UnIndian

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UnIndian is an Australian/Indian produced movie starring Brett Lee, a former Australian cricketer and Indian actress Tannishtha Chatterjee. Cricket is a popular sport in both countries so having Brett Lee as a lead was a draw card. I don’t watch cricket at all, but I was curious to see Brett Lee in a film. This film was a passion project for producer and writer Anupam Sharma who has been working in the film industry showcasing Indian cinema. Many patrons helped to produce this film and there is a lengthy amount of credits thanking organisations and individuals in the opening.

Meera (Tannishtha Chatterjee) is a single mother to Smitha (Maya Sathiamoorthy) and working in Public Relations for Cochlear. She is pressured by her parents to marry again. Her parents are convinced that is the only way she’ll ever be happy.

 Will is an English teacher, who teaches Australian culture to international students. He meets Meera at a Holi festival and is instantly smitten. Will’s best friends Tinku “TK” ( Arka Das) and Mich (Adam Dunn) help him, telling him the differences in dating an Indian girl. Meera and Will have to fight for their relationship, against the wishes of her family and culture.

I thought the movie was okay. I didn’t find it funny, but I thought there were some cute moments. I could relate to trying to balance two cultures. The acting in the film was amateurish. I didn’t think there was much chemistry between the leads. The dialogue was a bit corny which may have attributed to some of the poor acting. Brett Lee tries his best, fully embracing his role. Maybe he’ll get better with practice.

The parts of the movie I did like were the dance numbers which is the norm in Bollywood movies. The dance scenes were so entertaining, over the top and frivolous which is exactly how it should be. I loved the ending credits where they had a dance scene with the production staff.

I would watch this film again despite its flaws. It’s an entertaining and feel good film. You can see the love and effort put in the film.

First Day of School

The 22^nd of January is the first day of school for Queenslanders. I got a new job as a teaching assistant so I will be there on day one. It will be fun watching the children arriving into school. Some will be excited and run into the classroom with their parents in tow and others will be clinging to mum or dad’s hand, fearful of their first day of school. In contrast, one of my new colleagues has children starting high school this year. She would love to be there for her kids but they rather not be seen with their mother. They have reached the stage where parents are embarrassing.  I remember my first days of school and thought I would share them.

Kindergarten

My dad took me to my first day of school.  I think I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. We found the classroom alright. On the desks were labels with each student’s names that were to go on our tidy trays. My dad covered the label in contact before I could colour it in. My teacher’s name was Mrs. Hanson. She looked like Queen Elizabeth ll. I wonder if she is still alive.

High School

My dad came with me on my first day of high school. A lot of new students already knew each other but I barely knew anyone. It was a novel experience, going from class to class for different subjects. The other students were very friendly and invited me to hang out with them. Eventually, I found friends that I clicked with and I had a good high school experience.

University

This time dad didn’t come with me. I didn’t ask him to and he didn’t offer. I took the train and bus to get to campus. I felt small and awkward on campus. It was just a day of walking around, trying to find different classes, getting lost and trying not to look lost. I eventually dropped out of that uni and tried again at a different one. I think I was too young and overwhelmed with it all. When I started uni again, I had a bit more life experience and I majored in something that I had better interest in.

What were your first days of school like? Were you excited or nervous? Did you have a positive school experience?

Merry Christmas 2017!

Jon Bear and I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas! Thank you for reading. 

The Spirt of Christmas

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Kate Jordan ( Jen Lilley) is a workaholic lawyer who is assigned to sell the Hollyoak Inn after the owner passes away. It proves difficult because every twelve days before Christmas, the inn is haunted by the first owner Daniel (Thomas Beaudoin). Kate is undeterred by Daniel’s presence, determined to sell the house so that she may win a promotion. Kate resolves to solve the mystery of Daniel’s death which will help him move on.

The two leads are both gorgeous. Thomas Beaudoin’s looked a little too hipster to be a ghost from a hundred years ago. Then again, many hipster men sport beards so they could come from that time too.  Jen Lilley and Thomas Beaudoin had great chemistry but I was conflicted about their characters getting together. There’s a long-lost love in the film too and I felt sorry for her.

