"It's not violence that sets men apart.  It's the distance that he is willing to go."
934482
The Bondurant brothers do what they do best: make damn fine moonshine.  They practically own Franklin County, the residents of whom respect--and fear--Forrest Bondurant, the brothers' ringleader.  But a new lawman, Special Deputy Charlie Rakes, is determined to take his piece of the pie.  But, as Forrest succinctly puts it, the Bondurants "don't lay down for nobody."

The film hinges around youngest brother Jack, played here with surprisingly poise by Shia Lebeouf.  It's basically his story, though, as with Matt Bondurant's source novel THE WETTEST COUNTY IN THE WORLD, the most intriguing character is Forrest.  As portrayed by Tom Hardy, Forrest is a hulking beast of few words, a man tied by honor and loyalty, caught up in his own legend, mostly because it largely happens to be true.  Hardy brings much of the same physicality to Forrest as he did to Bane in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, creating yet another memorable performance in a career full of them.  As the third brother, Howard, Jason Clarke doesn't have much to do, but does it extremely well; one wishes his role were larger.  As the villain Rakes (a composite of characters from the novel), Guy Pearce is electric; he walks and talks like a big city dandy, but he strikes with the suddenness and venom of a cobra.  Mia Wasikowski doesn't have much to do in her role of a preacher's daughter; as in the novel, her burgeoning relationship with Jack takes a backseat to everything else.  More interesting is the relationship between Forrest and Maggie, portrayed with an air of regality and seduction by Jessica Chastain.  Perhaps most enjoyable of all, if only for its brevity, is Gary Oldman's performance as a gangster whom Jack admires: in his two scenes, Oldman reminds us why he's one of the great villain actors of his generation (in fact, he does this with a single wink).

The script comes from frequent John Hillicoat collaborator Nick Cave, who again (along with Warren Ellis) provides an exquisitely haunting score.  The trio of Hillicoat, Cave, and Ellis gave us the superb THE PROPOSITION (Pearce's contributions cannot be ignored, either); if LAWLESS doesn't quite equal THE PROPOSITION's level of violence, it's not for lack of trying.  This is a violent film.  The violence isn't constant, but it's realistic and powerful, as it should be in this sort of film.  The story is, of course, somewhat true; if Bondurant's book is a fictionalization of his family's history, then Hillicoat's film is a fictionalization of the book.  Cave's script, Hillicoat's direction, and the actors' performances hold fast to this element of truth: this film, at its core, isn't about moonshine, but humanity.  And sometimes, humanity can be an ugly, violent thing.
1223400
Patrick Means sees the male heart with truth, grace, and passion.  Means speaks from experience about work, women, sex, and an authentic "Romans Chapter 7" relationship with God.  This book is not a  "mountain top" experience. However, if you have experience with  "Men's work," you will be pleasantly surprised.  He draws in the  man that goes to church and has chosen to be disconnected from feelings,  relationships, and other men.  He also addresses those of us who have gone  outside the church for truth and grace(Warrior Weekends, Mens groups, and  other initiatory experiences).If you want to take a Christ centered journey  with your shadow, read Means.
2503891
This book is not festooned with explosions and gory combat detail, which, from my easy chair, I was shopping for. It does have realism, feeling and perspective. This guy reminds me of my soberest, most reliable friends. The guys who show up when needed, tend towards modesty, and have vast reserves of common sense. He is pretty brave, pretty strong, pretty humble and plenty smart. His book is an anchor to sanity.
2139890
Whether it is presented as a mere peace keeping exercise or an all-out aggressive offensive, lives can and will be lost. It is as hard on those of us who are on the sidelines waiting for our loved ones to return as it is for those in its midst. This is a story of a man who has not only seen friends die around him as he fought but one who also loses a child to the madness that is war.

Now the government is seeking to enlist his son, the only one he has left and he is not happy with this. He decides to re-enlist himself to avoid losing another son to the gristmill that is war. It is an emotional time for not only Retired Army Ranger Thomas Lane but for everyone involved. The wife is torn because as much as she doesn't wish to lose her son, she also doesn't want to lose her husband in yet another act of war.

