Alex Writes

Improving your Typing Skills Using the Online Platform

In this fast-paced and technologically advanced era, being good with computers and other devices is always an advantage. It is not just for employment sake but also for personal development. Since the world is constantly revolving, technologies and the likes are also getting more advanced and complicated. That is why there is a need to enhance your skill set, especially your technical and competency skills. Typing, for example, is one of the abilities that are vital in surviving this progressive period.

There are different methods on how to improve your skill set; but, you do not have to develop them all at once. Take it slow and step by step so that every skill will be harnessed fully. You may start the process by honing your typing ability for it is one of the basic and most crucial skills that a person must own. There are plenty of online typing lessons for beginners or methods on how to improve one’s typing ability with the help of the online platform. If you are among the people that want to utilize the digital avenue for personal-development, then here are the methods how:

Research the basics of typing in your preferred search engine

There are many available search engines in your browser, such as Google, Bing, Wiki, and more. All you need to do is to open your preferred browser, utilize a search engine, and enter some keywords. For example, you looked up “basics of typing,” there will be a lot of results that will appear and all you have to do is to click any of those that fit your liking. You can read through each result and gain knowledge on the fundamentals of typing, typing speed, basic finger position, and more. The results with embedded pictures is better to pick for the images will greatly help you with your task, unlike those that do not have photographs where you will be having a little bit of trouble imagining. With that, you will already have some background on this unique form of writing or inputting words by pressing keys.

Browse on Youtube for video tutorials

Youtube is one of the most widely used online platforms since it contains wide array of videos that people can watch and choose from. These videos are not only limited to vlogs and music videos but it also encompasses tutorials and anything under the sun. You just need to input a keyword and it will do the work for you. Since there are a lot of tutorial videos pertaining to typing, you can check one video after another until you have already digested the information one by one. Afterward, you can try applying what you’ve learned by practice typing using your computer or the likes. There are also many online typing games that you can play to practice your skill. Also, you may jot down notes so that you have a hard copy of what you just have learned.

Purchase some typing books online

The online platform is not just about entertainment and research. It is also a good avenue for business, such as selling. There are many products that you can find online, such as books. That said, you can browse through any online bookstores and even in Amazon for some typing books. Although, there are different types of books — such as printed books and electronic books, purchasing the latter is more convenient and safe given the world’s situation today. E-books are also way cheaper and affordable for it will not cost you any delivery fee and some hassles. There are a lot of typing books online, so it is preferred that you scan through them before purchasing. Once you are done cherry-picking them, you can add them to your cart and complete the transaction.

Enroll in some online typing courses

The amazingness of the digital world is that it contains almost the same aspects in the real world but they made these things more convenient. Example of which are the online classes and courses that can be taken by the public. Since you are into typing, you can research for some typing courses and do some inquiry before actually enrolling yourself. Once you find the one the suit your liking, you can admit yourself in and start the journey. These courses are also beneficial for you because they will send you a certificate after being done with your session, which serves as proof that you are have finished a typing lesson and is already a certified typing enthusiast. You can improve your skill, utilize what you have learned in your school or work, do paper works faster, and more. Also, you will not have to spend a lot of time with the computer or any related gadget anymore.

5 Best Movies to Watch with Your Kids

Films are some of the effective means of transportation to worlds that both existent and nonexistent. This avenue is a good promoter of knowledge, entertainment, and imagination. It is also a good educator for the young minds. There are a lot of meaningful messages that are hidden everywhere in each film that suddenly pops up and teach children the value of every message. These lessons may include but are not limited to kindness, love, selflessness, friendship, family, and more.

Children’s film is the genre that contains movies for kids, both animated and non-animated. It can also be called family film. This genre is equivalent to children’s literature in the literary realm, where a lot of books for children and the best authors — such as Roald Dahl, Rj Palacio, Ray Sobrino Jr., Janet Councilman, and more. Furthermore, these films created for kids can also be watched by people who are kids at heart; so, here are five of the best films for kids that you should check out:

Toy Story (1995)

This 1995 box-office hit film was directed by John Lasseter and was under the production companies Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios. This is the first of the 4 Toy Story movies. The movie is set in a world where humanlike toys come alive every time humans are not around. It centers on the wonderful friendship formed between Woody, a doll that is an old-school pull-string cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, an action figure in the form of an astronaut. Their owner is the boy named Andy who loves playing with them and is an imaginative kid. The two anthropomorphic toys become tough rivals. The rivalry revolves around the idea of who is dearer to Andy between them. From being rivals, they developed an unexpected friendship that made them work together during difficult times became the best of friends.

