Shwayfet
The Seattle Public Library
Shwayfet's Completed Shelf
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VexedVexed, DVDSeries 1
DVD - 2012DVD, 2012
Added Jun 28, 2017
Something for EveryoneSomething for Everyone, DVD
DVD - 2016DVD, 2016
Added Apr 19, 2017
Comment:
My college friend just told me about this film. He said that when it came out, the critics did not think much of it, but the viewers loved it. They got on the phone and told their friends who spread the word and soon it was a popular film. I am glad that you have six copies!My college friend just told me about this film. He said that when it came out, the critics did not think much of it, but the viewers loved it. They got on the phone and told their friends who spread the word and soon it was a popular film. I am glad…
Victoria & AlbertVictoria & Albert, DVD
DVD - 2001DVD, 2001
Added Jan 29, 2017
Comment:
I have not seen this one yet, but it is on hold for me. It will be very difficult for any film maker to portray Victoria any better than the current PBS presentation. (2017) Who knows today what she was like at 18-19, although we do know from her letters that she was sensual, no one actually knows. "Victoria" is absolutely superb drama!I have not seen this one yet, but it is on hold for me. It will be very difficult for any film maker to portray Victoria any better than the current PBS presentation. (2017) Who knows today what she was like at 18-19, although we do know from her…
Added Dec 02, 2016
Happy ValleyHappy Valley, DVD
DVD - 2015DVD, 2015
Added Aug 10, 2016
Comment:
Having loved "Last Tango in Halifax," I was eager to watch Sally Wainwright's crime series written just for the female main character. As I sat and watched, I decided that there is enough sadness in the world that I did not have to watch an intelligent, but quite upset man, deliberately do something criminal. One knew that he would ruin his life, as well as the lives of his family and cause all sorts of problems. It seemed to me that "white privilege" was being carried way too far. I stopped the DVD, put it back in the case and returned the entire case to the library.Having loved "Last Tango in Halifax," I was eager to watch Sally Wainwright's crime series written just for the female main character. As I sat and watched, I decided that there is enough sadness in the world that I did not have to watch an…
The PallisersThe Pallisers, DVD
DVD - 2013DVD, 2013
Added Jul 10, 2015
Comment:
I have just watched The Pallisers for the second time and enjoyed it more this time than before. I cannot get enough of Susan Hampton in her portrayal of Cora Palliser. I wish that I knew more about the way politics work in England and the implications of much of what goes on in this series, but it is still fine in terms of enjoying the series.
I loved seeing Michael Cocheran in the role of being a sweet teen-ager, thinking of him as the horrible past middle-age Army Officer in SHARPE to being the snobbish elderly Rector in Downton Abbey being put in his place by the Dowager Countess of Grantham.
I too thoroughly recommend it as just a lovely family story of the UPPER-Class in Victoria England.I have just watched The Pallisers for the second time and enjoyed it more this time than before. I cannot get enough of Susan Hampton in her portrayal of Cora Palliser. I wish that I knew more about the way politics work in England and the…
Added May 26, 2015
Comment:
Hmmm, her main character was a neat young woman, but she certainly did bash herself way too much. I liked the very interesting information on book restoration; i never knew that one could get a degree in it from Harvard. I am impressed. But, I will not be reading any more of this author. She just got hit and abused too many times, several times in one day even. I found that to not be realistic. And, why did she put herself in those positions to be hit when she could have not gone into a particular place? And, the cute guy gets to rescue her? She either needs to figure out how to stay out of trouble or learn to defend herself. He cannot always be in just the pantry closet that she steps into. i found those episodes to be unrealistic.Hmmm, her main character was a neat young woman, but she certainly did bash herself way too much. I liked the very interesting information on book restoration; i never knew that one could get a degree in it from Harvard. I am impressed. But, I will…
The MitfordsThe Mitfords, BookLetters Between Six Sisters
Book - 2007Book, 2007
Added May 24, 2015
Comment:
I have been fascinated by these sisters for years. I had read "The American Way of Death" by Jessica which was my first implication that the capitalists were not on our side. I believe that she helped us somewhat although it amuses me to see people paying for long, expensive obituaries in the newspaper. So what did we learn? Diana has been in my mind, always wondering just how nice was the jail that she and Mosely occupied during WWII? I just finished his son's "Time at War" which, once again made me realize that a good education stands one in good stead — even in wartime. Unity's miserable life and poor decisions make me shudder ,and now that Doorothy, the baby of the family, has died, I feel somewhat bereft. Although I personally do not know any Duchesses, she was the most "sensible" of the five women, and I have always been taught to be sensible. I have loved the two DVDs about Chatsworth and her huge part in creating this business. She pops up in many places, even in "Little Gloria, Happy at Last." (Familiar because Anderson Cooper is Gloria's son.) I am very much looking forward to reading this book. I love the positive comments on this page.I have been fascinated by these sisters for years. I had read "The American Way of Death" by Jessica which was my first implication that the capitalists were not on our side. I believe that she helped us somewhat although it amuses me to see people…
