see those posters and read what I’ve done,<br />and read, and read…did I do that? But I can’t remember<br />anything about it! But who will believe me?<br />Who knows what it’s like to be me? How I’m forced to act…<br />how I must, must… don’t want to, must!<br />Don’t want to, but must! And then a voice screams!<br />I can’t bear to hear it! I can’t go on! I can’t… I can’t...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">M</span>urderer</u>. </b>Peter Lorre really doesn't have that much screen time (in fact, none of them really does) but each scene that he's in he surely captivates me. Those eyes, that expression, that awkward rat-like persona that he has, it's unforgettable for me. I really hated him so much I wanted to see some bloodbath. When he was "tried in court" I was waiting for the mob to kill him. <b>But then that speech!</b> Like his "lawyer" said (who suddenly was against death penalty), the fact that it's a compulsion, that Beckert couldn't avoid the urge means that he shouldn't be held accountable for his actions. That he shouldn't be in a criminal court because he needs to be treated by a doctor. I mean what can you really say to that? If you're a real judge, or a police officer, you really can't say "Ahh whatever man, you're crazy, we're gonna kill ya!" It's hard. But it's harder if you think about the future where the asylums & prisons are cramped to the max and we're using taxpayers' money to feed these criminals and after several years we pardon them and let them loose (back to society) and they repeat their offense, and we have a bunch of new victims. Think about it.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVDHrJgajIs/U30xF6AdsUI/AAAAAAAADJk/B5WsX_yJSIU/s1600/m+hand.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVDHrJgajIs/U30xF6AdsUI/AAAAAAAADJk/B5WsX_yJSIU/s1600/m+hand.gif" height="267" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">M</span>ob</u>. </b>There's something striking to me when I saw this shot. It's so cool. But also, it made me think how people would love to crucify someone once he/she has been <b>labeled</b> as such or so. In this film, their outrage is understandable. But this is another aspect of humanity that could be taken to the extreme. Lang made an example of this issue. An innocent man was mobbed by an angry crowd just because someone mistook him for being the child murderer. He wasn't doing anything wrong, aside from him telling the time to a girl who asked. The point is, it won't matter whether the originator of something is right or wrong once a mob was spurred into action. My own interpretation of this picture is this: <b>the guy marks his hand first before putting the mark on Beckert's coat.</b> For me, it symbolizes that we as part of the society has the control (hence, a responsibility) when it comes to labelling people. Why don't we look at ourselves first before we point a finger at other people? There will always be a bad guy around us. The big bad wolf that eats kids. The evil witch that enjoys hexing innocent villagers. But we have to take responsibility in ensuring that the world we live in is a better place. It's easy to act disgusted when someone is mistreating a beggar, but are we really doing something to help this beggar? When we see them on the streets don't we usually turn our eyes to the other direction and pretend that they don't exist? Same thing with this film. It's easier to put that ugly label "M" on someone that's been proven guilty of some shameful act, but wouldn't it be easier if we prevent that from happening? If we, like the scene, put the same label in our hands first to remind ourselves that we have a duty to be vigilant. That we have to take part and be involved. Not only the mothers, not only the parents, but US. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>MY RATING: 5/5</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-60766284701819826642014-05-19T14:58:00.000+08:002014-11-23T13:10:32.023+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Imperial Bedrooms<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgB506YUnfI/U3kTCnx7MTI/AAAAAAAADGo/Btq4CVeC7w4/s1600/books+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgB506YUnfI/U3kTCnx7MTI/AAAAAAAADGo/Btq4CVeC7w4/s1600/books+009.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Written by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Bret%20Easton%20Ellis" target="_blank"><b>Bret Easton Ellis</b></a><br /><b>Preceded by:</b> </span><i style="font-weight: bold; text-align: start;"><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-movie-less-than-zero.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Less Than Zero</span></a></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b># of pages: </b>169<br /><b>Country:</b> U.S.<br /><b>Year published:</b> 2010</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here I am, after a less than thrilling experience with <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-movie-less-than-zero.html" target="_blank">Less Than Zero</a>, </i>re-entering the dirty - no, make that <i>filthy</i> - mind of <i><b>Clay</b></i>, now older but definitely not wiser. If you haven't read LTZ or this book yet, let me tell you this, Ellis' characters are a bunch of unlikeable, unrelatable self-absorbed pricks. Reading <b><i>Imperial Bedrooms</i></b>, somehow was easier for me maybe because it was plot-driven or that Clay was much more focused (with himself though) or maybe because I already have a background with the story. It also helps that I've seen the movie version of LTZ and I already have a face for <i><b>Julian (Robert Downey Jr.)</b></i> and <b><i>Blair (Jami Gertz)</i></b>, though for some weird reason instead of seeing <b>Andrew McCarthy</b> in my mind as Clay - <b>Emilio Estevez</b> keeps popping up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">At first glance, I thought Clay has matured. I thought the rest of the characters have grown up. Boy was I wrong! I think they're worse than when they were kids! What shallow, pathetic, empty lives they live. <b>What's more pitiful is the fact that I have willingly let myself get sucked into this scary world AGAIN! </b></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm talking about torture, decapitation, prostitution, fisting a girl, obsession, betrayal! And the list goes on and on! My god.</span><br />
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I really liked the first several paragraphs though. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"They had made a movie about us. The movie was based on a book written by someone we knew... </span></i></blockquote>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The movie was very different from the book in that there was nothing from the book in the movie.</b> The book was something I simply couldn’t disavow. <b>The book was blunt and had an honesty about it, whereas the movie was just a beautiful lie. Julian became the sentimentalized version of himself, acted by a talented, sad-faced clown.</b>.. </span></i></blockquote>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The sheer hypocrisy of this scene must have made the author blanch...</b> </span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The reason the movie dropped everything that made the novel real was because there was no way the parents who ran the studio would ever expose their children in the same black light the book did. <b>The movie was begging for our sympathy whereas the book didn’t give a shit.</b>“</i><i><br /></i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And that's what these novels really are: they didn't give a shit. That I agree with 100%.</span><br />
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Still using the same style of <b>stream of consciousness</b> and Emilio - I mean Clay - as the narrator, it's weird being in the same place again. At least this has plot which makes it easier to follow. It's more controlled, less self-indulgent, and although it's less explosive or compelling than Less Than Zero, I still prefer this one. But that doesn't mean I like it. In LTZ, Clay was irritatingly <b>depressive & aloof</b>. In Imperial Bedrooms, I thought he has changed for the better because in here, at least he was craving for some kind of relationship with other people. I was thoroughly deceived. He just turned into a <b>narcissistic bastard</b>, that's what he is! He's one of the most selfish guy in literature I have encountered. I mean talk about 50 shades messed up! And Julian & Blair are only minor characters in the book. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">There are three things I've realized after reading <i>Less Than Zero</i> & <i>Imperial Bedrooms</i>:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">One</span>.</b> Clay is a psychotic douchebag. He's crazy & he's scary. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Two</span>.</b> The characters/story have zero redeeming qualities. I'm not saying that's a requirement for a novel. I just wanted to get something from this reading experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Three.</span></b> I got nothing. With other books, the reason you keep reading them is either you're entertained or your mind was nourished. When you finish a book, you sigh and smile and think about how you want to see more of the characters and see how their story unfolds. And Even if it was tragic, there's still some feeling of bittersweetness to it. That's how normal books are. When I got to the end of this book, the only emotion I felt was <b>relief. </b>Like if you're a battered wife and you have endured the torture for as long as you can but then you realize that the man you have been with is truly a monster and you can't change him and finally you escape your awful situation and you vow to yourself to never look back and you're just so relieved and you sigh a big fat sigh because you're finally out. And you smile. Yes, <i>that</i> kind of relief.</span><br />
