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A Review of The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke
A Review of The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke
By Ayumi Kinoshita
By Ayumi Kinoshita
The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke embarks on a seemingly magical journey as it takes the reader through the turbulent lives of five special orphans. These children are no ordinary orphans because they were abandoned on the doorsteps of the orphanage in unique ways. The main character, Milou Poppenmaker, is the most interesting of all as she was found in a small coffin with large claw marks decorating the back. She was also left with a velvet blanket embroidered with her name and a black cat puppet. With those three items, Milou let her vivid imagination run wild which would be her greatest asset as she and her fellow four orphans escape the clutches of the sinister Matron Gassbeek.
Mistreated in numerous ways, Milou and her friends have had enough of Gassbeek and plotted to run away in search of their freedom and answers of where they came from. Milou in particular, with unwavering faith that her parents are waiting for her, was determined to find her parents. Such passionate goals and dreams led the five of them across Amsterdam in the dead of winter, evading the officials of the Kinderbureau and a vile man Rotman who was intent on taking the orphan children as laborers on his ship.
Tooke creates an emotional story by transporting her audience to the perspective of young orphans who simply wanted a family and a place to call home. I loved every second of reading this book, keen on finding out the truths behind Milou and her friends’ history. I cheered them on as they escaped the orphanage and laughed as the Matron was nearly scared to death by the silhouette of a rat. The author can delicately cook up a touching scene that appeals to the reader and draws them into the plot, eager to turn the page and discover what trials or celebrations await the five orphans.
One of the most spectacular parts of this book is how effortless it is to empathize with the main character. Although Milou is twelve years old, I can feel the strong emotions she is experiencing. Maybe it’s because I am like that of a child, but I believe that it was all thanks to Tooke’s detailed writing that I can do so. I can feel Milou’s sadness, her excitement, and her fear as the plot unfolds itself and I find that to be incredibly amazing.
If you want to go through the same emotional rollercoaster I did, I recommend you give The Unadoptables a try. On the first page, I was already pulled in, and I’m sure you will as well. With heartfelt scenes and a lovable main character who’s easy to empathize with, Hana Tooke plays out an amazing story just calling your name.
A Review of Dune
A Review of Dune
By John Larkin
By John Larkin
A planet where the most dangerous thing is a worm, a big one. That's the type of setting for Frank Herbert’s Dune, now a major motion picture! Dune, released as a novel in 1965 and as a movie in 1984 and 2021, is one of the best-selling science fiction novels of all time. Dune is a book with an immensely deep world and flushed-out characters, which are both translated onto the screen. The Dune movie is possibly the most pleasing visually to have been released all year. Whether the setting is a desert planet, a planet brimming with seas and thunderstorms, or even a massive camp with an army to rival that of the stormtroopers in Star Wars, Dune can deliver on the scenery. The whole movie feels big, even with getting a lot of exposition the movie manages to make you feel like you have only seen a glimpse of the worlds that it has to offer. This huge visual scale is accompanied by an amazing soundtrack by well-known movie composer, Hans Zimmer. The exposition, however, could be said to be painfully long and drawn out. However, Dune is still a thoroughly enjoyable movie for any fan of the books or even someone just going to see the movie for the first time without any prior knowledge.
If you didn’t already know, the Dune movie is a two-part movie series. This means that unlike other books to movie adaptations, like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings it does not contain the full story. The story of Herbert’s novel is a long one, with a great exposition that hints at many secrets to be uncovered in the future.
This was adapted almost the same way onto the screen, something that to book readers might sound perfect but to the average moviegoer, it does not bode well. The exposition portion of Dune, a two-hour and thirty-five-minute film, is just over the first hour, about half of the whole movie. This is a long and even boring setup for the rest of the movie, but it pays off big time. The exposition opens the viewer to houses Atreides and Harkonnen, the new and old leaders of Arrakis, the center of the story, to the women of the Bene Gesserit and their power with their voice and incredibly intriguing ways. The exposition sets up a great and fine story, while it works in a book it is hard to make work with a loyal adaptation and to fit into a normal screen time on film, the movie though already two and a half hours only covers about half of its source material.