Added Feb 28, 2015
Comment:
I cannot forget this book, although I like the parts where the girls are children and observers of the adults who actually did the work in locating King Tut's tomb, I was less enamored with the parts about their lives as older women. It was an interesting construct, and not awful, I am not sure why it was felt that it added to the story? I think that I had wished that the importance of being young and being at Luxor had made their lives as older women more significant, but I have lived long enough to know that it does not seem to work out that way. It certainly didn't in this work.I cannot forget this book, although I like the parts where the girls are children and observers of the adults who actually did the work in locating King Tut's tomb, I was less enamored with the parts about their lives as older women. It was an…
Rebecca's TaleRebecca's Tale, Large PrintA Novel
by Beauman, SallyLarge Print - 2002Large Print, 2002
Added Feb 28, 2015
Comment:
As a high school girl, back in the early 1950s, I read Rebecca as most girls did if they were readers. I hated it and although now, if I did not like a book, I will not finish it, at that time, I thought that if one began a book, one needed to finish it.
Now that I have read Sally Beauman's "Rebecca's Tale," I am glad that I have a distant memory of Rebecca. I think that Ms Beauman has given the reader an excellent picture of what had gone on in the deWinter household for several generations and how Rebecca fit in and actually changed what might have happened, not particularly in a good way. I liked this book very much. I was raised to feel that women needed husbands and although my life is good even without one, I liked very much the way the book ended.As a high school girl, back in the early 1950s, I read Rebecca as most girls did if they were readers. I hated it and although now, if I did not like a book, I will not finish it, at that time, I thought that if one began a book, one needed to…
Radium Girls, Women and Industrial Health ReformRadium Girls, Women and Industrial Health Reform, Book1910-1935
by Clark, ClaudiaBook - 1997Book, 1997
Added Nov 01, 2014
Comment:
If this story is about women in LaSalle County, IL, and the efforts of the community to remove the radium that continues to permeate the ground and the disdain that the citizens have towards any danger to their lives, it would not surprise me as I am amazed that this story took so long to be told, is still an important story that seems to be being ignored due to the lack of interest by the citizens whose lives and the lives of their children must be being impacted.If this story is about women in LaSalle County, IL, and the efforts of the community to remove the radium that continues to permeate the ground and the disdain that the citizens have towards any danger to their lives, it would not surprise me as I…
Added Sep 12, 2014
Comment:
I lived in Lebanon for two years 1960-62 and the title "An Unnecessary Woman" resonates with me as I met a few of these women whose lives have haunted me ever since.
The women that I knew were not intellectuals as it seems Aaliya is, she, at least has her books which I understand explicitly. The women whom I knew were "kept" by their brothers or other family members and their lives were unfathomable to me — a young Western woman who felt that she had a whole and interesting life ahead of her — which is somewhat how it has played out.
I am looking forward to reading this book as it seems as if it will fill in the gaps that western newspaper reporters have not been able to do about life in Beirut since the '60s.I lived in Lebanon for two years 1960-62 and the title "An Unnecessary Woman" resonates with me as I met a few of these women whose lives have haunted me ever since.
The women that I knew were not intellectuals as it seems Aaliya is, she, at…
The PenderwicksThe Penderwicks, BookA Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and A Very Interesting Boy
by Birdsall, JeanneBook - 2005Book, 2005
Added Sep 02, 2014
Comment:
I agree with evieblack who commanded us to "read this book!" Indeed, it is a good book to have read, the characters are real and well-educated which makes them a pleasure to know.
Murder on the Home FrontMurder on the Home Front, BookA True Story of Morgues, Murderers, and Mysteries During the London Blitz
by Lefebure, MollyBook - 2014Book, 2014
Added Apr 30, 2014
Comment:
This book is set in the same period in
England as the BBC "Foyle's War." It takes place after Foyle and Milnor arrive, look at the body and then the men from the Coroner's office take the body away. At that point Dr. CKS & Miss Molly arrive to figure out how the person died. The author, who is writing an autobiography of her young adult years, writes well and is entertaining, even when dealing with the dead. She is especially funny when it comes to her female friends who are practically blood thirsty when they are alone with her and go into the feminine wiles of pretending that they cannot stand to look at her pictures when their menfolk are around. Good thing that women no longer have to do that any longer!
