The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

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Book: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Author: V. E. Schawb

Genre: Historical Fiction

Language: English

"A Life No One Willl Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget"-says the blurb

I wound rather not forget Addie LaRue, a woman of strength, defiance and clarity.

In 1714 in a moment of helplessness, French woman Addie makes a Faustian deal to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Circa 2014, in New York City's book store Addie meets a young book keeper who remembers her name.

Though the name is invisible this three centuries long journey of Addie is extraordinary. The adventures unfold from countries to continents, across history and art.

I admired feisty Addie her grit and determination. Despite many hardship she refuses to surrender her soul. Living for 300 years can be very tiring especially when you don't have family, friends, or loved ones. Still she goes o from one experience to another. And does not regret her choice one bit.

Heard movie adaptation will be out soon.

One of the best reads of 2021

Double Jeopardy

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Film: Double Jeopardy

Year: 1999

Director: Bruce Beresford

Cast: Ashley Judd, Tommy Lee Jones, Bruce Greenwood

Genre: Crime Thriller

Libby Parsons's happy life crashes down when she was wrongfully convicted for the murder of her husband, Nick. She requests her friend Angela to adopt her son, Matty. But within few months they disappear from the scene. Distraught Libby tracks the down in Los Angeles only to learn bitter truth about her husband. After serving for 6 years she gets a parole and Travis (Tommy Lee Jones) is her parole officer. While trying to locate her son, Libby breaks all the parole rules and Travis is on hot pursuit.

A gripping and over the edge thriller.

The Queen's Gambit-Miniseries Review

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Name: The Queen's Gambit

Year: 2020

Genre: Coming-of-age period drama

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram, Harry Melling, Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Episodes: 7

Streaming Platform-Netflix

"Anger Is A Potent Spice. A Pinch Wakes You Up. Too Much Dulls Your Senses"

Do you remember seeing moves of chess in your sleep when you play it excessively during the summer holidays? We did. Playing chess was part of history now. Not that we were great players of anything. We grew up in the era where Vishwanath Anand and Garry Kasparov were the talk of the town. The Queen's Gambit brought back though memories.

Beth Harmon orphaned at the age of 9 is brought into an orphanage where she is taught to play chess by Janitor, Mr. Shaibel. She becomes addicted to tranquilizer pills that were given to all girls in the orphanage, which was a common practice in the 1950s. She becomes exceptional chess player due to her visualization skill enhanced by pills. She gets adopted by Alma and her husband, and develops a special bond with her mother who eventually becomes her manager. she enters into various chess tournaments without proper experience yet winning most of them. She befriends with other chess players. She becomes successful financially. At the same time she is addicted to drugs and alcohol.

WeReflect: It is a given that Beth overcomes all hurdles to becomes the first female grand-master. As it happens with many miniseries "Gambit" is based on the novel of same name by Walter Tevis. We weren't sure whether we would be able to keep up with the theme based on a game, that too chess. The movies/shows based on sports/game usually have predictable story line and ending, mostly variations of rags to rich. What stands out in Gambit is Beth. All through her growing up years she is haunted by the memory of her mother's suicide and father's abandonment. Despite that she is focused to fault when it comes to her game. She was on steady dose of alcohol and pills and few emotionless sexual encounters. Chess is known to be an antisocial game, so is Beth. Yet, her relationship with others, especially her opponents is endearing, something of new. You can binge watch the series without understanding the rules and moves of pawns.

One of the best miniseries of 2020