Inside Out (2015)

Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios are the production company of Inside Out. It was under the direction of Pete Docter and was released last 2015. The film was surely a hit because it garnered a total of 857.6 million dollars from the budget of 175 million. The film is set on the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley who lived in California but moved in Minnesota along with her family. It centers on 5 different characters named Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear— each of them represent the 5 diverse emotions of people. The story takes a turn when most core memories of Riley where touched by Sadness. As a result, Riley became sad when she remembers those memories instead of becoming happy. Joy argued her way through it with Sadness and they end up being sucked by the tube to the memory island leaving the three emotions at their headquarters. The journey made Joy realize how important Sadness is to Riley’s persona and development, making them work hand-in-hand together to fix what was broken.

Up (2009)

Pete Docter and Bob Peterson collaborated for the direction and screenplay of the Disney-Pixar movie Up. Based on its title, it highlights a house that is floating in the sky fueled by a wide array of balloons. It is a mixture of comedy, drama, and adventure, which was released last 2009. It follows the story of Carl Fredricksen, an old widower, and Russell, an enthusiastic boy scout. Before Carl lost his wife, both of them dreamed of going on an adventure to Paradise Falls. Now that Ellie is gone, Carl is having a hard time letting go of things and embracing life without her. He became grumpy like most of the older people do. One day, an earnest scout knocked approached him and even knocked on his door in the hopes of helping Carl to earn a badge. Russell’s offer was directly declined by the old man. Then, Carl decided to fulfill their dream as a couple and go to Paradise Falls. He pumped and tied a lot of balloons, and when he was already up in the sky he discovered that Russell was on his house. Thus, he went on the biggest adventure of his life with an unexpected companion, which benchmarks their wonderful bond.

The Incredibles (2004)

Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios are the production companies of The Incredibles. This animated superhero movie was released last 2009 under the direction of Brad Bird and was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. It centers on a superhero family. The film is set in another sort of the 1960s. Each family member of the Parr has unique superpowers, such as super strength, elasticity, super speed, and invisibility. They struggle on how to conceal their powers, especially the kids, in order to continue living a normal life and honor the mandate of the government. However, the pillar of the family called Mr. Incredible has a burning desire to use his powers for to protect people in danger. That desire created the conflict of the story and made each of his family members to use their powers to save him from being held captive.

The Secret and Unique Powers of Self-help Books

Books are one of the primary sources of both entertainment and knowledge of people before the digital age blossomed. Small as they seem, these tiny books can bring major impact your life. From inside out, these literary works can definitely bring a wide array of wisdom to everybody. They also have a lot to offer for they are like a bag of different flavored candies — there are a lot of flavor to choose from that will bring delight to your mouth. That said, these flavors represent the bunch of literary genres that are waiting to be explored by everyone.

Amongst the most patronized books are those that belong to the self-help genre. These are the masterpieces that promote wellness, growth, and development holistically. Sure they can bring you to different places like all other books do; however, there is something special about this kinds of books for they have some hidden and one-of-a-kind powers that makes you appreciate them more and even unleash your secret unique inner powers too.

If you are a fan of self-help books or are about to delve into this genre, you might want to know what they can offer. That said, listed below are the secret and unique powers of self-help novels that you must know beforehand or will notice along the way:

They soothe the chaos

There’s always a time in your life you have been beaten by problems, worries, and anxiety that came rushing towards you all at once. The effects of these moments can be either short-time or long-time depending on how you process them. There will be events that you are happy but suddenly spaced-out for the bad experiences will surge to your mind making it chaotic. But with self-help books, you can start to understand why these stressors and rocks are present and begin to discover the processes on how to keep them out or deal with them along the way. Self-help books will slowly calm the chaos so that you find your inner peace again. With that being said, you start to live comfortably and happily even if it will take some time to get used to the process.

They keep you entertained

Books are amongst the source of entertainment. Before cellphones, computers, and other gadgets came into play, books were already there keeping people entertained and delighted. If you are exhausted from work, drained from school, and bored at home, reading can always be an option. There are a lot of genres to choose from, such as fiction and nonfiction. However, self-help works are among those books that you can read to wash away this weariness for they are one of the categories that are happily devoured by everyone. Moreover, they are not only patronized for the calmness that they bring but also about the different writing styles by every self-help author that make people smile despite the difficulties and tiredness that they are experiencing.

They help you gain more wisdom

Learning is an unending process. There are neither dead ends nor finish lines when it comes to learning. Books are among the primary sources of learning. They do not merely contain words but substances that will shape up your mind and make you gain more knowledge. These works that promote learning are not only limited to textbooks for literature has a lot more to offer than you can imagine. Self-help books are also a good teacher apart from textbooks and other works. It is because they contain words that are raw, sincere, and genuine. Some are in the form of collected testimonies from people while others are form a thorough research — these are some of the contents of self-help books. The more you read, the more you can comprehend the things that are happening in your life regardless of how well or bad they are. You will begin to gain wisdom and start living in a better way than you used to.

