Book Review - The Body by Stephen King

Title: The Body
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Fiction/ Thriller
Published: 1982
 
Description: It’s 1960 Castle Rock. Ray Brower, a boy from a nearby town, has disappeared, and twelve-year-old Gordie Lachance and his three friends set out on a quest to find his body along the railroad tracks. During the course of their journey, Gordie, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp and Vern Tessio come to terms with death and the harsh truth of growing up in a small factory town that doesn’t offer much in the way of the future.
 
Review: I have read Stephen King’s “The Body” before, but this time I decided to listen to the audiobook narrated by Wil Wheaton. One of my favorite movies, “Stand By Me”, is based on this novella and Wheaton plays Gordie Lachance.
 
Although Stephen King is known as the “King of Horror”, but he proves with this novella that he is the absolute master at capturing the human soul and the bittersweet transition from childhood to adulthood.
 
Four boys go looking for a dead body along the railroad tracks. It sounds simple, but it’s a deep, emotional journey filled with friendship, fear, and the realization that the worlds isn’t as safe as you hope it is as a child. The raw, honest way King describes the dynamics between the boys remains unmatched.
 
Wil Wheaton is the perfect choice as a narrator. He brings a vulnerability and sincerity to the text that perfectly matches the book’s melancholic tone. If anyone aside from King himself, knows this story, it’s Wheaton.
 
This book is an ode to friendship. Whether you’re familiar with the film or not, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves compelling characters development and atmospheric storytelling. A timeless classic that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Remarkably Bright Creatures

Director: Olivia Newman
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Sally Field, Lewis Pullman, Alfred Molina, Colm Meany, Kathy Baker, Beth Grant, Joan Chen, Sofia Black-D’Elia
 
Description: Through unlikely bonds formed during night shifts at a local aquarium, Tova (Sally Field), an elderly widow, learns of a life-changing discovery that may bring her joy and wonder once again.  
 
Review: There are movies you watch, and movies you experience. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” undoubtedly belongs to the latter category. Director Olivia Newman has succeeded in translating the complex emotions from Shelby Van Pelt’s bestsellers into a visually stunning and deeply moving drama that lingers in your mind for days. The beating heart of the film is the extraordinary bond between 70-year-old Tova Sullivan and Marcellus, a giant octopus at the Sowell Bay Aquarium.

Sally Field plays Tova with a fragile strength that immediately touches you; her loneliness following the loss of her husband and the disappearance of her son thirty years ago is palpable in every scene where she silently scrubs the floors of the aquarium. When she and Marcellus (with the masterful, gruff voice of Alfred Molina) find each other, a chemistry emerges that is almost magical. Marcellus is not a pet, but a highly intelligent being who observes humanity with a cynical eye. Except for Tova. Their silent understanding and the way Marcellus helps her unravel the truth about her past form one of the most original and moving friendships I’ve ever seen.

In addition to the connection with Marcellus, the arrival of Cameron (an excellent Lewis Pullman) drives the story forward. Cameron is a man in his thirties who cant seem to get his life together and ends up in Sowell Bay in search of answers about his origins. The dynamic between the dutiful, reserved Tova and the chaotic, searching Cameron is beautifully crafted. What begins as an awkward working relationship grows into a deep human connection. Tova sees in Cameron the potential he himself does not yet see, while Cameron unconsciously fills the void left by the disappearance of Tova’s son. The film sublimely demonstrates how two strangers can heal each other, simply by appearing in each other’s lives at the right moment.

Visually and emotionally balanced, the cinematography perfectly captures the misty, melancholic atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, which forms a beautiful contrast with Marcellus’s colorful and almost otherworldly appearance.

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” is a rare film that both breaks your heart and mends it. It is an ode to the power of friendship, in whatever form it takes, and a reminder that it is never too late to find the truth to start over. With top-notch performances and a script that never misses a beat, this is an absolute 5-star must-see. Don’t you just love it when they get the book to movie adaptation right?

Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Title: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Genre: Fiction/ Contemporary
Published: 2022
 
Description: After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors an tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors – until her forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.
 