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Until that demon man begs you to come back and you tell yourself maybe this time it's different. Maybe it will be better.</span><br />
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Yes, I'm definitely reading <i>American Psycho</i> next!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Rating: 3.5/5 </b></span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-46896097225302268572014-05-18T01:07:00.003+08:002014-08-03T10:14:50.746+08:00The Grandmaster (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>In a nutshell:</u></b> We get to see another film based from the life story of grandmaster <b>Ip Man</b> (or better known as the teacher of <b>Bruce Lee</b>) and yet more than 50% of the film is NOT about Ip Man. It's about Gong Er and her family legacy. lol.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by: </b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Wong%20Kar-wai" target="_blank">Wong Kar-wai</a><br /><b>Story by: </b> Wong Kar-wai<br /><b>Starring: </b> Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi<br /><b>Music by: </b> Shigeru Umebayashi, Stefano Lentini<br /><b>Cinematography by:</b> Philippe Le Sourd (<i>Seven Pounds)</i><br /><b>Editing by: </b> William Chang<br /><b>Running Time:</b> 130 mins (Chinese Cut)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the first Wong Kar-wai film I have watched and I was excited. So I clicked the remote and hit <i>PLAY</i> with high expectations. The first scene (and <i>Razor</i>'s, somewhere in the latter half of the film) I thought was very reminiscent of the Matrix trilogy - I even half-expected <i><b>Agent Smith</b></i> (or Agent Chang, whatever lol) to appear out of nowhere to kick Asian <i>Neo</i> <i>in a fedora </i>in the butt. Of course, I discover soon that <b>Yuen Woo-ping</b> is the action choreographer for both The Grandmaster & The Matrix.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDDJPYY6mYw/U3eJML6No7I/AAAAAAAADF4/AJYNfBhQ1Gk/s1600/tgm+razor.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDDJPYY6mYw/U3eJML6No7I/AAAAAAAADF4/AJYNfBhQ1Gk/s1600/tgm+razor.gif" height="190" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Onto the review. I'm all for non-linear films, I've seen big head scratchers like that, <b>but this one just takes the cake with all the icing & the big fat cherry on top for being the most unnecessarily disjointed narrative I've seen so far</b>! And it didn't even need to be <i>that</i> back & forth, up & down, round & round complicated with the flashbacks, timeline and all. It's not confusing if you pay attention, but it does take you out of your comfort zone once in a while when you try to follow with the timeline. But yeah, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Grandmaster is a beautiful film, no doubt about that. I was stunned by how visually and even thematically appealing it is to me. I love how Kar-wai has given depth to his characters. Though I think he overindulges himself sometimes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>3 HIGHLIGHTS:</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First is the visual and musical aspect of the film. Stunning imagery/cinematography that blends well with Kar-wai's vision. And the musical score is just perfect.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Second is <b>Zhang Ziyi</b> as <b><i>Gong Er</i></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She's just phenomenal. Every scene she's in she absolutely owns! She's so kickass & tender at the same time it's insane. And I found myself waiting for her to storm out of doors because she looks so cool doing it haha. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I've said, half of the story is about the Gong legacy, & Gong Er has been painted a clearer portrait of her life & philosophies than Ip Man himself, the film should have been entitled 64 Hands or The Gong or something.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The third and most important aspect of the film is the <b>romance</b> I have felt the whole time I was watching. It's my first Wong Kar-wai as I've mentioned before so I have no basis, but what I've gotten from this film is more than an art film or a martial arts movie. <b>It's the romanticism that has been hanging so heavily in the air and I'm not talking about the lovey-dove angle.</b> It's like when you look at a painting and somehow you feel the passion that has been poured to the canvass by the painter, you see it in every brush stroke? Well in this film, even the silent scenes resonate. Kar-wai made me realize how truly honorable kung-fu is. I've seen a couple of martial arts movies before and I do know about their honor, code etc. etc. and still I didnt' think much of it. <b>In this film, somehow, I understood.</b> I get where they're all coming from. I know how they feel about their art. How it is their life, how it's essential to keep it alive and burning, or even when someone decides it's also necessary to let it die a natural death. The point is, since Kar-wai gave us the time to get to know each of the characters, we can easily sympathize with them, even with the villains. Kung-fu runs in their blood and from start to finish you witness the romance between the people and this art. At the same time, we can feel the romance that Wong Kar-wai has poured to this film. Because every angle & scene is a labor of love. The littlest detail has relevance. Every move has flourish. This movie is grand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've watched <b>Wilson Yip's </b><i><b>Ip Man 1 & 2.</b> </i>Both are amazing films as well. But these are full-on martial arts films while The Grandmaster is a mix of arthouse, a bit of kung-fu, and a lot of Kar-wai's esoteric mojo. So there's no use in comparing (as I've read in a lot of movie boards) because they're special in their own ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To end my review, I just wanna say that if <b>Obama</b> was Chinese he kinda looks like him. LOL.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating: 4/5 </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">*Photos/GIFs courtesy of Tumblr.</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-50888100332335808262014-05-11T21:07:00.000+08:002014-11-23T14:14:03.164+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Wide Sargasso Sea (A Prequel Of Some Sort to Jane Eyre)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In a nutshell: </b> Welcome to the world of <i><b>Antoinette Cosway</b></i>, or better known as "<b>the madwoman in the attic</b>" we read about in Charlotte Bronte's <i><b>Jane Eyre. </b></i> Witness her steady & inevitable (?) descent to madness she probably inherited from her mother... Or was she driven out of her mind by the young <i><b>Mr. Rochester</b></i>?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written by:</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Jean%20Rhys" target="_blank"><b>Jean Rhys</b></a></span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genre: </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Postmodern Novel</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"># of pages:</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 190</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Country: </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> U.K.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Year Published: </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1966</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So why should you read this?</span></b> If you're like me, you're probably suspicious of any books (pseudo-prequels or sequels) trying to ride on the popularity of classic novels and inevitably disappointing us. That's why I usually steer clear from these kinds of books, unless it's written by the same author. <i><b>Wide Sargasso Sea</b></i> delivers more than I expected. It was actually good. Sometimes, I even forget that it was written by a different author, because the characters & their back stories were convincing. Granted that it could be unnecessary to some, but for me, it's good to read something that re-writes a well-loved classic, and boldly may I add. <b>This is not just a prequel. It's something that gives substance to a minor and probably overlooked character in <i>Jane Eyre</i>. </b>And as much as I loved Bronte's novel, wherein the madwoman was written basically as a crazy ass biatch that stands in between Mr. Rochester & plain old Jane, I was pretty much surprised to read a different side - a fleshed out character - of this wild-haired "ghost" of Thornfield Hall, and a young Mr. Rochester who is painted more of an antagonist - infinitely less romantic & altruistic than Bronte's brooding male protagonist. And I enjoyed it. I didn't like the older Mr. Rochester anyway. So while I was reading this book, every once in a while, I was like <i>HAH! Yeah I knew you're a real dick Rochie</i>!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Must you read Bronte's classic first to understand Wide Sargasso Sea? </span>No. </b>There are wonderful references especially in part three, but this is pretty much a stand alone novel.</span><br />
