We finally heard from our extended family. They all fled Biloxi successfully, ending up in Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. I grew up hearing stories from them about Hurricane Camille; Katrina will undoubtedly overshadow it in the collective memory. Home of Barq's root beer and eccentric potter George Ohr, Cajun Catholics and Vietnamese Buddhists, filé gumbo and oyster po-boys, Southern drawls and the odd Brooklynesque coastal accent--I'd hate to see the town wiped off the map.

The Lewis class is going okay. The students were quite talkative the first day, when we discussed Surprised by Joy, but they seemed to be struggling on Thursday with Lewis' argument against naturalism in Miracles. One problem I have in preparing for the class is that most of the secondary literature of Lewis is written by unabashed Lewis fans and so is insufficiently critical. Sad to say, a lot of the most thoughtful Lewis commentary is on websites like Secular Web.

I borrowed the Anglican Breviary thru ILL and am giving it a trial run before springing for my own copy. Obviously my work schedule precludes me spreading out the hours throughout the day, so I clump them together thus:

Before work: Lauds, Prime
Lunch: Terce, Sext, None
Evening: Vespers
Night: Compline, Matins

If it weren't already taken, I should have named my blog "Library Monk."

Latest Viewing:

• Ray Muller, The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (1993)--Three hours of interviews and footage. Riefenstahl gets occasionally testy, whether in responding to questions about her association with the Nazis or in telling director Muller how to do his job. Generally, though, she is cooperative, informative, and enthusiastic, especially in giving technical commentary on the production of her movies. B+
  
  
• Yann Samuell, Love Me If You Dare (2003)--This weird French romantic drama was obviously made post-Amelie--heck, there's even an antique tin box at the center of the plot. But whereas Amelie was whimsical and charming, Samuell's film manages to be both hokey and disturbing. C
  
  
• Satyajit Ray, The Big City (1963)--Wife of an underemployed banker takes a job as a saleswoman, much to the consternation of her conservative in-laws. Recommended for Indophiles. B
  
  
• Oliver Hirschbiegel, Downfall (2004)--Last days in Hitler's bunker, based on the memoirs of his secretary. Avoid if you can't tolerate to see Nazis portrayed as human beings. B+