Hope Endures-A book Review

During my blogging break I read a very challenging book written by a former Nun who joined the Missionaries of Charity. Not only did this Nun leave Mother Teresa's Order she also lost her faith, which is incredibly sad.

The book is titled 'Hope Endures' by Colette Livermore but it should be re-titled 'Hopeless and Lost'.

The great tragedy of Colette is her lack of calling and the fact that her Superiors including Blessed Mother Teresa failed to pick up on this integral part of any religious journey. Every Sister when asked why they joined a particular Religous Order nearly always state they felt an 'inner calling' this did not happen to Colette, instead she saw a documentary on the television called 'Something Beautiful for God' and decided then that she wanted to help the poor.

Colette Livermore failed to understand that a Religous life has nothing to do with social work and everything to do with Vocation and the most serious of Vows, Obedience.

There is only one area where I agreed with the authors perspective and that is in the area of humiliation. To me humiliation has nothing to do with humility.

Where in our Lords Ministry did Jesus humiliate and demean his disciples and those he met on his journey? Where did Our Lady humiliate and demean others? It never happened.

We are all in need of correction but this should always be done in a spirit of gentleness, compassion and love in the full knowledge that we are ourselves, imperfect.

I do not agree with the theory that humiliating and degrading another person somehow makes them more humble, if anything it creates resentment and can lead to severe psychological abuse on both sides.

It is a challenging book but I came away from it feeling depressed and frustrated that noone picked up on this young girls lack of calling. This young woman would have served mankind better if she had pursued her medical career or taken a course to become a social worker.

I pray that she will return to her faith and once again embrace her Catholic heritage and the Sacraments.

But I would like to know what you think about this need to humiliate others in an attempt to engender humility? I feel it does the opposite. What are YOUR thoughts?

Written by Marie

Good Viewing-North & South/ The Forsyte Saga

North & South tells the story of John Thornton who is master of Marlborough mills and Margaret Hale who is the daughter of a Minister. What should have been an uncomplicated romance between the two main characters becomes complicated when Margaret witnesses an incident with Mr. Thornton and one of his workers. It begins a journey of misunderstanding as prejudices rule and sides are taken.

What makes this story different is the relationship between John Thornton and his mother, the sensitivity, affection and respect shared between both mother and son is touching to watch.

We see in North and South two sides of the coin between the masters and the workers and how compromise can bring about change.

It is a story of the North with its brutal and gritty realism verses life in the more quiet and easy going South, a clash of cultures ensues.

This is a great love story of a strong willed woman used to speaking her opinion openly played with great confidence by Daniela-Denby-Ashe and a man who finds himself falling inlove with a woman who does not return his affections played with understated brilliance by Richard Armitage.

The story is helped by excellent performances from Sinead Cusack who plays Mrs. Thornton, Brendan Coyle who portrays firebrand union man Nicholas Higgins and Tim Pigott Smith who plays Margarets father.

Good viewing for all.

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The Forsyte Saga

This is the modern interpretation of an old classic which played decades ago on the BBC.

In this version Soames Forsyte is played brilliantly by Damian Lewis who portrays the character of Soames so well that one feels both pity and repulsion almost at the same time.

It is the story of unrequited love and how it can destroy both the object of love and the unloved with equal force.

In the background are two sides of the Soames family. One side which is more bohemian, while the other clan is repressingly and hypocritically polite and civil leaving their cruelties unspoken, but nevertheless felt.

There are no heroes in this partcilar drama as both sides are deeply flawed characters. The cold, beautiful yet passionate Irene Forsyte who marries for money and finds herself imprisoned by her husbands obsessive love. The character is played very well by Gina McKee.

But all eyes are fixed on Damian Lewis who actually says very little but can portray so much by a flicker of an eye lid and a small sneer. Soames Forsyte is a man who follows the norms of society, who refuses to break the rules and has little compassion for those who do and yet is undone by his obsessive love for a woman who loves him not. This leaves him to behave in a brutal fashion which haunts his conscience and colours all his relationships.

The tragedy of this will follow the Forsytes into the next generation.

Excellent viewing.

Notes On a Scandal-A Review

Judi Dench gives a rivetting performance as Barbara Covett. The malicious and acerbic teacher of a London school, who rules her students with a heart of ice.

The story of the film revolves around Barbara's warped and cynical view of life which touches every facet of her enclosed world and colours the life of those who come into contact with her.

Cate Blanchett plays the whimsical yet manipulavite Sheba Hart. A woman who feels that her life has become to pedestrian and longs for excitement this comes in the shape of her student Andrew Simpson. One is left to wonder who seduced who?

The underlying theme is Barbara's growing obsession for the beautiful Sheba and the betrayal she feels when Sheba fails to meet Barbara's litmus test of perfection.

Through Barbara's acidic wit we see the foibles and failures of her victims and yet Barbara fails to recognise that it is envy that is the driving force of her embittered heart.

The movie reaches towards its climax as Barbara's hold over Sheba tightens and the twisted love Barbara feels for Sheba remains unspoken between the two of them.

There are no heroes in this complex story of human nature with a twist. The only sympathy I felt went to the deceived husband and the betrayal of Sheba's family.

It is an excellent movie starring two great actors of this century Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.

Miss Potter-A Review

Last weekend I watched the movie 'Miss Potter' starring Renee Zellweger and Ewen McGregor. I highly recommend it and enjoyed it enormously so much so that I intend to buy the DVD for my own movie library.

It is refreshing in that there are no hidden skeletons and also no besmirching of Beatrix Potter character. Instead it is a lyrical journey of this womans remarkable life and her determination to have her books published. This was at a time when women of means did not work but Beatrix was no ordinary woman.

I wont spoil the film for those who have not seen it, suffice to say that it is children friendly and a great treat for those looking for some magic in their lives.

Marie Antionette-Review from The Grumpy Ole Woman

Well Elena on 'Tea At Trianon' warned me about the movie 'Marie Ationette' but I wanted to see it for myself. I should have listened!

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I do not understand how two good actors such as Kirsten Dunst and Judy Davis would accept such a badly written movie. The script consists mainly of incessant giggling and whispering in dark corners. Judy Davis has a perpetual look of agony on her face. I was wondering if she had gass problems or hemorrhoids?

As for Kirsten Dunst performance with her constant silly smile and inanities, all the while stuffing cake down her throat. She had all the animation of a Macy's mannequin.

Then there is the director and producer Sofia Coppola, has she entered the tasteless movie protection programe, she should think about it! What is it with the scene after scene of cake, cake and MORE cake...Please Sofia enough already we 'got' the point! Sofia showed all the subtlety of the Texas Chainsaw massacre but at least with that movie it comes with a warning!

Be warned! This is a movie for really stupid people. Umm why did I go and see it then? LOL