Tate Britain

I've always insisted that I don't have a natural bent for art. I admit that I just don't get it. And I'm okay with that.


Last weekend, I decided that I would go by Tate Britain for a visit for two reasons:
1. I didn't particularly like Tate Modern, so Tate Britain would have to be an improvement, right?
2. It's free : )


So when I stepped inside the first gallery, I wasn't prepared to love it as much as I did.



Here are my faves:

"April Love" (1855-6) by Arthur Hughes


The colours were absolutely, divinely rich. Shades of purples and green accents...I could eat it : )

"The Bath of Psyche" (1890) by Frederic, Lord Leighton

By just setting eyes on it, I knew this had to be the mythical Psyche from Roman rhetoric...and not from remembering world history from ninth grade. Having read CS Lewis' Til We Have Faces this past summer, I suppose Lewis just described the scene so well that it just clicked when I saw this painting.

"Broken Vows" (1856) by Philip Hermogenes Calderon

I was impressed by the way the mood was captured in the subject's posture and expression. ...Uh oh, I'm sounding like those art people whom I always secretly mock : (

Anyway, this scene looked so painful that I had sympathy pangs.

Book List

Boring, I know. But they have always been good friends to me. Here are the recent pals I've commuted to work with each day:

Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge - Its infamy reached me back home, before I ever found it here in London on the little bookshelf at church. I was strongly urged to read this, as it's the "woman version" of Wild at Heart, a Christian book about manhood. I was a bit disappointed in the writing style, as well as the content and grounding in Biblical reference.

Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey - A British friend, upon seeing me with this book, told me that the devil uses "Christian books" for mischief in the minds of Christians who read them...well, religiously. This friend asked, "Tell me, have you ever been dramatically changed by a Christian book?" Now - if it can be said about any book - I'd have to say that this one in particular gave me a lot to think about. I think something has changed in my perspective on prayer...and God himself. I don't know that it's any better or worse - but different.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen - An oldie, but a goodie. Highly amusing as well as tiresome from the start due to Austen's use of humour / satire. It was interesting to see her development as an author, having read Persuasion not long ago.

PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern - My current companion. Was handed this book even before finishing the last pages of Northanger Abbey. One of my co-workers who concentrated on Irish studies for her MA tells me that this is the Irish literary scandal - Ahern is the daughter of the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, a big reason why she was able to be published and made into a major motion picture. Let's be real: Not well-penned in the sense of writing style, but the author is a good storyteller.
*Haven't cried yet. Of course, I do have a heart of stone : )

Ramadan

Several weeks ago, at the church service I've been attending, we had an Islamic teacher come and dialogue about beliefs and misconceptions. I had forgotten so much about what I had learned in high school about the Muslim faith and the Pillars, etc. that I was no use for intelligent discussion or even questions.

And we are now in the midst of Ramadan month, a period when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Last night, I had planned on heading out to church like many a Sunday. At the last minute, I got word that a couple people from the church were invited to break fast in the evening with a Muslim family and would I like to come along?

Answer: With bells on!

It was a new experience for me to have the hospitality of a Muslim family during Ramadan, or at any time for that matter. An interesting part was that the lady of the house, who had prepared the entire meal, was a Frenchwoman who had been raised in the south of France in a Catholic home and school environment, but had converted to Islam only a couple years ago.

The evening did dip into deeper conversation as we asked questions and answered their queries on what we thought about subjects like prayer and interacting with people of different beliefs. Our hostess explained that she believed that we are all (as in everyone in the world) Muslim, but some people learn more slowly.

The family also said that there were 3 kinds of people: believers, non-believers and hypocrites. And this launched us into a discussion on our own ability (or lack thereof) to judge others.

I really didn't have much intelligence to contribute to the conversation - but I was content to listen and learn.

Recently Read

I found my new favourite Austen! I so empathise with her main character, Anne Elliot, in Persuasion that I absolutely devoured this book whilst on the Tube this week.

The first (and last) time I rented the film adaptation, I fell asleep. Maybe I'll give it another try?

I've taken down a page-full of quotes from this novel (go ahead and judge me), but here's just one:
“‘Surely, if there be constant attachment on each side, our hearts must understand each other ere long. We are not boy and girl, to be captiously irritable, misled by every moment’s inadvertence, and wantonly playing with our own happiness.’” --Anne Elliot

My next book will not be from the ChickLit genre so as to set my feet back on the ground & give my mind a good cleansing : )