Romance in the age of technology and gaming

The Resonance Mage's Harem: A slow-burn LitRPG men's fantasy where love fuels magic and emotional bonds unlock world-shaping power by Marko Duskborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the LitRPG genre I have read, and I must say I am quite pleased with the theme, plot, and characters. The short novel is quite fast paced and can be finished in one sitting of few hours – a lazy Sunday afternoon. The story builds well right from the start with a description of Danny Walsh, a software support professional and a recluse in real life. He confesses to the fact that he is more comfortable with computers than people and the most intense moments of life are when he is navigating virtual worlds on his gaming computer.
The characters are built well, focusing on their core beliefs, fears, insecurities, etc. The romance aspect of the story is presented in a delicate manner. The relationship between Danny and Kira seems organic, natural, and with an emotional depth that intensifies the adventure. This story is not just about conversing with demons, transgressing worlds, but about building genuine connections, and real bonds.
I particularly liked the writing style, it is chatty, easy to read, and at the same time relies heavily on technology while depicting human emotions. “Danny crept closer to the mouth of the alley, his heart hammering against his ribs like an overclocked CPU fan,” writes Duskborn, a brilliantly enmeshed emotion and tech together.
On the downside the book could have been extended with some more adventure and romantic interludes. It would have made more interesting to read and attracted young people.

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Romantic Adventure Novel Set in Africa

Romance novels often feature urban environments and follow the familiar pattern of drama. The main characters meet and fall in love, then there is a plot twist which prevents coming together of the lovers. These novels usually culminate in the usual matrimonial union of the lovers, and everyone is happy. In this realm Jack Eliron presents his magnum opus His Wicked Hands Made me Sin, a 317-page adventure-romance novel with its refreshingly different plot, characterization, setting, action, and culture. Set in Benin, Africa the novel presents the main protagonists Kemi and Ben, two very strong characters and how they are brought together. The author weaves word pictures so vivid that the reader can feel part of the setting in the story, amidst action, and visualizing the dramatic, sizzling romance. The complexity of characters is presented in an immersive manner which makes them very relatable to the reader. The intense chemistry between Ben and Kemi adds to the emotional swirl of the novel. While the novel is engaging and has vivid descriptions of the setting, characters, and events, I do have one small issue. The only refrain I have about the novel is its title, I couldn’t quite understand the relevance of the story to the headline.

Typical English Romance Novel

A Lady's Guide to Kiss a Rake by Tanya Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A typical English romance novel with its set dose of fun, excitement, thrill, and of course some steamy love making. The story revolves around Lady Josephine (Jo) and St. Adlwyn (Damien), their competition, love, quarrels, etc. Both of them start off saying they don't believe in marriage, Damien being too much a man about town, and Jo not trusting any man and being involved in her projects. Her belief that marriage would mean hindrance to her social work of rescuing the weak, helpless and abused. But Damien has other feelings and thoughts, he wants to be her only protector and lover.
The friendly and at times heated banter between them makes this book worth reading. The narration and descriptions of elaborate festivities, dresses of the ladies, and character building is very interesting. The wordplay is very entertaining and makes this book almost unputdownable. The side characters including lady Belle and the Middleton girls add the much needed relief and comedy to the work.
The book has its share of steamy descriptions of interludes between the main characters which makes it all the more interesting. Overall I'd give this book a 4/5 rating and definitely worth spending a few hours to complete the story.

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Tale of Losing and Finding Love

Mending a Broken Heart by Michelle Wilson; 162pp.

There are thousands of romance novels that feature the stories of young lovers and their intense feelings of attachment, and anticipation, even as they navigate the world from adolescence into adulthood. The challenges they face as they vigorously attempt to balance blooming careers, intensifying love, while fighting distractions of the world. Mending a Broken Heart by Michelle Wilson is one such story featuring the main characters, Isabelle and James, college students of medicine and literature respectively.

The book starts off with a passionate interlude between the two at a bar where each is celebrating the culmination of college assignments. Their connection is instantaneous and chemistry passionate leading to Isabelle dreaming about a long loving future with James. Unfortunately, James suddenly decides to drop out of university and go home with no explanation, leaving Isabelle heartbroken and shocked.

Devastated Isabelle recedes into studies for some time and ventures back into dating on the urging of her best friend Millie, only to encounter disappointment. She then decides to rebuild her life and focuses on her education and builds a strong career as a doctor.

Fate has other plans and Isabelle encounters James once again, as a patient in the hospital. Old feelings resurface and after several deep conversations, and months of slow traditional dates James pops the question.

This book has several loose ends and plot interruptions, and typesetting is amateurish at best. I wish the author paid more attention to closing the loose ends before completing the book and also use a professional company to design and layout the book properly. The book is easy to read and not much substance to worry about missing pages, so totally ok to read over a week. 