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What I like about this book is its use of multiple voices/POVs because it makes it more convincing to be in the shoes of both main characters. One may argue that Rhys' characters contradict what Bronte has presented to us, but by letting us into the minds of Rochester & Antoinette, despite the weaknessess and bad traits of both, we see what pushes them to do this or that, and eventually what makes them how they are in the future. And most importantly, <b>we get to see that the madwoman in the attic is more than a horrible monster which Rochester has led Jane to believe - she's in fact a human being, who was oppressed psychologically by the people around her, making me see Bronte's novel in a whole new darker light.</b></span><br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">My Rating: 4/5 </b>- This may not be a book that the casual reader will appreciate because of the alternating POVs plus the complex themes used & the post-colonial setting. But if you give it a chance, it's one book that's worth your while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><i><u>ACCOLADES:</u></i></b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Winner of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WH_Smith_Literary_Award">WH Smith Literary Award</a> in 1967, which brought Rhys to public attention after decades of obscurity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Named by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(magazine)">Time</a> as one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rated #94 on the list of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Library%27s_100_Best_Novels">Modern Library's 100 Best Novels</a></span></li>
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Check out <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/09/books-i-want-to-read-before-i-die.html" target="_blank">MY ULTIMATE BOOK BUCKET LIST</a> </i>or the books I wanna read before I die!</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Thank you for reading! :) <span style="color: #0b5394;">Like/</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Share </span>this post<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span>or<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span></b></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Follow </span>my blog (I'll follow yours back) </b></i><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>and don't forget to leave a comment below, let's talk!</b></i></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My personal blog: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://lucresiastrange.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ravings of a Madwoman</a></span></b></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-52490373757098350362014-05-04T21:32:00.001+08:002014-05-04T22:18:08.622+08:00My First Liebster Award Nomination <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u style="background-color: #f6b26b;">The Liebster Award:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f6b26b;">1. The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to bloggers who have less than 200 followers.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f6b26b;">2. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f6b26b;">3. Each blogger should answer the 11 questions given to you.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f6b26b;">4. Choose 11 new bloggers to pass the award on to and link them in your post.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f6b26b;">5. Create 11 new questions for the chosen bloggers.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f6b26b;">6. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f6b26b;">7. No tag backs.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Thank you Skye (</span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://ramblingimp.blogspot.com/2014/04/liebster-blog-award.html" target="_blank">Rambling Imp</a></b><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">) for including me in your list of </span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Liebster Award</b><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> nominations. It's a great feeling knowing that even just one person out there reads my blog! And I don't even care if the Liebster Award doesn't have merit. LOL</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">11 Random Facts About Me:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">1. I have 3 cats & 3 dogs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">2. I love bananas with Nutella (or any hazelnut spread)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">3. I like to sleep on a right side-lying position</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">4. My alarm clock is set 45 minutes earlier than I should be waking up, allowing me to hit the snooze button without fear of being late for work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">5. I've never been out of the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">6. My dream is to travel basically to see various forms of architecture and culture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">7. I dream of having my own bookshop some day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">8. I can watch slasher flicks (psychos torturing humans) without flinching, but just one scene where animals are hurt - I will cry like a wimpy man who got kicked in the groin. Yes, even in cartoons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">9. I'm Asian :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">10. I'm scared of the deep blue sea and the creatures in it. ONE WORD: THALASSOPHOBIA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">11. I wanna be a vampire (eternal youth & immortality) so I could read all the books in the world and all that crap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Questions:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>1.) <u>What does your happy place look like?</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Imagine yourself blindfolded as you walk inside a room - as you step inside, the smell of the room fills you with an intoxicating happiness that you can't explain. A blend of vanilla, earthy, old wood smell that makes you feel right at home. You recall something about <i>lignin</i>. You hear the quiet hum of the airconditioner... you feel the soft carpet caressing your feet... and though you can't see right now, you sense that sunlight fills this mysterious room. Blindfold is removed. Your eyes sparkle with delight as you see a vast room - huge!- filled with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves! Walls plastered with photos of authors, some black & white, some more modern... A plush sofa that beckons and a coffee table that is obviously meant for your feet. An antique writing table that has been passed down, one writer after the other until it came into your life, as if waiting for you to make that one book that will take the spot next to the classic novels that have changed your life. Imagine the library that <i>Beast</i> gave <i>Beauty</i>. That's my happy place :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>2.)</b> <b><u>Which book that you own has your favorite packaging/cover design?</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>3.)</b> <b><u>If you were to write a short story right now, what would it be about?</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Just a little story entitled <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://lucresiastrange.blogspot.com/2014/01/cold-with-dread.html" target="_blank">Cold with Dread</a>. </i>(click link for the whole bit)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>It's 5:30 in the morning, and it's chilly. Really chilly. She wakes up but her mind is still trying to drift off to sleep. She feels like she's been drugged. She rubs her hands & arms vigorously, trying to make herself feel warm - it's no use. Through droopy, sleepy eyes, she scanned her room out of habit and sees nothing but darkness, except for the hypnotic light from her computer monitor which is the only thing alive during this time. Everybody is still sleeping. Yet, here she is, awake and asleep at the same time. </i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>She knows she has to do it. </i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>She </i>has<i> to do it. </i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>But could she? </i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i> Dread filled her as she thinks of what she has to do soon. Goosebumps crawl all over her skin as her icy hands try - unsuccessfully - to keep the evil cold from engulfing her senses. She lets out a deep, depressed sigh as she stands up. </i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>She has to do it now.</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>4.) <u>What was the last song you listened to?</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Dark Shines (Muse)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>5.) </b><u><b>What's the first memory that comes to mind when you try to think of a memory? Describe it.</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Most often, when a memory is triggered it's when its raining. Not so much as a memory, but a feeling of melancholy. It brings me back to my childhood when I'm stuck at home, and can't play outside because it's raining. Dark and gloomy, that's how I can describe it best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>6.) <u>What's your favorite quote from a book?</u></b></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">“Often the best parts of life were when you weren’t doing anything at all, just mulling it over, chewing on it. I mean, say that you figure that everything is senseless, then it can’t be quite senseless because you are aware that it’s senseless and your awareness of senselessness almost gives it sense.” </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(PULP, Charles Bukowski)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>7.) <u>What films inspire you most?