What I’ve Been Reading (& Watching) This Week
About once a year I have a movie binge about this time. Mostly it's the BBC productions of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens or Elizabeth Gaskell's books.
But this year I've gone rogue and done something completely out of character for me. I binged on 16 episodes (each about an hour long) of a Korean Drama. I don’t watch T.V. and would much rather read a book than watch a movie. I blame my daughter for my aberration - she has a few Korean friends and they recommended ‘‘Crash Landing on You.” When she told me that it had English subtitles, I thought I wouldn’t last five minutes.
Well, I finished it and loved it. A little bit cheesy at times but sweet, clean and refreshing. I loved the storyline and the humour. After I finished the series (which is complete by the end of Episode 16 - yay!) I spent some time on Duolingo trying out the Korean language. I told my Korean friend and she thought it was hilarious.
Now back to my more usual form of relaxation/intellectual stimulation - BOOKS.
War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Every year I think I’ll start reading this…I’m serious now - 252 pages in & only just over 1,000 pages to go. As I’ve found with chunky classics the first obstacle to overcome is actually beginning. I’m reading a couple of chapters most days. Keeping track of all the Russian names is the biggest challenge. I like Russian classic novels and Tolstoy is one of my favourite Russian writers.
Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
A Christian classic first published in 1978 and updated twice since then, this book explores the classic disciplines of the Christian Faith - inward, outward and corporate.
Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.
Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
I tried listening to Jayber Crow a few years ago but didn’t get very far. Hannah Coulter is an old woman looking back on her life; the loss of her mother and then her young husband missing in action during WW2. It is gentle and lovely.
You mustn’t wish for another life. You mustn’t want to be somebody else. What you must do is this:
“Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In everything give thanks.”