Set in 1959, Ghost 19 by Simone St. James revolves around off-Broadway actress Ginette Cox whose “nerves” and “breakdoPlot :3.5⭐; Audio Narration 4.5⭐
Set in 1959, Ghost 19 by Simone St. James revolves around off-Broadway actress Ginette Cox whose “nerves” and “breakdown” and subsequent hospitalization prompt her doctors to advise her to take time off work and away from any kind of excitement. Not wanting to venture too far from New York City, she rents a house in Meritville, a NY suburb, at 19 Howard Ave, where she spends her time spying on her neighbors from her window, making up names and stories about them as she goes along.
Her initial impression of the house is that it feels “impersonal” and “wasn’t lived in”. But as the days progress, strange noises from the basement and other eerie occurrences including a strange man looking in her windows have Ginette on edge. Her doctor dismisses her fears and prescribes her pills to help her sleep and the police don’t take her complaints seriously. Narrated in the first person by Ginette, the narrative is shared in alternating chapters between “Then” which takes us through the initial few weeks of her stay in her rented home and “Now”, 19 days into her stay when she is hiding in her kitchen, with a knife in her hands for protection speaking to the Detective who has previously visited her home in response to a frantic phone call from her. Compounding her fear is the fact that the house does not let her venture out the front door, holding her back, thus limiting her human contact to those who personally enter her home, dependent on her local grocery delivery for food and and in constant fear for her life. Is she losing her mind or is she right in assuming that something is happening inside this house, for which there is no easy explanation?
Fast-paced and entertaining, I enjoyed this novella (approximately 3 hours in audiobook format) and thought Brittany Pressley did an exceptional job in voicing Ginette and conveying her state of mind as she finds herself trapped inside the house she has rented. Normally I’m wary of books with spooky vibes (I admit to being a bit of a scaredy cat) but I really enjoyed Simone St. James’ The Book of Cold Cases and therefore decided to give this one a try and I’m glad I did!...more
Spent my day listening to the audio narration by Stephanie Racine. The narration was impressive, the build-up engaging, the child abuse, animal crueltSpent my day listening to the audio narration by Stephanie Racine. The narration was impressive, the build-up engaging, the child abuse, animal cruelty and spousal abuse disturbing and the twist left me nauseated and ruined the book for me! Needless to say, my least favorite Feeney novel to date!
From Hollywood with Love by Scott Meslow is an exploration into the popularity of the romantic comedy (rom-com) genre of movies covering a span o4.5/5
From Hollywood with Love by Scott Meslow is an exploration into the popularity of the romantic comedy (rom-com) genre of movies covering a span of over thirty years starting from the late 1980s through the 1990s to the present day. The author addresses the immense popularity of this genre in the 80s and 90s, followed by a period that saw a decline in interest and the favorable response to romantic comedies in the present day. Not only does the author talks about celebrated studio releases (such as When Harry Met Sally, Love Actually or the more recent Crazy Rich Asians) that are representative of the genre but also takes a look at how contemporary web streaming services have contributed to the revived interest in romantic comedies in today's day and age (citing the example of the To All The Boys I Loved Before series of movies released on Netflix).
It should be noted that the author has made a careful selection of movies based on certain criteria (timeline, critical and commercial success, influence and legacy) and by no means is this an exhaustive list. The book is informative, entertaining and exceptionally well structured with sixteen chapters each devoted to different movies in the genre and the actors whose careers have benefitted from their contribution to this genre. From the choice of source material and development of the stories to production issues and casting decisions, the author gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the making of some of the popular romantic comedies that are loved by fans across the globe. The author breaks down the most memorable dialogues and iconic scenes from these movies and talks about the writers, directors and actors involved in the creative process.
My personal favorites were the chapters on When Harry Met Sally, Waiting to Exhale and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. After each of the chapters (barring the last one), there are essays on actors who have played significant roles in in this genre. It is commendable that the author has not limited the essays to lead actors or actresses but has included those in significant supporting roles as well such as Judy Greer and Mindy Kaling. The author also shares sharp factual and analytical insight (exclusive of any reference to tabloid gossip) into public perception and media and audience reaction, towards not only the movies cited in the narrative but romantic comedies in general, over time and the factors that contributed to the dimmed popularity and renewed interest towards the same.
I alternated between reading the book and listening to the audio narration. Jeremy Arthur ‘s narration is engaging, upbeat and conversational and makes for an enjoyable listening experience. From Hollywood with Love by Scott Meslow is a fascinating read and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies and is interested in an in-depth look into the creative process behind some of the most loved romantic comedies of our time. This book will make you want to rewatch some of your old favorites and/or add a few new names to your to-watch list!...more
Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from
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