This was a cute film and unexpectedly spooky at times. I was expecting more Casper the Friendly Ghost type of vibe when I watched this movie but it’s one step above it. I am a person who scares easily so I was a little scared at the menacing presence and door slamming. Other people won’t have that problem at all. 

You by Caroline Kepnes

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Joe Goldberg is a hopeless romantic. He meets Guinevere Beck (Beck to her friends), an aspiring writer in the bookstore where he works. They have a flirty conversation and he’s instantly smitten. Joe becomes obsessed with her, stalking her until he feels ready to introduce himself as Beck’s ideal match. Beck has many admirers and Joe eliminates them with no qualms. After growing up with little affection, he craves love and Beck is the girl for him.

One of my guilty pleasures is made for tv movies about obsession. When I heard this book was told from the perspective of the stalker, I had to read this book. I liked Joe and I pitied him. He just wants to be loved but he does terrible things to be loved. I admire his devotion and drive to win over Beck. However, if he were real and I was Beck, I would be terrified of him. Joe has no shame and thinks all his actions are for the greater good. He has a contempt for everyone except Beck.

Beck is not the average girl next door. She seems innocent but she’s actually a seductress who loves to string people along. Beck is a writer who tells half-truths to Joe about her life and her relationship but Joe already know the truth because he stalks her. He’s aware of her flaws and dismisses them preferring to see her as a victim who is being held down by those around her. Joe is her white knight and she’s his princess. He thinks that his life will be better if only they are together.

The book has a lot of sex but I don’t think it’s gratuitous. Joe craves love and intimacy and Beck is a bit of nympho. I found the sex scenes to be depraved rather than titillating. Joe thinks about sex a lot and gets easily aroused.

 I knew that it wasn’t going to end well. I was anticipating the fallout as I read the book. It’s a little sad and horrible but I was expecting it. There’s a sequel to You called Hidden Bodies, where Joe starts his obsession with love all over again.

December Goals

I work as a substitute teacher and school is about to finish for the year. As I don’t have to do any school planning like regular classroom teachers, I have two months to do anything.

Here’s my list of things to do:

1. Read every day

I have a huge to be read pile and lots of books collecting dust. I’m not one of those people who can sit for hours reading, unless I’m riveted on the book. So, I’m going to aim to read a little bit every day. I’ll finish off all the half-started books first.

2. Exercise regularly

I’ve been glued to the computer all year, not really doing anything. It’s time to get active again. My family has a treadmill that we bought last year. I’ve only been on it twice. I’ve recently installed a pedometer app on my phone and going on the treadmill will help me to reach 10,000 steps a day.

3. Netflix

To pass the time on the treadmill, I’m going to watch all the movies and tv shows that I have on my list. I keep adding shows that I will watch one day.

4. Blog

I haven’t been blogging much this year.

5. Finish Teacher Portfolio

6. Go out solo once a week

I need to get out more. I rarely go out by myself. I think it would be a healthy experience for me. 

October Life Update

For the past few months, I have been living in a bit of a funk. Just family stuff. I became directionless to avoid thinking about stuff. Now I’m trying to get myself out of the hole that I dug.  I’m making goals and lists again. This time around I’m not going to give myself a hard time if I don’t achieve them. I just remind myself that it’s good to get started and  I can always pick up where I left off. So far, it’s been good. I feel more productive and that sense of accomplishment makes me feel good.

Study

Semester 2 is finished! I won’t have uni again until next year. I had the option of doing semester 3 but I’ve decided to take a break. My creative writing course was fun. I learnt a lot from the experience. I wrote a lot, more than I would have if I hadn’t started the course.

Reading

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I just finished reading Escape by Carolyn Jessop, which is an autobiography about a woman who escaped from a polygamous marriage and cult. It was very admirable that she could escape with six children in tow and leaving everything behind.

Watching

I’ve been watching Brooklyn Nine Nine which is a comedy show about a fictional Brooklyn police precinct. The episodes are short, and I can watch it while doing other stuff.

5 songs I’m lovin’ this month

Taylor Swift Gorgeous

I love this song, it’s Gorgeous! I think Taylor Swift perfectly describes what it’s like to have a crush and not being able to act normal around them. I think this song is adorable. I look forward to the video clip.

