Book and Film Reviews

A Legacy of Resilience

As we witness the unfolding of the terrorist attacks in Paris this weekend, I am reminded of an excellent book I read earlier this year, The Nightingale set in France during the years of World War II. The story highlights the courage of the French people who were involved in the Resistance Movement during that time, but this is particularly the story of the courage of women – that of two sisters – who worked fearlessly, in different ways, to free or protect the citizens of France from the horror of the Nazi Regime.

The sisters, of very different temperament and ability to act, are forced to deal with the turmoil and despair of war, each with immense courage in whatever way they are able. Kristin Hannah’s writing is well researched, even to mentioning the Sisters of St. Joseph and the original six women!  (I couldn’t believe it when reading the book!). She portrays the harrowing days with clarity, but moments of light, love and kindnesses emerge through the darkness.

This well researched epic novel is set for the most part in a small town in France during the occupation but it also gives a good picture of how Paris might have been during the years following 1941 when the Germans marched into Paris, till the end of the war in 1945. The ending will surprise you - the story goes further than 1945, but I will leave you to find that out.

There are many other good historical novels about the Resistance Movement in Europe during World War II – such as Villa Triste by Lucretia Grindle set in Florence (five stars) and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – these can be for another day. And we can be sure that the resilience of the French people will emerge again today, as it has over the centuries in facing such injustices.

Guest Blogger: Margaret Magee

 

Emotional Make Up 101

Have you ever caught yourself wondering what was going on in someone else’s head? Pixar Animation Studios motion picture,’ Inside Out’ released by Walt Disney Pictures, offers the movie goer its version of emotional mindscape in 94 minutes of carefully, crafted, creative animation.

Inside Out, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The movie was the brainchild of Pete Doctor in collaboration with Ronnie del Carmen. This movie allows the audience to gain a privileged entrance into the lead character, Riley’s mind, where we meet the five, animated, personified, prime emotions of Anger, Disgust, Fear, Joy, and Sadness. The five emotions which dramatically surface in the movie, mirror those Pete Doctor witnessed in his pre-teen daughter and those he personally experienced in his own life resulting from his relocation from Denmark to the United States.

On the surface Inside Out is a kid’s movie but it takes an adult mind to grasp the complexity of our emotional make up. Younger members watching Inside Out will follow Riley’s attempt to return home, whereas older members will find themselves reminiscing on their own emotional journeys. Adults will grasp the reality that the five prime emotions are seldom experienced in isolation. The more mature moviegoer catches the deeper reality that emotions blend together. Our emotional intelligence helps to support our understanding of others and the developing of relationships with others. www.helpguide.org/articles/emotional.../emotional-intelligence-eq.htm

 

Christopher Haubursin, www.vox.com/2015/6/29/8860247/inside-out-emotions-graphic, has graphically illustrated the way in which the overlap of emotions creates a fuller pallet which broadens our emotional makeup. For example, joy coupled with sadness produces a feeling of melancholy and sadness and fear gives rise to anxiety as illustrated in the chart below.

For me, Christopher Haubursin chart broadens the concepts presented in the movie and stresses the mix of emotions release in encountering any situation. Hopefully, summertime will offer you and yours the leisure to enjoy Inside Out in what promises to be a thought provoking treat at the movie theatre.

Nancy Wales CSJ

 

A review of Atul Gawande's book "Being Mortal"

How do we live a meaningful life when facing debilitating disease or a terminal condition? Gawande takes a very realistic look at our changed social circumstances in terms of life expectancy, movement of peoples and medical technologies/treatments. Through his own reflections, dialogues with colleagues, and study he examines his approach to patients facing difficult health situations. Is he truly dong the best he can? 

When in medical school he was lectured on the differences between a patristic, knowledgeable practitioner and an information giver. Although he leaned towards the latter approach he was finding this did not seem to help his patients. Was there another approach? Perhaps guidance?

As he lives through and shares with us many patient stories, he realizes that he needs to listen and that what patients truly want is often unexpected and attainable. While families want health and safety, patients facing the reality of dying have different desires. So he becomes a guide who can offer information, discuss possible effects of treatments, and listen attentively….he learns to have the difficult conversations. The final ‘case’ he shares is the dying of his own father; his insights and new practices have a profound effect on how this passage takes place.

Hopefully he shares stories of different ways of assisting patients facing their own mortality. There are options if we are willing to creatively explore them.

Relevant to us as Canadians as we discuss the impending legislation about end-of-life, he cautions that countries who have embraced assisted end of life have not explored other options to help people with the limits that end-of-life situations find moments worth living for.

The book is readable, relevant and thought provoking with a most hopeful outlook.

Jackie Potter
CSJ Associate

Only a Stone’s Throw Away From a New Perspective

Most of us are very familiar with the epic, biblical, tale of David and Goliath. The bestselling author, Malcolm Gladwell, in his most recently released book, David and Goliath, provides a new perspective on this well-known encounter which was first recorded in the Old Testament. Gladwell maintains that we’ve got it all wrong. It was David, not Goliath, who had the upper hand from the onset in this power struggle. The author insists the mighty Goliath, weighed down by his heavy protective gear was ill prepared to meet the less encumbered David. 

Malcolm Gladwell uses this erroneous held belief about Goliath’s strength and David’s weakness, as a spring board to point out other examples of the unrecognized strengths and capabilities possessed by those considered unlikely winners. Gladwell illustrates other circumstances where apparent weakness proves to be an unsuspected strength.

Perhaps the essence of this tale and book might provide wisdom on our Lenten journey to Easter. Might there be instances in our own lives where personal limitation opens us to be supported by our higher power.

At first I didn’t think of it as a gift,
and begged God to remove it.
Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.“
2 Cor.12:7 (MSG translation)

Listen to Malcolm Gladwell on Ted Talks.

Nancy Wales, CSJ