I really enjoyed the pace and the way the author, "Judith Sanders", captured the true raw human emotion that comes when you deal with loss. If you are looking for a book that packs an emotional punch this is the one to buy.
65663
This is a wonderful story about an aging man who needs to make peace with his brother. His life long self sufficiency precludes the usual modes of transportation to have a face to face meeting.
The story unfolds as he finds ways to transport himself to his brother's residence. He meets wonderful people and by his well honed wits and ingenuity arrives at his destination with the support of his very understanding daughter who minds the home front.
Part of the beauty of the film is watching his friends and new acquaintances allow him his independence and watching it unfold.
The drama is not fraught with fluff and warm fuzzies, just good, heartfelt friendship and love for the man he is.
478300
This story of one Marine officers transition from Ivy League college kid to thoroughly squared away combat leader is worth the read on many levels. Ficks sense of duty leads him to join the Corps PLC training between his junior and senior year. He seeks a challenge and quickly finds it especially after 911 when the training ceases and it becomes a real war.

Ficks account of combat, its after effects and his riflemens reaction to it are well-written and put the reader there. He is unafraid to criticize the bad leadership he saw as well as salute the bravery of the kids ordered to fight in this misguided attempt at nation building. His description of combat deaths is sympathetic without being maudlin.

This book is worth the read for the grunts among us. Ficks attitude about measuring up and seeking a challenge will surely resonate with those of us who had the same questions in the middle 1960s.
4811974
It's hard to find a good book that isn't laced with swear words, especially if the content is about men.
This has good voice, imagery, as well as flow. Suspense that easily keeps you reading.
Well worth your time.
1818064
Two men find themselves playing a game or secrets and omissions. One knows the score, while one is unknowingly vulnerable. One passionate encounter is followed by an unraveling and secrets and mistrust. James, The Prince of Wales, let down his guard but he is now exposed to a reporter, Ben Dahan. Their encounter was brief, risky, and could have serious consequences.

James' life is not his own. Duty calls. His public image must remain intact. And during a turbulent time for him and his country, James is vulnerable. But what are Ben's true intentions? Can he be trusted?

James is smart, loyal, charming, and deep in the closet to the point of having his best friend acting as his long time beard. Ben is interesting, inquisitive, bold, and out. And once they are both living in London, it opens up new opportunities to see each other again.

Their lives in London lead to a "non-relationship" of forbidden and secret trysts. They set firm boundaries due to their issues. Ben does not want to be tied to anyone permanently. And James' life prevents him from having a relationship with a man. They also both have other past history that makes them guarded and fearful of feelings. Discreet, no-strings sex equals the perfect arrangement for them both.  But can these two men keep feelings out of it when they feel such a connection and passion?

They take risks and push boundaries. They try to keep their walls up, but cracks begin to form. They have power exchanges and alternating displays of the more dominant role. I found James to be sweet, endearing, lost, and self sacrificing. He had a big heart and an intelligent mind. He understood that any of his choices could have ramifications for himself, Ben, his family, and even his country. Ben was a bit harder to crack. He was closed off, stubborn, and so determined to avoid feeling anything. But they learn to trust each other with their secrets, understand each other's needs, and try to hide their fears.

James lives under public scrutiny. There is no privacy, questionable loyalty, and he has been living a well crafted lie. His best friend, Cass, has been there for him for years, but he knows it is unfair to keep asking her to be shredded by the press and public. He has tried hard to protect his sister and make her feel safe, but it is still a fragile situation.

But eventually James will have to choose the course he wants to take, and Ben will will also have to decide if he can handle being a continued dirty little secret or risk being in the public eye himself.

This is the first part of a duet, but does not end on a big relationship cliffhanger. But there is definitely more story to tell. I was really intrigued by the premise and I enjoy reading about royals. I think she did a good job conveying the pressure and isolation of being a Prince in England with a big secret, and I did enjoy James sense of wonder at some of the simpler things in life. It was a slow build and sometimes slow paced, and was told in dual points of view.  For some reason, I had a disconnect with the characters until later in the book, but then I realized that they had slowly grown on me and I was more invested. Although there were quite a lot of sexy scenes, I can't say I found them particularly hot or intense. I wanted to feel them more during their intimate scenes. But by the end, I was more invested in them as a couple and began to actually feel their emotional connection rather than it just being described to me.