Review: “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt is a rare kind of debut novel: one that moves from the very first page, makes you laugh, and ultimately leaves you with a lump in your throat. It is a beautifully woven story that shows that hope and connection can be found in the most unlikely places.
 
The absolute star of the book is Marcellus, a headstrong and highly gifted giant octopus who lives in the Sowell Bay Aquarium. His observations of the human world are sharp, humorous, and surprisingly wise. Marcellus is not just an animal; he is a fully-fledged character with a voice of his own who compels the reader to look at the world and intelligence in a different way.
 
The human heart of the story is Tova Sullivan, a seventy-year-old widow who cleans the aquarium at night to dispel the silence in her life. Tova carries a heavy loss with her: the unsolved disappearance of her eighteen-year-old son Erik, thirty years ago. The bond that forms between Tova and Marcellus is one of the most heartwarming friendships I’ve read in a long time.
 
When the young Cameron arrives in Sowell Bay, the various storylines begin to come together in an ingenious way. Van Pelt carefully builds the tension and emotional release, allowing the reader to see every piece of the puzzle fall into place.
 
The book tackles heavy themes such as loneliness, grief, and aging, but does so with a light, almost magical touch. The town of Sowell Bay feels like a warm community you’d want to be a part of yourself. And besides to bond between Tova and Marcellus, Tova also forms a bond with Cameron, which I absolutely loved as well.
 
I have read many books where we follow several characters, but never have I read a story with chapters told from the perspective of an octopus. It could become silly, but Van Pelt makes Marcellus believable and unforgettable.
 
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” is an ode to the power of friendship and the ability to come to terms with the past. It’s a book you don’t just read, it stays with you long after you closed it. An absolute must-read for anyone looking for a story with soul. This is the ultimate feel-good read and it is now one of my all-time favorites.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Apex

Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Genre: Action/ Thriller
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Charlize Theron, Taron Edgerton, Eric Bana
 
Description: A mountain climber (Charlize Theron) haunted by a fatal decision in Norway retreats to the Australian wilderness for isolation. Her journey turns into a desperate hunt when a deceptive local (Taron Edgerton) targets her as his next ritualistic prey in the bush.
 
Review: “Apex” is a thrilling survival thriller. Sasha is by herself in the wilderness of Australia, wanting some solitude. But a local starts hunting her, literally.

The film is just over 90 minutes and it’s a thrill ride. The story is simple yet original, but features some predictable plot twists. It has solid action and the tension is really present. It lacks depth, but somehow that isn't all that bothersome. We know just enough about Sasha to root for her.

I have to praise Charlize Theron for her physical commitment to the role and portrayal of the grieving, independent climber. Taron Edgerton shows a different side of himself. His performances sometimes balances on the edge of being too much, but he never crosses that line.

“Apex” is a cat-and-mouse game. The final half-hour is not as compelling as the rest, but it’s an exciting nail-biter of a thriller.

Rating: 3/ 5

Book Review - The Examiner by Janice Hallett

Title: The Examiner
Author: Janice Hallett
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2024
 
Description: The students of Royal Hastings University’s new Multimedia Art course have been trouble from day one. Acclaimed artist Alyson wants the department to revolve around her. Ludya struggles to balance her family and the workload. Jonathan has management experience but zero talent for art. Lovely Patrick can barely operate his mobile phone, let alone professional design software. Meanwhile blustering Cameron tries to juggle the course with his job in the City and does neither very well. Then there’s Jem. A gifted young sculptor, she’s a promising student… but cross her at your peril.
 
The year-long course is blighted by accusations of theft, students setting fire to one another’s art work, a rumored extra-marital affair and a disastrous road trip. But finally they are given their last assignment: to build an interactive art installation for a local manufacturer. With six students who have nothing in common except their clashing personal agendas, what could possibly go wrong?
 
The answer is: murder. When the external examiner arrives to assess the students’ essays and coursework, he becomes convinced that a student was killed on the course and that the others covered it up. But is he right? And if so, who is dead, why were they killed, and who is the murderer? Only a close examination of the evidence will reveal the truth. Your time starts now…
 
Review: Janice Hallett’s “The Examiner” is, as we’ve come to expect from her, a unique reading experience. Hallett remains the queen of the modern epistolary style; the story is told entirely through emails, text messages, transcripts, and official documents. Although this format is once again ingeniously crafter, this book managed to captivate me not as much as her earlier work, such as “The Appeal” and “The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels”.
 