They make you realize a lot of things

Realization is essential. There may be a lot of times in your life that you forget the value of this action, which will lead to ugly things like regret. There are many definitions pertaining to realization, such as the action of being totally aware of a matter as a fact and the accomplishment of a matter that is being expected and yearned. Moreover, the thing with self-help books is that they are more than just books. They can also be both your listener and adviser that will help you realize and comprehend a lot of things in your life. They will teach you on how to become a better person by helping you understand all the things that surrounds you, including the bad and ugly, and making you deal with problems in a better way.

Experiences into Words: 4 Outstanding Authors of Memoirs That You Should Check Out

The literary world is not solely consists of stories that are pigment of the imaginations of the authors. It is also made up of true to life tales, which can be found in the nonfiction avenue of literature. There are many building blocks of nonfiction; examples of these are autobiography and poetry. Moreover, there is one nonfiction subcategory that is widely patronized by literary enthusiast because of its rawness and genuineness, which is called memoir.

Memoir pertains to the tales and masterpieces that only focus on a single moment of people’s life. Unlike autobiography where you have to write from the moment of your birth until your present life, memoirs are shorter and more refined for it only centers on that particular event that you want to put into writing. These events can be your childhood, coming of age, married life, and more. Since memoirs are still popular these days, here are some of the best authors of memoir books that you should check out:

Elizabeth Gilbert

Born on July 18, 1969 in Waterbury, Connecticut, Elizabeth Gilbert is the daughter of a chemical engineer John Gilbert and housewife Carole. Having risen in a Christmas tree farm in Connecticut without neighbors to interact with or television to keep her entertained, Elizabeth picked reading as a means of entertainment and leisure. Furthermore, she spent her college days in New York University and has acquired her degree in political science in 1991. She experienced a lot of jobs before she became an established author, such as a cook, waitress, magazine employee, and more. Her experienced as a cook was put to writing and was put into a dude ranch in short tales and some bits of it in her book The Last American Man. Elizabeth’s career as an author started to blossom when she released her memoir called Eat, Pray, Love. It has become one of the bestseller memoir novels of all time and was even adapted into film in the year 2010.

Michelle Obama

From the year 2009 until 2017, Michelle Obama was recognized as the first lady of the United States. She is the wife of former US President Barack Obama and a mother of two children. She was born in Chicago, Illinois in January 17, 1964 as Michelle LaVaughn Robinson. She graduated from two of the most popular Ivy League schools, which is Harvard University where she took her Juris Doctor degree and Princeton University where she acquired her Bachelor of Arts degree. Apart from being a lawyer, Michelle is also amongst the renowned authors of two nonfiction books, which are American Grown and Becoming. The former is a book about gardening while the latter is her memoir. Becoming has earned various positive feedbacks and the audiobook version of it was the recipient of the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.

Robert Wright

Robert Wright is a war veteran. He was deployed to fight in the Vietnam War at such a young age, 20 years old. In 2013, he was discovered that he has a Parkinson’s disease. Fighting in the Vietnam War was just as tough as dealing with Parkinson’s; but, he always put his faith to God and still continues to believe in Him. He is managing Parkinson’s by attending a fitness program of contactless boxing and core strength enhancement. Furthermore, he pursued his writing career after he retired from the US Army. He has published a memoir called Weapons of War — a soldier’s story narrating his personal experiences during his deployment in Vietnam. His book contains compiled letters for his fiancée and those who are dear to him. It also narrates how his war experiences created an impact on his life and to the people surrounding him.

Patti Smith

Patti Smith or Patricia Lee Smith is an American author, poet, composer, singer, and musician. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 30, 1946. Her parents are Beverly Smith and Grant Smith. Her mother was a jazz singer who became a waitress while her father was a machinist. She has three siblings named Linda, Kimberly, and Todd. Moreover, she is one of the important part of punk rock movement in New York City, showcasing her first album Horses that was released last 1975. Furthermore, Smith has written more than 20 books and her debut novel was Seventh Heaven, which was published in 1972. She also has written a memoir called Just Kids that was published in 2010. The memoir chronicled her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. Just Kids is one of Smith’s successful books for having received multiple awards, including the 2010 National Book Award for Nonfiction, 2011 ALA Notable Book, Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist, 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award Autobiography/Memoir category finalist, and more.

4 Heartwarming Books about War that You Should Add to Your To-be-read List

Literature is indeed a fun and deep place to delve in. There are a lot of genres that showcase stories that are full of substances and lessons. This realm does not only houses books about adventure but also novels about war. These works are called war novels, which belong to military fiction. However, not all war stories are products of the authors’ imagination for others are true to life tales that are being put into writing and belonged to a different category — which is memoir.

