WeView

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) I absolutely loved this book. It's a memoir from an emergency room doctor where she slowly tells her story of healing from childhood trauma through stories of patients she sees. Hearing her mix alternative and traditional medicine to make herself the best she can be was really interesting. I also seriously wished she was my doctor, she is so incredibly compassionate and thorough! Each chapter is a different patient's story and some are so incredibly heartbreaking but she handles everything with such grace and I learned so much. Such a beautiful story of healing!

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) Wow, I couldn't put this book down. I just cannot believe the effects of undiagnosed mental health can have on a family. It was heart-breaking. Like all the previous reviews said, this had serious Glass House vibes but the added religious stuff was brutal. Tara's life after leaving the home was somehow even more heartbreaking to read about because it was just so hard for her to make a life for herself and emotionally distance herself. She managed to distance herself but I can't get her brother's wife out of my head. Anyway, It's a good one but absolutely brutal.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) A longgg book on the life of Nelson Mandela that Joe inspired me to read. There were definitely a lot of dry bits as it was incredibly detailed about a lot of legal and political stuff. But I found myself resisting the urge to just google and make sure it all worked out for the poor guy. I learned a lot about his life and life in South Africa and think it was invaluable. One thing that really stood out to me was his internal struggle with deciding when to use force against the government. He really handled it all with a lot of grace and I often wonder what I would do in a similar situation.

⭐ 4.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Well obviously, I hated this movie. That said, I could maybe have enjoyed it more if I had read some in-depth descriptions beforehand so I knew exactly what to expect since I spent the entire first half of it so tense that I was shaking. I really did enjoy the badass women taking charge of their own destinies and was completely enthralled when they met the other women in the dessert and almost wept with them. The ending was also absolutely marvelous. I'm definitely tired of the "fat, rich white man enslaving everyone and having many beautiful wives" and it was extremely hard to watch for me at times. Nux's redemption story was also really beautiful. I just really didn't enjoy sitting there watching one thing after another go brutally wrong. Realistic? Probably. That doesn't mean I enjoyed the stress.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) Maggie's review does a great job explaining everything so read that for details. I mostly enjoyed this book and couldn't believe how many different perspectives this author was able to write so well at once. It had everything. I had so many sad feelings throughout though which was rough. There was a bit of redemption for one of the main characters at the end but I was just so depressed and unfulfilled by the twin that spent her life passing as white. It was pretty depressing.

⭐ 7.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) I came across this show on Netflix and mostly enjoyed it. It's about a group of 3 adult friends who are going through life's challenges together (a lot of man troubles.. but also, they take charge of their lives too which is great!) with a weekly margarita night. I absolutely fell in love with one of them; Helen is such an incredible badass. It's definitely nothing deep or particularly interesting.. just something to get my mind off the pandemic! But be forewarned; it had about the worst ending I could have imagined. (I absolutely *hate* cliff hangers.) Also I spent a lot of the time trying to figure out if their accents were fake and really bad or I just really don't like that southern US accent. 😬

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) I was also really surprised by the amount of humour in this movie. I was expected something really heavy and dark the whole way through but there was a lot of funny moments. I didn't think the humour really took away from the seriousness of the situation and was surprised how well it was balanced. That said, I don't know if they actually did the situation justice or not. The main actors were absolutely incredible and I was enthralled the whole way through.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Another movie I didn't have super high expectations for (turns out this is the way to go). It started with a really creepy vibe (which I'm NOT a fan of) but I really enjoyed the solving of the mystery - I thought it was a cool twist. Will told me that the lead actress spent a lot of time and effort getting physically strong for the role so it spends a lot of time showcasing her strength which is really cool to see with a female lead. It was action packed and not really deep, had some cool plot twists, and even a romance. What more could I want!

