Best this month “How many new lives can one have? ... as many as we like.
... while we can.” That statement from Evelyn is shared by the other elders living in a retirement hotel in India in this sequel to a 2012 movie. Whereas before they were tourists, now they are settled residents who are busy creating mean- ingful lives for themselves. Muriel (Maggie Smith) is co- manager of the hotel with the young and enthusiastic Sonny (Dev Patel). Evelyn (Judi Dench) has a job acquiring fabrics. Douglas (Bill Nighy) runs a bike shop and works as a tour guide. Madge (Celia Imrie) and Norman (Ronald Pickup) manage an expat’s club. A mysterious visitor (Richard Gere) may hold the key to the hotel’s future. Director John Madden juggles the stories of all the char-
acters, paying close attention to the many forms of love and friendship expressed as they find ways to support each other (Fox Searchlight Pictures, PG—some language and suggestive comments).
Fly While You Still Have Wings
In this uplifting spiritual
memoir, Joyce Rupp pays trib- ute to her mother, Hilda Rupp (1916-2000), wife of an Iowa farmer and mother of eight children. She was not afraid of hard work and developed a keen resiliency that helped
her overcome adversities. Even in her 70s and 80s she explored new vistas, loved music and had a good sense of humor. Typical of her generation, Hilda didn’t talk much about her spirituality. Even so, Rupp is alert to the little kindnesses she performed for others and her enjoyment of her parish community. She commends her mother’s “desire to be a God-centered woman.” Rupp’s tribute to her mother reminds us to count the
blessings we have received from a parent. The author’s honest admission that she experienced regrets over what she could have done for her mother and didn’t, or did do and wished she hadn’t, frees us to process these experi- ences in our lives. This book is highly recommended for those who truly want to honor their mothers and their fathers (Sorin Books,
www.avemariapress.com).
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www.thelutheran.org
A Rock Can Be ... Laura Pudie Salas begins
this enchanting picture book, designed for children ages 5 to 8, with the words: “A rock
Author bio:
The Brussats publish the website www.SpiritualityandPractice. com where you can find more information about the items reviewed in this column.
is a rock. It’s sand, pebble, stone. Each rock tells a story, a tale of its own.” Then through the wonderful illus- trations of Violeta Dabija, we see that a rock can be a tall mountain, a park fountain, a stepping-stone, a lake skimmer, a building trimmer, a hopscotch marker, a desert dune, a harvest moon, a food grinder, a har- bor protector, a sparkling ring and more. At the end of this book, Salas shares tidbits of information about what rocks contribute to our world. This book will give kids a new appreciation for the natural world (Millbrook Press, www.
lernerbooks.com).
Judi Dench and Bill Nighy return for the sequel of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel—this time as residents, not tourists, who are creating meaningful lives for themselves.
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
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