Most war novels are catered by the historical fiction or nonfiction for these battles greatly contributed to the history of the world. Some of them highlight the horrible or bittersweet events of war with a touch of imagination while others narrate a story of a person that has experienced fighting or living in or near a warzone. So, if you are a fan of war novels — both fiction and nonfiction, here are some of the most wonderful stories that will touch your hearts:

All the Light We Cannot See

All the Light We Cannot See is a historical novel authored by Anthony Doerr. It is a 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction awardee. This was published by Scribner in the year 2014 and is available in both hardback and softback covers. The story is set in the Military Administration in France — also known as occupied France, during the WWII. Following the tale of a six-year old French blind girl named Marie-Laure LeBlanc and an eight-year old German orphan boy named Werner Pfennig, the book slowly brings the readers into a chaotic but touching story of these children whose paths slowly crossed. All the Light We Cannot See has been one of the most successful books because aside from being a Pulitzer and Andrew Carnegie awardee, it was also reviewed positively by well-known book critics, including The New York Times Book Review and The Boston Globe.

Weapons of War

First published last February 05, 2018 and republished last July 10, 2019, Weapons of War by Robert Wright is a touching tale about a soldier who has bravely fought in the Vietnam War. It is a memoir-like novel for it narrated how a 20-year old boy remained strong during the Second Indochina War or the Resistance War against America. The content was in the form of letters personally written by the author. Because of these dedicated words to his distant beloved, Wright provides kind and sympathetic knowledge towards the spirit of man and everything one needs to continue being strong and brave during trying times. The book also showcase how the author documented his service to his country and how he is grateful to the US Army for the role bestowed to him and molding him into a better and more responsible leader. With that being said, Weapons of War is a moving testimony to the greatness of faith, love, and hope.

The Diary of a Young Girl

The Diary of a Young Girl is the personal journal of Anne Frank, which she kept while concealing herself with her family for 2 years during the Nazi invasion in Netherlands. It was originally written in Dutch; thus, it was originally published by Contact Publishing in the year 1947 under the title Het Achtehuis. Dagboekbrieven 14 Juni 1942 – 1 Augustus 1944. Anne Frank died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp because of Typhus fever in 1945. Her journal was recovered by Miep Gies, a Dutch citizen, and handed it to the only survivor of the Frank family — which was Otto Frank. Anne’s diary instantly received a lot of attention and was later on patronized by people all around the globe. Moreover, it was published in over 60 languages and has been one of the bestselling autobiographies worldwide. It also inspired the drama titled The Diary of Anne Frank, which was staged last 1955 and was made into film in 1959.

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak wrote one of the most touching historical novel called The Book Thief. It was published by Picador last 2005 and was under the Novel-Historical Fiction category. The book was eventually recognized as an international bestseller. It was translated into over 60 languages and has 16 million copies worldwide. It follows girl named Liesel Meminger who was fostered by a couple during the Word War II. Hans and Rosa Hubermann loved Liesel like their own offspring. They educated her and even sent her to school eventually. It was a tough time for the Nazis regime was rough and horrifying. The situation became tougher when her foster parents started to hid a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement. What makes this book a hit is not just because of its bittersweet story but also because of its peculiar narrator, which is Death. Furthermore, the book tackles themes of death, literacy, and love. Because of its wonderful tale, it received 9 book awards and was adapted into film.

Heartwarming Caregiving Movies That You Should Add on Your To-be-watched List

Caregiving can be one of the most difficult jobs. It is not just about taking care of the sick, disabled, or old but it is also about sacrifice and discipline. There are a lot of things that a caregiver provides, such as patience, time, and effort. This career path can be rocky at first, especially for those who do not have a solid background about caregiving or do not have any knowledge about the art of it.

Moreover, not all caregivers are professionals, which mean that some can be from caregiving agencies while others are direct family members of patients. The latter may sound easy for taking care of elderly family member or sick relatives can be a piece of cake since you already knew them. However, the transition of being a normal person without much responsibility into a personal caregiver with a lot of obligations on you plate can become a little too much to handle. This might be a tough job but the fruits of this labor can be something to look forward to.

Moreover, caregiving has been one of the talks in both film and literary industry. There are plenty of books about caregiving that will definitely touch your hearts and a bunch of films that showcase caregiving that will bring you both joy and tears. Since the weekend is approaching, here are some caregiving movies that you might want to check out and add to your to-be-watched list:

Me Before You (2016)

