The Expression Hub

  • A quest of self-discovery?

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Starring: Reese Witherspoon , Laura Dern,Thomas Sadoski, Gaby Hoffman, Kevin Rankin

    Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée

    Genre:Biographical/Drama

    “When I do something, it is all about self-discovery. I want to learn and discover my own limits.”

    Larry Ellison

    Well, the month of February has already begun which means love is supposed to be in air. While couples can feel lovey-dovey but why should they only have fun this month? For the unaware, this month also has a day dedicated to only singles which is known as the Singles Awareness Day. This day serves as a reminder to the society that why singles consider it best to be living a life of single hood as best. Now, for each, this view might differ but the point I am trying to make is that it is okay if you are a single. You need not keep shedding tears or feel bad about your love life. Instead use your power of single hood to become the best version of yourselves . Also, you can utilize this superpower to pride yourself of the fact that you are fiercely independent in a lot of aspects of life. Keeping this thought in my mind, I decided to dedicate this month to celebrating self love. After all, if you do not love yourselves the way you should, how would you go on to love others ?

       So, this month’s first pick revolves around a story of eventual self-discovery and the impact it has on the protagonist of the story. Does this sound interesting ? Read on to find out more…

    Story line: Wild is a story which revolves around the life of Cheryl Strayed who despite having no experience in hiking sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. This is a scenic trail of 4270 km which passes through the states of California, Oregon and Washington. It passes through 25 national forests and 7 national parks. The specialty of this trail is that the trail avoids civilization and covers scenic and pristine mountainous terrain with few roads.

       Cheryl Strayed has a purpose behind undertaking such a daunting journey. The reason is she is in a state of state of depression due to the loss of her mother . This situation makes her undertake irrational behavior like consuming drugs and having anonymous sex with people.This behavior leads to an unwanted pregnancy and her marriage being broken down. These events of her life makes her resolve to hike the trail to rediscover herself to be the woman her mother had raised her to be.

       The experiences which she has as she begins her journey leads to her meeting new people as well as having deep insights along with new experiences. Who does she encounter and what all insights she has as she traverses along the path? Also, does the journey fulfill the purpose which she had in her mind?

    Scrutiny: This is a piece of work which tries to delve into the mind of a woman who has been mentally unstable due to the death of her loved one. It tries to explore the behavior a person can have due to such events. Some people grieve the loss of their loved ones by mourning , while some try to remember the good times they had with their loved ones. Or some just try to escape the harsh realities of life by undertaking irrational behavior which can be life-threatening . The protagonist in the story tries to numb her pain by trying to escape the harsh realities by undertaking behavior which doesn’t make sense at all . But after bearing the consequences of her irrational behavior, she finally decides to approach her fears and pain in a rational manner by undertaking a hike.

         The hike acts like a medicine which is bitter in taste but is essential for maintaining good health. It starts giving insights to the protagonist which not only starts giving her a purpose slowly but also helps her deal with the traumas she has faced while growing up. This is supposed to be one of the most important takeaways of the story that no matter however dark the tunnel of life seems, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Reese Witherspoon does a good job to portray as the main protagonist of the story though she could have done a better job to make it look more realistic. Another good point which I really appreciated was the protagonist does seem to open to suggestions as well as acts in a practical manner while making her way through the tough journey.

    I seemed put off by the huge number of expletives used in the movie which seemed unnecessary and pretty annoying. The reason being one can put their point across the table without swearing too much at all as well.That was the biggest peeve anyone can feel about this movie.

    The Sentiment: What was supposed to be a watch which was eagerly awaited by me turned out to be a watch which had a lot of scope to be turned into a much better piece. Though the movie is supposed to be an eye-opener in a lot of aspects but believe me it was a kind of a disappointment. It kinda felt like a waste of time. So, if you do want to watch this piece, watch it only for the determination of Cheryl Strayed as well as for the important message it gives of being resilient and hope. Else there are much better stories which celebrate the spirit of human beings.

    Rating: ** stars

    Quote-Unquote: “Cheryl, if there’s one thing I can teach you, its how to find your best life. And when you do how to, hold onto it for dear life.” (Cheryl’s mother to Cheryl)

    Que:Cheryl , on her journey meets a young boy who sings a song for her. What is the name of the song?

    a. Songs of Life

    b. Take me Home, country Roads

    c. Lean on me

    d. Red River Valley

    Continue reading →: A quest of self-discovery?

  • Traveling back in time…

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Genre: Romance/Comedy

    No. of episodes:16

    Presented by: JTBC Studios

    “Time travel is like a magic door that allows us to explore the past and future.”

    Anonymous

    Its the end of the month and also the end of the new beginnings series. This week’s pick comes from the country which has had the world notice it thanks to its foot tapping music, thanks to its fair share of dramas which makes everyone fall in love with them, a skincare regime which is pretty tedious but according to a lot of people worth the effort. Also, this country’s electronics and cars seem to be a rage at least with the people of my country apart from the things I mentioned above. Did anyone guess which country I am talking about? Well, if you don’t know the answer, the answer is South Korea. This country has tried to make a mark in the world through its electronics, cars, highly impossible beauty standards, foot-tapping music which seems to make no sense (remember Psy’s Gangnam style😅)and through their dramas which are very high on the romance front. So, this week’s pick also belongs to the rom-com genre with a dash of some fantasy in it and a lot of indirect advertisements . To know more read on.

