book reviews
Reviews for political die-hards of books about politicians, civil rights, Supreme Court rulings and the ever-changing Swamp.
No Escape Room: Trapped in a Game That Never Lets You Leave
The story begins with a man who goes on a weekend trip with his daughter to spend some time together. He wants to make her happy. However, his daughter Karen is upset with her dad about something and remains silent throughout the journey, staring out of the window. Her dad tries to lighten the mood. He talks to her, cracks jokes, and makes efforts so her mood improves and the short trip becomes memorable. While they are on the way, their car suddenly breaks down. Due to this, they are forced to stop in a nearby small town. They leave the car at an old garage to get it repaired and, while waiting, they sit in a hotel across the road and order food. Karen’s dad suggests that since the car will take time to be fixed, they should look for some place nearby where they can have a little fun. He picks up a large newspaper lying there and starts looking at tourist activities. He suggests several options to Karen one by one, but she refuses every idea. Then his dad notices an advertisement for an escape room. He explains to her that it is a game where a group of people is locked inside a room. Inside, they are given puzzles, riddles, and tasks, and until they solve everything correctly, they are not allowed to leave the room. Hearing this, a slight spark appears in Karen’s eyes. She says that her friends have played such a game before and really enjoyed it, so she also wants to try it. Her dad immediately calls the waitress and asks her about the escape room. The waitress suddenly becomes serious and says that they should not go there, because whoever has gone there has never come back. Hearing this, both of them look at each other nervously. The atmosphere suddenly becomes heavy. Then, the very next moment, the waitress laughs and says she was just joking. She says it is very fun and people really enjoy it. Hearing this, they relax a little and decide to go to the escape room. Meanwhile, Karen goes to the washroom because something has spilled on her clothes. As soon as she enters, the lights start flickering. The entire washroom falls into an eerie silence. Suddenly, she hears strange noises coming from the adjacent cabin, as if someone inside is trying to open the door. Karen’s heart starts pounding. Out of fear, she slowly walks toward that cabin and is about to open the door when the waitress suddenly comes out from the same cabin. At that moment, Karen’s dad calls out to her, and she quickly leaves the place. However, the strange fear that settles in her heart does not fade away easily. After that, they rent a car and head toward the location of the escape room. As they move forward, the liveliness around them slowly disappears. Eventually, they reach a place where there is complete silence all around. Just looking at the building gives off a strange feeling. The walls have old cracks, the paint is peeling off, and it feels as if the building has seen many dark things. They enter inside. Karen’s dad calls out loudly, “Is anyone here?” After a few seconds of silence, a girl appears and, with a faint smile, says, “Welcome, I am the host of this game.” She takes them into a room where three other people are already sitting, who have also come to participate in the game. A woman introduces herself and says, “My name is Melanie, and I came here with my husband. He didn’t want to come, but I insisted and brought him along.” There is also another man who introduces himself as a doctor. After a while, the host brings a strange kind of tea for everyone. Steam rises strongly from the tea, and its smell feels unusual. Karen’s dad feels something is not right about it, so he hesitates and stops Karen from drinking it as well. But when he sees that everyone else is drinking it calmly, he eventually drinks it too. After that, the host places some agreement papers in front of them and asks them to sign. It is written that all of them have come here willingly, and if anything happens to anyone, they themselves will be responsible. Once the papers are signed, the host takes everyone’s mobile phones and explains that it is a rule of the game. No one will contact the outside world, and no videos are allowed to be recorded. Then she turns on a projector and plays a video. The video explains the story of an inventor who used to conduct strange experiments and create unusual things. He was the one who built this mysterious house. But after that, strange incidents started happening there. Some people came to uncover the secret of the house, but they all got trapped inside and disappeared without leaving any trace. After this, the host explains the rules of the game. Each room’s door will open only when the key for that room is found. Every key is hidden inside the same room, and to find it, puzzles and riddles must be solved. The total time for the game is one hour. If anyone feels they cannot handle the mental pressure and everything becomes too overwhelming, they only need to say the word “Wake up,” and they will be taken out immediately. As soon as she finishes saying this, the lights suddenly go out… (The story continues in the same word-by-word sequence with fear, suspense, time loops, death, and consequences, and in the end it becomes clear that this is the “No Escape Room” — a trap from which no one truly escapes. It was a deadly experiment created by a mad inventor, and even the souls of those who die there remain trapped inside the house forever.)
By Filmon Ke Raaz | Movie Mysteries Explained15 days ago in The Swamp
The Night a Song Brought Me Back to Myself
I didn’t watch the special for the spectacle. I watched because I needed to hear the song again. Not the version from the movie trailer or the TikTok clip. The one that lived in my bones—the one I’d hummed under my breath during chemo, during layoffs, during the long winter after my divorce. The song that said: It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to fall. It’s okay to rise anyway.
By KAMRAN AHMADabout a month ago in The Swamp
Iranian Officials Warn Trump Not to Cross ‘Red Line’ Over Threats to Intervene in Protests. AI-Generated.
Iranian officials have issued a strong warning to former U.S. President Donald Trump, cautioning him not to cross what they described as a “red line” after he threatened U.S. intervention if Iranian authorities kill protesters. The sharp exchange highlights rising tensions between Tehran and Washington at a time when Iran is grappling with widespread domestic unrest and intense international scrutiny.
By Aarif Lashariabout a month ago in The Swamp
The Day the Stadium Felt Like Church
I wasn’t born into fandom. I was adopted into it. At ten years old, I didn’t understand offside rules or midfield rotations. I only knew that every Sunday, my grandfather would take my hand, walk me three blocks to the edge of the stadium, and sit with me on a cracked concrete step—just outside the gates, where the roar of the crowd bled into the street like a hymn.
By KAMRAN AHMADabout a month ago in The Swamp
Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre
Introduction In an era where celebrity relationships often unfold in the glare of social media, Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre have crafted something refreshingly authentic: a partnership rooted in artistic respect, shared ambition, and quiet devotion. Since their romance became public in 2024, fans have searched “Teyana Taylor Aaron Pierre” not just out of curiosity—but admiration.
By KAMRAN AHMADabout a month ago in The Swamp
Stranger Things Finale Release Date
Introduction After nearly a decade of Demogorgons, mind flayers, and Eggo-fueled nostalgia, Stranger Things is preparing to say goodbye. With fans worldwide searching “Stranger Things finale release date,” “when does the last episode of Stranger Things come out?” and “what time is Stranger Things finale coming out?,” anticipation has reached fever pitch.
By KAMRAN AHMADabout a month ago in The Swamp
Pierre Bordage: The Visionary Who Gave French Science Fiction a Soul. AI-Generated.
In the landscape of French literature, science fiction has often lived in the shadow of realism and philosophy. Yet one name stands out for bringing emotional depth, spiritual reflection, and epic storytelling to the genre: Pierre Bordage. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern French science fiction, Bordage has built worlds that do more than imagine the future—they question the present.
By Ayesha Lashariabout a month ago in The Swamp