Me Before You is a film based on the novel with the same title by author Jojo Moyes. This romantic drama movie was released last 2016, which was under the production companies New Line Cinema, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Sunswept Entertainment and was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.. Me Before You starred the some of the best actors in the industry, such as Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. It follows the story of William Traynor, who became disabled after being hit by a speeding motorcycle while on the phone on his way to his workplace. Because of being paralyzed, Will started to become depressed and ending his life became his new life goal. Two years passed, he met an outgoing and cheerful woman named Louisa Clark. Lou was hired by his parents to be his caregiver. She had a hard time dealing with the gloomy and cold-hearted Will. As time passed by, they developed a good friendship and, eventually, love. However, Louisa’s effort to make Will see the brighter side of life didn’t work. Even their love for each other was not enough to change his mind; thus, he continued with his plans of ending his life leaving his caregiver heartbroken but encouraging her to live.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy-drama movie under and distributed by The Weinstein Company last 2012. It starred Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Anupam Kher, and Chris Tucker. This is the film adaptation of Matthew Quick’s book with the same title as the movie. This movie centers on the life of Patrizio “Pat” Solitano Jr., who was admitted to a psychiatric facility for beating his ex-wife’s other man. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was recently released from the institution. His family, especially his mother, was trying their best to keep him on shape with a healthy mind. His mom tries everything she can to take care of Pat by keep giving him advices and supporting him. His father, on the other hand, was a typically dad who is obsessed with sports and was a firm believer of jujus. Later on, Pat met Tiffany — a widow suffering with depression. She convinced Pat to be his dance partner in exchange of contacting his ex-wife. Tiffany and Pat had their ups and downs. Later on, Pat realized that Tiffany is all he needs and everything is not too late.

The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

The Fundamentals of Caring was directed by Rob Burnett and was released last 2016. It was under the production companies Worldwide Pants and Levatine Films and was distributed by Netflix. This film starred Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, and Selena Gomez. This film was based on the novel by Jonathan Evison called The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving. It follows the story of a retired writer named Ben. He is currently suffering from writer’s block because of a personal trauma; thus, he decided to look for another job that does not require writing. He took a caregiving course for 6-weeks and was hired by a registered caregiver and a bank office manager named Elsa to provide care to his son. Trevor is the boy that Ben needs to attend to. He was suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. As Ben provided care to Trevor, they eventually developed a closer bond. Both of them went to a trip to see various roadside attractions. On their way, they stopped on a gas station and met girl named Dot whom Trevor started to fancy.

The Upside (2017)

The Upside is a comedy-drama movie released last September 8, 2017 and January 11, 2019. It was directed by Neil Burger and starred Kevin Hart, Bryan Cranston, Nicole Kidman, and Golshifteh Farahani. This film is a remarke of The Intouchables, a French movie by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano released in the year 2011. It revolves around the story of a wealthy man who became paralyzed named Phillip Lacasse and a newly paroled convict named Dell Scott. The billionaire hired the convict to be his caregiver, which eventually led into an unsual friendship. This film grossed a total of 125.9 million dollars from the budget of 37.5 million dollars. Although it was a box office movie, the critical response was a mixture of both positive and negative. The Rotten Tomatoes rated the film with 5.25/10 while the CinemaScore gave it an “A.”

The Finest Mystery Fiction Authors to Check out this Month

Mystery fiction is an interesting genre. It is the corner of literature that are all about pieces to put together, crimes to investigate, suspects to catch, and doubts to cease. There are a lot of deceiving people and things that will make the journey a one crazy roller coaster ride. Also, there are plenty of unexpected betrayals, jaw-dropping revelations, and heart-pounding scenes. This genre has been one of literature’s best, which is being patronized by readers from the reign of Edgar Allan Poe until today.

You probably have heard about the best detectives in town, such as the classic Sherlock Holmes or Nancy Drew. These characters have become some of the foundations of this genre. As various genres emerge, the literary world have become massive and complex; but amidst this progress, mystery fiction still continued to soar and live up its glory days. Many books and authors of this category have been patronized by literary enthusiasts and book worms because of how well the stories have been written and characters have been made.

So, if you are one of the mystery fiction die-hards and want to get to know more authors of this genre, then you are on the right page! Listed below are the best mystery fiction authors that you might want to check.

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie or Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller is the daughter of Frederick Alvah Miller and Clarissa Margaret Miller. She was born on September 15, 1980. She belonged to a rich upper-middle-class family and was the youngest of the three children. She is prominent in the world of literature as Agatha Christie or Mary Westmacott, her pen name. Agatha published more than 60 detective books and a total of 14 short story anthologies. She also have written the longest-running drama called The Mousetrap that has been staged in the West End from the 1952 until this year. Before she experienced the fame, she also faced a couple of rejections. However, her piece The Mysterious Affair at Styles opened the gates for her in the year 1920. Christie’s success in the literary realm paved her way to be appointed as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). She also made it to the Guinness World Records as the all-time best-selling fiction author.

