Book Review - All This & More by Peng Shepherd

Title: All This & More
Author: Peng Shepherd
Genre: Science Fiction
Published: 2024
 
Description: Meek, play-it-safe Marsh has just turned forty-five, and her life is in shambles. Her career is stagnant, her marriage has imploded, and the teenage daughter grows more distant by the day. Marsch is convinced she’s missed her chance at everything – romance, professional fulfillment, and adventure – and is desperate for a do-over.
 
She can’t believe her luck when she’s elected to be the star of the global sensation “All This and More”, a show that uses quantum technology to allow contestants the change to revise their pasts and change their present lives. It’s Marsh’s only shot to seize her dreams, and she’s determined to get it right this time.
 
But even as she rises to become a famous lawyer, gets back together with her high school sweetheart, and travels the world, she begins to worry that “All This and More’s” promises might be too good to be true. Because while the technology is amazing, something seems a bit off.
 
Can Marsh really make her life everything she wants it to be. And is it worth it?
 
Review: Peng Shepherd’s “All This & More” attempts to build an ambitious bridge between a modern sci-fi thriller and the nostalgic “choose your own adventure” books from our childhood. Although the concept of a quantum-powered reality show in which you can rewrite your past is fascinating and intriguing, the execution unfortunately gets bogged down in repetition and superficiality.
 
Marsh hasn’t won in life; failing marriage, estranged daughter, no fulfillment from her job. She could use a do-over. To her surprise, Marsh is elected to take part in a reality TV show called “All This and More”, where quantum technology allows her to go back to her past life and make different life choices, altering her path.
 
Marsch is a protagonist that I just couldn’t sympathize with. Despite her chance to change everything, she often remains indecisive and naïve, which is frustrating. Her characters feels flat because she is constantly swept along by circumstances rather than truly steering them. These choices also felt meaningless. The book’s unique interactive element ultimately proves disappointing. Instead of truly different paths, you’re often led to the same storylines and I felt like the book wanted to direct us into certain paths too. You never feel that your choices really influence the fundamental outcome of the story until the very last pages.  
 
It’s a science fiction book, but the science behind the “bubble” and quantum mechanics is barely explored. Making the world-building feel paper-thin.
 
I loved the concept and how it actually plays with the fact that there is no such thing as a perfect life. Whatever choices you make in life, there will always be some bad moments. The book has three different endings. Two of these paths I wasn’t interested in and the ending I eventually choose wasn’t satisfying either. The book lacks depth, I didn’t sympathize with the main characters and the choose-your-own-adventure element was exciting at first but ended up being more controlled because it never really affected the storyline. For a book about life’s choices, I would recommend “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig, not this.
 
Rating: 2/ 5

Movie Review - Send Help

Director: Sam Raimi
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien
 
Description: Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her insufferable boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) become stranded on a deserted island, the only survivors of a plane crash. Here, they must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, will they make it our alive?
 
Review: In the survival horror/ thriller “Send Help”, we are confronted not only with the brutal force of nature, but also with the psychological warfare between two survivors on a desert island. What begins as a classic survival story transforms, under the direction of Sam Raimi, into a claustrophobic study of power dynamics and the liberating power of feminine rage.

Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien form an unexpected electric couple. When their plane crashes, the situation forces them to work together. O’Brien plays the insufferable CEO of a large company and he does this with a nervous energy that slowly turns into a toxic need to prove himself. But it’s Rachel McAdams who takes the film to the next level. Her characters Linda, a grey mouse at the office who’s talent is underestimated and taken advantage of, starts out controlled and pragmatic. But as the isolation sets in and the threat of her companion becomes greater than that of the wilderness, we see a transition that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

The film excels in its portrayal of feminine rage. This is not blind anger, but a calculated, deep-seated outburst against years of underestimation and manipulation. Because all the men in this movie are dicks. The scene in which McAdams’ character finally takes control feels not only like a victory in the jungle, but like a universal catharsis.

