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Discussing My Favorite Movies

Richard Wright’s Native Son wasn’t just a powerful novel—it was a wake-up call. When it came out in 1940, it tore through the silence surrounding racism in America. Through the story of Bigger Thomas, a young Black man navigating poverty and systemic prejudice in Chicago, Wright forced the country to look at some hard, uncomfortable truths.

For many white readers, it was the first time they were confronted so directly with the brutal reality of institutional racism and the fear it breeds. The book didn’t just stir emotions—it sparked fierce debates about race, justice, and violence.

Native Son didn’t fade with time. It became a cornerstone in the foundation of civil rights literature, helping to shape the conversations that would fuel the Civil Rights Movement. It's not just a novel—it’s a mirror held up to a nation.

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We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson is a gothic psychological novel that explores themes of isolation, superstition, and the fragility of sanity. The story is told through the voice of Mary Katherine "Merricat" Blackwood, a young woman who lives with her sister and uncle on the outskirts of a village that deeply mistrusts them. Jackson builds a haunting atmosphere with lyrical prose and subtle tension that steadily grows throughout the book. It's a chilling, character-driven tale that lingers long after the final page.

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For me, these Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films are more than movies — they’re memories of Saturday afternoons lost in a world of wild adventures.

Ten of the twelve Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan use ☰ to select / change movie

Little-known facts about the Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller:

1. Johnny Weissmuller couldn't actually yell the famous "Tarzan yell" alone.

The iconic yell was enhanced in post-production by blending Weissmuller’s voice with other sounds, including a hyena howl played backward and even a violin string being plucked.

The book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind was written by Yuval Noah Harari. It explores the evolution of human societies, from early hunter-gatherers to modern civilizations, and examines how cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions shaped the world.

Sapiens is a compelling read because it provides a thought-provoking, big-picture perspective on human history, exploring how biology, culture, and technology have shaped societies and our modern world.

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Related Amazon.com : Books by Yuval Noah Harari

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, published in 1943, is a coming-of-age novel set in the early 20th century, following the life of Francie Nolan, a young girl growing up in the impoverished neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

The story captures Francie’s resilience as she navigates her difficult childhood, marked by her alcoholic father, Johnny, and her strong-willed mother, Katie, who works tirelessly to provide for the family. Through Francie's eyes, the novel explores themes of poverty, hope, education, and the complex dynamics of family life, all while a metaphorical tree—the "tree of heaven"—grows outside her window, symbolizing both the challenges and the potential for growth in an unforgiving environment.

The novel is a poignant exploration of dreams, perseverance, and the human spirit in the face of adversity. Listen free use ☰ to select chapter

Watch free and uninterrupted, the full movie A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Blog Network

Morning. I know that damn Blue Bird of Happiness is out there somewhere—but if past experience means anything, it’s probably circling overhead, waiting for the perfect moment to take a crap on my head.

People love to talk about finding joy, as if it’s some grand, predictable event, something you can plan for or summon at will. But the truth is, happiness is unpredictable. It comes and goes as it pleases—sometimes in small moments like a good cup of coffee or an old song, other times teasing you before vanishing just as quickly.

Some days, no matter how hard you look, it’s nowhere to be found. Maybe that’s just the way it works—not something to chase, but something to catch in passing, if you’re lucky enough to notice.