The book follows six students pursuing a master’s degree in Art at the University of Royal Hastings. Their project is closely monitored by an external examiner, who soon notices that behind the artistic expressions lies a web of jealousy, passive-aggressive emails, and a dark secret.
 
It remains impressive how Hallett can weave a complex murder mystery using only digital communication. It feels very relatable and modern. The tension among the group of students is, at times, delightfully uncomfortable. The passive-aggressive tone in the group chats is spot-on.
 
Unlike her other books, I found it difficult to really connect with the characters. This time, they felt more like “types” than real people, which made the final resolution less impactful for me. The middle section drags a bit and it takes a while before the true stakes of the mystery become clear.

“The Examiner” is a solid whodunnit for lovers of the genre and fans of Hallett’s distinctive style. It’s a cleverly constructed puzzle, but for me it lacked the urgency and sharpness that made some of her previous books so spectacular. A good read, but not a standout.
 
Rating: 3/ 5 

Book Review - Half His Age by Jenette McCurdy

Title: Half His Age
Author: Jenette McCurdy
Genre: Fiction/ Romance
Published: 2026
 
Description: Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naïve. Wise. Impulsive. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive/ Endlessly wanting. And the thing she want most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher with the wife and the kid and the mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and the growing paunch. She doesn’t know why she wants him. It is a passion? His life experience? The fact that he knows books and films and things that she doesn’t? Or is it purer than that, rooted in their unlikely connection, their kindred spirits, the similar filter with which they each take in the world around them? Or, perhaps it’s just enough that he sees her when no one else does.

Review: After the impressive “I’m Glad My Mom Died”, my expectations for Jenette McCurdy’s fiction debut were sky-high. Unfortunately, “Half His Age” is a massive disappointment that falls short in nearly every way. What works as a direct and honest voice in her memoir feels unpolished and repetitive here.
 
We meet Waldo, a 17-year-old girl who starts to show a special interest in her creative writing teacher, Mr. Korgy, who is 40.
 
Waldo is meant to be a complex character struggling with trauma and a shopping addiction. Instead she comes across mainly as insufferable and one-dimensional. Her obsession with her teacher lacks emotional depth. Mr. Korgy himself is a cliché and he is utterly uninteresting. Because you don’t connect with either of them, their destructive relationship feels more like a tedious repetition of tropes than a bold literary statement.
 
The book relies heavily on explicit, often vulgar scenes that push the boundaries of discomfort. Although McCurdy indicates that this discomfort is intentional, in practice it mostly feels like cheap shock value. There is one scene especially (if you read it, you know which scene I mean) that was so gross. The couple already gave me the ick, but that scene made it worse.
 
I love Jennette McCurdy, and I really wished I liked this book, but it lacks humor, nuance and sincerity that made McCurdy such an interesting voice. “Half His Age” is mainly a frustrating reading experience that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone.
 
Rating: 1/ 5

Movie Review - Scream 7

Director: Kevin Williamson
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2026

Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Joel McHale, Anna Camp, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, McKenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Matthew Lillard, Ethan Embry
 
Description: When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter becomes the next target.
 
Review: “Scream 7” feels more like a desperate attempt to artificially keep the franchise alive. Although Neve Campbell’s return as Sidney Prescott brings a touch of nostalgia, even her presence can’t save the shaky script.

Sidney is living a happy and calm life with her husband Mark and three kids. But Ghostface is back and is now after her daughter Tatum.

The film clings desperately to the familiar formula and barely dares to experiment, resulting in a predictable experience. I knew the minute a certain character was introduced, they were Ghostface.
Aside from Sidney and Gale, the new characters are flat and forgettable. The dynamic lacks the energy and humor that made the earlier installments so strong.

The reveal is very unsatisfying. Like I said, I predicted it and it feels forced and doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Despite its shortcomings, any film in this franchise will always be entertaining. And the kills are bloodier then the previous films in my opinion. And I did like the opening scene, set in Stu Macher’s house. Fan service for sure, but it does have the tension that the rest of the film is lacking.