Director Sam Raimi does not abandon his horror roots, this is still an R-rated movie. The film contains some blood-curdling moments and has gore that will make the viewer physically recoil. The tension is masterfully built up. Although the pace slows down slightly in the second act, this more than compensated for by the satisfying finale.

“Send Help” is a brutal, emotional rollercoaster that gives Rachel McAdams her most powerful role in years. It is a film about the will to survive, but even more so about the power that is unleashed when a women refuses to be a victim any longer. An absolute must-see for anyone who loves psychological depth with a sharp edge.

Rating: 4/ 5

20s Movie Review - Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 197 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis,  CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Jermaine Clement, David Thewlis

Description: Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri’s (Zoe Saldaña) family grapples with grief, encountering a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe, the Ash people, who are led by the fiery Varang (Oona Chaplin), as the conflict of Pandora escalates and a new moral focus emerges.

Review: “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is the third installment in the “Avatar” franchise. Director James Camerom proves that Pandora is far from revealing all its secret. Whereas its predecessor immersed us in  the serene beauty of the oceans, this third film confronts us with the raw, destructive, and paradoxically beautiful power of fire.

It almost goes without saying, but the CGI is once again groundbreaking. The introduction of the Ash People – a Na’vi clan that lives in volcanic areas – provides a completely new color palette. The contrast between the glowing lava and the ash-gray skin of this new tribe is visually stunning. The action scenes, especially the confrontations in the ash clouds, are so fluid and detailed that you forget you are watching an animation.

We see that not all Na’vi are “good”. The Ash People, led by Varang, bring a much-needed nuance to the story. Their anger and thirst for revenge mirror humanity, blurring the line between hero and villain. This gives the film an emotional depth and a sense of menace that we haven’t felt to this extent before.

The core of the film remains the family. The dynamic between Jake, Neytiri and their children has matured. The consequences of their earlier losses weigh heavily, and the film takes time for mourning and internal conflicts. Zoe Saldaña’s acting is heartbreaking; her anger is almost palpable.

“Avatar: Fire and Ash” is more than a technological masterpiece; it’s an epic drama that dares to play with darkness and moral ambiguity. With a running time of over three hours, not a minute feels wasted. The middle section is a bit predictable, but the explosive finale more than makes up for it. I believe there is still two more movies in the making, and I’m in up for it.

Rating: 4/ 5

00s Movie Review - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Director: Michel Gondry
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Jane Adams, David Cross

Description: When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories forever.

Review: What I would call this genre? Science Fiction/ Romance maybe? “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” explores the value of painful memories. Joel and Clementine are in a relationship, but when things turn bad they decide to erase each other from their memory. Director Michel Gondry and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman created a visually striking, dreamlike film.

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet should not be matching, but they do. Perfectly so. Carrey shows a surprising subdued side of himself, while Winslet brings color and energy to the film. It’s a unique, sometimes chaotic film about the complexity of love and the resilience of the human spirit. It prompts reflection on whether erasing painful memories is desirable.

I think we can say the “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” can be considered a modern classic. I believe everyone who loves cinema should see this film at least once.

Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker

Title: Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
Author: Kylie Lee Baker
Genre: Horror
Published: 2025
 
Description: Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner, washing away the remains of brutal murders and suicides in Chinatown. The bloody messes don’t bother her, not when she’s already witnessed the most horrific thing possible: her sister being pushed in front of a train.
 
Before fleeing the scene, the murderer whispered two words: bat eater.
 
Months pass, the killer is never caught, and Cora can barely keep herself together. She pushes away all her feelings, disregards the bite marks that appear on her coffee table, and won’t take her aunt’s advice to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open.  
 
Cora tries to ignore the rising dread in her stomach, even when she and her weird co-workers begin finding bat carcasses at their crime scene clean-ups. But Cora can’t ignore the fact that all their recent clean-ups have been the bodies of East Asian women.
 
Soon Cora will learn: you can’t just ignore hungry ghosts.
 