There was added chaos and tension in the royal family that was interspersed throughout the story especially with his sister, Indigo, and Uncle Richard. But I did feel that one important scene I was looking forward to was left out, so there was a missed opportunity for some shock and drama. But I am interested enough to see how all of the pieces fall in the next book His Royal Favorite.
578518
Winter Men is a moving personal story of brothers who are overcome by circumstance in Nazi Germany and drawn unwillingly instituted the depravity of the SS and Gestapo. It is easy to see how presumably decent people can be unable to stop the evil around them. In their place, would I have the courage to refuse an order to commit a war crime if the refusal would get me killed?
2505314
In our culture we praise and encourage men who "act" tough and masculine. But in this real-life story  we see a man who actually IS tough and masculine! A real man. Someone who is determined, decisive, relentless and brave! A man who could legitimately hide behind a thousand excuses but chooses not too! We can all learn a lot from Snitch: When the chips are down - are we going to do the impossible for someone we love?

If you get weak at the knees, watch Snitch and do all you can do! As the great basketball coach, John Wooden, once said: "Do Not Let What You Cannot Do Interfere With What You Can Do."
3756742
Strong Enough

For Derek Wolfe and Maxim Matveev, those two words have multiple meanings, some contrary to one another and others that demonstrate the effort it takes to get through difficult ordeals in order to reap deserved rewards.

At the beginning of the story, for Derek, being strong enough means to keep his dark sexual urges repressed, fighting them and ultimately controlling them so that no one truly knows just how abnormal he is because Dereks upbringing has programmed him to believe that anything that is not socially acceptable is disgustingwrongeven sinful.

These two men seem as opposite as they can be, especially because Derek uses all of his strength to suppress who he really is, fighting to be the man his parents and society wants him to be, not the one he truly is down to his core. And, even with the attraction that Derek feels for Maxim, Derek still torments himself with a code of conduct and traditional values that will lead him to become the perfect family man - one with a wife and kids, not a man who is 12 years younger than him and represents everything hes worked his entire life to ignore and adamantly deny.

Maxim illustrates his strength and courage when he leaves his home in Russia for a life in the States, not knowing if he can make it here but driven to try because what he wants out of life he cannot acquire in his homeland. Maxims optimism and fortitude guide his life and his choices and even though everything seems to go wrong for Maxim as soon as he steps off the plane from Russia, perhaps its fate that guides his journey and allows him to help a man understand that despite his upbringing love doesnt have to be a perfect, quintessential image - it just has to be perfect for the two people who feel it.

The fact that this story is semi-autobiographical adds intrigue and depth to the story line. Both men are fully characterized, which means that readers can truly understand what their words and actions illustrate about them and why theyve grown to be the men that they currently are.

Derek is portrayed in such a way that readers cant help but feel heartbroken for him; hes lived his entire life programmed to believe that theres only one way for him to live his life, so it makes sense that he fights his true nature and has a difficult time dealing with his feelings for Maxim. Its clearly not Dereks fault and while it was a bit frustrating to hear his misguided thoughts, the fact that, that is what he felt and must contend with is devastating not only for him but for those individuals like him who cant be who they're meant to be from the very beginning.

Maxim is a breath of fresh air in Dereks otherwise controlled and tortured world and Maxim allows Derek to understand that theres not simply one path or one way to live, and even though its difficult for Derek to face his reality, hes strong enough to do so with Maxim by his side.

Strength is defined in varying ways throughout the story, and when Maxim becomes a part of Dereks life, Derek ultimately needs to decide if hes strong enough to go against everything hes been told to believe and experience the kind of love that he could only dream of or if he cares too much about what other people will think and ruins any chance he may have to live the life that he deserves.

You were given this life because you're strong enough to live it.

As long as Derek and Maxim can remember this idea throughout the highs and lows theyll face in the lives they chosen to live, then theyll always be strong enough to get exactly what they want and need!

I voluntarily read an early copy of this release.

4.5 Poison Apples
4223989
A no-nonsense view from a man who was strong when he needed to be. His honesty about his feelings and how he dealt with them, while continuing to support his wife and comfort their children is a fine example that every partner of a Cancer Champion should emulate. I pray this message travels far and wide.
1626144
Long ago, back when the New York Times was a well-regarded paper, I saw a quote from a NYTimes review of a Western (as stated, they were once a decent paper)that said "emotionally mature". That description fits this book.

This book is a complex morality book;,twists and turns abound as courage turns to cowardice, cowardice to courage, ignorance to knowledge, loss to gain to loss. Jim Reno, the war-weary drifter, is a seeker for his place in life, but nothing comes easy for him. In the tough trail town of Rimrock, he faces not only himself but the lightning draw of a faster man.

