The Concubine

Photo credit: asianfilmist.com

The Concubine turned to be entertaining enough not to put me to sleep. Mainly due to its great actors who didn't mind some very explicit intimate scenes. However apart from that this film turned out to be a bad type of Korean drama without TV restrictions. The story didn't have any depth and one didn't feel anything for anyone in it. Also the English title is sort of misleading since the only concubine worth about 10 minutes screen time in total was not even a proper secondary character. I'm glad I saw it on Netflix without any censor and also very happy that I didn't pay for the dvd or similar. 

Duma Key

Duma Key is another good one from Mr. King. I was somehow reluctant to read it (I got at a special Kindle discount) but once I have started it quickly grew on me and at one time I actually stopped reading since I was on my own at a hotel room and got scared. That doesn't happen anymore so thank you Mr. King. 

One Indian Girl

One Indian Girl well hello again Mr. Bhagat. I love all the novels of his that I read so far. Despite not being a very good writer, he is a great storyteller and this is one good airport novel (which I purchased at Dubai airport actually) I need to see whether he has written more that I had not read. 

The Axe and The Throne

The Axe and The Throne ended up being a pretend A Game of Thrones with none of its good parts remaining. Just adding violence and sex does not make a good novel. I'll not follow any of the other books from this writer.

The reader was very good though. 

Like for Likes

Photo credit: www.helloasia.com.au

Like for Likes ended up being what I expected and I had a great time with it on the flight. It is like Love Actually or Valentine's Day etc. And the couples were cute, the conflicts progressive and the actors all fine. Recommended for light entertainment. 

The Truth Beneath

Photo credit: www.hancinema.net

The Truth Beneath felt like "been there, done that". It didn't help that the performances were weak. 

The Famous Heroine

The Famous Heroine breezed by and ended up being a great choice for an airport read. Ms. Balough is a formulaic writer and if you are into that formula then you are in for a good ride. Recommended. 

The Story Of The Lost Child

The Story of The Lost Child ends the quartet and I loved it nearly as much as the other three novels. I loved the way Ms. Ferrante separates what to tell and what to omit. There are great time lapses but they all work. There were also something vague about the ending and it works too. I recommend these novels to anyone and Ms. Hillary Huber is a great reader. There was a confusion about the nick name of one of the main characters. Sometimes pronounces as Lila and sometimes Lina but since I don't have the text I have no way of knowing whether this was written that way or a mistake on the reader's part. 

Those Who Leave And Those Who Stay

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay This third novel of Ms. Ferrante's Naepolitan Quartet is just as good as the first two and I had a hard time leaving it. Recommended. 

Queen

Photo credit:indianexpress.com

Queen got good reviews and I don't mind the lead actress Ms. Kangana Ranaut. It turned out to be a film I really liked. Rising from her ashes after she is dumped right before her wedding day, Rani (means Queen in Hindi) decides to go to her honeymoon alone and she truly finds herself there and it is very entertaining and emotional to watch her do all that. Highly recommended and it made me miss watching Indian films (I actually ended up watching Madhuri dance in Devdas twice after that, no relation to anything) 

Bad Moms

Photo credit: www.today.com

Bad Moms was recommended to me by a friend who is also a mother. And I love Mila Kunis and Kirsten Bell. The film was not really that good but was lifted up by its cast and I enjoyed it on the flight. 

Ghostbusters (2016 Remake)

Photo credit: www.inquisitr.com

Ghostbusters (2016 Remake) was not very good I'm afraid. I only watched it because I happened on the same flight from Dubai with a close friend and her daughter and we were busy with catching up on stuff and didn't want to involve myself with heavy duty stuff. 

Naomi's Room

Naomi's Room turned out to be scary and ended with a twist I had not seen coming. I recommend.

Strange Fits of Passion

Strange Fits of Passion I liked this very much (one of the Boston second hand book store haul) and will seek more novels from this author. 

From Doon With Death

From Doon With Death now here is a strange thing. I love Ruth Rendell's novels. She is one of those authors whose works I'm sure I'll like (sadly there are not a lot of authors like that for me) with the exception of Chief Inspector Wexford novels. I thought I'd give this one a try since it is the first one and maybe the chronological approach will be of help. Alas no. Once again I'm thankful that the first Rendell novel I'd read was either Crocodile Tears or A Sight For Sore Eyes neigther of which is Inspector Wexford. If this is the first book I have read of Rendell, I wouldn't read a second one. 

The Story Of A New Name

The Story Of A New Name is the second book in Naepolitan Quartet written by Elena Ferrante and it was even better than the first one. I really like the way Hillary Huber reads it (despite the frequent "Lila" "Lina" confusion). I'm really eager for the third book now. 

Thesis On A Homicide (Tesis Sobre Un Homicido)

Thesis On A Homicide kind of bored me but I struggled to finish it since I was able to understand a few words of Spanish. 

the Given Day

The Given Day despite loving Dennis Lehane, I was not really interested in this particular trilogy since that period and gangsters etc. were not interesting to me. However, while in Boston is seemed mandatory to pick up a Lehane novel and this one was available at a second hand book store.

As usual, I fell for it hook line and sinker. Immediately ordered the other two novels and can't wait to read them. Highly recommended regardless of the period detail etc. Simply it is good story telling. 

The Book Thief

The Book Thief is yet another novel that was loved by everyone and that I felt some sort of antiphaty to (most probably due to its title). Nevertheless I have got the movie tie in edition at a secondhand bookstore (they are always cheaper) and sort of strolled through the pages first and immediately glad that I didn't get the audiobook for this. It has illustrations in it so if you are reading this get the print version. Anyway this one made me cry long silent tears at the employee shuttle regardless of what people may think. And I have read the end in my room seriously bawling. Crying with loud noises and shedding tears like a river. It is the type of novel that stays with you and make you glad that you read it. And it can make all these with a well worn subject matter (second world war). Highly recommended. 

My Brilliant Friend

My Brilliant Friend as usual I had caught up with these quartet novels late. They were a two for one credit in audible and despite my not loving everything Italian (mostly I love the food and not much else) I thought I'd give them a try. Predictably I'm hooked.