Biosophilia

We recently watched Last Castle (starring Robert Redford and that guy from the Sopranos) again and I was reminded of how good a movie it is. The first time I saw it was when I was pregnant with Ethan and I was wondering if my emotional involvement with the characters was due to hormones. But this time I watched it with Jon and he assured me that it was not the pregnancy talking :) It's pretty sad and is set in a military prison but don't let that deter you.

I can't help you with the literature, but I'll be happy to share a few movie recommendations. If you're going to be renting more than 3 or 4 movies a month, you might want to check out Netflix. Here are some movies I've enjoyed:

Memento
Dead Again
White Oleander
Gangs of New York
The Count of Monte Cristo
Panic Room
Best in Show
Adaptation
Insomnia
About a Boy

And, you didn't ask for any music recommendations, but I just have to share about the cd I just got this afternoon. It's Ohio by Over the Rhine. It's very organic and haunting, and I don't think I've ever heard a more stunning voice than that of Karin, the lead singer. (Review and mp3s)

There's always the Med/Ren 'classics'...Dante, Bocaccio's Decameron, Castiglione's The Courtier, Machiavelli's The Prince. Spenser, Milton, and Donne of the English poets. Spenser is my favorite. Yea, there's the Faerie Queene, but I, personally, think Epithelamion is better. There's the letters of Heloise and Abelard. Capellanus The Art of Courtly Love.

If you want to read fiction ABOUT the med/Ren. I also recommend Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, which captures the rhythm of monastic life incredibly well. And the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett.

Mostly Martha is a current fave in the cinematic realm.

I will second THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco.
I recently bought it at the Symphony League book sale on the recommendation of Ed Lang. You are welcome to borrow my copy.

About the Renaissance:

The Stripping of the Altars: Traditional Religion in England, C.1400-C.1580 by Eamon Duffy

Protestant Poetics by Barbara K. Lewalski

Debra K. Shuger has two good ones--"Habits of Thought in the English Renaissance: Religion. Politics and the Dominant Culture," and "The Renaissance Bible: Scholarship, Sacrifice, and Subjectivity"

Some Renaissance Lit you may not have read:

The Selected Writings of Rachel Speght
Herbert's "The Temple"

How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days (of course, insert 'watch out for sexual innuendo' comment here), but I'm sure you've seen that. Wait. Did I just recommend a chick flick?

Identity was a good one we rented the other day. I love John Cusack.

The other night I didn't recommend a movie to Courtney that he doesn't need to watch.

When you don't watch that movie Courtney, I wouldn't like to hear what you didn't think about it.

Remember. I am not recommending that movie.

Lisa wouldn't like Identity. We tried to get her to watch it at the Branson's and she chickened out.
I just watched the Hours yesterday. I can't decide if I liked it or not. There are obvious things NOT to like about it (like all the fact that everyone had homosexual tendencies). But the movie was so well made that it's hard not to appreciate the quality of the movie making.
I might have to watch it again before I can say either way.

Jen's right- I should have put a stipulation on the movies that your recommend. I'm not one for scary stuff. I completely avoid tv the entire week of Haloween. I did like "How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days"- Rick. Courtney liked it too. It was a suprisingly good find. Duane- I think you've been caught recommending a movie. I've been intrigued by "The Hours"- but have shyed away from it for the same reason Jen stated- but, maybe I'll give it a try. Great suggestions y'all!

Hey Lisa,

You asked for book recommendations. Try books on tape. I check them out from our library when I don't have time to read but do have time to listen (which is often). I have always wanted to read the Decameron by Bocaccio. Perhaps you could try the longest novel (I think period novel)in the English language-- _Clarrisa_ by Samuel Rutherford. PBS had it as a mini series on Masterpiece Theatre at one point.

If you're looking for a book about general literature you ought to get the book _ The Company of the Creative_ by David L. Larsen. He wrote the book for his seminary students so that they could use modern-day literature to understand culture. I just love reading what he has to say about various books and various periods of literature. He has a chapter entitled "Tapping the Vitatlity of the Renassianca and Reformation." He gives a synopsis of authors in a given period, including their spiritual influences, etc. Other chapters are entitled "Weighing the Chiristian Heritage of William Shakespeare" and "Appreciating the Treasury of British Poetry." It's all appealing to me, I'll read just about anything decent.

I just finished Willa Cather's _Death Comes for the Archbishop_ and a novella she wrote called _Neighbor Rosicky_. Both books had a simplistic appeal to them. I appreciated the first book because it gave me an understanding of Catholic missionaries, something I really didn't know much about.

Anyhow, this is my two cents. You asked for Renaissance, but I didn't give you much in that regard. I will tell you that the C. Tales can be very baudy. It leaves much for the mind to ponder. If you read it before you were married you might not have picked up on all of the innuendo in it. I found there was much I didn't pick up on until after I was married. That might just be me though, I can be pretty daft at times.

I guess that was my $2.50.

Have a great weekend!

Erin Landrum

Canterbury Tales or Bocaccio's Decameron: Which is more bawdy? Discuss amongst yourselves. (I haven't read the latter, but I've been under the impression that it makes the Canterbury Tales seem Rated PG or G in comparison.)