Tana French

Tana French is an American-Irish novelist and actress. She was born in Burlington, Vermont on May 10, 1973. Her parents are David French and Elena Hvostoff-Lombardi. She started going to Trinity College in Dublin where she focused on acting. Her first mystery novel was released last January 30, 2007 under the publishing company Viking Adult. It was also the first book of the Dublin Murder Squad, which was followed by The Likeness. French received multiple awards for her debut novel in the year 2008, which are the Edgar Award, Barry Award, Macavity Award, and Anthony Award. Additionally, she received other awards, such as the 2007 Finalist for Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Mystery/Thriller), 2012 International Dublin Literary Award nominee for Faithful Place, 2012 Irish Book Award – Irish Crime Fiction Award for Broken Harbor, and 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Mystery/Thriller) for Broken Harbor.

C.J. Box

C.J. Box or Charles James Box Jr. is a successful mystery fiction/thriller author. He was born on November 09, 1958 in Casper, Wyoming. Charles James studied in the University of Denver where he acquired his bachelor’s degree in mass communications. He wrote more than 20 books and has received plenty of awards. Some of the said awards include Best First Novel category award from the Anthony Award, the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe Award, and Barry Award for Open Season; 2010 Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Award; and more. Box was popularly known for his Joe Pickett series, which is consist of 20 books; but aside from this series, he also have other notable works, such as three stand-alone books, Cassie Dewell books, and a couple of short stories.

JB Clemmens

JB Clemmens o Jeanie B. Clemmens is the author of the wonderful 2015 mystery fiction book The Numbered Cups Mystery, which is the fourth book of the Lieutenant James Mysteries series. Although she is already an outstanding author, Clemmens also enjoy reading works with the same genre of her books. Some of the mystery authors that she fancies are Christie, Wolfe, Marsh, Grimes, Childs, etc. Jeanie also loves writing; for that reason, she was able to produce a lot of books, such as Jigsaw, Death in Sequence, Something Fishy in Manhattan, A Substitute for Murder, Mystery at Pima Point, and more. She is currently wrapping up her research that she has been working on for three years now for her new book that revolves around 1969 called Upon the Moon and Woodstock.

Four Movies for Kids and Kids at Heart

The film industry is very deep and vague. It has served a lot of wonderful movies that have become the means of entertainment from the time it has been created. The masterpieces have also progressed greatly, from black and white to colored films. What make this world complex are its wide array of genres. There have been many existing categories of movies. Some films belong to only one genre while others fall under a couple of categories. These classifications may be based on the theme or its target audience.

Genres can be easy to comprehend but hard to memorize. The film genres are not far from the literary genres. Literature also have a lot of books and classifications. This is one of the things that brings together this two different worlds. Moreover, one of the most prominent classification in the movie industry is the children’s/family category. In literature it is only classified as children’s literature. There are many novels of this genre that have helped shape up the minds of children and even those that are young at heart. The books by Gabriela Eva Nagy, Janet Councilman, and Ray Sobrino Jr. are some wonderful examples of children’s literature.

Children’s/family film genre, on the other hand, contains movies that produced to be enjoyed by both children and family. These works are commonly about adventure, animals, fantasy, comedy, and other factors that can get the child’s imagination get to work. Also, some of these movies are based from books. If you are a fan of this genre or you want to keep your child entertained, here are the movies that you should check out:

Finding Nemo (2003)

Finding Nemo is an animated film directed by Andrew Stanton and produced by Graham Waters. It was under the production companies Walt Disney Picture and Pixar Animation Studios. This film was released last May 30, 2003 and was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. The voice actors were composed of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, and Willem Defoe. Finding Nemo centers on the story of Marlin, a clownfish whose world revolves around his son. Because of Marlin’s tough parenting and Nemo’s stubbornness, Nemo was caught by divers. Marlin was devastated and immediately started the journey of finding his son. Along the way, he encountered a regal blue tang fish that suffers from a short-term memory loss named Dory. They became friends and took a lot of risks in order to rescue Nemo. This film has become a total success for it has earned a total of $871 million from the budget of $94 million. It also received many positive feedback from various movie critics.

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone is a comedy film that was released last November of 1990. It was under Hughes Entertainment and was distributed by 20^th Century Fox. This film was directed by Chris Columbus and starred Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O’Hara. It revolves around a kid named Kevin who is eight-year-old and was accidentally left by his family in their house during Christmas. They had planned a Christmas vacation and the night before, Kevin was in trouble so he was punished to sleep at the third floor of their house. When he woke up, all his family members were gone; thus, leaving him home alone. It was a both a sad and funny movie. Although he was left in solitude, he conquered the days on his own and even fought two burglars. Because of the greatness of this movie, it has grossed more than 470 million dollars with a budget of $18 million. A lot of sequel was also made because of its success.