Sara Bareilles – Gravity

I’ve been listening to song constantly. I think it’s about being in a relationship that you want to break free from and the other person not believing in you.

Pretty and Young by Austin Mahone

I was watching the Dolce and Gabbana Fall/Winter Mens Collection 2017/18 runway show and Austin Mahone was featured in the fashion show. He was singing his song Pretty and Young and Except for Us while the models walked. I really enjoyed his songs although it was a pretty awkward performance. He was clearly lip syncing but not very well. Despite that, I still liked his songs.

Unchained Melody – Righteous Brothers- Cover by Susan Boyle

I love Susan Boyle’s cover, her voice is so emotive and gentle.

Landon Pigg - Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop

I found out about Landon Pigg after listening to a fellow blogger’s playlist. It’s a lovely mellow love song.

Carlyn's Diary: September 2017

I have two weeks of holiday time. It’s spring in Australia, my favourite time of the year. It’s also my birthday month. This time around, I’m having a staycation. I plan to catch up with old friends and mostly binge watch through my Netflix saved list as well as finish one book. I plan on watching, The Age of Adeline, Albion: The Enchanted Stallion, Pulp Fiction and Room. As well as a whole bunch of series.

 I would like to get through a ton of books too but I know myself enough to know I won’t do it. So my goal is to just finish reading Gulliver’s Travels by Johnathan Swift. It’s been almost two years and I’ve read the book on and off, forgetting about it all the time and starting new books.

I haven’t decided yet on what I will do for my birthday. I usually have a big plan but this year I’m aiming for something low key. I was thinking of having a roast dinner with my family and going out with my friends later.

August Life Update

Study

I changed from my journalism degree into creative writing. I decided to go with my heart as all I really want to do is write fiction. I originally chose journalism to be sensible because it has better job prospects. However, I thought I might as well be happy because this will be my second degree and I’m not young anymore.

It has been the best decision I made. I’m enjoying my course and I like being around like minded people. I was a bit nervous about sharing my work as we have to critique each other but I’m there to learn so it’s necessary.

Watching

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin)

My little brother introduced me to this kdrama. It’s about a Korean general Kim Shin (Gong Yoo)  from ancient times who is executed by the emperor who is afraid he’s too powerful. He gets stabbed with his own sword but doesn’t die. Instead he becomes an immortal known as a goblin and must wander the earth until he meets his bride. The love of his life is the only one that can pull the sword out and grant him death.

It’s an interesting concept and well written. The costuming, special effects and locations are excellent. I recommend the series.

Boys Over Flowers

In this Kdrama is set in high school. It’s about a girl named Geum Jan Di (Ku Hye-sun) who gets a scholarship to Shinhwa High School, a private school in Korea. Students take a disliking to her because she’s not rich especially Gu Jun Pyo (Lee Min-ho), the most popular boy in school. Gu Jun Pyo is the heir to the Shinhwa company and his family owns the school. He does a series of pranks on Geum Jan Di to force her to leave but she rises to the occasion which leads to him falling in love with her.

The two get together but their love is tested by Gu Jun Pyo’s mother who doesn’t approve of the relationship. The couple have the support of Gu Jun Pyo’s friends Yoon Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun-Joong), So Yi Jung (Kim Bum), Song Woo Bin (Kim Joon) who are all heirs to large fortunes. The boys make up the group known as F4 who rule the school.

Reading

The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt Series- Book 1 Me Just Different by Stephanie Morril

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Skylar Hoyt is this popular high school student who decides to change her life after something bad happens to her at a party. She becomes estranged from her friends as she tries to work out who she real is and finds herself liking an unpopular boy. I thought it was a cute story, it reminded me of the stupid fights you have with your friends in high school.

The Lunch Box

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Illa (Nimrat Kaur) is a young Indian housewife who makes hot lunches for her husband which is sent through the intricate Dabbawala system to deliver it to her husband. In India, it is common for office workers to have hot meals from home or a restaurant to be delivered to them via a delivery service. Usually a man will come collect the meals from a residence or restaurant and then it may be sent on the train or bike depending on the location. Illa’s lunch is accidently sent to Saajan Fernandes (Irrfan Khan ) an accountant who is about to retire after thirty five years working at the same firm.  