“Scream 7” was not necessary at all. Fun time though.

Rating: 2/ 5

90s Movie Review - Mrs. Doubtfire

Director: Chris Columbus
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 1993
Starring: Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan, Harvey Fierstein, Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence, Mara Wilson, Robert Prosky, Anne Haney, Polly Holliday

Description: After a bitter divorce, an actor (Robin Williams) disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend time with his children held in custody by his former wife (Sally Field).

Review: “Mrs. Doubtfire” is universally acclaimed as a heartwarming family classic, carried by and iconic and award-winning performance by Robin Williams. A favorite for my family when I was a kid. Although the film is known for its slapstick humor, I always appreciated the serious undertones regarding divorce and parenthood.

Robin Williams plays Daniel Hillard, a divorces father who disguises himself as the British nanny Mrs. Doubtfire to be with his children. He is the heart of the film. The film dares to present an honest portrayal of the impact of divorce on children and fatherhood, without resorting to a standard “happy ending” where the parents get back together.

This film brings back so many memories and as an adult I can still appreciate this film.

Rating: 4 / 5

Book Review - King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby

Title: King of Ashes
Author: S.A. Cosby
Genre: Thriller/ Crime
Published: 2025
 
Description: Roman Caruthers left the smoke and fire of his family’s crematory business behind in his hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia. He is enjoying a life of shallow excess as a financial adviser in Atlanta until he gets a call from his sister, Neveah, telling him their father is in a coma after a hit-and-run accident. When Roman goes home, he learns the accident may not be what it seems. His brother, Dante, is deeply in debt to dangerous, ruthless criminals.
 
And Roman is willing to do anything to protect his family. Anything.
 
A financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, Roman must use all his skills to try to save his family while dealing with a shadow that has haunted them all for twenty years: the disappearance of their mother when Roman and his siblings were teenagers. It’s a mystery that Neveah, who has sacrificed so much of her life to hold her family together, is determined to solve once and for all.
 
As fate and chance and heartache ignite their lives, the Carithers family must pull together to survive or see their lives turn to ash. Because, as their father counseled them from birth nothing lasts forever.
 
Everything burns
 
Review: “King of Ashes” by S.A. Cosby is a gripping, gritty crime thriller that explores the boundaries of family loyalty and moral corruptions. Powerful yet tragic, though its explicit rawness requires a strong stomach. But if you read from S.A. Cosby you know what to expect.
 
The story revolves around Roman Caruthers, a successful asset manages in Atlanta who thought he had left the darkness of his hometown, Jefferson Run, Virginia, far behind him. When his father falls into a coma after a mysterious accident, Roman returns to the family business: a crematorium. He finds a mess, His brother Dante is deeply in depth to the violent Black Baron Boys gang, and his sister is struggling to keep the family together.
 
The raw and poetic style of Cosby is one of the reason why I love his stories so much. He describes Jefferson Run as a town slowly rotting away, which perfectly mirrors the characters’ inner struggles. The core of the book isn’t just action, but the traumas that have haunted the family for twenty years since their mother’s disappearance. The dynamics between the brothers and sister feel painfully real.
 
Roman is not your typical hero, but an intellectual anti-hero who uses his financial skills as a weapon in a deadly game of chess against criminals.
 
The book is extremely violent at times. Trigger warnings for readers who have a hard time reading about severe abuse and violence.
 
“King of Ashes” is a blood-curdling thriller about how far you’ll go for you own kin. It didn’t hit me as hard as “Razorblade Tears” and “All the Sinners Bleed” did, but if you’re a fan of S.A. Cosby, you should definitely pick it up.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Title: Best Offer Wins
Author: Marisa Kashino
Genre: Thriller/ Fiction
Published: 2025
 
Description: Eighteen months and 11 lost bidding wars into house-hunting in the overheated Washington, DC suburbs, 37-year-old publicist Margo Miyake gets a tip about the perfect house, in the perfect neighborhood, slated to come up for sale in one month. Desperate to escape the cramped apartment she shares with her husband Ian – and in turn, get their marriage, plan to have a baby, and whole life back on track – Margo becomes obsesses with buying the house before it’s publicly listed and the masses descend.
 