</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm not sure. I'll just mention 2 movies that have evoked some real emotions from me. <i><b>Dancer in the Dark</b></i> (Von Trier), <b><i>Grave of the Fireflies</i></b> (Takahata).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>8.) <u>What was the last dream you can remember about?</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Something about me saving a small dog..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>9.) <u>Describe a change in perspective you've had in the last year.</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I didn't like cats before. It all changed when my dad decided to adopt a stray kitten. I fell in love with it. Next thing I know, I was begging my dad to adopt his sister.. then a few months later I got another stray one.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<i>L-R</i>: Meow Tse Tung, Kitty Perry, Grey Catsby)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>10.) <u>Who is someone you would love to have a conversation with?</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Jesus Christ - I have lots of questions, and I want answers! lol. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>11.) <u>What's your personal philosophy?</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Diplomacy is the key to everything. But if it doesn't work, a little bit of bitchiness will do.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f6b26b; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Here are the 11 blogs I'm nominating. Participating is optional of course :) I have a bunch of questions for you below, c'mon, it'll be fun! =D Link below so I could read yours :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.couchkurisu.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Couch Kurisu</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://filmfashionistachele.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Film Fashionista</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://houseatroocorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>House at Roo Corner</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://largepopcorn--nobutter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Large Popcorn, No Butter</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://opinion-as-a-moviefreak.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>My Opinion as a Movie Freak</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://movies-and-books-world.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Movies and Books World</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://zkreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Thoughts and Paper</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://e-revs.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>e-Reviews</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://a-reader-lives-a-thousand-lives.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Trips Down Imagination Road</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.viewsonfilm.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Views on Film</b></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bensbasement.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>Ben's Basement</b></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><u>The Questions:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>1</b>. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>2.</b> Give us one movie/book title that has changed your outlook in life. Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>3.</b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">If you only have one day to live and you can only eat one type of food, what will it be?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>4. </b>Who is your favorite author/director and why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>5.</b> If you were to be born again, would you rather be a boy or a girl? Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>6.</b> What are the perks of being a blogger, in your opinion/experience?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>7.</b> Would you rather be a movie star or a director? Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>8.</b> What's your favorite era when it comes to Hollywood movies? Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>9.</b> Who's your favorite actor/actress, why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>10.</b> Who would you want to mentor you? Could be living or dead. Could be an author (if you wanna be a writer) or a director. Or any other person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>11.</b> Do you believe in ghosts? Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>Follow me on:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tumblr: <a href="http://lucresiastrange.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ravings of a Madwoman</span></a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Letterbox'd: </b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://lucresiastrange/" target="_blank">lucresiastrange</a></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My personal blog: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://lucresiastrange.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ravings of a Madwoman</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-54829333918378252442014-04-19T21:19:00.001+08:002014-11-23T11:13:04.757+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Fifty Shades of Grey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">**just reposting from my Goodreads account. Didn't even remember writing a review for this one - that's a sign how much I tried to forget about this crap.</span></i><br />
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Well , well.. That was painful. And not in a good way.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snRvzBxt3HY/U1JoUecewWI/AAAAAAAADBs/plBBuej3ssc/s1600/50+shades.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snRvzBxt3HY/U1JoUecewWI/AAAAAAAADBs/plBBuej3ssc/s1600/50+shades.png" height="320" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Author:</b> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/E.L.%20James" target="_blank"><b>E.L. James</b></a><br /><b>Country:</b> UK<br /><b>Genre: </b> Erotic Romance, BDSM<br /><b># of pages:</b> 514<br /><b>Year Published: </b> 2011</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Holy cow, that was horrible writing! Thank God I'm done with this one!</span><br />
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My <b>SUBCONSCIOUS</b> is currently floating in a river - lifeless. Just wasn't able to take all the crap I force-fed her.</span><br />
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And my<b> INNER GODDESS</b> was wondering about how many shades of psychosis those characters really have. She sank into the plush sofa in my head and put her feet in the coffee table, grabbed her copy of <i><b>Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea</b></i> and totally immersed herself to the silly but at least funny anecdotes in the book. But not before she rolled her eyes at me. Yeah. My snobbish, snappy inner goddess is not amused by this particular choice of book. Good thing Christian didn't see that eye-roll, or she would have kicked his controlling, stalker, psycho ass once he utters his usual "<i>So help me god, Lucresia's Inner Goddess, I will take you over my knees and smack you hard with my twitchy palms.</i>" Now let's see who's the real Dom. -_-</span><br />
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Seriously, this is worse than <b>Twilight.</b></span><br />
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So many times I wanted to give up & not finish it, but, I needed to know what it is that made this book so popular.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">What I realized (a little too late) is that people read a lot of crap. Wish fulfillment. Empty characters. Sex. Money. Lust. Rich handsome guy falls head over heels for plain clumsy girl. Yeah. Crap.</span><br />
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I'm not saying I dont read crap (I love all kinds of crappy literature! lol), but im saying that this is like septic tank crap!</span><br />
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Holy guacamole! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"I SCOWL WITH FRUSTRATION (remember <b>Bella, </b>guys?) at myself in the mirror. <b>Damn my hair – it just won’t BEHAVE, </b>and damn Katherine Kavanagh for being ill and subjecting me to this ordeal. I should be studying for my final exams, which are next week, <b>yet here I am trying to brush my hair into SUBMISSION.</b> <b>I must not sleep with it wet. I must not sleep with it wet. Reciting this mantra several times, I attempt, once more, to bring it under CONTROL with the brush.</b> I ROLL MY EYES IN EXASPERATION (yes, it's bella alright) and gaze at the pale, brown-haired girl with blue eyes too big for her face staring back at me, and give up. My only option is to RESTRAIN my wayward hair in a ponytail and hope that I look semi-presentable."</i> - <u><b>Chapter One.</b></u></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ok, I know that paragraph should have been my warning to just forget about 50 shades of crap. To read something like that and seriously not consider throwing the book in an open fire, I don't know... it's messed up. That paragraph makes me wonder if the writer wrote it as a joke.. or that she seriously thought that putting words that preludes to the topic of the book to describe Ana's HAIR is cool. Both ideas are appalling.</span><br />
