Susan Hated Literature

She'd much prefer to read a good book

Tag Archives: 7 Stars


7 Stars
These are the books and films I enjoyed, but was never really enthralled with. A certain something was lacking in them



7 May 2010
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The good man Jesus and the scoundrel Christ by

by Philip Pullman

The back of the edition of this that I read has only the words: This is a story. Interesting. Is that because the publisher’s don’t want to offend the ultra religious in the Christian world. Or is it a message from the author that the life of Jesus is a story. That the bible is a story.

Pullman, of course, is known for his ever so slightly controversial views on religion, he has used them in his fiction before. In that case it involved a worn-out god, and power-hungry angels. Here he revisits the myth:”(is a myth a religion we dont believe in?)”: of Jesus Christ and weaves a new story out of it.

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5 May 2010
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Iron Man 2 directed by

Dir: Jon Favreau

I really enjoyed Iron Man and I love Mr. Downey Jr. and I think Jon Favreau is so very adorable. All positives, so I’m guessing you can all feel the but coming. I’m going to keep you waiting, for a little while at least, because Iron Man 2 is a really fun film. And the effects are great. I enjoyed all the roles, Downey is great as Stark, he pulls off the role of ass-hole multi-millionaire while at the same time he is an engaging character. And all the supporting cast, while they aren’t asked to do a huge amount, do their jobs well.

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4 May 2010
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The Lace Reader by

Author: Brunonia Barry

When I first started reading this book I’ll admit to being a little bit confused. It was group read, for HistoricalFavorites, where was the history aspect. I kept waiting for flashbacks to old Salem and witch hunts. But instead I got the story of Towner Whitney and her family, and how the past is always around, especially when you try to ignore it.

Many of the Whitney family have the gift of reading lace, they can tell a lot about a person and their future, but ever since her sister committed suicide Towner has tried to escape that life. She herself suffered so much from the trauma of that experience that she felt she needed electro-shock therapy in order to overcome her anxieties. But that treatment ripped away many of her memories; now, back in Salem after her aunt’s disappearance Towner is forced to reconnect with people; friends and enemies from her past.

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28 April 2010
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Red Son by

by Mark Millar

I love the idea behind this graphic novel. Superman, instead of being raised by the Kents in Kansas, instead lands in the middle of Russia and is raised on a collective farm. Growing up, instead of embodying the American Dream, he becomes the Champion of the common worker. And so much of it is just cool. There are loads of great touches, I loved the idea of the alternate Batman.

Unfortunately it never got beyond the “oooh that sounds cool” aspect of the story.

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19 April 2010
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The underneath by directed by

Author: Kathi Apelt
This is the story of an abandoned cat, an old hound dog who becomes her friend and her kittens, and the family they become. But it is also a tale of old Grandmother Moccasin, a shape-chaning lemia, who is trapped in jar and by her own anger and resentment at her betrayal, as she sees it, by those she loved. And through its blending of myth and floklore it is the perfect fit for my Once Upon a Time reading list. It is also a children’s book, so it shouldn’t take you to long to get through. Although that does not mean that this doesn’t have darkness.
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28 March 2010
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Marley & me by

I’ve had this book on my shelves for years now. It was on sale for half-price when I bought it; that’s the only reason I own it in hardback. I much prefer paperbacks, more practical. Since I bought the book it has been made into a film and become even more famous. To be honest the film looked god-awful, so I didn’t bother to watch it. But I always knew I’d eventually read the book, and when better than on a lazy Sunday when I should have been cleaning the apartment?

I’m sure everyone knows the story. A newly married couple decide to get a dog, and so buy a labrador puppy, who grows up into the world’s worst dog. Only of course he isn’t the world’s worst, he simply has some bad habits. Very bad habits that include his destruction of numerous items. But at heart Marley is a sweet good-natured dog whose labrador-ish optimism teachers his owners all about life and, eventually, loss.

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21 January 2010
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Here lies Arthur by directed by

Author: Philip Reeve
Some stories will never stop being retold. How many different versions of the Arthurian legends are there out there? And do we really need another? Well, why not. I mean, just because you share the germ of an idea with someone doesn’t mean you can’t go something new with it. A retelling can be more original than the original.

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29 October 2009
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Daughter of Henry VIII by ,

Winter had withdrawn its iron grip from the land and triumphant spring burgeoned over the countryside. I enjoyed this book a lot more than i had suspected I would when I picked it up. But it only cost me .25 … Continue reading →

27 October 2009
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Still life with Woodpecker by ,

ISBN: 0553148923 really wanted to like this book. How could I not, the synopsis from the back cover makes you want to start reading it: Still Life with Woodpecker is sort of a love story that takes place inside a … Continue reading →

1 February 2009
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Milk by directed by

Despite my long stated policy of not reading reviews until after I’ve seen a film I’ve come across quite a few views on this film. Mostly positive. Course I didn’t really read any of them. I’m not about to go against my own policy that way. But I did notice the good buzz. So maybe that is why I came out of the cinema a little disappointed at this one.

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