Review: Cora is a crime scene cleaner. She lost her sister, who was pushed in front of a moving train. Right before it happened, the killer whispered “bat eater”. They never caught the murderer. While working her crime scene clean-up job, Cora starts finding dead bats at these jobs. And all the victims are East Asian Women.
 
“Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng” is an intense horror novel. It’s set during the COVID pandemic in Chinatown, New York City. The book combines elements of serial killer thriller, supernatural horror and Chinese folklore, but also social commentary on anti-Asian hate. Protagonist Cora is in mourning of her sister and seeks revenge. It’s a unique genre blend, has a poetic writing style and in-depth character development of Cora. Dark humor is mixed with heartbreaking moments, but the plot can occasionally feel a bit messy.
 
This book is not for the faint of heart, because it has some gruesome, gory scenes. But it also contains explicit themes such as racism, child abuse, self-harm and animal cruelty.
 
“Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng” is a highly original horror book, which is poetic, compelling and makes for a very unique reading experience. Not for everyone, but a must for the experiences horror reader.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

80s Movie Review - Rain Man

Director: Barry Levinson
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 133 minutes
Year: 1988
Starring: Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, Valeria Golino

Description: After a selfish L.A. yuppie (Tom Cruise) learns his estranged father left a fortune to an autistic-savant brother (Dustin Hoffman) in Ohio that he didn’t know existed, he absconds with his brother and sets out across the country, hoping to gain a larger inheritance.

Review: “Rain Man” is a heartwarming, moving and powerful road movie with exceptional performances. I used to watch it all the time when I was younger, time for a rewatch.

Charlie Babbitt learns that his estranged father has passed and he left him none of his fortune. Charlie finds out he has an autistic brother Raymond, who inherited all their dad’s money.

Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of Raymond is a world-class performance. Tom Cruise’s development of his selfish character into a mature human being is also a highlight. The two have excellent chemistry.

The film is moving and effective in showing a growing bond between two brothers, making it a feel-good experience despite the heavy subject matter.

Emotional Impact: The film is moving and effective in showing the growing bond between the brothers, making it a feel-good experience despite the heavy subject matter.

“Rain Man” is classic that resonates with its heartwarming story and brilliant performances. It remains an essential film about human connection and character transformation. I forgot how much I loved this movie.

Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Title: Crying in H Mart
Author: Michelle Zauner
Genre: Non-Fiction/ Memoir
Published: 2021
 
Description: In this story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up the only Asian-American kid at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother’s particular high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother’s tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the east coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, performing gigs with her fledging band – and meeting the man who would become her husband – her Koreanness began to feel even more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live.
 
It was her mother’s diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her.
 
Review: In her memoir “Crying in H Mart”, Michelle Zauner, the singer-songwriter behind Japanese Breakfast, takes the reader through a painful process of loss and self-discovery. The result is an honest, sometimes heartbreaking book that celebrates the complexity of the mother-daughter relationship through the lens of Korean cuisine.
 
The supermarket chain H Mart serves as a sanctuary where memories of her mother are linked to the smell of fermented soybeans and the texture of rice cakes. For anyone who shares a culture though cuisine, this book will feel like a warm embrace. Michelle’s search for her Korean identity after her mother’s death is sincere and moving, raw and unfiltered.
 
Zauner does not spare herself or her mother. She describes their difficult relationship, full of misunderstanding and high expectations. Her mother’s physical decline due to her cancer is also described without embellishments. This makes the book heavy. It’s not a polished story about saying goodbye, but a reflection of the messy reality of death.
 
After the strong opening and impressive description of the period of illness, the story sometimes loses momentum in the middle section. The detailed lists of ingredients and cooking processes are a delight for lovers of Korean cuisine, but to me it felt repetitive and took the momentum out of the emotional story. In addition, her relationship with her father remains relatively underexposed.
 
“Crying in H Mart” is a beautiful book about grief, mourning, family, food and culture.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5