A little stalking? Harmless. A bit of trespassing? Necessary. As Margo infiltrates the homeowners’ lives, her tactics grow increasingly nhinged – but just when she thinks she’s won them over, she hits a snag in her plan. Undeterred, margo will prive again and again that there’s no boundary she won’t cross to seize the dream life she’s been chasing.
 
Review: With “Best Offer Wins” Marisa Kashino delivers a debut that is as timely as it is terrifying. While many thrillers rely on classic motifs such as jealousy and revenge, Kashino opts for a much more modern monster: the unattainable housing market. The result is a razor-sharp, unhinged page-turned that makes you reflect on the question: how far would you go for you dream home?
 
Margo Miyake is the kind of character you initially want to hug, but soon find yourself wanting to avoid at all costs. She is 37, successful in PR, but deeply unhappy because she just can’t seem to buy a home in Washington, D.C. After eleven failed bids, she’s at her wit’s end. When she gets a tip about a house that isn’t yet on the market, she becomes obsessed with the current owners. What starts as innocent online stalking spirals into a feverish nightmare of blackmail and violence.
 
Kashino, herself a former real estate reporter, knows exactly what she’s writing about. The strength of this book lies in its sharp social observations.  The way she describes the pretensions of the upper middle class is satirical gold.
 
In addition, Margo’s psychological decline is masterfully portrayed. As a reader, you’re drawn into her logic. But Margo is also highly unlikeable. This could be a reason for people to dislike the book. I just couldn’t put this book down because of how crazy this woman was, probably especially because I hated her.
 
The book begins as written social commentary, but it transforms in the second half into a blood-curdling thriller with a finale so bizarre that you never see it coming.
 
The transition from “desperate house hunter” to “full-blown sociopath” happens rather quickly toward the end of the book. While the escalation is entertaining, it requires a considerable dose of suspension of disbelief from the reader. Some plot twist, though very entertaining, feel a bit less credible than others.
 
“Best Offer Wins” is a really good thriller, and gave me exactly what I needed and I was missing in thriller lately. A must-read for thriller fans who want to get out of a reading slump, you will not be able to put this one down.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Hamnet

Director: Chloé Zhao
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Emily Watson, Jacobi Jupe, Noah Jupe
 
Description: In late 16^th-century England, Agnes (Jessie Buckley), a healer sensitive to the world around her, builds a home with William (Paul Mescal), a local tudor and aspiring playwright. As their lives fracture, they are tested by distance, silence, and grief.
 
Review: The film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel “Hamnet” by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao is a rare example of an adaptation that not only understands the soul of the source material but also amplifies it. It is a visually stunning and emotionally devastating portrait of grief, love, and the transcendent power of art.

Although Paul Mescal portrays a fragile yet powerful William Shakespeare (never named until the very end), this is unmistakably Jessie Buckley’s film. As Agnes, she is the emotional anchor; a woman with a powerful connection to nature. Zhao wisely chooses not to show the rise of the famous playwright in London, but to focus on the raw reality of family life in Stratford. The chemistry between Buckley and Mescal is palpable and makes the impending tragedy all the more painful.

The cinematography by Łukasz Żal is nothing short of sublime. He captures the English countryside in 1596 with a sensory richness that immediately transport the viewer into the mud and sunlight of the Elizabethan era. The scenes in which the plague slowly creeps into the household are portrayed with a suffocating tension. Max Richters’s music enhances the melancholic atmosphere.

The absolute highlight is the finale, in which the film shows an indescribably personal loss – the death of eleven-year-old Hamnet – is transformed into the universal masterpiece Hamlet. Zhao succeeds in giving familiar monologues from the play a new, deeply moving meaning that will bring even the most stoic viewers to tears.