Movie Review: Dirty Teacher

Pic: The Eyes of Charles Christopher

This movie examines two themes that are so commonly discussed in the popular media: 1) Childhood psychological trauma and its effects on an individual and 2) Sexual relationships between students and teachers. Dirty Teacher directed by Doug Campbell features two young teenaged lovers Jamie and Danny who come from very different backgrounds. Jamie's father has lost his job after serving at an organization for 18 years and her mom is working two jobs to keep the family going. In the process they have had to dig into Jamie's college account which makes the teenager unhappy. On the other hand, Danny's parents are well off business owners who want their son to go to Stanford.

Enter Molly a new teacher at the school who takes a particular liking to Danny and starts seducing him. Danny falls for her charms and starts a clandestine affair much to the chagrin and disappointment of Jamie. Unknown to any of the students or staff of the high school, Molly has her own childhood trauma which has left deep scars on her. She was raised by a foster parent who perpetually made her feel worthless and miserable. Outwardly pleasant and considerate Molly has a tendency to inflict pain on her unsuspecting students. 

Molly begins to make life miserable for Jamie. After a few tearful confrontations Danny decides that he had had enough with the teacher and wants to break off. Of course Molly does not want to hear anything about it. Things go really wrong and Danny is killed in a hit and run accident. All the evidence points to Jamie as the perpetrator of the crime.

Is Jamie guilty? If not is she able to prove her innocence? Are the cops able to find the real murderer? For all these answers watch the movie. It is available free on Youtube.

Movie Review: The Waterboy

Cover of The Waterboy [Blu-ray]

Most of Adam Sandler movies I have watched have a different storyline and depict some excellent acting by the leading star. The movie is also centered around one or two characters. This is no exception. Sandler plays the role of a mama's boy, Bobby working as a waterboy for a college football team. He has a bad stammer and is constantly bullied and made fun of by everyone.
At age 31 he still lives with his mother, has never been to a restaurant or dated a girl. He has no interest in college or studying. Once during a practice one of the hunky players spits into the water which makes Sandler angry but he suppresses it. The coach sees this and tells him to stand up for himself. Sandler moves with such force that it surprises everyone on the field and makes the coach plead and beg him to play football.
Of course mama is not happy about Sandler going to college or playing football. Because deep within her mind she is afraid that he is going to abandon her like his father did years ago. She has a tight grip on him which is the reason for his suppression and lack of social skills.
Coach encourages Bobby to give up his role as waterboy and start playing without his mother's knowledge. Bobby concurs and starts playing which turns the fortunes of MudDogs and earns fame and notoriety to Bobby. Meanwhile Bobby runs into an old friend, the girl of his dreams, and takes her home, Mama doesn't like her.
How Bobby manages to obtain his mother's approval to study, play football and marry his romance interest comprises the rest of the movie replete with laughter, gags and fun. It is available on Youtbe free so go ahead and enjoy the movie.

Movie Review: Think Like A Man

I heard great reviews about this movie on National Public Radio (NPR), so I decided to go watch it. The movie is just an average entertainer which pits women against men and supposedly teaches the former how to snag the latter and make them propose marriage. I was rather disappointed that NPR promoted this movie and it was definitely not upto the praise the radio program proffered on it.

Anyway the movie is about this bunch of African-American men who are dating or living in a steady relationship. Their girlfriends want to marry and settle down but the boys are not taking the initiative. Meanwhile Steve Harvey releases a book titled Think Like a Man, Act like a lady which becomes an instant hit among women. These women who read this book will start using the strategies to play men and make them their slaves (not literally... but figuratively). Just when they are succeeding the men get hold of the book and employ the same strategies against the women and guess what happens when they come face to face. Things go wrong and the women make a big issue about the fact that the men were playing dirty and leave. This leads the men to run behind the women, seek forgiveness and get married.

What an anti-men movie directed by a Man. In terms of entertainment I would give it a 3 star rating, acting 2.5 stars, direction maybe 2.5 and overall movie 2.75.

I would say definitely not worth paying $5.50 per pop to watch this movie.

Hindi Movie Review: Karma

This movie starring Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah was released in 1986 and was a moderate hit at that time. The movie follows the theme of the legendary movie Sholay. Dilip Kumar plays the role of a compassionate jailer, Anupam Kher plays notorious terrorist commander Dr. Deng who gets arrested and placed the former's jail. In one of the interactions Dilip Kumar slaps Dr. Deng and earns his enemity. An angry Dr. Deng organizes his terrorist group and massacres the entire jail residents and Dilip Kumar's family.

In response Dilip Kumar decides to take revenge and he picks up three convicts in jail and trains them into fighting machines. Together they destroy Dr. Deng's empire and camps and eliminate him. Thus eliminating all the threats to India. This is one of the formula movies of Bollywood. Three heroes, two heroines, a villain and supporting actor. Five songs, couple of attempted rape scenes, etc. It is worth watching once and does definitely inflame passions for the country.

Movie Review: Fatal Desire

What happens when a beautiful woman is stalked by two men, one handsome and reckless, another creative, and business savvy? Who does she choose to be with? What is the outcome of such a love triangle? Is there really love or just plain convenience and lust? These are the questions that come to one's mind when you watch this movie. Directed by Roberto Schlosser, Fatal Desire is a 100-minute romantic thriller with a dash of erotica, starring Wendy Guess (Sue), Pierre Perea (Rick) and Jordan Williams (Ben).

