Best this month
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Far from the Madding Crowd This beautifully photographed and well-acted drama directed by
Thomas Vinterberg is based on Thomas Hardy’s fourth novel. Carey Mul- ligan plays Bathsheba Everdene, a strong-willed and independent young woman who inherits a sheep farm. Three men are drawn to her: Gabriel Oak, a shy and competent shepherd; William Boldwood, a wealthy bach- elor who owns the neighboring estate; and Frank Troy, a dashing sergeant in the military. As Bathsheba navigates through her responsibilities on the farm and the
choices presented by the men in her life, the film turns into a meditation on yearning. We recognize that these characters’ dreams, wishes and hopes are ones we’ve had as well. We also empathize with their suffering, pain and disappointments. We were especially taken by Bathsheba’s desire for commu- nity as a way of assuaging her “long loneliness” (20th Century Fox, PG-13— some sexuality and violence). On DVD.
Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer, is one of three suitors vying for Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan).
Soul-Centered: Spirituality for People on the Go
Jim Clarke, a popular
The Yes In this parable by
Sarah Bee, Yes is a big orange creature who is comfortable in his warm nest until he is overtaken by an urge to go on a quest. Outside is the rau- cous world of Nos, who move in swarms of negativity: “They picked and nipped and snipped and snicked.” When Yes reaches a tree, they tell him, “No,” he can’t climb it. He does anyway and shouts, “Yes!” The Nos are critical, doubtful and cynical. They try
to stop Yes’ journey as he crosses a bridge and a river, plows through a wooded area, and arrives at a big roll- ing hill. The Nos give one last shot of their toxicity, but the big orange creature prances to the top of the hill and shouts out a big and bold and affirmative, “Yes!” (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers,
www.eerdmans. com/youngreaders).
Author bio:
The Brussats publish the website www.SpiritualityandPractice. com where you can find more information about the items reviewed in this column.
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www.thelutheran.org
speaker and retreat leader, has written this resource for “believers in exile as well as those who sense their spiritual lives could be richer.” Each chap- ter introduces a theme and complements it with questions, prayer forms, spiritual practices and further reading. It’s recommended for individuals, adult study groups and group retreats on transformative spirituality. In the chapter on “Slow Down,” for example, Clarke
discusses how we can reign in the busyness and rest- lessness that drains us and takes our focus off God’s presence. In questions, he asks, “Is it enough for me to just be?” and “What will satisfy me?” In prayer forms, he suggests a “looking back” on the whole day and the use of the Jesus Prayer. For spiritual practices, he counsels readers to try a siesta, tai chi, sabbath rest, mindfulness and a contemplative talk. There are 18 chapters in all, including ones on solitude, saints, ser- vice, sexuality, stillness, surrender and signs of holiness. Clarke makes a good case for a soul-centered spiritual- ity, which is both grounded and practice-oriented (Pau- list Press,
www.paulistpress.com).
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