AvidBards
Books

‘Art & Grace’ by Catherine E. Chapman Review

Taking place in the early nineteenth century in southern England, Art & Grace, a regency era novel, follows a mixed-race maid, Bess, as she struggles to ensure a stable and safe future. The premise of the story intrigued me by the inclusion of aspects of slavery and race which is so often left out in the writings of Dickens and Austen. Indeed, in his book The World, the Text and the Critic, Edward Said points out how the underlying context of colonialism serves as the unspoken funder of the rich and wealthy during this period. Author Catherine E. Chapman brings…

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Reviews

Barry: The Best New(ish) Dark Comedy

If you haven’t started watching Barry, an HBO show that started airing in 2018 and has two complete seasons with the third on the way, you should seriously watch it. But before you do, you should probably watch the trailer (below) to see what you’re in for – because it’s a doozy. The show stars Bill Hader, who is previously best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and lengthy roster of voice acting (Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Angry Birds, Inside Out, Ralph Breaks the Internet), but more recently in the film It: Chapter Two. But Hader,…

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Books

‘The Colonel and the Bee’ by Patrick Canning

We are so excited to have once again on the blog today a review requested by an author who very kindly sent us his book. The Colonel and the Bee is a short novel bursting with energy and excitement. The author, Patrick Canning seems to have pulled from many references and genres, ranging from Charles Dickens, Angela Carter and Jules Verne. More than anything, I was left with the feeling that this was the tale I wish I had had as a young girl myself. The novel follows thirteen-year-old Beatrix as she runs away from the circus with a man,…

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Books

Book Review: ‘Why She Lied’ by Julie Coons

Here at AvidBards, we are lucky to have authors reach out to us asking to review their work. Some of the most recent literary reviews we’ve done upon request include Meditation Time by Laurent Grenier, Seeds of Dissolution by William C. Tracy, and Lexi by Heidi J. Hewett. A few months ago, self-published author Julie Coons asked us to read her newest psychological thriller, a novel entitled Why She Lied. This is Coons’ second book, and her debut novel is called This Does Not Leave This House. Coons is extremely open about the fact that she has based her novels…

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TV Shows

‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ Season Review

When the trailer for Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) was released, I must admit that I had no idea what it was. I had no clue it was meant to be a prequel series to the 1982 film The Dark Crystal, created by Jim Henson. In fact, I had never even seen or heard of the original film at all. I do know, however, that Jim Henson and his company are renowned for being some of the most important, if not the most important, innovators of puppetry in the film and television world. Jim Henson is…

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Books

Time for a Mental Declutter – ‘Meditation Time’ Review

The end of summer, for many, marks a return to rules, regulations and an orderliness that we had neglected a bit during the summer months. Whether a student, working professional, self-employed or a parent, the lax days of summer, when the sunshine put everyone in a bit of a better mood, the days are shortening signalling the coming of the next season. As a child, and if I am honest as an adult as well, the new school year was my favourite time of the year. I loved everything about it from the new books, new stationary and a chance…

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