A Few Thoughts in No Particular Order

Hi friends! This afternoon I'm hosting a Cookie Exchange Party, so I shouldn't blog too long but there's just a bit of life to share.

First off, we saw Des Hommes et Des Dieux (Of Gods and Men) last night. It was one of the most moving films -- if not the most moving film--  I've ever seen. 

While the above trailer doesn't have English subtitles, I think you can still pick up on a bit of the meaning by viewing it. These monks sacrificially loved people. If you want to know what real love looks like, watch this movie. It's a revolutionary kind of love. 

I also finished the 570-something page Alone in Berlin (then there's an afterword and then a file of documents in German they were used in the investigation). True story of an aging, working class carpenter and his courageous defiance, albeit non-influential, to Nazi Germany -- this book is brilliantly written by a tormented genius. Fallada penned the book in 24 days then died before it was published. Fascinating stuff. In the afterword, Geoff Wilkes writes: "whereas Hannah Arendt's Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963) dissects and analyses 'the banality of evil', Hans Fallada's Alone in Berlin comprehends and honours the banality of good." An exploration of metaphysical realities, religiosity, evil, the banality of good -- Alone in Berlin will be a story I'll mull over for some time. This quote also reminds me that I should pick up Eichmann again! 

In other news, did you know that Kate and team are starting an online mag? Matchbook Mag. Thanks J. Tharp for the hat tip! Matchbook is guaranteed to provide some pretty eye-candy!

And on to what I'm really really really excited about:

I'm packing a bag and heading to the States very soon!!! First stop: to see this one!