This week I read two books. I KNOW. Quite a 'lot' of books.
106. Echoes of the Sea. Sarah M. Eden. 2025. 320 pages. [Source:
Library] [5 stars, adult romance, adult historical, proper romance,
clean romance, time travel]Read this book if you enjoy
- historical romance (clean)
- romance with a little time travel
- historical fiction
Read this book if you enjoy
- coming of age stories
- stories with strong friendship elements
- little plot
1920s
- 1920 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde John Barrymore stars as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It's been a while since I read the novel, so I'm not sure how much liberty was taken. It is melodramatic for sure. A few things stood out to me, at least in this adaptation, it was the young woman's father who encouraged, teased, tempted, prompted him to explore his dark side. Prohibition WAS a thing in the United States at the time, and this film definitely goes there to a certain extent. It began with him going out drinking to less than respectable establishments with dancing women. And the father of the young woman he's courting IS RIGHT THERE WITH HIM. Still, he does go all mad scientist. One thing that has always slightly bothered me about the story is the physical transformation from 'attractive' to 'monstrous.' The idea that evil is always ugly and ugly is always evil. It isn't just that HE becomes monstrous looking but the places he goes, the people he hangs out with are also 'deformed' or 'different' as well. I don't know if this is found in the novel OR if it's just Hollywood.
1930s
- 1931 Frankenstein. Where do I begin?!?!?! It is so far removed from the novel. For one thing there is no Victor Frankenstein. THERE IS NO VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN. Let that sink in. They've used the name of his best friend and companion, Henry, into HENRY FRANKENSTEIN, mad scientist. 'Victor' is now the friend and has a different last name. He's barely in the movie. Though he is in some scenes. The monstrous monster scenes are all condensed and do to a certain extent depend on misunderstanding and/or self defense. There aren't as many victims as in the book.
- 1935 Bride of Frankenstein. This one has a framework of Mary Shelley, her husband, Percy, and Lord Byron hanging out together on a stormy night, I believe, and talking about Mary Shelley writing the novel Frankenstein though it hasn't found a publisher yet. She tells them that the story isn't over, there is more to tell. The plot essentially fills in some of what was missing from the first movie. It uses more stories from the novel. Some liberties are taken, obviously, many actually. But this one was more enjoyable for me.
- 1997 Starship Troopers. This one definitely has Beverly Hills 90210 vibes to it. Also disgusting alien bugs. Very much military sci-fi. But also teen angst. There were elements I liked, but, there were some I just didn't care for. (Like why so much nudity?!)
- 1997 Men in Black. My second time to watch this year. A favorite. "J" and "K" are going to save the world....many alien encounters--some friendly, some very UNfriendly.
2000s
- 2003 The Core. For once it is a good thing that someone is trying to reach the core of the earth to blow it up. Sadder than I expected, but very action-packed.
- 2004 Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Quirky. Weird. Bill Murray. Need I say more? Probably. He plays a deep sea diver who may or may not be legit. One thing is clear, he does have a big ego. And he surrounds himself with his crew who for better or worse have to keep building him up. His latest project is almost destined to flop, hundreds of problems. But his alleged, maybe son is along for the trip. Along with a journalist who isn't quite sure what to make him. I'm glad I watched it, but it was quirky and weird.
- 2004 The Day After Tomorrow. What I really enjoyed about this one: the disaster, survival aspects of it. Viewers follow several story lines--characters--and it's dramatic and extreme. Definitely got attached to characters that didn't make it. I didn't love the agenda-preachy tone of the end. But for the most part I really enjoyed this one. Probably a 4.75 for me. But I've rounded up to a 5 stars.
2010s
- 2013 The Host. It's been at least a decade since I watched or read Stephenie Meyer's The Host. This allowed for more enjoyment, I think. It is angsty. It is very love-triangle or love-square even. It's fun and enjoyable enough. Not amazing but not terrible.
- 2015 The Martian. SO SO SO SO SO SO GOOD. I have not read the book. I want to read the book. An astronaut is left behind on Mars. The rest of the astronauts thought him to have been dead or critically injured. There was a STORM, a big storm. And they are unable to find him--or his body--in time. They leave. He survives. He has to learn minute by minute, day by day how to keep on surviving until a rescue mission can arrive. Knowing that means potentially YEARS of surviving when each day has its own risks and troubles. It's a GREAT film. Follows several different characters--those on earth and him on Mars.
2020s
- 2023 The Flash. I am so torn on this one. I am. I really, really, really LOVE the multiverse of Batman in this one. Michael Keaton is one of the Batman in this one, but, not the only one. The Flash, who was a new to me character before watching this one, goes back in time to try to save his mother and father. His mother from dying and his father from prison. But something goes wrong--horribly wrong. And now he's trying to save an alternate universe where his mom is alive. And he's teamed up with his younger self. It's entertaining.
Genres/Decades UPdate
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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