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This book gave me amusement, for what it's worth. </span><br />
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<i><b>YOU. ARE. MINE. ANASTASIA.</b></i> Really?? You have to speak in staccato every few pages? Really? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU AGAIN ANASTASIA. I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU NOW ANASTASIA. IM GOING TO REMOVE YOUR TAMPON AND SLAM MY CHUNKY CHUNK IN YOUR HOT POCKET AND IT. WILL. MAKE. YOU. CRAZY. FOR. ME.</b> Again, really? Slam slam slam, Oh God Christian! -enter orgasm-. repeat performance. slam slam slam. Ooh Anastasia. -end scene-</span><br />
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And last but definitely not the least, PUTTING SOMEONE'S TOOTHBRUSH IN YOUR MOUTH AND THINK IT'S SEXY --- that is <b>50 Shades of EWWWWWWWWWWWW. </b></span><br />
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Oh and if I was Kate and I hear one more OH SHIT, HOLY HELL from Anastasia, I would really grab her tongue and shove it in the file shredder, together with this book! I don't know if the author meant to paint her female protagonist as stupid, but for someone who is supposed to read a lot of British novels and listen to indie music, one could at least expect her to have a wide range of impressive vocabulary and cuss words. </span><br />
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<b>Now, onto the next book... 50 Shades Crappier</b>. I know, it's masochistic to continue something that gives me pain (both in the head and in the heart -- this book is like myocardial infarction... it does that to you)..... But hey, I guess I'm like Anastasia - <b>50 Shades of Stupid.</b></span><br />
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<b>My Rating: 0.5/5</b></span><br />
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Here's my some-sort-of-review of <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/04/fifty-shades-of-darker.html" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Fifty Shades Darker</a><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>and <b><i><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2013/04/fifty-shades-trilogy.html" target="_blank">Fifty Shades Trilogy</a>!</i></b> Thanks for reading!</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">*Photos/GIFs courtesy of Tumblr.</i><br />
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Check out <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/09/books-i-want-to-read-before-i-die.html" target="_blank">MY ULTIMATE BOOK BUCKET LIST</a> </i>or the books I wanna read before I die!</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>Thank you for reading! :) <span style="color: #0b5394;">Like/</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Share </span>this post<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span>or<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span></b></i></span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">Follow </span>my blog (I'll follow yours back) </b></i><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>and don't forget to leave a comment below, let's talk!</b></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>You can also follow me on:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tumblr: <a href="http://lucresiastrange.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ravings of a Madwoman</span></a></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Goodreads: <span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7138534" target="_blank">Lucresia Strange</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Letterbox'd: </b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://lucresiastrange/" target="_blank">lucresiastrange</a></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My personal blog: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://lucresiastrange.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ravings of a Madwoman</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-61541991940681751642014-04-06T15:15:00.001+08:002014-04-07T22:38:20.092+08:005 Reasons Why I Love THE SOUND OF MUSIC<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I go to the hills, when my heart is lonely... I know I will hear, what I've heard before... My heart will be blessed by the sound of music, and I'll sing once more."</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IBzK_lAP9s0/U0AI2aedvrI/AAAAAAAAC0A/9wBE0D7llC8/s1600/sound+hills+alive.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IBzK_lAP9s0/U0AI2aedvrI/AAAAAAAAC0A/9wBE0D7llC8/s1600/sound+hills+alive.gif" height="231" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Robert%20Wise" target="_blank">Robert Wise</a><br /><b>Starring: </b> Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer<br /><b>Screenplay by: </b> Ernest Lehman<br /><b>Cinematography by: </b>Ted McCord<br /><b>Editing by: </b> William H. Reynolds<br /><b>Music by: </b> Richard Rodgers (music & lyrics)<br />Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics)<br />Irwin Kostal (musical score)<br /><b>Running time: </b> 174 mins<br /><b>Budget: </b> $8.2 million<br /><b>Box-office:</b> more than $286 million</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"The Sound of Music is credited as the film that saved 20th Century Fox, after extreme high production costs and financial losses incurred by Cleopatra (1963) that almost bankrupted the studio."</i> - <span style="font-size: x-small;">Wikipedia</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><br />Well, I credit <i>The Sound of Music</i> as the film that never fails to save me, after extreme stress and depressive episodes incurred by Life that almost always bankrupts my soul. There's something so happy with this film, that the moment I see <b>Julie Andrews</b> up in that mountain (or hill), all of my problems melt away. Maybe it's because this movie was a big part of my childhood and it reminded me of the time when I felt safe & without any real-life worries. It's a comforting, nostalgic trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />Without further ado, here are five reasons why The Sound of Music still remains my all-time favorite movie.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDUrAO3uzB0/U0BK-UAQvUI/AAAAAAAAC4w/mDbfWF9FBcc/s1600/sound+fave+things.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDUrAO3uzB0/U0BK-UAQvUI/AAAAAAAAC4w/mDbfWF9FBcc/s1600/sound+fave+things.gif" height="232" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">5.</span> <span style="font-size: large;">One thing I absolutely love about old movies is how wholesome they are.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Imagine a sixteen-year-old girl sneaking out to - wait for it - sing & dance with her lover boy! Cheesy, and yet so cute to watch. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EONr1k36hHs/U0DLw_JuB8I/AAAAAAAAC9M/e2ZMjrqDSVk/s1600/sound+16.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EONr1k36hHs/U0DLw_JuB8I/AAAAAAAAC9M/e2ZMjrqDSVk/s1600/sound+16.gif" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even the adults do it! I couldn't help but roll my eyes when half-way through Maria & Captain's kissing scene, Julie Andrews started singing "<i>Something Good</i>"!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHB6BUNjVf8/U0DL-8VdpZI/AAAAAAAAC94/r10XNXCzXoM/s1600/sound+make+out+song.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHB6BUNjVf8/U0DL-8VdpZI/AAAAAAAAC94/r10XNXCzXoM/s1600/sound+make+out+song.jpg" height="215" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. Gretl is so adorable! </span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Von Trapp kids are all cute (especially </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kurt</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> who seemed like a future "flamer" lol) but Gretl is an absolute doll.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JVSK8eru0-E/U0DL1_61FwI/AAAAAAAAC9o/jSX0ZqJE7VQ/s1600/sound+gretl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JVSK8eru0-E/U0DL1_61FwI/AAAAAAAAC9o/jSX0ZqJE7VQ/s1600/sound+gretl.png" height="182" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When asked to sing. LOL. Like a boss.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On a side note, when I was younger I really thought that <b>Rose McGowan</b> was <b><i>Brigitta</i></b> when she was a kid. Of course the age gap didn't make sense, and I tried to justify that maybe Brigitta (the actress) is McGowan's mother. Of course it's not true. Anyway. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtsAh-ZLKs4/U0DLxood7tI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/A4AuG8-fO18/s1600/sound+brigitta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtsAh-ZLKs4/U0DLxood7tI/AAAAAAAAC9Y/A4AuG8-fO18/s1600/sound+brigitta.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brigitta, the bookworm/daydreamer</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aVo8BCWzwVA/U0DMOlb4opI/AAAAAAAAC-k/6LKFsnLuQLk/s1600/sound+rose+mcgowan.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aVo8BCWzwVA/U0DMOlb4opI/AAAAAAAAC-k/6LKFsnLuQLk/s1600/sound+rose+mcgowan.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rose McGowan</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. CAPTAIN VON TRAPP.</span></b> Need I say more? When he first appeared (in the ballroom), each time without fail I'm like "oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQyv-kZpaM8/U0DvFZYWeVI/AAAAAAAAC-8/QfTnytEqukk/s1600/sound+1+ballroom.