The two start to send messages to each other in the lunch box and they learn about each other’s lives. Illa writes about how her husband takes her for granted and Saajan writes about the monotony of his life and his loneliness from being a widower for many years.The pair come to depend upon each other and fall in love but it’s complicated. Illa has a husband and a young daughter and Saajan feels he may be too old to start something new. They try to meet a few times but things get in the way.

It was a cute movie. One of my friends recommended this film to me so that’s why I watched it. I love movies set in India as I love Indian culture. I enjoyed watching the film but I wish the ending hadn’t been ambiguous. I had hoped that all the issues would be resolved in the end. I don’t know if they would have got their happily ever after because they were both lonely people who just happened to be there for each other. I think a hobby and friends could have easily fixed the hole each had and Illa needed to communicate more with her husband.  

Autumn Dreams

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Eighteen year old Annie (Ivy Matheson) and nineteen year Ben (Matt Visser) get married and run away to New York but are stopped by Annie’s father. Ben goes to New York by himself and Annie remains on her family farm. The two are separated for fifteen years until they reunite to get a divorce as each have decided to marry other people.  Ben (Colin Egglesfield)  lives in New York engaged to Jovanna (Tasya Teles) and Annie is engaged to Joe ( Michael Karl Richards) back on the farm. The divorce proceedings don’t go to plan and Ben and Annie spend time reminiscing their past and rekindling their love.

Ben and Annie were a nice couple. Nothing spectacular about their love story, sometimes love is like that. I thought that there was more chemistry between the teenaged versions of Annie and Ben rather than the older ones. I also think it’s because the teenagers were at the height of their love and the older ones were rekindling their love.

It’s a cute movie to watch when you want something on but don’t want to concentrate too hard. I watched it while I was cleaning the lounge room. I also picked it because it had the shortest running time on my huge saved list on Netflix. What I found refreshing about this movie was that there were no scheming love interests. I thought Jovanna would be some uptight city girl who would make snarky remarks about Annie being a small town country girl. Or that Joe who was friendzoned by Annie in their teenage years, would be behind some kind of deception which resulted in Ben and Annie’s estrangement.  However, Jovanna and Joe were both nice people. I felt bad for them in the end.

Carlyn's Diary: June 2017

University

This year I decided to go back to university and study journalism. I am a teacher but I wanted a career change. I’ve always liked writing so I want to work in a field with writing. Now that I have finished my first semester, I’ve realised that journalism is not for me. I would like to do creative writing instead so that’s what I’ll be doing next semester.

I was first interested in journalism as I wanted to be a better writer and blogger. However, I’ve decide to go into creative writing instead. I started to write a novel because it was something that I always wanted to do. Then I realised that I need some help in writing a good story and that learning about creative writing would be better for me.

What I’m watching

 I finished watching Anne with an E on Netflix. It’s a new series based off Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery. A story about an orphan girl warms the hearts of two elderly people that adopt her. I like this new adaption which I feel is made for this generation. It’s more darker and veers off the books a little bit.

I’m currently watching Designated Survivor on Netflix as well. It’s about a minor politician who becomes the President of the United States after a terrorist attack.

What I’m reading

I’m currently reading Eve by Jenna Moreci . I’m only at the beginning so I don’t have all the answers but it seems to be about a young woman who is a mutant who is despised for being a mutant and there’s aliens and she is in college. Good read so far. 

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Isla and the Happily Ever After

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Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins is the last book in the Anna and the French Kiss Trilogy.  The books focuses on three girls who attend the School of America in Paris. This one is about Isla, a quiet girl in her final year of high school. She has a three year long crush on Josh Wasserstein, a boy in her class who she thinks doesn’t know she exists. A chance encounter with Josh leads to love.  As the pair start to know get to know each other problems arises. Josh is the son of a senator and must play the role of the perfect son in public. He knows what he wants in life and Isla doesn’t. Isla is plagued by doubts about their relationship and feels that she is not good enough for him. She wonders whether he loves her for her or he wants her because she’s there.

