Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
Monday Morning Music
S sent me on a rabbit trail that led to this song. I can't stop listening to it! Enjoy!
Sunday, June 19, 2016
The Corinthian - Book 17
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| This cover has absolutely no relationship to the story. The main character spends the whole novel dressed as a boy. |
Alas, The Corinthian is the first Georgette Heyer I've read where I felt. . . meh about it. It was just a bit too cutesy, a bit too contrived and too formulaic for me. She's had the same sorts of plots twists and characters in others books done in a much better way.
Anyway, Penelope Creed dresses as a boy and escapes out her window in order to avoid being forced into marriage with her odious cousin. While ineptly running away she is rescued by the Corinthian, aka Lord Richard Wyndham, walking home after drinking way too much brandy. He's depressed because he realizes he probably, for duty's sake, needs to marry the cold Melissa, his mother and sister's choice for him. On a drunken whim (much unlike his usual self) he decides to help Pen Creed escape her unpleasant betrothal. And the adventure begins. Things get complicated. There's murder and jewel thieves and all sorts of complications furthered by the fact that everybody thinks Pen is Sir Richard's nephew or cousin or something. Meanwhile in 3 days he manages to fall in love with the 17 yo. At least he isn't really, really old. He's 29.
Usually there are really well developed minor characters that create a lot of laughs. There is a bit here, but not enough to rescue the story.
I now have read 26 of Heyer's Regency novels/histories. I still need to read about 12 more to finish them all (I can't say my count is as accurate as can be, just a quick appraisal). I have read about 5 of her mysteries, probably still have about 5 or so more to go.
For more book reviews, go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Friday, June 17, 2016
Sundry Links
Some Reflections on the Orlando Horror. This seems like an astute observation that no one seems to be focusing on.
I watched this movie and I think more people should watch it. It jives with a book I read a few months ago (I didn't actually finish it though. Gotta go back and do that!) called The Bright Continent.
Since I just finished reading a book set in the Pyrenees and a few years ago read Mark Kurlansky's book on the history of the Basque people, I found this article interesting.
I am still listening to Boswell's Life of Johnson in the car. Because I am now interested in all things Johnson, I watched this very well done docu-drama on Samuel Johnson, put out by BBC4.
Since I've given up facebook and twitter, I've got to have a place to hang out, so I've been frequenting the Well Trained Mind Board more. It really has changed from when I first starting going there, how long ago??? Anyway, I've noticed that it seems to be dominated by a lot of people who are openly hostile to religion or at least at odds with mainstream religion. I find it funny that Susan Wise Bauer, Christian and wife to a pastor, has set up a homeschool board open to anybody and then members come to vent about how much they dislike religion. People are rather obtuse at times, aren't they?
Anyway, off my high horse now and off to catch up on my Theological readings. Gotta finish Lumen Fedei and then read some Aquinas Catechism.
Sean and I have been listening to this a lot. Hard to be depressed when this exists in the world!
I watched this movie and I think more people should watch it. It jives with a book I read a few months ago (I didn't actually finish it though. Gotta go back and do that!) called The Bright Continent.
Since I just finished reading a book set in the Pyrenees and a few years ago read Mark Kurlansky's book on the history of the Basque people, I found this article interesting.
I am still listening to Boswell's Life of Johnson in the car. Because I am now interested in all things Johnson, I watched this very well done docu-drama on Samuel Johnson, put out by BBC4.
Since I've given up facebook and twitter, I've got to have a place to hang out, so I've been frequenting the Well Trained Mind Board more. It really has changed from when I first starting going there, how long ago??? Anyway, I've noticed that it seems to be dominated by a lot of people who are openly hostile to religion or at least at odds with mainstream religion. I find it funny that Susan Wise Bauer, Christian and wife to a pastor, has set up a homeschool board open to anybody and then members come to vent about how much they dislike religion. People are rather obtuse at times, aren't they?
Anyway, off my high horse now and off to catch up on my Theological readings. Gotta finish Lumen Fedei and then read some Aquinas Catechism.