The Little Princess (1995)

The Little Princess is a 1995 drama movie based on the classic book by Frances Hodgson Burnett that has the same title with the film. It starred Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham, and Liesel Matthews and was directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The release date of the movie was May 10, 1995. Its production company were Baltimore Pictures and Warner Bros. Family Entertainment and was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film follows a little girl of Indian and French roots named Sarah Crewe. She was sent to a boarding school in NYU by his father. The headmistress in her school was named Miss Minchin, a strict and hypocrite woman. When she began attending the school, she was treated like a princess and some girls admired her while others are jealous of her. But when the news about his father’s death broke, the headmistress began maltreating her and turned her into a servant. That is when her bittersweet journey started. The Little Princess unfortunately failed to be one of the box office films. However, because of the theme and other aspects of the story, it received multiple film awards — including two nominations from the Academy Awards, popularly known as Oscar.

Nanny McPhee (2005)

Nanny McPhee was directed by Kirk Jones starring Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, and Angela Lansbury. It is a comedy fantasy film released last 2005 and 2006 under the production companies StudioCanal, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Working Title Films, Three Strange Angels, and Nanny McPhee Productions. This comedy fantasy drama based from the book Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand has grossed more than 120 million dollars. This successful movie centers on the seven stubborn offspring of Cedric Brown. Since he is widowed, he was having a hard time taking care of his children for he is also working. He began looking for a nanny to babysit his children. A lot of nannies has come and go to their household for they cannot handle seven kids. When a woman called Nanny McPhee came to their home and began babysitting his child, everything changes. It has been one of the greatest films, which earned 123 million dollars and was given many positive critical responses.

Feel-good Movies that You May Want to Check Out this Weekend

Feel-good movies refers to the films that showcase life and people in a method that makes the viewers to feel positivity and happiness. This type of movies can come from different movie genres, such as comedy, romance, family, musical, and more. Audience commonly watch these films in order ease up their pain, become comfortable, relieve stress, or improve their current emotional state. Viewers may paint a smile on their faces, want to fall in love again, or realize something after watching this kind of film.

The movie industry is not the only world that has this ace. The literary realm also have this kind of outputs, these are the light read books. Common light read novels can be found in fiction; however, the self-help genre also offers this kind of read for they aim to help the readers lessen their burdens and inspire. A great example is The Pursuit of the Personal Renaissance Experience by Peter Justus, it is Peter’s book on Finding Opportunities for Happiness.

Furthermore, since the world is currently fighting a pandemic and most of people are stuck in their homes. Feel-good movies can be the best type of films to watch during this trying times for they will help lighten everyone’s mood and clear their mind from worries. That said, listed below are the feel-good films that you can binge watch this weekend:

School of Rock (2003)

School of Rock was directed by Richard Linklater and was produced by Scott Rudin. This comedy film starred Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, and Sarah Silverman. It was distributed by Paramount Pictures and was released last October 03, 2003. The movie centers on a rock guitarist who is having a bumpy career and later on, was casted out of his band. After that incident, he began disguising himself as a substitute educator at a well-known preparatory school. As he was attending the school as a fake teacher, he found out that his students have amazing musical talents. He started to create a band composed of fifth-graders and enticed them to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands for his personal intentions. The film has become a success and it earned more than $130 million with the budget of $35 million. It was also positively reviewed by various critics.

13 Going on 30 (2004)

13 Going on 30 was released last April 23, 2004 and was categorized as a fantasy romantic comedy movie. It was directed by Gary Winick and starred Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Judy Greer, and Andy Serkis. The film was under the production companies Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios and was distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. It revolves around a 13-year-old girl and her dream of becoming famous. However, when she celebrated her birthday, she was embarrassed by her classmates. They hoped that she become 30 years old instead of 13. Afterward, she found herself unbelievably 30; so, how can a 13 year old handle the life of a full grown adult in the year 2004? The movie garnered multiple positive feedback from different movie critics and has grossed a total of 96.5 million dollars.

The Parent Trap (1998)

The Parent Trap is a romantic comedy movie that starred Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, and Natasha Richardson. It was directed by Nancy Meyers and was under the production company Walt Disney Pictures. The film was released in 1998 and was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. It was definitely a box office hit for with a $15 million budget, it earned more than 92 million dollars. It follows that story of a divorced couple that had identical twin daughters. The couple decided to take each of the babies as they continue their lives without each other. The twins were named Hallie Parker and Annie James. One summer, they reunited in a summer camp but not in a nice way. Both were pulling pranks to each other, which ended them to spend a night in one cabin. That is where they began to put the pieces together and realized that they are sisters. They began to come up with a plan to switch lives in order to experience how it feels like to have a mother and a father. Their plan was more than successful for they only not experience what their mother and father is like but also had their parents get back together.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump is a movie based on the novel of Winston Groom that has the same title. It is a comedy-drama that starred Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis and was released in 1994. It focuses on some parts of Forrest Gump’s life. Forrest is from Alabama who is a slow-witted guy but with a heart that is overflowing with kindness. He has seen and unintentionally influenced many explicate historical happenings in the 20^th century US. Although it was based from a novel, the film greatly differ from it. The success of Forrest Gump film has been very huge. Considering that the budget of the movie was only 55 million dollars, it has garnered a total of 678.2 million dollars worldwide. It even won multiple awards and has received a lot of positive reviews.