The book is set in Paris and New York, two gorgeous settings which adds to the romance. I think it’s makes for great escapism and perfect for holiday reading. I found myself wanting to visit both cities after reading this book and visiting all the places mentioned.

After reading this book, I judge the first book as the best out of the three. The relationship between Isla and Josh was a little too passionate for me. The two fall in love very fast, like Romeo and Juliet fast. The couple do a lot of frantic kissing and making love. They are ready to do anything for the other. I don’t think it’s unrealistic though because teenaged love can be like that. I would have liked for their relationship to be a slow build, starting with friendship and leading to love.  

As a prudish crusty old person, I didn’t think like all the sex that they were having. I didn’t think it was appropriate for the young audience. However, I can also reason that young people have sex and the sex is handled responsibly (they practice safe sex) and delicately in the book. I would recommend this book for older teenagers.

I didn’t relate to Isla at all. In the book, Isla doesn’t know who she is or what she wants to do in college. I didn’t see her problem as an issue at all. She’s rich and can go to any college she wants, she could take a whole bunch of classes to find herself. She doesn’t have to go to college either.

I would have liked to have read more of Isla’s life outside of her relationship with Josh. Isla’s relationships with her friends and family are mentioned in the book but I would have liked more. I liked Isla’s best friend Kurt who has autism and is obsessed with maps. I think he deserve his own book. I also liked Isla’s sisters and her relationship with them.

Despite these flaws, I still think that Perkins is a talented writer who writes beautifully. Her descriptions are gorgeous. I wish I could write like her. This book is entertaining and fun to read. I recommend it for older teenagers. 

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

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I once read a discussion on secondary characters and how it must feel for them to have all this adventure happening around them or to be the best friend of the chosen one. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness explores this idea. The book follows Mike Mitchell, a high schooler about to graduate high school. He just wants to go to prom and spend the remaining weeks with his friends Henna, Jared and his sister Mel before they all leave to go to different colleges. What gets in the way of all this is the frequent times the world has almost come to an end. In Mike’s world they have had “1. the undead, 2. those soul eating ghosts, 3. the vampire cycle of romance and death” (Ness, 2015 pp. 83-84). Mike is not the chosen one, nor are his friends. Instead, they are just the regular people going about their business and while all the dooms day stuff is happening.

Each chapter begins with a short passage on what the chosen ones are doing. In this book, they are called Indie kids, they all have unusual names and wear unusual clothing. It reminded me of Twilight and other YA books. I liked reading those passages too and I would love it if it were turned into a short story too. I enjoyed all the digs at stereotypes like how there’s a love triangle and where it repeatedly says that the spirit from the other world is the most handsome boy the heroine has ever seen.

While the book spoofed the YA supernatural genre, there were serious issues presented in the book as well. Mike has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder stemming from anxiety and feelings of worthlessness. His dad is a closeted alcoholic and his mother is a politician who wants to pretend she has a perfect family. Mike’s sister Mel also is a recovering anorexic.

 I liked Mike. I admired his protectiveness of his friends and family. He’s just a regular guy but when bad stuff happens he’s ready to help them. I felt sorry about his OCD and his continual habit of washing his hands and counting. It’s terrible to have something control you like that. I didn’t really relate to his feelings of worthlessness though because it was clear that his loved ones cared for him not just put up with him like he thought.

This is a cute book and fun read for those who like Young Adult supernatural fiction. I liked this book so much that I have earmarked pages of the quotes that I like from the book. I found the premise to be hilarious and original.

Monster Trucks (film) 2017

Tripp Coley (Lucas Till) is a high school student spends his time repairing a truck and working at the local junk yard. His life changes when a mysterious creature appears in the junk yard and starts living in his truck. Tripp names the creature Creech and he tries to hide him from evil oil magnate Reese Tennyson (Rob Lowe) who wants to kill Creech and take over his habitat for a new oil drilling station. Tripp, Creech and Tripp’s love interest Meredith (Jane Levy) go on a wild adventure to save Creech.

