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Archive for the ‘14 Book Corner’ Category

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Era of Christendom Reading

In 14 Book Corner on 2011/04/17 at 12:06 AM

Costain,Thomas THE SILVER CHALICE (Medieval times)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undset, Sigrid KRISTIN LAVENRSDATTER TRILOGY: Bridal Wreath, Mistress of Husaby, the Cross (Set in medieval Norway, deals with the three stages of Kristin Laversdatter who married Erlend Nikaulausson by whom she had seven sons, ending withthe days of the Black Plague.)

Follett, Ken PILLARS OF THE EARTH (Set in 12th century England during cathedral building time)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dante DIVINE COMEDY (Hell, Purgatory, Heaven)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walsh, James THIRTEENTH, GREATEST OF CENTURIES Age of Christendom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuchman, Barbara DISTANT MIRROR: THE CALAMITOUS FOURTEENTH CENTURY (Time of Hundred Years' War, the Black Death, Peasants' Revolt.)

 

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Early Church History Reading

In 14 Book Corner on 2011/04/16 at 11:39 PM
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Wallace, Lew BEN HUR; A Tale of Christ (Roman Galley slave's conversion)

Sienkiewicz, Henryk QUO VADIS (St. Peter in Nero's Rome)

The Last Days of Pompeii

Bulwer-Lytton, Baron Edward LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (Eruption of Vesuvius 79 AD)

Caldwell, Taylor DEAR PHYSICIAN AND GLORIOUS PHYSICIAN (St. Luke)

CALLISTA: A Sketch of The Third Century

Newman, Cardinal John Henry CALLISTA (St.Cyprian)

Fabiola, or the Church of the Catacombs (Reprint of 1854 publication in the Popular Catholic Library series)

Weisman, Cardinal Nicolas FABIOLA

Rivers, Francine MARK OF THE LION TRILOGY: Voice in the Wind, Echo in Darkness, As Sure as Dawn (Starts with Fall of Jerusalem through to Roman Empire's expansion into barbarian lands).

CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE (autobio; last days of Roman Empire)

Augustine CITY OF GOD Fall of Rome

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Song For Nagasaki

In 14 Book Corner on 2011/04/11 at 12:09 PM

Today, as Japan again faces a crisis of unprecedented proportions, I would highly recommend SONG FOR NAGASAKI by Paul Glynn.  It will give you an understanding of Japan like no other book has done before.  It will help you cope with present realities.  The powerful spiritual waves emitted by this saintly man of God will reverberate through your life.  This nuclear scientist’s message of hope and trust in God was so powerful that he has become the unofficial patron saint of Japan.

When the bed-ridden Takashi Nagai wrote THE BELLS OF NAGASAKI, it consoled the Japanese people and gave them hope after the tragedy of their atomic holocaust. Even Emperor Hirohito went to see him, and the Japanese people still venerate Takaski Nagai as a saint.

SONG FOR NAGASAKI is a biography of this saintly scientist, convert, and survivor of the atomic bomb.

Here follows an excerpt  from  Shusaku Endo’s Foreword to the SONG FOR NAGASAKI :

“Christians and non-Christians alike were deeply moved by Nagai’s faith in Christ that made him like Job of the Scriptures: in the midst of the nuclear wilderness he kept his heart in tranquillity and peace, neither bearing resentment against any man nor cursing God.”

 

http://www.ignatius.com/Products/SNAG-P/a-song-for-nagasaki.aspx

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Guardini, Romano THE LORD

In 14 Book Corner on 2011/04/04 at 12:48 AM

Guardini, Romano THE LORD.  Regnery Publishing, Inc.  1996.

In the introduction by Cardinal Ratzinger,  now Pope Benedict XVI states: “Romano Guardini’s book THE LORD has helped more than one generation of Christians to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.  When the book first appeared, it offered a new approach to the spiritual interpretation of Scripture for which young people in particular longed: a longing, I might add, which is being felt again in our own day.”

The author of this blog adds: In a sense, Msgr. Guardini’s writings are like meditations. Each will leave the reader with a life-altering perspective.  All  also are replete with verbal imagery in elegant spiritual prose.  One beautiful example: “Jesus looms like a rescuing cliff above the tides of human suffering.” Another: “Christ dissolves man’s own injustice in the divine solvent of genuine pardon.”