Ben is a movie producer on whose sets a stuntwoman is killed on sets and he is facing charges of negligence. Ben has other problems, his trophy wife Sue - beautiful and sexy - is having an affair. Ben sets a private detective to follow her and get evidence. Meanwhile Rick the man who Sue is cheating with devises a plan to eliminate Ben and make it look like an accident. This way their obstacles will be cleared and they also get to collect the $2 million Ben's life insurance money. Initially hesitant, Sue agrees and the duo execute the plan. Something goes horribly wrong and Sue is being stalked by a stranger on a big motorcycle.

The end of the movie is quite surprising and goes on to show how a manipulative, and beautiful woman can get away with everything and emerge winner. I'd recommend this movie to adults and older teens. It is definitely not a family movie.

Movie Review: 17 Again

American culture glorifies youth so much that most people are obsessed with their high school years. I wouldn't blame them because high school is something that one either hates or loves. This movie kinda glorifies the high school experience once again and how decisions made at that time will go on to shape the rest of an individual's life. The story centers around Mike O' Donnell who has been thrown out of his house by his wife, his teenaged children don't want to have anything to do with him and at work he is passed up for a promotion.
 
Back up a few years Mike was the high school basket ball pro who was all set to go to college. On the evening he was supposed to play the match that would get him a scholarship to go to college he comes to know his girlfriend is pregnant. He throws it all away and settles down with this wife to raise a family. But deep within he harbors a sense of loss, a feeling that he would been someone else, done something else if his girlfriend now wife had not gotten pregnant. This feeling leads to angst and gets him to the brink of divorce.
 
There is a divine intervention at this point in his life and he is transformed into a 17 year old. He goes back to the same school that his children go to and then starts the fun. He becomes the coolest kid at school and changes the lives of his son and daughter and finally reclaims the love of his life - his estranged wife. The whole process is riddled with comedy and high school fun. The story and theme could have been handled much better but this movie is ok... not too bad. Worth watching once.

Movie Review: My Mom's New Boyfriend

No Logic, Weak Story & Mediocre Performances

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Meg Ryan, Colin Hanks, Selma Blair and others
Director: George Gallo

This movie probably attracted audiences because of its impressive star-cast. I had heard a lot about this movie but was too lazy to go and watch the movie in the theaters. For sometime I was even wondering whether I was missing something, but after watching the movie I am more than convinced that it was not a bad decision at all.

The story line of the movie is something like this: Meg Ryan plays the role of an obese, drunken single mother whose son goes out of the house to get trained as a FBI agent. When he returns he sees a completely transformed Meg Ryan. A slim, svelte and sexy woman, she has a set of boyfriends that include a college dropout and a drunk Italian chef.

Quite naturally the son Henry (Colin Hanks) is worried about this mother's wayward life. The worries multiply when she bumps into Tommy (Antonio Banderas) in the market and starts dating him. Things get even charged up for Henry when he has to spy on Tommy, he has to bug his own home, and follow his mother. What happens thereafter and how things get sorted out forms the rest of the movie.

The screenplay is honestly quite pathetic. Other than the impressive star cast there is nothing in the movie. If you haven't watched it don't bother, if you have the opportunity to watch it free and don't have anything better to do, it would be a better option.

Movie Review: It All Started in Naples

Child Custody Battle leads to Romance

Starring: Clark Gable, Sophia Loren, etc.
Director: Melville Shavelson

Consider a successful American lawyer who has lost his wayward brother in an automobile accident, a beautiful Italian nightclub singer who holds custody of the departed brother's only son, in a tourist setting. The result is a war of wits and mettle over custody of the little boy and in the process the adults fall in love and take over joint custody of the boy. This in effect is the story of this movie.

What makes it worth watching for 120 odd minutes is the stellar performances by top stars Clark Gable (American lawyer Michael Hamilton) and Sophia Loren (Italian nightclub singer Lucia Curcio) which makes you laugh throughout the movie. Director Michael Shavelson has extracted great performances from both the stars and especially the young boy who plays Nandos.

The movie starts off with Michael arriving in Naples to take care of the estate of his brother who was killed in an automobile accident. The brother, who has borrowed $14,000 from Michael and squandered it away, so in effect there is not much money left. There is his young son Nandos, who at 8 doesn't go to school but smokes and drinks. Lucia, Nando's mother's unmarried sister has claimed him as her own and both are very attached to each other.

Michael is not happy with the way the boy is growing up and wants to give him a good education in an American school. Lucia is naturally not willing to give up custody and this leads to some courtship and finally to a court battle over custody. What happens at the end is quite predictable but how it happens is what you will have to discover by watching the movie.

Movie Preview: Couples Retreat

I chanced upon the promo of this movie which is all about how to keep the romance active among couples. The trailer is real funny and I am sure this will be one hell of a hilarious movie... I will try to catch it on October 9th... the release date.