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQyv-kZpaM8/U0DvFZYWeVI/AAAAAAAAC-8/QfTnytEqukk/s1600/sound+1+ballroom.gif" height="152" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So manly and handsome. I can't believe I'm crushing on </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Christopher Plummer. </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mCLMRvZG8c/U0DMEc83eJI/AAAAAAAAC-I/fYphdF3-42M/s1600/sound+plummer+fassy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mCLMRvZG8c/U0DMEc83eJI/AAAAAAAAC-I/fYphdF3-42M/s1600/sound+plummer+fassy.gif" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christopher Plummer as Capt. Von Trapp</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One thing I have noticed during my recent re-watch is that I thought he kinda looks like <b>Michael Fassbender.</b> Don't you agree? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZFxrkKiS8c/U0DL0BCPefI/AAAAAAAAC9g/AKBVuoXP1a4/s1600/sound+fassybender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZFxrkKiS8c/U0DL0BCPefI/AAAAAAAAC9g/AKBVuoXP1a4/s1600/sound+fassybender.jpg" height="320" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fassie</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh you don't believe me? Here's another pic of the Captain.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9z50dsyPStI/U0DMQ_4MdlI/AAAAAAAAC-w/e8SCyN-JPC8/s1600/sound+von+trapp+fassy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9z50dsyPStI/U0DMQ_4MdlI/AAAAAAAAC-w/e8SCyN-JPC8/s1600/sound+von+trapp+fassy.png" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. How do you solve a problem like Maria?</b><b> </b></span>My favorite song & scene in the movie. Even when I'm in my gloomiest mood, when this scene plays, I can feel the dark clouds hanging over my head dissipating, my heart swelling with joy, and I can feel myself going back to that wonderful moment in my life where I had absolutely no worries. Hakuna Matata. I love these nuns!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8nh_5-7DoY/U0DMO6T1qFI/AAAAAAAAC-g/OfdBVaVqGKs/s1600/sound+this.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U8nh_5-7DoY/U0DMO6T1qFI/AAAAAAAAC-g/OfdBVaVqGKs/s1600/sound+this.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And last but not the least, the reason why the charm of TSoM never tarnishes is of course because of --</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">1. Julie Andrews as Maria. </b>There's something about Maria (no, it's not hair gel) that is so charming and light-heartedly good that you feel the room she's in lights up because of her aura. She's a rare kind of human being that you can't help but love. She's awesome. I loved her so much that up until college I had this nun alter ego. Oh how amused my friends were. -_-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maria is so hilarious especially her scenes with the Captain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">TSoM could get remade over and over, but I don't think anyone could ever replace Ms. Andrews.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eCYEeA1VzJE/U0D7y6xus4I/AAAAAAAAC_k/wcLXJ01cCUw/s1600/tsom+maria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eCYEeA1VzJE/U0D7y6xus4I/AAAAAAAAC_k/wcLXJ01cCUw/s1600/tsom+maria.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh how I love Maria, that flibbertigibbet!</span></span></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Is The Sound of Music the greatest film ever made?</b><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OF COURSE NOT... </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I felt that there were too many repetitions of the same songs in several scenes. They could have made more songs OR they could have cut down the running time. Almost three hours of gallivanting, prancing, yodelling & stuff could get a bit tired to most people. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">t could have been trimmed down a bit. </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some people say the characters are just too damn perfect and unrealistic</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> - well, I say, it's a damn feel-good Hollywood musical, what do you expect? You want the real characters & story, read the book... or watch a documentary. And again, I rolled my eyes when I saw the kids wearing the </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">curtain costume</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. I was like, Maria, try telling kids today to wear something as appalling as that and they'll skin you alive. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">BUT EVEN SO... </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's funny, it's cute. It makes me laugh, it lightens up my mood. To me, that's more than enough. It has served its purpose.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also wanna give props to <b>Eleanor Parker</b> as</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <b style="font-style: italic;">Baroness Elsa von Schraeder </b>who deserves credit for portraying such subtle classy villainy. That even though you feel you wanna smack her in the face, you would think twice because you know she's just a woman being territorial. An underrated character, yet an important one.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In conclusion, </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Sound of Music, despite its flaws, still remains my favorite movie of all time. I don't think I will ever get tired of watching this until I'm old and grey. And while I can understand why some people don't like this film, I may be nodding my head listening to them rant about how disgustingly cheesy TSoM is, but I'll be secretly doing this in my mind. LOL.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My Rating: 4-4.5/5</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> as a movie. It's not perfect. But as it's the ONLY movie that makes me happy even after numerous re-watch, I give it a </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5/5 </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for always making me smile</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"The Sound of Music was one of the honored films of 1965, receiving ten Academy Award nominations (winning five Oscars, including <b>Best Picture</b>)" - </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Wikipedia</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THEN & NOW:</u></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tuBfuqZ3rHI/U0DLxOq0_HI/AAAAAAAAC9U/3-VfaMapqd4/s1600/sound+before+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tuBfuqZ3rHI/U0DLxOq0_HI/AAAAAAAAC9U/3-VfaMapqd4/s1600/sound+before+after.jpg" height="370" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it just me or does Friedrich (oldest Von Trapp boy) look like Mitt Romney?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HahT4c9Ha7o/U0DvHv4Cy7I/AAAAAAAAC_I/-2AkeKsIJKE/s1600/sound+dance.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HahT4c9Ha7o/U0DvHv4Cy7I/AAAAAAAAC_I/-2AkeKsIJKE/s1600/sound+dance.gif" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">*Photos/GIFs courtesy of Tumblr.</i><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>YOUR POINT OF VIEW:</b></span><b style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Not counting the ones who already played Maria, who do you think has the right innocent charm & capability to be as good, if not better, as Julie Andrews? (impossible, I know. But please humor me.)</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>Let me know what you think, LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW, let's talk! </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-91030070670340665092014-03-29T21:02:00.001+08:002014-11-23T11:08:38.415+08:00BOOK REVIEW: Dracula The Un-Dead (The Authoritatively Disappointing Sequel to the Original Classic)<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In a nutshell, we get to see how the band of heroes are living 25 years after their encounter with Count Dracula.</span></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Written by:</b> <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Dacre%20Stoker" target="_blank">Dacre Stoker</a> & <a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Ian%20Holt" target="_blank">Ian Holt</a><br /><b>Genre:</b> Horror novel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b># of pages:</b> 424</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Country:</b> United States<br /><b>Year Published: </b> 2009</span></td></tr>
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Sounds interesting, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh and it's written by <i>Bram Stoker</i>'s great grand-nephew, <b><i>Dacre Stoker</i></b>! Are you really stoked now? I sure was!</span></div>
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They claim it's the true sequel to our beloved classic. An authoritative sequel in fact. I believed them. How gullible was I? </span><br />
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Borrowing a quote from the book, <b><i>Dracula The Un-Dead</i> at its best is made up of only a few, special, scattered moments. </b>I don't know which or how much Dacre or Ian wrote, so I can't pinpoint who is really to blame, but let me just mention (if you haven't googled them yet) that Dacre is a track & field coach, while <i><b>Ian Holt</b></i> has previously been a direct-to-DVD horror screenwriter who has been a fanatic of anything Dracula-related for a long time. You can bet a dollar or two who did most of the writing, and which one whose name served as a huge banner ad.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><b style="font-family: inherit;">Reading the first several chapters was an effort on my part.</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> It took a considerable amount of patience and understanding not to tear the pages and chuck it on a crap-filled toilet bowl. First of all, the writing style is not even remotely similar to that of Bram's - but I didn't care about that. Of course it's not wise to copy the fascinating correspondence/journal technique used in </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Dracula</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">... and I wasn't expecting them to. What truly irked me was seeing Bram's characters that I so loved turned into damaged-beyond-repair kind of people who live pathetic lives that will make those who have read the classic cringe. Well you might say that it's possible, after that experience they had with Dracula, they'll be scarred for life and messed up. I will grudgingly accept that. But the fact that there were a lot of alterations to the original story just so they can cram as much drama & plot twists they could think of - NO! </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Just no. Talk to my hand.</b><br />
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Bram's was sophisticated, subtle, and mysterious. Dacre & Ian's was too in-your-face. </span><br />
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<b>Don't get me wrong, the book is not that horrible. </b>It was written in rich narrative and could be an exciting page-turner at times. Incorporating real people or events to the story was also cool & made the novel more intriguing. And seeing Bram Stoker as a character was fascinating (but I was appalled <b><span style="color: red;">SPOILERS:</span></b> <span style="color: #cfe2f3;">how they made him look like a has-been nincompoop who messed up "Prince Dracula"'s story</span>) In my honest opinion, the book would have been appreciated better (by me) if they didn't so shamelessly claim that it's a sequel to Dracula - because it's not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>What this book really is.</u></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b>
It's simply a modern re-telling of a classic vampire novel with several familiar names obviously meant to bait the readers. The whole time I was reading the book, I kept on asking myself, did they really read <i>Dracula </i>or did they just base everything from the film adaptations? While I have only watched the first half of <b>Coppola's 1992 <i>Bram Stoker's</i> <i>Dracula</i></b>, I can say that these authors took more stuff from this adaptation than from the real book. And that's truly dreadful. Maybe they didn't mean to, but it's so obvious, and it irritated me to no end. At some point I couldn't help but imagine <b>Winona Ryder</b> as<i><b> Mina Harker</b></i>, and <b>Gary Oldman </b>as Dracula. -_-</span><br />
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<b><u><i>"To the literary purists we apologize, but we feel this is a necessary concession, made in the hope of once and for all harmonizing all Dracula fans" - Ian Holt</i></u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Not to spoil the book, <b>I'll just say that there's a lot of romanticizing and numerous attempts to shock the readers with gore/sex/plot twists that's worthy of a daytime soap opera. </b>And what's up with the "<i>my dark prince"</i> and "<i>my love</i>"???!! Like I'm reading <b>Twilight</b> or <b>Fifty Shades of Grey</b>! C'mon!</span><br />
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It's just too much for a fan like me to forget what truly transpired in Bram's tale and who Dracula & the Harkers/Helsing/Seward/Godalming really were, and believe everything they presented. It's hard to swallow. I'm saying for such an incredible plot they concocted, they should have taken into consideration how they would convince the fans of the original to gobble their story up as if it's actually Bram who wrote it. </span><br />
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This could be a kick-ass vampire novel, but a great sequel it is not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Why you should read it.</u></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b>
Well, if you're reading this review, you obviously like reading books. And chances are, you have read Bram Stoker's novel. Despite my disappointment with this one, I still recommend that you read it, because who knows? You might enjoy it! I did like a few chapters, but the overall flavor wasn't appetizing to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Rating: </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2/5 </b>as a sequel. I really couldn't accept the romantic angle they presented. I just couldn't. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe<b> 3.5/5 </b>if it was a stand-alone vampire book.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18051178555536306029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5468273120588337062.post-57542818198906791342014-03-23T00:39:00.000+08:002014-04-06T18:34:20.622+08:00Veronica Mars (2014): And We Thought She Was Out<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm a Marshmallow, and I'm an addict.</span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Whwll1vMUQ/Uy1z1r5hXII/AAAAAAAACs8/IUsDJkmwt0k/s1600/mars+addict.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Whwll1vMUQ/Uy1z1r5hXII/AAAAAAAACs8/IUsDJkmwt0k/s1600/mars+addict.gif" height="228" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directed by:</b> </span><a href="http://strangereview.blogspot.com/search/label/Rob%20Thomas" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rob Thomas</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>Screenplay by: </b> Rob Thomas, Diane Ruggiero<br /><b>Music by:</b> Josh Kramon<br /><b>Cinematography by:</b> Ben Kutchins<br /><b>Editing by: </b> Daniel Gabbe<br /><b>Running Time: </b> 107 mins<br /><b>Budget: </b> $6 million (<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559914737/the-veronica-mars-movie-project" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b>Box Office:</b> over $2 million (already considered a success)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>There are spoilers in this post, but rest assured you'll be warned.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been 7 years since the series ended, 9 years after the events of season 3. I never thought (imagined, yes) I would see this gang again. Hearing "<i><b>We Used To Be Friends</b></i>" sung by some street performer a few minutes into the film, goosebumps crawled all over me, and I can't help but scream "<i>Oh my god, oh my god, the feels, the feeeeeelssssss!</i>" repeatedly. That part alone makes the wait so worth it. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A_iN7YBjnuA/Uy1z385d6DI/AAAAAAAACtE/mE6ULxW_x60/s1600/mars+dance.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A_iN7YBjnuA/Uy1z385d6DI/AAAAAAAACtE/mE6ULxW_x60/s1600/mars+dance.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pure happiness, is what I'm feeling. I watched VM twice in one week.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>So did this movie deliver?</b> </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a fan of the show who has mourned for the abrupt ending of what I consider to be one of the wittiest detective tv shows, like ever, seeing this after years of wondering what ever happened to VMars and to Neptune, yes, this has more than delivered. It truly catered to the fans of the show, after all, they paid for this. My bestfriend, who hasn't seen the show before, said that she totally enjoyed the movie. She said that the wit, the mystery, the characters, the story were engaging but she thought that <b>Logan was boring, Gia seemed unnatural & obviously "acting", and Sheriff Lamb was blah. All three a miscast, according to her. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It took unbelievable self-control not to grab my keyboard and smash it against her non-Marshmallow face. Like Keith Mars, I wanted to say "<i>You don't wanna go there</i>" in a serious, threatening voice. First of all, I thought <b>Jerry O'Connell</b> as the obnoxious, self-absorbed <i style="font-weight: bold;">Sheriff Dan Lamb </i>did a good job playing a character you would <i>love to hate</i>. <b>Krysten Ritter</b> as <i style="font-weight: bold;">Gia Goodman, </i>for me did great. Of course she looked so unnatural, of course she looked like she's acting, because that's what she has been doing all these 9 years. Her life is a big facade. She's a socialite who's </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u><span style="color: red;">SPOILERS: </span></u></b><span style="color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">engaged to be married to a</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">gay guy, has been a sexual puppet to weirdo junkie, and has been carrying this big secret for years. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">Of course she's acting. For years, she has been pretending. The only time you'll see the real Gia is when she was telling the story to Veronica (also that snapshot of her texting Logan using Carrie's tablet) - and that's exactly the point. That's the real Gia, no pretenses, just someone baring her soul to another human being. </span>And to me, that was handled really well by Ritter. I'll talk about Logan in the next paragraph, I just want to say that I do appreciate my friend's opinion (esp. since she hadn't seen the show) - it was just the fan in me that made me protective of anything the show touches. And of course I was just kidding about the keyboard. I'm not a violent person. lol. And she eventually agreed with me when I told her about my opinion of Gia. But she still hates Jerry O'Connell. LOL.