Licia Flynn's Book and Movie Review Blog

I've always been a fan of Hedy Lamarr. I was eight when I saw her in Samson & Delilah . Later, I learned about her marriage to a Nazi arms dealer, escape from Europe during WW2, and frequency-hopping research for U.S. military submarines. I have to agree with other book reviews concerning Ecstasy and Me: My Life as a Woman. I don't think it accurately reflects Ms. Lamarr's life. After all, her scientific achievements are ignored. That said, this book was a quick read. Also, it dispels the illusion of glamor that old Hollywood exuded and is a cautionary tale to beautiful women who seek to use their looks to succeed. As an actress, Hedy consistently played a femme fatale. However, in reality, the world gained more from Hedy than she ever took. Her work with spread spectrum technology contributed to the development of WiFi and Bluetooth. Amazon eBook: Firm Resolve Facebook Author Page

Anyone familiar with scientific research & development knows that so much of the work involved is less science & mostly grant writing. In other words, the focal point of any project is - fundraising. That said, I don't know of any American comedies that focus on this issue. Last October, on a flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt, I was flipping through films & stumbled upon Hey Bunny. According to its website, this indie Berlin film is about a Zeigeist wobbling between cynicism and world improvement fantasies. When an ex-hacker is accused of deleting numerous files devoted to scientific research concerning a better understanding of the happiness hormone, he embarks upon an odd adventure. In fact, there's a lot going on in this movie. Having seen it only once and on an airplane where I was constantly interrupted by a screaming infant, I must confess that I will not give it an adequate analysis. Like most films or books focusing on science, science is not th

Apparently, most people read H.G. Well's The Time Machine in middle school. However, I imagine that it's difficult to grasp Well's socio-political critique of Victorian Britain unless one is familiar with a theoretical understanding of European history.  I'm sure it's superfluous to say that science fiction is rarely entirely about science. Rather, it's generally about political and philosophical issues. And, ultimately what is science about? It's about questioning the unknown and relying on existing data to make predictions.  I compare The Time Machine with D.H. Lawrence's Sons & Lovers because both writers were educated, but low-income. Also in the aforementioned titles, both appear repulsed by the working classes.  In Sons & Lovers, Lawrence's main character adored his refined mother of a superior social class. But despised his temperamental, alcoholic coal-mining father. Meanwhile, Wells, a socialist, describes the Mo

Admitting that Silicon Valley is my favorite television series is not easy because I've long sought an image antithetic to the hi-tech world. Unfortunately, of all the series I've watched, Silicon Valley is the only one that I've stuck with and viewed twice. I may have even watched certain seasons 3-4 times, but I'd rather deny this. Otherwise certain people will think I think they're more important than they are. But, I digress. Silicon Valley is the rare series that subsists entirely on dialogue. In fact, the show could be a stage play or a bottle film and would be effective. It artfully simplifies complex material and adds humor. The best part is the absence of romance. My favorite characters include Gavin Belson, Laurie Bream, and Jack Barker because I appreciate individuals who think fast, but speak carefully. Amazon eBook: Firm Resolve Facebook Author Page

I read Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd before I started law school and liked it so much that I determined to write a modern version in my spare time. Unfortunately, such an endeavor proved to be a significant distraction. And ultimately, I never published my first novel which was entitled, The Flirtation . Far from the Madding Crowd is a favorite because I like Hardy's realism, and down-to-earth style. I also appreciate his criticism of Victorian society and its treatment of rural people in Britain. On a personal level, I related Hardy's novel with a story about my Scottish great-grandfather and his decade-long pursuit of my Irish great-grandmother.   Although the book has a happy ending, it's hard to miss a timeless theme in literature: women resented for their money. Those books will be discussed in future posts. Amazon eBook: Firm Resolve Facebook Author Page Twitter: Firm Resolve

The last time, I had a formal ballet class was in university where I foolishly took lessons with professional dance majors. Years later, I've wanted to resume ballet; however, it's difficult to fit classes into my schedule. Luckily, thanks to Kathryn Morgan, a former soloist for New York City Ballet, I can follow her YouTube dance classes at my leisure. Kathryn Morgan's channel is one of my favorites because it includes numerous ballet classes for every level, as well as, informative videos concerning dance and lifestyle. But the best videos to watch are of Ms. Morgan's past classical performances. Amazon eBook: Firm Resolve Facebook Author Page Twitter: Firm Resolve #Ballet #KathrynMorgan #SwanLake #BalletClass #Dance # NewYorkCity Ballet #Youtube

At first blush, Stanislaw Lem's science fiction novel Solaris is a story about pain, guilt, and repression. On another level, it details the impossibility and frustration of trying to communicate with entities that are not human. I think Solaris is also about the desperation certain individuals feel in their quest to dominate everything around them because they cannot control themselves. It also reveals the inevitable resistance that results when one seeks to conquer that which (and possibly whom) they cannot understand. Amazon eBook: Firm Resolve Facebook Author Page Twitter: Firm Resolve #Solaris #StanislawLem #ScienceFiction #ColdWar #Aliens #SovietOccupation #Poland #Ukraine #EasternFront #Communism #Memories #Repression #Guilt #Pain #Planets #Univese #Control #Domination #Freedom #Liberty #Individual #Struggle #Power #Man #Comprehension #Communicate #Human #E