Playboy model Hieke Konings reportedly said she was pursued by Leonardo DiCaprio‚ but he quickly found someone else to have sex with that very same night‚ when she turned him down. Konings slammed DiCaprio for being “too weird and old‚” after admitting she did kiss him in a night club in Los Angles‚ according to […]

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Most visitors going to Staten Island are doing so to see the Statue of Liberty‚ but within the kitchen at 27 Hyatt Street can be found one of the most unique restaurants in the whole city. Enoteca Maria is open Friday‚ Saturday‚ and Sunday for visitors to get a glimpse inside another world—many other worlds—as […] The post Run by Grandmothers‚ This Staten Island Restaurant Highlights Homecooking from Around the World appeared first on Good News Network.

Book Recommendations book review Folk Horror‚ Romance‚ and Suspense: Tori Bovalino’s My Throat an Open Grave A review of Tori Bovalino’s new YA horror novel. By Mahvesh Murad | Published on March 4‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed Leah has been raised in Winston‚ a small Pennsylvania town where young girls are brought up to believe that they are always just a step away from unforgivable sin‚ and that any wayward girl will be taken away by the Lord of the Woods‚ a shadowy being who lurks at the edge of the forest‚ stealing away young women and babies. Leah is trying to remain on the straight and narrow‚ finishing off school‚ working at her dead end job and helping care for her baby brother. So one night the baby won’t stop crying‚ Leah frustrated and exhausted‚ wishes him away. Owen vanishes‚ a bundle of twigs left behind in his stead‚ and Leah is forced to follow the town’s dictum and go strike a bargain with the Lord of the Woods to get the baby back.  Historically‚ no girl has ever come back from such a journey‚ nor has any baby been returned‚ but Leah has no choice but to leave. This is how things are done in Winston‚ where “all the girls like [Leah] end up with their choices taken away”.   Tori Bovalino’s third novel‚ My Throat an Open Grave‚ is pitched as YA horror inspired by the 1986 fantasy movie Labyrinth. The Labyrinth reference is clear from the premise itself‚ of course. But that’s pretty much where it ends—once Leah enters the forest and meets the Lord of the Woods‚ the novel becomes more of a YA romance with a touch of folk horror. Tristan‚ the Lord of the Woods‚ is not the evil‚ cruel god Leah had been raised to fear. Instead‚ (no spoilers) Leah finds herself in the company of decent people‚ a kind and welcoming community‚ and a potential love interest. Even the ghosts she meets have more depth to them than she initially believes.  Of course‚ this new knowledge doesn’t just start to change Leah herself‚ but also all that she thinks she knew and understood about her hometown and its people. What happened to all the girls who came to the woods before her‚ the girls whose ghosts and memories haunt Leah in the woods‚ begging for retribution‚ justice‚ peace? The stories Leah has been told and the stories she hears in the woods from Tristan and his community do not add up‚ so Leah must face her fears in the woods to understand what the future holds for her—or if she has a future at all.  Buy the Book My Throat an Open Grave Tori Bovalino Buy Book icon-close My Throat an Open Grave Tori Bovalino Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget This is as much a bildungsroman as it is a story of rebellion against the patriarchy‚ against the weaponisation of religion‚ against limitations imposed on young women in order to control them. Winston is an oppressive place; the small town’s church attempts to control its female population by fear‚ policing their bodies and their actions. The tenets of the town—and more specifically‚ its church—lean heavily to sexist bigotry‚ as they remove responsibility from the young men and instead lay all blame on young women‚ never giving them the chance to achieve their potential. The vicious cycles continue from mother to daughter‚ with Leah having a fraught relationship with her mother‚ yet being unable to stand up for herself‚ caught in a sort of emotional Stockholm syndrome where she wishes she could hate her mother and didn’t so desperately want her love and acceptance.  Bovalino makes it clear that all the indoctrination Leah has been through has left her more than just a little conflicted. She is a confused‚ traumatised young woman filled with doubt about her every thought and action‚ in the most negative of ways. Leah finds it impossible to believe that she is not evil‚ simply because she cannot reconcile natural human desire with what she has been taught: “I am a mangled thing. I am soiled black with sin. I have broken the rules that were set out for me‚ trampled over the holiness of my body.” This sort of narrative does repeat a bit‚ and can feel a little overwrought at times as we see Leah think this way and immerse herself in water consistently to wash away her “sins‚” so it is a relief to see her grow especially at the denouement of the novel.  My Throat an Open Grave is very readable. It doesn’t maintain the initial folk horror atmosphere it begins with‚ but it still manages to maintain a level of suspense‚ as it continues to build on a serious thematic background. At times it feels like it is keeping the reader at arms length‚ particularly when it comes to connecting with the characters. Without spoiling major plot points‚ Leah’s secrets make her tough to get to know well‚ as do Tristan’s. Most of the characters‚ in fact‚ are holding back‚ which may add to the suspense of the story but does not make them easy to fully align with. Regardless‚ the story makes pertinent points‚ raises a decent amount of hair‚ and questions who the monsters really are. [end-mark] My Throat an Open Grave is published by Page Street. The post Folk Horror‚ Romance‚ and Suspense: Tori Bovalino’s <;i>;My Throat an Open Grave<;/i>; appeared first on Reactor.

At the end of Chapter 6 of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‚ Yuffie will approach Cloud and the party and ask to come along. In typical Yuffie fashion‚ though‚ she acts like she’s not that interested. She offers to duel Cloud to see if she’ll grace the party with her presence‚ and then the game lets you choose to respond with either “bring it” or “beat it.” Yuffie was an optional party member in the original Final Fantasy 7‚ so many players are worried that they’ll say the wrong thing during this section and lose access to Yuffie forever. Does this dialogue sequence matter‚ though? What Should You Say to Yuffie in FF7 Rebirth? Screenshot: PC Invasion In short‚ nothing you say to Yuffie in this section matters. Whether you play along with her or refuse her offers‚ she’ll still end up joining the party. Whether you choose “beat it” or “bring it‚” nothing changes in the main story. The scene will play out slightly ...

Red XIII is known for his quick speed and ability to fill up the ATB gauge in seconds. We have compiled a list of the best Folio upgrades for Red XIII in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth so you can maximize his potential. Best Folio upgrades for Red XIII in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7) If you want to maximize Red XIII’s skills‚ unlock the Folio upgrades mentioned in this guide. The upgrades chosen below aim to increase Red’s damage output‚ the speed at which the Limit Break gauge fills up‚ and the length of Vengeance Mode. Savage Assault Screenshot: PC Invasion Savage Assault is a deadly Synergy Skill that allows Red XIII and Cloud to team up and deal a high amount of damage. The amount of damage is great‚ but the side effect is really what makes this one a winner. After using Savage Assault‚ Red’s rate at which the Limit Break gauge fills up will increase. Considering Red XIII can unleash combos easily due to his speed‚ he already fills the Limit Break quic...

Start Quiz The 20th century was an eventful 100 years for the world. We experienced two world wars‚ social and economic change on a global scale‚ and watched in awe as technology began to develop to heights that many of us could have never dreamed of. With all of the political and social change and struggles the world faced during that time‚ some individuals stood out and left their mark on the... Source

Start Quiz CBS/Moviestillsdb CBS/Moviestillsdb No decade had more relevant moments take place during it than the 1950s. This was when some of the best shows‚ movies‚ songs‚ and products were introduced. Anyone who has an ounce of appreciation for the 50s will recognize names like Ward Cleaver‚ Ralph Kramden‚ and Perry Mason. Many iconic actors‚ political figures‚ and athletes impacted that period. Source