Sean and I have been listening to this a lot. Hard to be depressed when this exists in the world!
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Deuteronomy
I finished the book of Deuteronomy, which means I've finished reading through the five books of Moses.
Spoiler alert! Moses dies and doesn't get to cross over into the land of milk and honey. This always seemed unfair to me and if I ever get to Heaven, I plan to ask the Good Lord why he was so harsh with his beloved servant Moses! He messes up one time in doubting the Lord. One time! Of course, he did get to see the Lord face to face, so maybe he ought to have known better.
Still, it makes it pretty apparent that even the best human ever is still far below God. We really can't earn this salvation thing. We simply aren't capable. Thank God for His Mercy!
Now on to the Historical books!
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
School on the Porch
The workmen started demolishing our bathroom last Thursday and, praise God, we've been able to sit out on the back screen porch do our studies, the weather has been so pleasant. In fact, it's a little cool in the mornings with a lovely breeze. It gets up into the low 80s by mid afternoon but it hasn't been humid so it still feels like a nice, warm summer day. I don't know how long this will last but I am very grateful!
The above include: my laptop which happens to be at my blog but is the source for the Scripture readings of the day, Saint of the Day, Periodic Video of the day, Latin copy work of the day (written in the three notebooks at the top left). Then we move onto Ecce Romani. I've also got my kindle from which I am reading aloud a book on the Mass and I am also attempting to get us doing a little conversational French this summer, since we've got a native French speaker here in the house who is happy to help us practice our French! I've also got a bowl of grapes for us to munch on while we work.
After all this B goes on to do math and S goes on to do his chemistry and I go on to do my Theology.
The above include: my laptop which happens to be at my blog but is the source for the Scripture readings of the day, Saint of the Day, Periodic Video of the day, Latin copy work of the day (written in the three notebooks at the top left). Then we move onto Ecce Romani. I've also got my kindle from which I am reading aloud a book on the Mass and I am also attempting to get us doing a little conversational French this summer, since we've got a native French speaker here in the house who is happy to help us practice our French! I've also got a bowl of grapes for us to munch on while we work.
After all this B goes on to do math and S goes on to do his chemistry and I go on to do my Theology.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Song of Bernadette - Book 16
I can't believe it's been a whole month since I last read a complete book. It's because life is a bit crazy right now and I have been reading but hard theological stuff that is taking a long time to get
through.
The Song of Bernadette was the first book club pick for my parish's new Spiritual Classics Discussion Group. It is a long book, 578 pages, though not hard to read at all. I had trouble though because I am going through one of those periods in my life when I only seem to get to my own pleasure reading at night before bed and I am so tired by the time I hit the sack I can barely read a page before falling asleep. A couple of days ago when I realized I still had 200 pages to go, I started to really zoom in on getting it read and would you believe I read the last page in the parking lot of the church just before going into the book group!
The book is wonderful. The writing is stellar, profound, nuanced, but tells the story simply. The author keeps you engaged from the first page. The character development is impeccable.
Bernadette is a very poor, ignorant peasant girl who sees a vision of a beautiful lady. She tells her secret to the her sister and a couple classmates and the story gets around. Bernadette feels drawn to the grotto where she saw the lady and goes back. Others witness her ecstasy as she talks to the invisible lady. They begin to believe. The lady asks her to come back for 15 days which Bernadette tries to do even though her vision has now set off a chain of events that throw the town of Lourdes into turmoil. These few weeks change life forever in that town and change Bernadette too.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the cataloguing of how everyone reacts to Bernadette's story. From her own parents, to her classmates, the local church, the mayor and the police, the local intelligentsia, the doctors and it moves out from there to finally going all the way to the Emperor Louis Napoleon. All these characters (and there are a lot with rather confusing names) are fully fleshed out and some of them are like little jewels of character writing. I especially loved the cynical poet Lafite, and the character and depiction of the marriage of the Emperor and his wife Eugenia.
