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

Movie Review - Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere

Director: Adrian Choa
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 91 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Louis Theroux, Harrison Sullivan, Ed Matthews, Myron Gaines, Justin Waller
 
Description: The acclaimed documentarian gains rare, unrestricted access to explore a rising ultra-masculine network and its polarizing influencers.
 
Review: Louis Theroux is back with his signature style of modest curiosity in the Netflix documentary “Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere”. In this 90-minute film, he delves into the online world of “manfluencers” – an ecosystem of influencers who spread radical ideas about masculinity, wealth, and gender relations.

Theroux gains impressive access to key figures such as Harrison Sullivan (HSTikkyTokky), Sneaky and Myron Gaines. It’s fascinating to see how he sometimes abandons his uninformed demeanor to confront their controversial statement more directly than usual.

The documentary painfully exposes how this movement often functions as a revenue model, monetizing the insecurities of young men. The film serves as a necessity that shows how deeply anti-Semitism and misogyny are rooted in these subcultures.

If you have been following the news in recent years, the documentary offers few new insights. Many critics note that Theroux is a bit “late to the part’, since this topic has been covered extensively. The analysis sometimes remains superficial. Even though the documentary is very critical if this online culture of toxic masculinity, Theroux holds back.

“Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere” is a solid, unsettling documentary that every parent of a teenage son should really see. It’s a masterclass from Theroux, but it doesn’t dig deep enough and stays too much on the surface.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - The Life of Chuck

Director: Mike Flanagan
Genre: Drama/ Fantasy
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mark Hamill, Jacob Tremblay, Matthew Lillard, Annalise Basso, Kate Siegel, Samanta Sloyan

Description: A life-affirming, genre-bending story about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man names Charles Krantz.

Review: With “The Life of Chuck”, director Mike Flanagan proves that he can do more than horror. He is an absolute master of portraying the human soul. Based on the short story by Stephen King, that I just finished reading, this is a deeply moving celebration of life, told in reverse chronological order.

The film begins at the end of the world and works backward to the childhood of Chuck. It’s a darling structure that works perfectly; as the world around the characters literally falls apart, we discover the small, seemingly insignificant moments that give a life meaning. The iconic dance scene on the street is already a classic. It was my favorite scene in the book and is the best part of the movie as well. It’s pure, infectious, and a symbol of indestructible joie de vivre.

Flanagan embraces the sentiment without ever becoming sentimental. He is very faithful to Stephen King’s story, which I can only applaud. He reminds us that every human being carries a whole universe withing them. “The Life of Chuck” is a visually stunning and emotionally overwhelming tribute to the fact that we exist. Tom Hiddleston is absolutely brilliant in it. The film is an absolute triumph and a new favorite film.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Crime 101

Director: Bart Layton
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Nick Nolte, Tate Donovan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Monica Barbaro
 
Description: An elusive thief (Chris Hemsworth), eyeing his final score, encounters a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) at her own crossroads. As their paths intertwine, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) trails them hoping to thwart the multi-million dollar heist they are planning.
 
Review: “Crime 101” is a breath of fresh air for fans of the classic noir genre. Based on the novella by Don Winslow, the film offers an intelligent and atmospheric cat-and-mouse game reminiscent of classics like Michael Mann’s “Heat”, yet retains its own distinct identity.

Chris Hemsworth plays a thief. Moving away from his typical high-action superhero persona, Hemsworth portrays a character defined by meticulousness and social complexity. He is a very disciplined jewel thief, who swears by a strict code of honor. Opposite him is detective Lou Lubesnick, played by Mark Ruffalo, whose obsession with the case is palpable. Halle Berry, as Sharon, somehow comes on the path of both. Barry Keoghan, as the unpredictable and violent rival, brings a much-needed dose of danger and tension to the story. The chemistry between the cast is one of the film’s greatest assets.

Director Bart Layon transforms Los Angeles into a characters in its own right. The cinematography captures the city as a place of dark magic and sprawling highways, which amplifies the sultry atmosphere.

The film excels in atmosphere, rather than over-the-top CGI spectacle. It focuses on the characters, their development, over unrealistic action. It’s not even an action movie, the main character doesn’t use any violence. It’s a crime drama, with thriller elements.

“Crime 101” is tightly directed, beautifully acted and with a focus on character development over cheap action. Despite the pacing be rather slow (which I actually liked), the film might be one of the most satisfying films of the year.

Rating: 4/ 5