“Hamnet” is a tearjerker of the highest order, but its more than that. It’s a story of loss and the aftermath of this, how people grief differently. The narrative structure of the middle section is somewhat uneven, but the emotional impact of the final scene more than makes up for it. I have only just read the book (which I gave a 5-star rating) and it always makes me happy to see a director succeeding into translating it to film. Beautiful film and a well-deserved Academy Award for Jessie Buckley.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Book Review - Ring Shout by P. Djèli Clark

Title: Ring Shout
Author: P. Djèli Clark
Genre: Horror/ Historical Fiction
Published: 2020
 
Description: In 1915, “The Birth of a Nation” cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan’s ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die.
 
Standing in their way is Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan’s demons straight to Hell. But something awful’s brewing in Macon, and the war on Hell is about to heat up.
 
Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?
 
Review: “Ring Shout” by P. Djèli Clark is a devastating novella that completely blurs the lines between historical fiction, folklore, and cosmic horror. It is a rare kind of book that is both an adrenaline-pumping action thriller and a razor-sharp social commentary.
 
Clark makes a brilliant artistic choice by portraying the Ku Klux Klan not only as an ideological threat, but as a literal infection. In this story, the “Ku Kluxes” are monsters from another dimension on hatred and fear. By turning Klan members into physical monsters, Clark exposes the inhumanity of their ideology without trivializing the horrific historical reality. It shows that racism is not an abstract concept, but a force that distorts people into something unrecognizable.
 
The story is set in 1915, the year the film “Birth of a Nation” was released. Clark masterfully weaves this historical fact into the plot: the film serves here as a form of dark magic, a “shout” that propagates hatred and empowers the monsters. He contrasts this hatred with the Ring Shout, a deeply rooted tradition of enslaved Africans. As a result, the race issue becomes not only a struggle for survival, but a spiritual war in which culture and shared history are the most powerful weapons.
 
The horror element in “Ring Shout” is in a league of its own. Clark draws from the tradition of Lovecraft’s cosmic horror, but strips it of Lovecraft’s biased worldview. The descriptions of the Butcher Boys and the transformations are visceral and terrifying. Here, the horror serves a higher purpose: to visualize the trauma inflicted over generations. It is bloody, imaginative, and at times deeply unsettling. The story reminded me of a mix of “Sinners”, BlacKkKlansman” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.
 
Maryse, the sword-wielding protagonist, is one of the most compelling characters I have read about in a while. Her struggle against the monsters outside her and the rage within her gives the story an emotional depth. “Ring Shout” is a masterfully written book that proves horror is the perfect medium for exploring the darkest pages of history. The book is short, under 200 pages, but packs a punch.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

Title: Penpal
Author: Dathan Auerbach
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Published: 2012
 
Description: A man investigates the seemingly unrelated bizarre, tragic and horrific occurrences of his childhood in an attempt to finally understand them. Beginning with only fragments of his earlier years, you’ll follow the narrator as he discovers that these stranger and horrible evens are actually part of a single terrifying story that has shaped the entirety of his life and the lives of those around him.
 
Review: In “Penpal” we see a series of short stories, told by our narrator. These seemingly unrelated stories are part of his past and he is beginning to realize they might have a link.
 
The story starts of strong and manages to draw the reader into a nostalgic yet ominous childhood. The book greatest strength is its atmosphere. There are a number of genuinely creepy moments that gave me the chills. Dathan Auerbach managed to turn eeryday situations into something sinister.
 
Still, I was left with mixed feelings after finishing the book. The structure of the book is sometimes confusing. Because these were originally standalone stories, the chronology often feels fragmented. Additionally, the plot holes become increasingly noticeable as the story progresses. Some of the decisions made by the parents and the authorities are hard to swallow and only feel logical within the plot, not in reality. Although the climax hits hard emotionally, the gaps in logic leave a sense of dissatisfaction. It’s worth a try because of the chilling moments, but as a cohesive horror/ thriller, it falls short.
 
Rating: 2,5/ 5

Book Review - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

Title: Hamnet
Author: Maggie O’Farrell
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Fiction
Published: 2020
 
Description: Warwickshire in the 1580s. Agnes, a woman as feared as she is sought after for her unusual gifts. She settles with her husband in henley street, Stratford, and has three children: a daughter Susanna, and then twins Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet dies in 1596, aged elven. Four years  or so late, the husband writes a play called Hamlet.
 