Bernadette herself is wonderfully drawn; so without guile, so honest, so tortured, so misunderstood. She, the ignorant peasant girl, defeats all the naysayers and the powers that be, because of her faithful love for the beautiful lady.
This book is a miracle of sorts itself. It was written by a Jewish author escaping Nazi Germany. He was hiding out in Lourdes one step a head of the Nazis who were searching for him. The few weeks he hid in Lourdes made him love it, and he vowed that if he got out alive he would sing the song of Bernadette by writing a book about her. This book was a bestseller back when it was published in 1941 and the movie with Jennifer Jones was made soon after that. Why is it that some authors who aren't Catholic seem to have such a profound understanding of its depiction of holiness? Mark Twain wrote Joan of Arc which is wonderful that way. This is another example of a non-Catholic author who 'gets it.'
This is a truly great book. I am very glad I finally read it.
Two thumbs up!
Update! Woke up this morning to do my Bible reading and read in Deuteronomy, the Song of Moses. A song written by Moses and taught to the Israelites so that they would not forgot all he had done. That must be what the title Song of Bernadette comes from! I just thought the author was being poetical when he talked about vowing to sing the song of Bernadette by writing a book about her, but it is a biblical reference to Moses!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
through.
The Song of Bernadette was the first book club pick for my parish's new Spiritual Classics Discussion Group. It is a long book, 578 pages, though not hard to read at all. I had trouble though because I am going through one of those periods in my life when I only seem to get to my own pleasure reading at night before bed and I am so tired by the time I hit the sack I can barely read a page before falling asleep. A couple of days ago when I realized I still had 200 pages to go, I started to really zoom in on getting it read and would you believe I read the last page in the parking lot of the church just before going into the book group!
The book is wonderful. The writing is stellar, profound, nuanced, but tells the story simply. The author keeps you engaged from the first page. The character development is impeccable.
Bernadette is a very poor, ignorant peasant girl who sees a vision of a beautiful lady. She tells her secret to the her sister and a couple classmates and the story gets around. Bernadette feels drawn to the grotto where she saw the lady and goes back. Others witness her ecstasy as she talks to the invisible lady. They begin to believe. The lady asks her to come back for 15 days which Bernadette tries to do even though her vision has now set off a chain of events that throw the town of Lourdes into turmoil. These few weeks change life forever in that town and change Bernadette too.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the cataloguing of how everyone reacts to Bernadette's story. From her own parents, to her classmates, the local church, the mayor and the police, the local intelligentsia, the doctors and it moves out from there to finally going all the way to the Emperor Louis Napoleon. All these characters (and there are a lot with rather confusing names) are fully fleshed out and some of them are like little jewels of character writing. I especially loved the cynical poet Lafite, and the character and depiction of the marriage of the Emperor and his wife Eugenia.
Bernadette herself is wonderfully drawn; so without guile, so honest, so tortured, so misunderstood. She, the ignorant peasant girl, defeats all the naysayers and the powers that be, because of her faithful love for the beautiful lady.
This book is a miracle of sorts itself. It was written by a Jewish author escaping Nazi Germany. He was hiding out in Lourdes one step a head of the Nazis who were searching for him. The few weeks he hid in Lourdes made him love it, and he vowed that if he got out alive he would sing the song of Bernadette by writing a book about her. This book was a bestseller back when it was published in 1941 and the movie with Jennifer Jones was made soon after that. Why is it that some authors who aren't Catholic seem to have such a profound understanding of its depiction of holiness? Mark Twain wrote Joan of Arc which is wonderful that way. This is another example of a non-Catholic author who 'gets it.'
This is a truly great book. I am very glad I finally read it.
Two thumbs up!
Update! Woke up this morning to do my Bible reading and read in Deuteronomy, the Song of Moses. A song written by Moses and taught to the Israelites so that they would not forgot all he had done. That must be what the title Song of Bernadette comes from! I just thought the author was being poetical when he talked about vowing to sing the song of Bernadette by writing a book about her, but it is a biblical reference to Moses!
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
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