A War Veteran and An Author: Robert E. Wright

The Vietnam War was a long, costly and destructive battle that pitted North Vietnam’s communist government against South Vietnam and its primary ally, the US. The raging Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union escalated the dispute. About 3 million people (including more than 58,000 Americans) were killed in the Vietnam War and about half of those killed were Vietnamese civilians. Opposition to the war in the United States bitterly divided Americans, even after President Richard Nixon ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 1973. Communist forces ended the war by seizing control of South Vietnam in 1975, and the country was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the following year.

The Vietnam conflict has had a number of effects on the veterans. Many troops in battle endured brutality and lost friends to the atrocities of fighting. Many American soldiers suffered mental and physical disabilities they’d bear for the rest of their lives. Many stayed proud of their contribution and the United States’ position in the war. During the war approximately twenty-seven million American men dealt with the draft; 11 percent of them served in some fashion in Vietnam.

Although most veterans were not permanently damaged by the war, some 15 to 25 percent of Vietnam veterans (between 500,000 and 700,000) suffered from a stress-related impairment known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychological disease brought on by acute combat experience. Some of the 11,500 women who served in the war—90 percent of them as nurses—also returned exhibiting PTSD. This condition can occur in combat soldiers or other individuals suffering from violent trauma and can manifest itself years after the initial experience. Also known as shell shock or combat fatigue, the disorder is vaguely defined and was overused in diagnosing the psychological reactions to war of Vietnam veterans.

Despite the stereotype of the chronically impaired Vietnam veteran, most vets married, found jobs, and successfully reintegrated into American society. Many became successful businessmen and politicians whose experiences in the war shaped subsequent U.S. policy toward Vietnam. They became the point men leading the nation to a complex but more hopeful phase of Vietnamese-American relations.

Robert E. Wright, a proud Vietnam war veteran and author of the book “Weapons of War: A Compilation of Letters Recounting a Soldier’s Story of Service, Love, and Faith”, is no stranger to the cruelty of armed conflict.

Coincidentally, Robert was born on “Veterans Day”, November 11^th, 1949 in Indianapolis Indiana. He grew up in Lockefield Gardens, an inner-city housing project located two miles west of downtown Indianapolis. In June of 1968, he graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, and received a Diploma from Indiana Christian University in Old and New Testament Studies May of 1983. On May 10^th, 2014, he received an Associates of Arts Degree majoring in “Leadership and Ministry” from Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis Indiana. On, May 9^th, 2015 he proceeded to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in “Church Management and Ethics” from Crossroads Bible College.

“Weapons of War: A Compilation of Letters Recounting a Soldier’s Story of Service, Love, and Faith” tells a love story far greater than a war story. In it, Robert E. Wright gives us letters he sent to Barbara Hampton during his two years in the U.S. Army, which included a 1969-70 tour in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles.

The book works as a love story because Wright’s weapons of war were his M-16 to fight the NVA and Viet Cong; his pen to fight the loneliness and separation he felt; and his faith in God to fight fear and doubt. The power of the latter two exceeded that of the first. His letters concentrated on convincing Hampton that she was his one-and-only love forever.

As a grunt, Wright repeatedly walked point on lengthy search-and-destroy missions; turned a VC defector into a Kit Carson Scout; and cleared remote landing zones. His awards included the Bronze Star, two Air Medals, and the Army Commendation Medal.

Without a doubt, this masterpiece of a book is a moving account through letters and pictures of a soldier’s story. While Robert Wright was fighting in the jungles of Vietnam, his fiancé was the first African-American cheerleader at Ball State University. They were living very different lives after graduating from high school, but their love, letters, and faith helped Robert survive the trial of combat. He came home as a decorated hero, Barbara graduated from college, and they really did live happily ever after until Barbara’s early death. Robert rediscovered his letters at home. He matched them with photos from his experiences in Viet Nam, and this book is the result.

The book, aside from detailing the atrocities of war, beautifully illustrates what it means to be really committed in a relationship and how to care for someone or something outside of ourselves, a truly remarkable accomplishment for a young man in his early twenties.

“(This book) has given me the opportunity to tell my Vietnam story and how it affected me, my fiancée, and my family. It will give my family a written record of my service to my country. And to thank the United States Army for its role in shaping my character and developing me into a responsible leader ready and equipped to take on any challenge or mission. In other words, helping me to ‘be all that I can be’, and to finally tell my story of how the Army took a ‘Raw Recruit’ and turned him into a trained combat soldier and proven leader”, explains Robert.

Robert Wright, indeed, created a masterpiece from his experiences during the Vietnam War that touches the hearts of the readers.