Book Review

A Saint, More or Less
by Henry Grunwald

For a non-religious person, I seem to read plenty of books about religion. This novel is a fictionalized account of Barbe Acarie and Nicole Tavernier, two women in late 16th century Paris who were both highly regarded and even venerated religious figures. However, while Barbe Acarie was later beatified, Nicole Tavernier was eventually reagrded as a fraud, and was even exorcised as a victim of diabolical possession. Grunwald uses their stories and their relationship to explore issues surrounding faith and sainthood. Despite the weighty questions addressed, Grunwald is not at all confrontational about the issues. He asks the questions, but doesn't try to convince the reader to adopt specific answers.

General Updates

I might have had more tolerance for this kind of heat if it had come back in June or July. But at the end of August, I am looking forward to crisp days and nights cool enough to snuggle under a comforter. I am not yearning for just a few more days of 90 degree heat and humidity. Especially when I have an ear infection with symptoms best relived by drinking hot liquids and applying warm washcloths to the side of my face. At least the antibiotics are working fast.

I have an acupuncture appointment tomorrow. I hope the acupuncturist has AC.

Other Kenjari and I went to the Lord of the Rings exhibition at the Museum of Science yesterday. It's wicked cool. The only bad thing was that it was very crowded.
We also went to see Hero. We have a DVD of it already and have watched it plenty of times, but it's one of those films that really should be seen on the big screen. It is possibly the most beautifully filmed martial arts movie ever made. It's breathtaking.