⭐ 7.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) I was given this book to read by my mom and had quite low expectations. 😬 A few of you would know/remember Herman Klassen's near fatal accident in 2009. I had heard a few details but didn't know much beyond that so I was intrigued enough to find out what happened. (Mary was also my Sunday School teacher when I was 6 and I was her Sunday School helper in my teen years so there's history.) Anyway, I was really surprised by how affected I was by this book! It wasn't particularly well-written but the hope and faith that just radiates from Herman and Mary throughout their lives was incredible to read about. They have been through so incredibly much and it gave me a new appreciation for some of the clichés I've heard growing up in the church. Even though I didn't necessarily agree with a lot of the theology presented, I appreciated the story and how it all worked out for them.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Scrolling through Netflix looking for my next watch, this was recommended to me and apparently Netflix knows what they're doing. 😂 I loved it. It's also a workplace drama, as it follows four retail workers in 1959 Australia. It was not a particularly well-done movie, and it had lots of plot holes and clichés but with an ending that satisfying, I can forgive all of that. I still sigh when I think of the happy endings they all get! There's a fair bit of racism to contend with, which is handled... somewhat well.. on the surface anyway. Anyway, nothing deep or meaningful to see here, just a feel-good happy-ending period piece romance.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) I, along with everyone else on this website, enjoyed this show lots. I didn't think it was on the same level as other workplace dramas but still really enjoyed it and was sad to finish it! A lot of the social justice issued it tackled were illuminating - and made me so thankful I don't live in the US... the childbirth and maternity leave episode made me absolutely livid. The main relationship also made me really angry at times but that's because I get way too into things I watch. I was always excited to see what happened next though and enjoyed watching the characters develop and getting to know them.

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) Thankfully this book was short because I couldn't put it down! This book had it all.. an adorable cast of characters, happy ending, relatability. It was a wonderful romance! Rowell delivers again! (Eleanor & Park, Fangirl also being wonderfully light, fun romances for when you need them.)

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Yikes this book was rough. At first, it seems you're just reading from an incredibly neuro-divergent perspective but you keep learning things that really kind of shake you to the core. And the plot twist right at the end left me reeling! Overall, it's an incredibly beautiful story of healing and made me think of the purpose of life and friendship. Eleanor really made me want to put more effort into appreciating the mundane again.

⭐ 8.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) This was a really interesting look at the Mennonite world from a slightly different perspective than I'm used to. Janzen writes as someone who mostly left that world but after personal tragedy, she returns and I enjoyed the critical and heart-warming perspective she has. It's definitely from a more Russian-Mennonite view but there were enough things that I could relate to and I literally laughed out loud multiple times. (One time, I had to put the book down and walk away because I just couldn't stop laughing. So good.) Also, I fell in love with her parents and their, seemingly, easy-going outlook on their childrens' lack of faith. I was a bit jealous.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) This sequel to Beartown was surprisingly almost as good and still had me shedding many tears despite not falling as in love with the character to whom the bad thing happens to. This book was a further look into how hate of the other can affect things and it really made me feel a lot of confusion about why the heck is everyone so angry about a hockey team . Do people really feel this competitive about anything?? I truly do not understand. But anyway, he writes beautifully and I was still enraptured the whole time waiting to see what was going to happen.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) Well, Sarah did it again. I'm not sure what it is about her that just ministers to my soul like no other. The tagline is "making peace with an evolving faith" which is where I'm at and what I need. I particularly enjoyed the last chapter "Evangelical Hero Complex" which talked me through so much guilt I didn't know I was carrying along and how broken our system is. It's just all beautiful and such a comfort for this time in my life.

⭐ 10.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) A wonderful love story that was so needed after some pretty heavy reads. The cover says "The new Jojo Moyes" and this is absolutely accurate. I loved this romance and these characters on the same level as "Me Before You". I couldn't put this book down! I absolutely also loved the emphasis on emotional health and actually learned some things! And therapy was used and portrayed positively! Yay!

⭐ 8.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) While looking for a kobo read, this was in the recommended section and the blurb sounded interesting but I was not prepared for the intense "Call the Midwives" vibes! It's the story of a young nurse "i n an Ireland doubly ravaged by war and disease". We follow her throughout her days caring for mothers in labour that have that year's more dangerous strain of the flu. It was really strange reading it during our own pandemic and seeing the government propaganda parallels. In all, it was beautiful and heart-breaking and still lovely.

⭐ 9.0/10 (Originally written by Anita) This was a really incredibly tough movie to watch. It focused on the relationship between a driver and his wealthy employers who are sort of progressive for their family and I thought it captured this relationship without any fanfare and it was just so raw. I felt so incredibly uncomfortable watching what the driver went through as he was figuring out his place in the world. It is absolutely graphic sometimes but in a way where I felt guilty for looking away because I have the privilege to do so. It's a lot.

⭐ 9.5/10 (Originally written by Anita) Wow what a book. I had a general idea of what was going to happen and it still absolutely wrecked me. There was just so incredibly much to think about here. The author portrayed such a full spectrum of human pain in so many relationships that I was just hooked and empathized with everyone and feel drained. It goes deep into how toxic masculinity and hockey culture can affect so much and it was a tough look into the nature of loyalty, friendship, parenthood, so much.