SPOILERS AHEAD
SPOILERS AHEAD
The rest of the movie Dune is what fans of the novel and the movie alike could not possibly get enough of. The world of Dune, and Arrakis. The second half of the movie is filled with action, intrigue, and suspense. With the dreams of Paul and the ever-looming threat of the Harkonnen’s reclaiming control of the planet, the viewer is kept asking questions throughout the second half of the film. There are also incredible shots throughout involving the city, the Sardukaur, the Harkonnen fleet, and subsequent attack on the Atreides on Arrakis. That scene where the fighting breaks out is truly epic. The Harkoennens and the Emperor’s Sardukaur join forces to wipe out a noble and just House, who instead of oppressing the local population of Fremen in the desert, wants to ally themselves with them. Fighting back without being fully equipped, in the night, and outnumbered, the Atreides still can put up an incredible fight before they are wiped out. This all takes place in the city, however, and with a title like Dune, and a desert planet the world of Arrakis outside the walls must be mentioned. First, there are the Fremen, a strong people who have adapted well to the climate and world of Arrakis. The Fremen are a truly fleshed out, thought out, and interesting culture in the story and world of Dune. It is the Fremen’s depth that is one of the key pillars to what made the Dune novels so successful, and this is carried beautifully to the screen. However, the Fremen aren’t the only thing out there in the desert, there are worms. No ordinary worms, massive, enormous worms that put even sinkholes to shame. These worms are shown a few times throughout the movie, to great effect each time. They are a constant source of fear in the desert and truly terrifying, putting space-faring humans at the bottom of a food chain. That all is without the last shot of the movie, a worm riding the surface of the sand with a human-like figure on its back. Dune is a great novel, and the first of the two movies to be released has lived up to its name, with more to go into and a whole world to explore, it's sure that Dune is now a science fiction classic.
Donda (Deluxe) by Kanye West was released on November 14, 2021, consisting of 32 tracks, was one of the most anticipated hip-hop albums of the year.
The Culture
The Culture
By Malachi Emmons
By Malachi Emmons
Donda (Deluxe) By Kanye West
Donda (Deluxe) By Kanye West
Release Date: November 14, 2021
Tracks: 32
Length: 2hr 11min
Genre: hip-hop
Personal: 10/10
Critical: 8.5/10
Best Track: "NCLB"
Worst Track: "Tell The Vision"
Summary:
Summary:
Kanye West, or more recently just Ye, has once again proven that the culture is at his fingertips with the release of the deluxe version of his recently released cinematic masterpiece Donda. A tribute to his mother, a journey into his emotional state, an evolution of artistry, and a spotlight of new talent, Donda has something for every listener.
A Return to Form:
A Return to Form:
Following Ye’s controversial 2019 release "Jesus is King", many fans and critics alike found themselves asking if Kanye had fallen off. Weak bars and sub-par production seemed to be the final straw for many listeners eager to hear the “Old Kanye”. Donda, however, has reinstated Ye’s preeminence in the hip-hop community with modern, yet unique beats and bars that keep up with many of Kanye’s young up-and-coming collaborators.
Great Features:
Great Features:
A staple of Kanye’s albums has always been his skill for capturing the sound and artists of each record’s respective era. Donda is no deviation. Collaborating with voices such as Jay Z, Travis Scott, and Lil Baby, Donda also gives the spotlight to rookies such as Vory, KayCyy, and Shenseea. Following suit, Kanye has drawn the best out of each. Under Kanye’s process, artists like Fivio Foreign and Lil Yachty give some of their best performances in recent memory. Altogether, Donda (Deluxe) boasts thirty-one performing artists other than himself.
An Emotional Magnifying Glass:
An Emotional Magnifying Glass:
Perhaps the greatest success of this album lies in its emotional impact. Tracks like "Jesus Lord", "No Child Left Behind", "24", "Never Abandon Your Family" and more express Kanye’s emotions like no other record of his. Without sacrificing the usual club bangers, Kanye’s storytelling and feelings are on full display to create a cohesive experience that is beautiful, heartwarming, and tear-jerking all at the same time.
New Waves
New Waves
By Malachi Emmons
By Malachi Emmons
Certified Lover Boy by Drake
Certified Lover Boy by Drake
Hip-Hop
Hip-Hop
Compared to Scorpion this record is a masterpiece. This is a strong Drake project, but it was not without its flaws. On their own, tracks like "Fair Trade", "Champagne Poetry", and "Love All" stand out as great singles. This album, however, is unfortunately tarnished by some terrible tracks. “Say that you a lesbian, girl me too.” - Drake
Personal: 4/10
Critical: 7/10
The Butterfly Effect by Fetty Wap
The Butterfly Effect by Fetty Wap
Hip-Hop
Hip-Hop
The Butterfly Effect serves as a fitting title for Fetty Wap’s first album in seven years. Much like a caterpillar tucked away, Fetty has spent his time battling industry suits and perfecting his craft. Now a butterfly in rare form, we are presented with the fruits of his labor in a fantastic album. Although disrupted by a few weak tracks in the middle, Fetty Wap presents an album that reminds us of his place in the game.
Personal: 8/10
Critical: 8/10
Voyage by Abba
Voyage by Abba
Pop-Rock
Pop-Rock
Disrupting a torrent of great new hip-hop records, Abba has risen from the grave to deliver a great classic pop-rock album. Losing none of their original charms, Abba has written an incredible feel-good album with stellar lyricism and joyful instrumentation. For the oldies lover, and for those trying to appease their inner soccer mom, this album is for you.
Personal: 7.5/10
Critical: 7.5/10
On The Radar
On The Radar
By Malachi Emmons
By Malachi Emmons
Crawlers by Idles
An Evening With Silk Sonic by Silk Sonic
Bullet For My Valentine by Bullet For My Valentine
Red (Taylors Version) by Taylor Swift
Valentine by Snail Mail
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