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So now we see a surprisingly reformed <i style="font-weight: bold;">Logan Echolls </i>played by <b>Jason Dohring</b>. I adore Logan despite of his bad boy antics and I have unfalteringly backed up the LoVe loveteam the moment they kissed the first time, but when I saw Dohring in the movie I thought he looked a bit haggard or sickly. He hasn't aged well. And when he spoke, I was like where was the Logan that matched Veronica's feisty attitude? He just seem too soft. But then again, consider that he's accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend who he obviously cared about, and now he's relying on his great love - who he hasn't talked to for 9 years - to help him clear his name. <b>So I partly agree with my friend. I initially thought that he's a bit boring.</b> But after my second viewing, I realize that of course they have grown up. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like how we grow up and become more mellow. It's real life. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Logan tried to change his life, but you can still see the old Logan in some ways. One thing that hasn't changed is the way Logan looks at Veronica, and vice-versa. That despite of not seeing each other for a long time, living their own lives, growing up individually, even falling in love with other people, you know that they still have that special places in their hearts for each other. That they can still rely on each other to believe and trust what they say. One look says it all. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KhCcr4O5JZ8/Uy2TsaEvrBI/AAAAAAAACus/Ptr5kmjEsaU/s1600/mars+logan+joy+ride.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KhCcr4O5JZ8/Uy2TsaEvrBI/AAAAAAAACus/Ptr5kmjEsaU/s1600/mars+logan+joy+ride.gif" height="228" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh how they look so contented. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They will forever have that. They will eventually find each other, the difference is that they are now both grown ups, and not destructively dependent on each other as how they were before. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And thank god for that! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZSZWNY7tA8/Uy2TmiAKN0I/AAAAAAAACuY/-NKAwsAPoUk/s1600/mars+logan+high+five.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZSZWNY7tA8/Uy2TmiAKN0I/AAAAAAAACuY/-NKAwsAPoUk/s1600/mars+logan+high+five.gif" height="224" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LoVe years back.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have nothing much to say about </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kristen Bell</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> other than she's perfect. If there's one thing I can say that I truly love about </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rob Thomas</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is that he knows his characters so well that even 9 years later, he still hasn't forgotten the essence of the show. I love Veronica Mars, not only because of her wit and snarky lines, but also because she's basically </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Nancy Drew with an attitude" </i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and that's just so cool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqUzpGad-DA/Uy2Tmd4rruI/AAAAAAAACuU/t9Im3UoGhIg/s1600/mars+lipstick.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqUzpGad-DA/Uy2Tmd4rruI/AAAAAAAACuU/t9Im3UoGhIg/s1600/mars+lipstick.gif" height="320" width="288" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Watching this movie and seeing all these characters pop in and out of the screen is such a sublime feeling. <b>Some of my favorite appearances are as follows: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Enrico Colantoni</b> as <i style="font-weight: bold;">Keith Mars. </i>The playful father-daughter banter still works. His non-verbals are even more powerful than his snappy lines. I love this relationship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kristen Bell's husband, <b>Dax Shepard</b>, as the hilarious overconfident club boy.. And VMars' reaction. LOL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And <b><i>Dick Casablanca</i></b>, played by <b>Ryan Hansen</b>, is my favorite character in the film </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(aside from Veronica)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. He's hilarious. And it's interesting to note that he's probably the only person who hasn't grown up/changed and yet he's the only one who has no baggage or drama (except for his "chronic depression" hahaha)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's also the dancing gorilla that Vinnie's making fun of.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also enjoyed <b>Justin Long</b>'s scene, and of course, <b>James Franco</b>, c'mon!. I also thought there was more to <b>Jamie Lee Curtis</b>' character, but knowing how Rob Thomas is with his twists & unresolved plots, hey maybe.. or maybe not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I definitely missed <b>Ken Marino</b>'s <i>Vinnie Van Lowe</i>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And while Mac & Wallace's future are a bit of a headscratcher, I'm still glad to see them looking good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Chris Lowell</b>'s <i style="font-weight: bold;">Piz </i>is cute, but I don't like him for Mars. He's too much of a softie. I hate softies. I thought that the way <span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">SPOILERS: </span><span style="color: #cfe2f3;">he broke up with Veronica was a bit abrupt. He didn't even fight for her. Before going back to Neptune, they were living a normal life. They were happy. I thought that he should have been more understanding with the fact that Veronica was trying to help Logan with a false murder charge. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FaG2aiNh_cM/Uy2o5mzld5I/AAAAAAAACvo/MrilzRyK7ek/s1600/mars+and+piz.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FaG2aiNh_cM/Uy2o5mzld5I/AAAAAAAACvo/MrilzRyK7ek/s1600/mars+and+piz.gif" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then again, he probably knew before Veronica even admitted to herself that she is bound to stay in Neptune. A drama-magnet as Wallace said. Looking at his face when he took that Neptune cab, back to New York, without Veronica, he knew that it's probably the end of their relationship. He probably felt that this is where Veronica belongs. He knows it, but he's trying to ignore that nagging feeling in his heart as much as he can. Until he got that call from Veronica cancelling their date (with Piz' parents). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's probably what convinced him that while he may be in a relationship with her, he will never have her heart. Her heart will always be with Logan, being a detective, and trying to clean up Neptune. And that's what Logan sees as well when he said "<i>You should only wear this</i>" upon seeing Veronica in her usual detective garb. Not only because she looks good in it, but he knows she's in her element as the old VMars, not as a lawyer.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In conclusion</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, Veronica Mars is far from perfect (you can only do so much with $6 million, and less than a month of shooting). It feels more like a TV movie with story arcs (and unresolved plotlines) and characters that could be better developed if it was a new season or at least a mini-series. For a new audience, this could be off-putting. But for a hard core fan like me, who felt like I've been jilted by a lover when season 3 ended without the story really ending, this movie is perfect in its imperfections. It's more than we could ever ask for. I won't dissect the mystery because that's only a side dish. As a fan, I really don't care about the plot, because all I'm looking for is the dynamics of Veronica with the other characters. I was satisfied with that. The ending gave me conflicting emotions. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SPOILERS:</b> </span><span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's obvious that it's a set up for a possible sequel and it made me so happy. But on the other hand, seeing Veronica & her friends go back to that same place they were in years ago, which they fought so hard to leave behind (and successfully may I add!), is kind of tragic. Like Gia enduring that life all these years. I felt that it's a waste of talent and potential to leave behind a world full of opportunities and bigger prospects and come back to Neptune where it will only bring you down. Rob Thomas could still make a sequel without him bringing everyone back to where they started, couldn't he? But then again, this is Veronica finally realizing her true self. This is what makes her happy. This is her home. So I guess I'm happy too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wishing it was longer, sensing that it's the end, all I can say when I saw the credits roll was </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too much feels. This movie.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>My Rating: 3.5/5 </b>when I first saw it<b>. 4.5/5 </b>on second viewing. I can't wait for the sequel (movie, new series, mini-series. Whatever. I want more of Kristen Bell & the other casts!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>YOUR POINT OF VIEW:</b></span><b style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This may be a pointless question, but</b><b style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> are you <u><i>Team Logan</i></u> or <u><i>Team Piz</i></u>?</b><b style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I'm just wondering if there's one person out there who was rooting for Piz. </b></div>
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