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Tripp is a typical brooding teenager who just wants to get out of his small town. He loves his mother, resents her boyfriend and his real dad who left them. I would have liked to have seen more family dynamic, it just seemed stereotypical. Meredith is an overachiever who offers to tutor him and follows him around and he’s also idolized by a younger student. Both of them like him so much but he just ignores them. It made me cringe and wondered why they even like him.

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This was a cute movie and if I was a kid I would love it.  I thought this movie would be about monster truck rallying but it turned out to be different. It was more like those creature makes best friends with a young child movies from the 80s and 90s like E.T or Magic in the water.  The movie moves at a fast pace which set aside character development and a detailed plot. So, I found it to be a bit underwhelming. However, I’m sure kids won’t mind such flaws and this could become a favourite among younger audiences.

The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery- Review Carlyn

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Valancy Stirling has lived for 29 years controlled by her mother and bullied by her extended family. Valancy’s life changes when she is told by her doctor that she only has one year to live. She keeps her condition a secret from her family to avoid their attempts to control her further and starts living her life the way she wants. Valancy’s family think she’s become crazy as she starts to speak her mind and behave in what they think is scandalous.

Lucy Maud Montgomery is one of my favourite authors. She is most known for writing the Anne of Green Gables series. I thought that the Anne series were the only books that she had written. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that she had written more books. This book is the first I have read from L. M Montgomery where the main character wasn’t an aspiring author and it’s a book for adults.

I was worried that the Blue Castle would be this depressing book where Valancy doesn’t learn to stand up for herself until the end. Fortunately, it wasn’t the case and the story gets that over with right near the beginning. I find this book highlights the bohemian lifestyle that was emerging in the 1920s which was a change for L.M Montgomery sentiments for the Victorian era. It was interesting to see what was considered scandalous in the 1920s, the era that the book is based. The things that Valancy does wouldn’t be an issue today. She goes to stay with a woman who had a child out of wedlock and marries a wild and reclusive man.

Valancy is a strong female character who challenges stereotypes. She has some idealistic qualities that are featured in most of Montgomery’s heroines but seems more grounded than Anne Shirley or Emily Byrd Starr.  However, she still gets caught up in raptures about the Canadian wilderness just like Anne and Emily. I can see how some readers might find the moments where the characters are made breathless by the sight of the light shining into the meadow or forest tedious. But at least she doesn’t get tears in her eyes from the sight like some of Montgomery’s heroines.

I wish there was a sequel to this book but it ends well. I hope it becomes more popular in time too. I recommend this book for fans of L.M Montgomery.

Entertainment Monday: Passengers ( 30 January 2017)

Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) is a passenger on the Avalon, a spaceship on a voyage to a new planet. The trip will take 100 years from earth so all the passengers are cryogenically frozen until a few months before they land. Unfortunately for Jim, his sleeping pod malfunctions causing him to wake up. Jim cannot fix his pod so must spend the rest of his life on the ship alone.

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Jim learns to adjust to his new life with the company of Arthur (Michael Sheen), an android bartender. He enjoys the facilities around the ship but always feels lonely for human company. While exploring the ship, Jim sees Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence) in her sleeping pod. He falls in love with her and hopes that he’ll meet her some day. Jim gets to meet her when Aurora’s pod seems to malfunction and she awakes up. The two fall in love but Jim holds a secret that could break their relationship.

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The actors were all great in their roles. Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence have good chemistry and Michael Sheen is an excellent robot. I kinda disliked Chris Pratt’s character but it was refreshing to have a good guy who wasn’t entirely good. I liked Aurora and pitied her for the situation that she was in. In the end, Aurora had an important decision to make and I left the cinema thinking about what I would do in the same situation.  I think I would choose differently.

I like the array of space movies that we’re having lately. I’ve had an interest in space since childhood, mainly from my brother who was space mad as a child. I thought this movie was okay and I would watch it again. I feel that wasn’t much going on in the movie. I would have liked to have seen more of Jim and Aurora’s lives throughout the years and have interesting stuff happen to them. However, I know it’s not Lost in Space. The movie’s focus is about relationships and trying to live a fulfilling life even if your dream changes. 

Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen - Review by Carlyn

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Bobby and Fran were married for eighteen years and had one son together. Bobby worked as a police officer and Fran worked as a nurse. To outsiders, they were a normal happy couple but behind closed doors Bobby would beat Fran up for the smallest of slights. Fran decides to leave Bobby for the sake of her son and the two go into hiding in Florida.

Fran and Robert start new lives with fake personal records. Fran and Robert become Beth and Robert Crenshaw who hail from Delaware instead of Brooklyn. While in Florida, Fran reflects on her relationship with Bobby and the effect it had on herself and her son.

This is the first book that I have read on my new Kindle. I have decided not to buy books anymore because I want to be clutter free. I actually didn’t know what this book would be about when I first purchased it except that it was on the booklist that Jon and I devised in 2011. I’ve still got about six more to go.

I don’t like sad books but I didn’t think this book was overly depressing.  The book mainly focused on Fran’s life away from Bobby with flashbacks on her relationship with him. I enjoyed reading how Fran started to regain her life and build new relationships with people in Florida. However, there were times when I thought that was just plodding along. I was just waiting for the moment when Bobby would track them down. I knew that Bobby would come and find them. I thought Fran could have done a better job at protecting herself though.

*spoiler*

In the book, Bobby manages to find his family because Robert calls him. Although Robert doesn’t tell him where they are living, Bobby finds out from caller id on his phone. He uses the number to track down where they are. Fran finds out about this but she doesn’t do anything. I understand that she might not have known about caller id however, she was warned about how people can be tracked down from their phone number.

Anyway, I think a few self defense classes or buying a gun would have helped.

I also liked reading about Robert’s conflicting feelings that he had for his father. His father was always good to him and his parents shielded him from the violence. However, he always knew that his mother’s bruises were not from an accident. I liked how Robert hoped his dad would change and that they could all be a family again. I think that was realistic for a kid to feel that way.

I have some understanding of domestic violence even though I have not experienced it myself. I can understand how hard it is for some women to leave their abuser. It can be a variety of reasons but fear, more violence and the threat of death are usually top of the list. This book helped to remind me that you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

Entertainment Mondays: Crackerjack (23 January 2017)

Crackerjack is an Australian film starring Mick Molloy as Jack Simpson. Jack has been a member of the Cityside Bowls Club for many years but has never played a game. He rents out his bowls parking space to workers for some extra money on the side. One day, he gets a call that he must participate in lawn bowls otherwise his membership will be cancelled.  So Jack plays a game of bowls and quickly comes to enjoy the game.

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The other club members begrudgingly accept Jack’s presence as they need him to help win a tournament which will save their club. The club is in financial difficulties and at risk of being sold to Bernie Fowler (John Clarke). Bernie wants to buy the property and put in pokey machines to add more revenue. The club members hate the idea of the club turning into a cash cow. Meanwhile, Nancy Brown (Judith Lucy ) a reporter for the small time news reports on the tournament and is the love interest for Jack Simpson.

Lawn bowls clubs are a common sight in Australia and this is the first movie that I have watched where it was featured. I haven’t played lawn bowls before. While the story of a greedy business man taking over a struggling place has been done before, I still found this movie to be delightful. In the movie, the bowls members are sticklers to the rules and it reminded me of being on school committees. There was this funny scene where refreshments have been laid out and Jack cuts a hunk of cheese and makes a sandwich. Usually people are supposed to cut a thin slice of cheese and eat it with a cracker or its own.

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 The action is disapproved by some of the members and they have a meeting about it. Someone says that an incident happened with the cheese and they want no cheese to be served next time pending on an investigation. Someone else says that there should be a subcommittee to handle the case.

I didn’t find the lawn bowls part interesting; I rather liked the characters instead. Jack is a likeable guy although he’s a loudmouth; he’s got a good heart. The senior citizens in the movie are like sweet grandparents.

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This movie might be a bit niche for some, as it features Australian comedy and it’s about lawn bowls which is a not a popular sport in some countries. However, I recommend viewers give this film a go particularly if you are looking for a movie to watch with older people.  I will caution that there is a bit of swearing in the movie so it’s up to the viewer discretion.