    Synopsis: 18 Again is a series which revolves around Jung Da-Jung and Hong-Dae Young , a couple who has a pair of twins, Hong-Sia and Hong-Siu . Life seems perfect for the two despite the fact that they had their children at a very early age. But years later, their so called happy life seems to crumble when Jung files for a divorce and their 18 year old twins start ignoring their father. If this was not enough to add to the woes, Dae-Young’s life becomes more miserable when he loses his job after being denied a promotion and instead being transferred to Busan.

         These series of events leave him heartbroken and wishing that he could go back in time and fix his life as he repents for all the mistakes that he has committed. His wish gets granted as he turns into a 18 year old miraculously with a mind of a 37 year old and starts living a new life as Goo Woo Young. With his new identity, he tries to become a shadow to his children and be present for his now ex-wife and learns a lot about them . What does he learn about his family? Is he able to fix his mistakes and be the man that his family wanted to be him ? Will he be able to win the love of his family again or will he fail ? Also, will he be able to revert himself to his original self physically or will he be a 18 year old forever?

    Assessment: This is a show which deals with a lot of issues with two adult people at its center. It deals with the issue of how not being communicative with your better half can lead to a lot of problems which eventually ends up in the breakdown of a marriage. Also, it shows how a breakdown in a marriage has its impact not only on the children but also on the families which are related to the people close to them. This show also deals with other issues like getting bullied at high school, how beauty always has an upper hand when it comes to certain jobs more than brains, of how coaches run admission rackets , of someone being obsessive and harassing them , how social media is quick to judge without any empathy. It also teaches us valuable lessons of being financially independent, of being able to take a stand if injustice is meted out, of being able to take care of yourself if a grave situation presents in front of you, of being resilient emotionally and not letting your naysayers bringing you down. And the most important lesson it teaches us that it is never late to fix things and that with time and efforts , one can always fix things.

       I literally ended up falling in love with the female lead(Kim Ha-neul) more than the male lead because she gave me the most important lesson no matter how difficult it is in life , you should always pursue what you love with utmost courage and let no one else bother you. After all, you can have a bad day in life but not a bad life. I also ended up loving the characters of Ae Chu Rin and Go Deok Jin because they are ultimately the type of friends whom you want in your life- people who can stand behind you like a rock no matter whatever curve balls are thrown by life.

      One thing that I just find annoying (maybe annoying is not the right term but maybe over the top is a correct way to describe it) is the obsession of K-dramas with the feeling of love and impossible beauty standards. The dramas have a nice and a fascinating story line but I guess the only thing that these people find interesting is falling in love. Love is a beautiful feeling , but you cannot survive in life just on love, right? Things need to be looked into from a realist point of view as well. I appreciate it when people depict things in a realistic manner. That actually shows a mirror of how the society functions right? Maybe this is a thing that show makers can incorporate . Also, can we have less brand promotions please? It is a great way to attract attention to your brand but it just somehow puts a viewer off. Also, it is next to impossible to have a single favorite when you do have a variety of options in your life as you are bound to experiment at some or the other time. But I guess it was a trick to promote the brand so every family meal has to be of the same brand which I literally found super funny.😂😂🤣

    The view : A good show which tries to put light on various issues , this one though a bit tedious as there are a lot of episodes for a person who is pretty short on time like me. But if you are a person who can binge watch , then this one should be on your list at least once in a life as it does have an interesting story line as well as some interesting characters which will provide you some respite from your day to day drudgery. Also, it has some important lessons which can be incorporated in life that can make us a better version of ourselves. So, do go ahead and give it a watch by ignoring the brand promotions which might tend to irritate you . And yes do not forget to share your experiences of the same. Meet you next week with another pick and another theme . Till then lots of love and care. 🤗😊

    Rating: *** and a 1/2 stars

    The lead pair in a happy moment

    Baap dialogue: “No matter how hard life gets , never regret anything that made you smile.” (Jung Da-Jung in a radio episode when she was at Serim High School)

    Que: Name the team to which Ye-Ji hoon, the famous baseball player belongs to?

    a. Haitai Tigers

    b. Sammi Superstars

    c. Seum Wolves

    d. OB Bears

    Continue reading →: Traveling back in time…

  • An interesting tale of a bookseller!

    Published by

    Roshani Patil

    on

    Author:Gabrielle Zevin

    Genre: Contemporary/Drama

    “No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.”

