Skip to main content

Friday Five: Comfort Media

The Friday Five suggestion comes from here.

Katherinenzj writes:

Friday, October 29, 2010

Revgalblogpal Friday Five: Comfort Media Edition


I don't get to watch that much tv anymore, but I actually wrote today's Oprah show down on my calendar. Why? Because she is hosting a Sound of Music cast reunion!!! Those of you who know me may be surprised that I would care so much about such a stereotypically girly flick, but I love it (although admittedly fast forward through the Reverend Mother's rendition of Climb Every Mountain). I can watch this movie over and over and over again.

It seems no matter how many new movies, tv shows or books come down the pike I still have my ol' stand by favorites that I can watch/read over and over and when I do they actually bring me comfort - like an old sweatshirt or a favorite food.

Today's Friday Five is an opportunity for you to list five of your favorite 'go-to' movies/tv shows/books.


This is an interesting Friday Five for me because I just went, with my mom, to a Sound of Music sing-along. Revisiting that movie was interesting, but less comforting this time in seeing in newly re-digitized, big screen color. Suddenly the love story seemed less obvious and the national troubles in the background took more of my attention. On to my comfort media:

1. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving) This story of a boy who knows exactly when he will die and thinks he knows never fails to evoke something new and deep in me. The theological, psychological, sociological, illogical aspects of this book all conspire to keep me from sleeping until I've finished it. Again.

2. A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson) Bryson's dry wit and self-deprecating humor make me smile. This is my apple-pie of books. I know exactly what it will be and I like it like that.

3. Little Women (1994) Ah, Gabriel Byrne- making Professor Bhaer hot for 16 years and counting. Love this soundtrack, casting, costumes, everything. I could never love anyone as I love my sister... or anything as I love this movie.

4. Mamma Mia (2008) Honey, honey, how it thrills me. (Uh-hunh, uh-hunh) You may think the plot is lame, the singing weak and the whole venue beneath Meryl Streep, but when it comes to feel-good movies, this tops my list. The fact that I can sing along... well, that's just a bonus. The great Greek scenery- a little whipped cream. A chorus of toned and tanned men in Speedos and flippers- the cherry on top!

5. Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs (Barry) I'm giggling even thinking about it. I cannot fail to read this book without tears coming to my eyes from squelched laughter. I even have funny memories around reading this book, including the time I read it in sushi bar and the three sushi chefs sang "Knock Three Times" to me.

Bonus: Come Ye Disconsolate (my comfort hymn) I think the title says it all.

And your five?

Comments

kathrynzj said…
I felt so guilty for how much I enjoyed Mamma Mia.

Thanks for playing!
October 29, 2010 at 8:35 PM
Wendy said…
I do love Gabriel Byrnes' professor. Be still my heart.
October 29, 2010 at 10:18 PM
Teri said…
Embrace the Mamma Mia love--it's fantastic!

excellent list!
October 30, 2010 at 8:24 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Best (Sermon)

Pentecost 15 (Year A)  Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Psalm 15; James 1:17-27;  Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 I recently read a novel set in a post-pandemic, apocalyptic world. In the book, people were working to re-establish pockets of society. A traveling symphony moved from town to town in caravans- performing music and works of Shakespeare. Early in their travels, they had tried other plays, but people only wanted to see Shakespearean works. One of the symphony members commented on the desire for Shakespeare, "People want what was best about the world." As I read and since I finished the book, I kept thinking about that phrase.  People want what was best about the world. People want what was best about the world. That is true even when we’re not in a cataclysmic re-working of what we’ve always known. The very idea of nostalgia, of longing for what once was, is about wanting what was best about the world or what seemed like the best to us. One of the massive tension...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Reign of Christ and the Long Defeat

At one point in The Lord of the Rings, the royal elf Galadriel describes her life and experience and says, “… we have fought the long defeat.” Galadriel, like other elves and the Hobbits and many others, is depicted as being on the right side of things in the books. The Company of the Ring (the Fellowship) wins and defeats the forces of evil. Why would she consider this a “long defeat”?  Furthermore, why would J.R.R. Tolkien, the author, apply the same term to himself. He wrote in a letter, “Actually, I am a Christian, and indeed a Roman Catholic, so that I do not expect ‘history’ to be anything but a 'long defeat’ – though it contains (and in a legend may contain more clearly and movingly) some samples or glimpses of final victory.” (Letter #195) Tolkien, a Brit, fought in World War 1. Though he was on the side that “won”, he saw the devastation following the war on all sides- how the “winners” struggled with what they had seen and done and how the “losers” were galvanized to see ...
2 comments
Read more

I'm In

A few weeks ago ,  I was using voice-to-text to compose some prayers. After I was finished speaking the whole list, I was proof-reading the document and   realized that everywhere I said “Amen”, the voice-to-text wrote “I’m in”. “Amen” essentially means  “may it be so”,  but what would it look like to end our prayers with “I’m in”. What would change if we rose from our knees, left our prayer closets, closed our devotionals, and moved with purpose toward the goals for which we had just prayed.  Lord, in your mercy:  Grant justice to the oppressed and disenfranchised (I’m in) Cast down the mighty from their thrones (I’m in)  Console the grieving and welcome the prodigal (I’m in)  Welcome strangers and attend to the marginalized (I’m in)  Grant the space for the silenced to speak… and listen (I’m in)  Fill the hungry with good things and send the rich away empty (I’m in)  Forgive others as I am forgiven (I’m in) Be merciful as God in h...
Post a Comment
Read more