Really a fine book that goes well beyond the average western in emotional depth.
460211
There is hope and dignity with every step we make when we believe in God.  We need to be able to reach out to other men that are believers along the way to guide us along the road.
2954061
Henry Lightcap is an honest man from West Virginia. He was raised by a stubborn father,Joe Lightcap, from the sticks with Native American descent and an intelligent mother, a Holyoak, who's family did not approve with their marriage. Out of all of his sibling's the one he is closest to is Will, he respects will and in many ways aspires to be like him.

In this book Henry is on his way to his home in Stump Creek, West Virginia.  Elaine, his third wife, has left him and he feels the need to go back home.  He has not set up his life to be the easiest in the world.  He likes a challenge, something that is going to make him work every day whether physically or mentally. He has traveled the world and is a very intelligent man. He was a philosophy major, but he purposly flunked his orals because he wanted to live philosophy not just sit around and talk about it.

This is what leads to his initial troubles.  Henry loves women.  He likes WASPS, or white-Anglo-secy-Protestants. Your first impression of henry is that he is a very superficial type of guy.  All of the women in his life are beautiful, though most are not highly intelligent.  He never has enough money to support them because he does not commit to things very well and they expect him to change who he is. They want him to get a job working nine to five so they can have the All American dream of a house two kids and a nice car.  That is not what Henry wants he likes his old pick up truck, working for six months out of the year as a park ranger and collecting money from the government for the rest of the year so he has time to do what he wants, and just figuring out life as things happen.

Myra and Elaine definately want Henry to have this nine to five lifestyle, but Claire was different.  She was intelligent and beautiful. All of them were too young. She loved Henry for who he was from the beginning. You can see a different side of Henry when he was with Claire. He actually does care about some people. This was probably his best relationship. He is not a very faithful husband to his wives though. His little black book always seems to be around. He actually tries hard for these women to make them happy, but his sarcastic wit usually gets him in trouble.  They are all artists with their own ideals which really doesn't help much.

As he talks about the past and the women he loved he passes through places he has been before and stops by to see old friends of his.  It seems like he has been everywhere but the only place he actually wants to be, home.  For Henry his home is where his heart is.

I love this book so much!  It is my new favorite book.  His honesty is so refreshing and they way that he describes everything and makes subtle jokes all along the way makes this book a great read.  This is the only book that definitely will not be going back to the book store.
971380
Rory Miller does NOT do a lot of things in this book. He is not a social or political scientist.  He does not posit himself as an "expert" in self-defence. He does not boast a huge MMA/boxing/kickboxing fight record. He does not blather on (as some authors have) about all of their "streetfighting experience." He does not make himself out to be some military "Commando Joe" & BS about his tours in Iraq or Afganistan.
  What he DOES DO is speak to his experience as a cop and martial artist.  He has dealt with imprisoned puss-bags on a daily basis.  If you think that imprisonment makes them less dangerous,sorry to disappoint. Prison is college & grad school for criminals.  It is where they learn to be more ruthless sociopaths than they already are.
  Miller offers a way for DTIs to think about violence and how to train for it.  He cuts a ton of crap thinking out of the equation.  He explains why what you think will work will not. He puts violence & fighting in a proper context: a million miles away from sport martial arts.  Best yet Miller tells the truth about self-defence expertise: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SELF-DEFENCE EXPERT.  Disagree??  Read the book and you will not.
3957305
Tom speaks from his own keen observation and witness to relationships that fell short of his desires for healthy and whole loving interactions.. He escaped with his sanity intact and as a thriver, not just a survivor, since his using his experience to help others avoid the pitfalls and perils that he lost himself in, as well as to heal from damage done.

I like the conversational style, as if he and the reader are sitting across a table from each other and sharing thoughts, without just venting, but attempting to find meaning in the muck. I appreciate that, as a man, he has the courage to admit that he was  abused. Not every man is willing to do that, so, in a sense, he speaks for those who aren't able or willing to speak for themselves.

A gem of a book that will help the reader steer clear of dysfunctional relationships as well. You deserve it, as do your future relationship partners.

One thing that jumps out, is that there are no absolutes. I recognized some signs in my own paradoxical marriage, but no one is ever or never one thing or another. There were times when both of us took on roles of judge, jury and prosecuting attorney, good guy and bad guy.