    Buddha

    I am glad to announce that we turned five! Yes, you read it right. The Expression Hub is 5 years old. I am super grateful and super thankful to everyone who has been a part of this journey. This is because without you, this would not have been possible. It is your love, your motivation and your kind words which makes this journey worth the grind and effort. It is okay that maybe we are not as big as a family but you know what each one of you is valuable and inspiring in your own manner. It is your faith and belief in me which maybe keeps me on my toes and makes me put my best foot forward. So, yes cheers to even more milestones as I personally feel we have more milestones to achieve and keep the journey going no matter how drudging it might seem . The reason is simple- accountability to you readers and subscribers should always be a topmost priority because it is you who makes or breaks a person. So, with this thought always in the back of my mind, I do try my best not to compromise on the quality of my work and will never do so. I might be a little tardy on meeting the deadlines which I do feel guilty about thanks to my schedule but with my opinion and picks you will never have to face such an issue.

      Time truly flies and when your blog turns a year older, you do feel proud somewhere of the work you are putting in . You do have a feeling as if the thing which you gave birth to (though inanimate in this manner) is growing and you are like a proud mother watching your kid grow and reach new milestones and heights in life. And though I might not be a mother yet to a real kid, but this is my baby and it does feel good when you see your baby take strides.

    Well, coming to the point -just like every year, this year and the year after and after (hope you get the vibe😝) I will be having one pick which is supposed to be an anniversary pick because after all shouldn’t we have something to celebrate with ? And mind you, the anniversary picks are generally very special because they teach a lot and are a classic in their own ways. And I personally feel anniversaries are the best way to highlight that one pick which touched you or gave you great insight. So, though this might look like a normal post but it is not. Read on to find out what has been this year’s pick. If you do have any picks which you think are awesome as well or want to be reviewed, feel free to tell me about the same in the comments section. Who knows it might get featured as the next blog post?

    About the book: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikrey is this year’s anniversary pick. It revolves around a man who runs a bookstore on a fictional island named Alice Island. He is a 39 year old man who has turned nasty as he has lost his wife, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history. As if this was not enough to add to his woes, he has lost his what was his most prized possession- a rare collection of Poe poems, Tamerlane. These all lead him to being less social and more withdrawn as he does not seem to enjoy anyone’s company except that of his drink and some frozen food.This however does not seem to deter Amelia, a Knightley Press representative who keeps on visiting the Island to make recommendations for the bookstore.

       This all continues to take place routinely until and unless a mysterious package appears at his bookstore. This package shakes something in A.J and makes him to live his life afresh and start seeing things in a new light.What does that package contain as such that it brings a transformation in A.J? How does the package change his life? This unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances reveals the answers as we dig deeper.

    Analysis: This is a book which explores the life of a bookseller who was once passionate about books that he dedicated his entire life to the world of literature. However, as tragedy struck him, it seemed that he had become so demotivated, depressed and withdrawn that the books which were a lifeline to him seemed nothing. This book tries to explore the human emotion of grief and its impact on human life. This book also tries to highlight that with time you can heal if not close the deep wounds which have been inside your heart. This is highlighted when A.J receives that unexpected package and how that package transforms his life completely.

       The interesting aspect was that the story seems to be a normal one but it has been written from the point of a bookseller as well as that of a person whose life revolved around literature as the chapters are named after books. This book also tries to understand the dynamics of human relationships through the characters. After all, what are humans if they do not have people who add meaning to their lives? Isn’t it?

    Verdict : This is a book which is supposed to be in the category of a warm, bookish and cozy read which has sad elements with a dash of humor. For a person who loves his or her literature, this book is supposed to be a surprise treat as it has many literary titles suggested in it. Do read it if you are a fan of literature and love your stories with a dash of human emotions. Do read it if you love stories which contain the element of second chances and transformations. So, I do hope that you do enjoy reading this piece just like I did. Waiting to hear from you all about your experiences about the same. Will meet you next week with another pick which concludes our month . Till then lots of love and care. 🤗

    P.S. – If you do love the content, don’t forget to share your love and care by giving a like and a follow to either of the following-

    On Instagram– @theexpressivemind

    On Facebook- The Expression Hub

    On Word Press– through the subscription button.

    Your love and care helps us a lot as well as motivates us to put our best foot forward.

    Rating: *** stars

    Cite Bite: “We are not quite novels.
    We are not quite short stories.
    In the end, we are collected works.”

    Que: What is the name of the book that Amelia recommends to AJ?

    a. The Great Gatsby

    b. The Late Bloomer

    c. Love in the time of cholera

    d. A Little Life

    Continue reading →: An interesting tale of a bookseller!

Hello,

I’m Roshani

Welcome to The Expression Hub! I’m Roshani, who loves to express herself through the medium of writing. This blog is my little corner of the internet where I dive deep into the world of movies, books, and web series—reviewing, analyzing, and sometimes just ranting about the stories that make us laugh, cry, and question everything.

Beyond reviews, you’ll also find my personal musings—random thoughts, life reflections, and the occasional deep dive into the things that inspire me. Think of this as a space where art meets emotion, and where honest opinions matter more than star ratings.

Join me as we explore incredible stories together, one post at a time. Have a recommendation? Let’s talk—I’m always up for discovering something new!

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