Author: joyhbooks
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The Map of Tiny Perfect Things: A Review
TIME-TRAVELING SPOILERS AHEAD If you could choose any day to relive over and over, which one would you pick? It’s a question chock-full of possibilities, and one that’s fun to ponder. For Mark, he’d probably relive something totally awesome. Maybe the day he had a cake-filled, laser-tag birthday party or that one time his family…
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Thunderbolts*: a Review
written by Guest Contributor Isabelle Hendrich “We can’t do this. No one here is a hero.” –Yelena, THUNDERBOLTS* The facts This article contains spoilers from the movie Thunderbolts* Marvel’s Thunderbolts* released on May 2, 2025 to theatres. Three months later, the movie was released to Disney+ on August 27, 2025. Thunderbolts is rated PG-13 for…
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Snow White: A Review
We all know that one bad apple can spoil the bunch–and Snow White probably knows that better than anyone. After all, the fact the kingdom’s been reduced to Dark-Ages-esque poverty and Snow White herself to a life of servitude all falls on the shoulders of the Evil Queen. Snow White’s origin story is classically Disney:…
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Jurassic Park: A Review
It’s the stuff of legends, the interest of excited schoolchildren, the fascination of scientists around the world, the subject that’s caught a global collective imagination. It’s dinosaurs. Of course, for most people, dinosaurs remain forever in the pages of textbooks or as bones strung into standing skeletons at national museums. For John Hammond, however, dinosaurs…
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Wicked: A Review
It’s not easy being green–and that’s not just a truth reserved for amphibians. Elphaba Thropp, the eldest daughter of the Munchkin Land mayor, has dealt with enough bigotry and bullying to testify that having grass-green skin can bring a boatload of troubles. Ever since she was born, all people could talk about was how green…
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Knives Out: A Review
[SPOILERS ahead] As is sometimes the case in the theater, this movie review requires a bit of prologue. If you read the review of Free Guy, you might remember that I offered a similar disclaimer. Just because we’re chatting about Knives Out, it doesn’t mean I necessarily endorse it. Some viewers might find the harsh…
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Paddington in Peru: A Review
[Marmalade-covered SPOILERS ahead] Paddington has come a long way in his journey from Great Aunt Lucy’s side in the Peruvian jungle to becoming a beloved member of the Brown family at 32 Windsor Gardens, London. He’s happy with his life in England, close to his favorite people and his favorite pastimes (including eating marmalade sandwiches).…
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Hamilton: A Review
In Hamilton, there are two options for one’s life: glory or obscurity. Alexander Hamilton, a young immigrant from the Caribbean bursting with brains and ambition, knows that fact far too well. His own mother died in obscurity; his father was known for shame, not glory. At the end of the day, Hamilton wants to be…
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Wonka: A Review
Willy Wonka of chocolatey fame didn’t always have an impossible candy factory powered by pure imagination. According to legend, Wonka used to be a kind, naive young man, one who spent seven years of his life searching the open ocean for the perfect, most magical chocolate recipes. In order to fulfill his childhood dream of…
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Red One: A Review
[SPOILERS AHEAD].Red One is exactly the kind of feel-good traditional Christmas movie you’d expect. That is–if you expect Santa to be lean, witty weightlifter, his right hand man Callum Drift to be a centuries-old spy/bodyguard, and for the North Pole to look more like Langley than a workshop. Also, of course, there are bloodthirsty ninja…
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Inside Out 2: A Review
[SPOILERS AHEAD] Riley survived moving across the country, making new friends, starting a new school, and the rollercoaster of (anthropomorphized) emotions that came with it. Now it’s time for her next big adventure: hockey camp with her two best friends Grace and Bree. Of course, the Big Five (Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust) chilling…
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Free Guy: A Review
In video game language, a cut scene is a short mini-movie in the game that explains some essential backstory. Here’s the cut scene info before we begin: I don’t necessarily endorse Free Guy. Although it’s a fun movie with meaningful, almost-allegorical themes, it also contains some harsh profanity and innuendos. This review is more a…
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Moana 2: A Review
[SPOILERS AHEAD] In November of 2024, Disney Animation Studios returned with a sequel to the beloved tale of Moana, Maui, and the people of Motunui. The story follows the little-older-and-wiser Moana who has a full life as a wayfinder for her close-knit community. As she discovers one new island after another, she learns that Motunui…
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Gray Havens music review
I don’t want to geek out on you. That wouldn’t be cool, and when it comes to music, impartial advice is always a welcome change from the die-on-this-hill culture of the music world. I have to say though–when I was directed to the Gray Havens and began to listen to their music, I felt like…
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God set the stars: an imagined letter by tolkien
Today’s post is about linguist and literary giant J.R.R. Tolkien. Known primarily for his novels The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien has profoundly impacted how I view the depth of God’s goodness and love, and the richness of my relationship with Him. While a lot of people may be familiar with the basic story of…
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5 Books for 2024
Welcome to Joy H. Books! If you’re new to the blog, thanks for reading! The posts are mostly focused on the deep messages found in favorite literature, movies, and other forms of entertainment. Today, we discuss five great books that might be off your radar, but are worth a try this summer. 1. Till We…
Joy H. Books 