I read the book when it first came out in 1954, have re-read it twice since  and will read it again.

/www.amazon.com/Lord-Romano-Guardini/dp/0895267144/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307417186&sr=8-1

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The Agatha Idea

In 14 Book Corner on 2011/04/03 at 12:56 AM

Agatha Christi AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

If you wish to learn logic, here is a good activity for young and not so young.

Read any Agatha Christie, but I would recommend starting with “And Then There Were None”

1. As you read and find the first person you think that did it, write that name down.

2. As you find evidence that exonerates that person, write what the reason is for exonerating him or her.

3. When you find evidence that contradicts that exoneration, write what that evidence is.

And do these three points for every suspect you get. (You will find you have quite a list).

It is fun being de-railed by “red herrings” and then getting back on the “scent”.

Agatha Christie wrote over a hundred books which have been translated into all major languages.  I have read & re-read them all.  The story line of each book is more interesting and challenging than the sappy version now being mangled by TV versions that would irritate Agatha.

Here is an excerpt from the first reply I received:

My niece is an avid reader and an honors English student.  I shared your idea about reading an Agatha Christie novel and capturing the “who-done-it,” the why and what clues change the “prognosis.”  We tossed around the idea of selecting a Christie novel together to read over spring or summer break and plan to follow the steps you outlined.  She liked the idea.  I suspect my other niece, 12, might also like to join in.

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Color Combination for Watercolor Painting

In 14 Book Corner on 2011/04/02 at 5:36 PM

Here is an excellent guide to color combinations for watercolors.

Recommended  by Rose Margaret Braiden, Santa Barbara Los Padres Watercolor Society founder.  She is in Who’s Who in American Art and Who’s Who in American Women.

REGULAR ORANGE
Rose Madder Genuine
Aureolin Yellow

INTENSE ORANGE
Aureolin Yellow
Rose Madder Genuine

ORANGY ORANGE
Winsor Yellow
Winsor Red

BRILLIANT ORANGE
Winsor Red
Winsor Yellow

(Note that these last two use the same color, but in different order.)

DIRT
Burnt Sienna

COOL VIOLET
Cobalt Blue
Rose Madder Genuine

INTENSE (REDDISH) VIOLET
Alizerin Crimson
French Ultramarine

INTENSE (PURPLISH) VIOLET
Cobalt Blue
Rose Madder Genuine

BLACKISH VIOLET
Cobalt Blue
Indian Red

GRAYED VIOLET
Winsor Blue
Winsor Red

BLACK
Winsor Blue
Hooker’s Green
Alizerin Crimson
Burnt Sienna
Or
French Ultramire
Burnt Sienna
Alizerin Crimson

BROWNISH RED
Cadmium Yellow
French Ultramarine
Cadmium Red
Or
Yellow Ochre
Indian Red

EARTHY BROWN
Cobalt Blue
Viridian

NATURAL BROWN
Indian Red

RIVERBANK
Burnt Sienna
Winsor Blue
(foreground)
Burnt Sienna
Winsor Blue

AUTUMN TREES
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Yellow or Cadmium Orange
Burnt Sienna (suggests dying grasses)

WINDOW LIGHT/NIGHT EMISSION
Cadmium Yellow (saturate it)
DAY EMISSION
Winsor Blue
Burnt Sienna

SUNLIGHT
Alizerin Yellow (glazes)

FOLDS
Cobalt Blue
Rose Madder Genuine  for lavenderish result
If Brunt Sienna added, peak dark

GLAZING

GLAZES ARE:
AUREOLIN YELLOW
OR
ROSE MADDER GENUINE
OR
COBALT BLUE

Equal amounts of
Alizerin Crimson
Rose Madder Genuine
+ . Cobalt Blue
= orangy glaze

Equal amounts of
Cobalt Blue
Rose Madder Genuine
+ . Aurelolin Yellow
= purplish glaze

Equal amounts of
Aureolin Yellow
Cobalt Blue
+ . Rose Madder Genuine
= greenish glaze


Historical Quote

In 14 Book Corner on 2011/03/26 at 6:02 PM

A historian is made by reading.