I am not saying that all the deaths happened in Cornwall, they happened all over England, but the story is pretty much the same: the ME needs to determine cause of death and has to be called before the body can be transferred to the Undertakers.This book is set in the same period in
England as the BBC "Foyle's War." It takes place after Foyle and Milnor arrive, look at the body and then the men from the Coroner's office take the body away. At that point Dr. CKS & Miss Molly arrive to…
Exorcising HitlerExorcising Hitler, BookThe Occupation and Denazification of Germany
by Taylor, FredBook - 2011Book, 2011
Shwayfet's rating:
Added Apr 14, 2014
Backstairs at the White HouseBackstairs at the White House, DVD
DVD - 2005DVD, 2005
Added Jan 26, 2014
Comment:
I am grateful to the SPL for buying this DVD as I have been thinking about it ever since I first saw it years ago on TV. It fascinated me then, and upon re-watching it, I like it even more. I was disappointed that Eugene Allen, the Butler at the WH who inspired the Lee Daniels's movie "The Butler" was not mentioned in BS@tWH, but he just may have been the extra character who appeared during the Eisenhower Administration which was the ending of this story as Lillian Rogers Parks retired in 1961 as JFK came into office.
I found so many things that I want to know more about from this DVD. It is a grand item to have in our collection. I try to mention it to everyone to see it. :)I am grateful to the SPL for buying this DVD as I have been thinking about it ever since I first saw it years ago on TV. It fascinated me then, and upon re-watching it, I like it even more. I was disappointed that Eugene Allen, the Butler at the WH…
Seeing Mary PlainSeeing Mary Plain, BookA Life of Mary McCarthy
by Kiernan, FrancesBook - 2000Book, 2000
Added Oct 22, 2013
Comment:
I am going to make a comment before reading this book. I am delighted to know about it. Mary McCarthy has influenced my life ever since "The Group" came out although I was relieved that I did not have to be one of them.
Many years later, I read an article in an anthology about her childhood in Seattle and subsequent anecdotes about the death of her parents in 1918 while the family were traveling from Seattle to St. Paul, MN where they intended to make their home. The mother, née Preston, was born here and the father was from St. Paul. When they died of the flu, an uncle came to collect the children and arrange for the bodies to be taken care of. The three boys, of whom the actor Kevin McCarthy was one, went to St. Paul to live with uncles. Mary was sent back to Seattle to grow up with her Preston grandparents.
Her grandfather was a banker in downtown Seattle. The family lived in Laurelhurst. Her grandmother was Jewish and not accept by the grandames of Seattle society. She spent her days at Frederick & Nelsons going from Department to Department where the sales women were kind to her.
Mary attend Forest Lawn (I hope that is right.) It was in the building in south Mountlake, somewhat in the Louisa May Boren forest/park, that until the Nasqually earthquake housed the Hebrew School. Structural damage to the building caused it to be closed.I am going to make a comment before reading this book. I am delighted to know about it. Mary McCarthy has influenced my life ever since "The Group" came out although I was relieved that I did not have to be one of them.
Many years later, I read…
King of the Middle MarchKing of the Middle March, Downloadable Audiobook
by Crossley-Holland, KevinDownloadable Audiobook - 2009Downloadable Audiobook, 2009
Added Mar 30, 2013
Comment:
Life was difficult in the 13th century, and no where was it more difficult than on the way to Jerusalem to kill as many Muslims as possible. The attitude of the western Europeans about the holders of the Holy City was sad and makes it easy to understand how our Muslim brothers are angry about our long-held attitudes towards them. The 13th Century did not try to understand Islam much either.
Arthur never actually makes it to Jerusalem, yet he has a lifetime of adventures in the years of being away. He continues to be the charming and interesting main character of this book.Life was difficult in the 13th century, and no where was it more difficult than on the way to Jerusalem to kill as many Muslims as possible. The attitude of the western Europeans about the holders of the Holy City was sad and makes it easy to…
At the Crossing-placesAt the Crossing-places, Downloadable Audiobook
by Crossley-Holland, KevinDownloadable Audiobook - 2009Downloadable Audiobook, 2009
Added Mar 30, 2013
Comment:
As we learned in "The Seeing Stone," a crossing place is a place where change occurs: childhood to puberty; 11:59 to 12:01; one millennium to the next, this story is a crossing place to "The King of Middle March."
The character of Arthur remains just as enticing, but the story did not have the charm of the first book in the trilogy.
