Thursday, March 27, 2008

Manga and Jane Austen

I was going to start reading another graphic novel of some type, so a title on one of the library shelves caught my eye: Emma, Vol. 1, by Kaoru Mori, with a cover drawing of a young maid in a Victorian English scene. It turned out to be my first venture in manga, the Japanese comics. At first I had to continually remind myself not only to read the book from back to front, but use that same direction inside each comic strip frame - otherwise the conversations don't make sense!

The story is sort of a takeoff on the old BBC tv drama, Upstairs, Downstairs, but not really too interesting to me. But I am enjoying seeing how the Japanese author conveys that time and place.

And, speaking of things English, a young niece just asked me for a copy of Pride and Prejudice to take along on a 17-hour drive to New York. Besides my vintage bound copy (autographed by my Irish grandmother), I also had a little paperback version. Always snap up those garage sale bargains - you never know when they'll come in handy!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

"Lord, you have seduced me. And I am seduced."

Back when I was young, amidst the chaos of life at some point then, I considered how the life of contemplation set apart from the world was a beautiful one. Since then, I've changed to thinking that a life in the thick of things - messy, ever-changing - is, perhaps, more holy. So I thought of this again last week when I watched a new film on DVD that had gotten such good reviews from newspaper film critics that I ordered it for the library where I work.

Into Great Silence is the work of a single filmmaker who, after 16 years, was granted permission to spend six months solo filming the monks at the Grande Chartreuse, a Carthusian monastery in the French Alps. I was expecting the usual documentary, interviews with the monks, etc., but realized almost immediately that it's almost all visual. You do hear birds, footsteps, bells, but almost no talking! After 15 min., I was going to skip it, but kept watching for a few more minutes until I was thoroughly entranced. This is really a spiritual art film. I loved how the filmmaker, Philip Groning, had each of the monks spend about one whole minute just looking into the camera. Many had a completely open, calm, and peaceful face, while a few could only look for 15 seconds, blinking rapidly all the while - and one had eyes that were like wild birds in a cage!

The Carthusian monks live "one of the most austere" monastic lives - more like hermits - but they do have community and fun! Seeing them using boots as skis down a small snowcovered hillside, laughing as they rated each one's performance, was wonderful. The film follows the monks through several seasons, and the outdoor scenery is magnificent. But most of the scenes are of mundane activities - praying, eating, getting a haircut, working in the garden. It is all so quiet and filled with that beautiful mountain light.

Each of the main sections is preceded by a Biblical quotation, and one from Jeremiah 20:7 that was repeated often is the title of this post. These men must be in love with God and this silent life, but what is its meaning for the world?

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Garrison Keillor, Lovable Pagan

Today's paper had another great column on the editorial page from one of my favorite humorists, Garrison Keillor, a person with Minnesota roots like me. Today he talked about singing in the church choir while doubting the whole experience of church and faith. I often feel the same, but can never write about it with such juice!

Hope the link stays live, but from a commercial paper, who knows?

Monday, March 17, 2008

German Grandfather on St. Patrick's Day


Today is St. Patrick's Day - and also my maternal grandfather's birthday. He was born in Wisconsin in 1870 - just a few months after his parents came over from Germany. I guess his only observance of his St. Patrick's Day birthday was his marriage to a woman born in Ireland!

I think that most of their six children resembled their father, so the Irish looks were somewhat diminished, but the resulting combination produced 5 striking daughters and 1 son. A handsome man!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Graphic Novels

Ever since I took a course on "young adult literature" in library school and read Maus I, I've loved to find good graphic novels. I mentioned one recently here, Persepolis, and now someone recommended another, The Arrival, by Shaun Tan.

This one is about the process of leaving your home and family to seek fortune in a new country where you don't know the language, the buildings and customs are altogether different - even the animals (pets and wildlife) are unrecognizable. The universal experience of immigration, voluntary or otherwise. I haven't even finished it yet, but am finding myself going over the pages again and again. Love that!

Friday, March 7, 2008

The Bishops and Movies

Back when I was a teenager, I can remember greedily looking for the "C" (for CONDEMNED) movies on the list posted in the church vestibule. Not that I - a first child/A-student/"good girl" - would even know how to see one, much less dare to do it, but I always enjoyed seeing the titles of the supposedly hellish films.

Now I find myself looking at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Website for their list of good films to see. The Ten Best of 2007 list starts with this interesting comment, "Though on-screen violence, like sexuality, can often be gratuitous, 2007 saw a surfeit of major films in which it played a strong -- but dramatically essential -- part. Each of them was artistically outstanding and has already been widely honored by many of the awards competitions and in top-10 lists." Things have changed! No longer do you get only films like Song of Bernadette and Sound of Music. I actually like most of the films they recommend, although some are so hard to find that even I can't get hold of them. But take a look.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Cookbooks for Entertainment

There always seems to be a new cookbook in the stack of books next to my bed - and it's usually the one I save for my nightly book dessert. Not that I'm a fabulous cook or even have the time/energy to try out more than an occasional recipe, but I just love to imagine the food. Thanks to all the food photographers who make these imaginings more colorful! Cookbooks these days are rather short on content but big on readability and photos.

I like the one I'm reading now - Nigella Express. Since I don't have cable tv, I've never seen Nigella Lawson's show on the Food Channel and didn't really know anything about her. But this cookbook is excellent - tart comments on the recipes for simple, but interesting food ideas. (The book says that Nigella has a sister, Hortensia. Doesn't this make you think that their parents may have been named John and Mary?) Apparently, Nigella is such an interesting person, that she has already deserved her own biography. I hope she didn't write it, but I may have to read that next.