Review: With “Hamnet”, Maggie O’Farrell delivers an absolute beauty of a book that approaches history not as a dusty archive, but as a living, breathing, and painfully relatable human drama. Although the name Shakespeare is never mentioned, his shadow hands over every page, even though he not the protagonist here. The honor belongs to Agnes.
 
What immediately stands out is O’Farrell’s unparalleled writing style. She employs an almost compelling present tense that places the reader right in the heart of late 16^th-century Stratford-upon-Avon. Her prose is lyrical and vivid.
 
At the heart of the novel is the death of eleven-year-old Hamnet and the devastating impact it has on his family. O’Farrell describes the grieving process with a precision that is almost physically painful. The way Agnes tries to make sense of the world as her child slips away from her is heartbreaking. The author ingeniously connects this personal loss to the eventual creation of the world-famous play “Hamlet’, several years later. The book transforms the tragedy from a footnote in history into the beating heart of a literary genius.
 
The characterization of Agnes is the book’s greatest strength. She is portrayed as a mysterious, strong woman with a deep connection to nature, in contrast to her husband, who flees to London to live in words. Their marriage, marked by distance and deep affection, feel surprisingly modern and believable.
 
“Hamnet” is an ode to the forgotten women in history and a universal story of love and loss. It is a rare kind of book that both intellectually stimulated and emotionally unravels you completely. Even for me, who is not a mother and never will be one, the book was very emotional. For fans of historical fiction with a deep psychological layer.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - Twee Prinsen by Splinter Chabot

Title: Twee Prinsen
Author: Splinter Chabot
Genre: Fiction/ LGBTQ+/ Romance
Published: 2026
 
Description: When Richard flees to colorful, sunny Rome, he meets the angelic Matteo. As the twenty-somethings explore the city and get to know each other, Richard tries to come to terms with his past.
 
Freed from his strict conservative parents and the drab countryside, Richard seems afraid of nothing and no one, but his toughness soon turns out to be a pose, a shield with which he tries to hide his insecurities. It is the love of the playful, sensual Matteo that helps him overcome his fears.
 
For a short time, Rome is heaven on earth, until Richard and Matteo must hide there too from the stares, opinions, and fists of others. This time, Richard won’t let it go.
 
Review: “Twee Prinsen” (Two Princes) is the new novel by Dutch author Splinter Chabot (not translated into English). It’s a must-read for anyone who loves stories that go straight to the heart.
 
We meet Richard, who grows up in a conservative, religious family. At a young age, he realizes he is gay. We follow the story of him as a young boy in a strict family, and of him as a twenty-something in a romance with Matteo in Rome.
 
Splinter Chabot has a unique gift for creating, through his enchanting writing style, a world that feels both relatable and magical. Every sentence reads like a painting; it is so colorful, vulnerable, and written with passion.
 
What makes this book so powerful is its beautiful portrayal of LGTBTQ+ themes. Chabot captures the uncertainty, the euphoria, and the pure essence of the search for oneself and love for another with integrity. The story of the two princes is not just a fairy tale, but an important ode to the freedom to be who you are and to love whom you choose.
 
A beautiful, hopeful book that will linger in your mind for a long time. And that will definitely make you cry.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Tropic Thunder

Director: Ben Stiller
Genre: Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2008
Starring: Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Bacl, Jay Baruchel, Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Steve Coogan, Tom Cruise, Matthew mcConaughey, Bill Hader

Description: Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.

Review: We all know the prototype war movie: the brave leader, the cursing black guy with a big heart, the scary newbie and the villainous opponent. We also know the prototype actors: the tough action hero on detour, the lame comedian who only knows to tell one joke in many different ways, the serious Oscar winner and the rapper that wants to explore his acting career. “Tropic Thunder” mocks both of those groups, but also Hollywood, agents, producers and entertainment shows.

The film, that starts after a few fake trailers, is about the filming of war movie Tropic Thunder. It’s the fictive memoire of Vietnam veteran ‘Four Leaf’ Tayback. Director Daniel Cockburn can’t control the actors in his crew. He’s dealing with action hero Tuff Speedman, whose try on more serious acting failed. But also the Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus and the addicted-to-many-things comedian Jeff Portnoy. To control them, they are send to the real jungle, where they unfortunately also have to deal with real drug dealers.

The most interesting and elaborate storyline is the one of Lazarus. An actor who always stays in character and even had a procedure to make his skin darker so he can play the role in Tropic Thunder. It sounds harsh and an easy way to provoke, but it’s deeper than that. The other characters aren’t thought through as much. Jack Black does nothing new, hysterical and over the top. But that doesn’t make it less funny. And Ben Stiller’s character is mocking Tom Cruise, a bit too much sometimes. Tom Cruise himself also shows up, as the fat, bald and cursing producer. Funny? From time to time.

The movie is overall very funny and Robert Downey Jr. is just fantastic in his part. And the many supporting actors, Jay Baruchel, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey and Nick Nolte, are all good. “Tropic Thunder” is always praised and I like it too. But not as much as most people.

Rating: 3,5/ 5 

Book Review - How to Killa Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

Title: How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates
Author: Shailee Thompson
Genre: Romance/ Horror
Published: 2026

Description: When Jamie Prescott and her best friend Laurie attend a speed-dating event, Jamie expects to meet a roster of mediocre men and indulge in some street food afterwards. She doesn’t expect one of her dates to have his throat slit at their table during a blackout. After the lights come back on and there are more bodies on the floor, it becomes clear that dating can be a very dangerous pastime.
 
Armed with a makeshift weapon and Jamie’s extensive knowledge of what NOT to do in a slasher, the remaining speed dates try to find an exit while the killer adds to their body count. As the night progresses Jamie comes face-to-mask with the murderer, she beings to suspect they are committing they slayings to woo one of the daters and turn them into a real-life Final Girl. But Jamie has other plans, and as she fights for her life, she can’t help but find herself ensconced in a love triangle with two of the other survivors. Will she make it through the bloodshed to find her happily ever after? Or does this machete-wielding psychopath have another ending in mind?

Review: As a massive cinephile and lifelong movie lover, I found “How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates” to be an absolute blast. It is a rare kind of romantic comedy that doesn’t just follow the rules of the genre – it dissects them while winking at the audience the entire time.
 
Jamie and her best friend Laurie are going out for a night of speed-dates: ten dates in one night. What they didn’t expect is for one of Jamie’s dates to get slashed during a power-out. When the body count starts to rise, Jamie has to use her extensive knowledge of slasher films to survive the night, when she also gets tangled in a love triangle with two other survivors.
 
Two genres that shouldn’t work well together: horror and romance. But in this book, it’s a match made in heaven. The book is incredibly self-aware, playing with the tropes we’ve seen on screen for decades. Many names in the book refer to horror movie characters. To name a few, the leading lady Jamie Prescott; Jamie referring to Jamie Lee Curtis (known for “Halloween”) and Prescott being Sydney’s last name in the “Scream” franchise. Love interest Wes Carpenter refers to horror directors Wes Craven and John Carpenter. And Laurie is obviously hinting at Laurie Strode, the final girl in “Halloween”. And there are many many more of these hints spread around the book. Also fun is that each chapter of the book starts with a quote from a famous romcom (Jamie’s other favorite movie genre), but twisting it to become more sinister. The enjoyment factor of this book really depends on your film IQ. If you don’t get the movie references, you probably won’t like this book as much. The humor and the character motivations are so deeply rooted in cinematic history that the Easter eggs act as the heartbeat of the story.
 
The love triangle in the movie, didn’t really feel like a triangle. Since Jamie is very obviously leaning towards on of the guys. And there a moments in the book that felt a bit too silly, even for this story. Because the last thing I would be thinking about whilst being in the middle of real-life slasher movie is hooking up with one of the dates.
 
Listen to this book on audio when you can, because this is one of the best audiobooks I have I ever listened. We follow the narrative through Jamie, but whenever one of the main men talk, you get a male narrator as well. And there a several sound effects that make this a great listening experience.
 
The ending wasn’t very surprising, but I still enjoyed it. If you’re a fellow movie geek and looking for a romcom and horror combo, this is definitely a good choice. Super fun book to read.
 
Rating: 4/ 5