One has to read it though for all of the changes that has occurred to Arthur, to what is happening to King Arthur that Arthur observes in the "seeing store," as well as how the news that Arthur has received at the end of "The Seeing Stone," as well.As we learned in "The Seeing Stone," a crossing place is a place where change occurs: childhood to puberty; 11:59 to 12:01; one millennium to the next, this story is a crossing place to "The King of Middle March."
The character of Arthur remains…
InjusticeInjustice, DVD
DVD - 2012DVD, 2012
Added Mar 25, 2013
Comment:
I am very grateful to the thoughtful comments and even to some of the spoilers in these comments because there are so many BBC DVDs that suit my taste, I do not want to wait for the DVD, nor watch something that will be upsetting to me.
I am going to pass on this one. I appreciate the rest of you providing your input.I am very grateful to the thoughtful comments and even to some of the spoilers in these comments because there are so many BBC DVDs that suit my taste, I do not want to wait for the DVD, nor watch something that will be upsetting to me.
I am…
The Seeing StoneThe Seeing Stone, Downloadable Audiobook
by Crossley-Holland, KevinDownloadable Audiobook - 2009Downloadable Audiobook, 2009
Added Mar 14, 2013
Comment:
This book is one heck of a good read. The fictional story, set in 1199 CE, weaves its way easily between the fantasy and the story that the young "Arthur" narrates for the reader. He is a sympathetic young person, full of hopes and dreams and angst as any 13 year old is.
There is a touch of social justice in his attitudes towards the injustice and exploitation of the poor. Although the Priest fobs his concerns off as "God's Will," Arthur knows that things are wrong for some of the people that he likes very much, whom he notices helps to make his life and his family's life better.
Any story that touches on King Arthur, and which has Merlin in it, has potential and we are in good hands with Crossley-Holland. I am greatly looking forward to the next two books of the trilogy.This book is one heck of a good read. The fictional story, set in 1199 CE, weaves its way easily between the fantasy and the story that the young "Arthur" narrates for the reader. He is a sympathetic young person, full of hopes and dreams and angst…
Added Mar 03, 2013
Comment:
When Carol Ryrie Brinks's grandmother read "Caddie Woodlawn," she exclaimed, "Well, Carol, how did you know?" "You told me, grandma," replied as Caddie Woodlawn was Carolyn Woodhouse of northern WI and the stories related in "Caddie Woodlawn" are the stories that she told her granddaughter years later after Carol came to live with her grandparents in Idaho after the death of her mother. There is a companion book which continues the stories that did not make it into the first book. It is not a sequel because it doesn't more ahead chronologically, but tells more stories about Caddie's siblings living in this area during the mid-19th Century.When Carol Ryrie Brinks's grandmother read "Caddie Woodlawn," she exclaimed, "Well, Carol, how did you know?" "You told me, grandma," replied as Caddie Woodlawn was Carolyn Woodhouse of northern WI and the stories related in "Caddie Woodlawn" are…
Mrs. Henderson PresentsMrs. Henderson Presents, DVD
DVD - 2006DVD, 2006
Added Mar 02, 2013
Comment:
This is a remarkable movie. Of course with its two main stars, Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins, it would be difficult to go wrong. It also features the lovely Kelly Reilly who has a style all of her own!
I suppose that it is not exactly in the genre of "film," but as a movie, it is terrific entertainment of a true story set in London in 1941 during the Blitz. That can keep you on the edge of one's seat, for sure!This is a remarkable movie. Of course with its two main stars, Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins, it would be difficult to go wrong. It also features the lovely Kelly Reilly who has a style all of her own!
I suppose that it is not exactly in the genre…
Single HandedSingle Handed, DVDSet 1
DVD - 2010DVD, 2010
Added Apr 14, 2012
Comment:
This is a job that I would not like to have, but the writer and the actor, as well as the director and the rest of the cast & crew come together to make one heck of a good drama.
Each of the three stories were fascinating, I expect that in the next set, Jack's mother reveals more of herself. The third story was, IMHO, the absolute best. How one wants for this sort of resolution for all of our jackanapes in the world! They absolutely deserve it. Jack showed how his own integrity as well as his history in the West Country helped him sort out the problem and have a positive resolution to the crime: the bad guys really got what was coming to them!
Everyone mentions the lovely scenery. It was amazing, but we do not want to forget the photographer behind the camera. There was amazing skill being demonstrated in these three films.This is a job that I would not like to have, but the writer and the actor, as well as the director and the rest of the cast & crew come together to make one heck of a good drama.
Each of the three stories were fascinating, I expect that in the next…
Comment: