Sunday Supplement #4 (June 6th, 2021)
Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.
I hope you take something away from this post that enriches your week ahead!
Quote of the Week:
“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Book of the Week:
Eyes of the Dragon – Stephen King
Eyes of the Dragon takes place in the medieval setting of Delain. The kingdom mourns the death of their king, who was murdered in strange circumstances. An evil wizard plots to see the king’s son, Peter, imprisoned for his father’s murder, which would put Peter’s irresolute younger brother in line for the throne. Peter is the only one who knows the truth, and only he can save Delain from the evil wizard’s plans.
On the cover jacket of the 1st edition, King stated, “Although I had written thirteen novels by the time my daughter had attained an equal number of years, she hadn’t read any of them. She’s made it clear that she loves me but has very little interest in my vampires, ghouls, and slushy crawling things.” He goes on to assure readers that it wasn’t a children’s book either— “I respected my daughter enough then – and now – to try and give her my best… and that includes a refusal to ‘talk down.’ Or put another way, I did her the courtesy of writing for myself as well as for her.”
The book wasn’t well-received by King’s following at the time, though. A few years later, he wrote Misery. Interestingly, Misery’s plot follows an author who tries to break free from his typecast by killing off the main character of his popular Romance series, only to be later taken captive by a deranged fan and forced to write another book in the series. I always thought Misery was a subtle (or not so subtle) jab at his followers for the reception of Eyes of the Dragon.
Stephen King is often unfairly labeled as just a horror author. There are actually many of his books that disprove this typecast. I didn’t read King for a long time because I didn’t like horror. However, I’m glad I gave his books a chance. There’s a reason he’s one of the most famous authors alive. And I believe there is a King book out there for everyone. Eyes of the Dragon is one for those who are fans of Fantasy.
Movie of the Week:
The 2004 Drama/Thriller follows a cab driver grinding out shifts to make enough money for his own limo company. The audience is introduced to the driver, Max, and sees a pleasant exchange between him and a fare, Annie. His next fare turns out to be a contract killer, Vincent. Over the course of the night, Vincent forces Max to escort him to and from each of his hits. All of the dots end up connecting.
Jamie Foxx plays the cab driver, and Tom Cruise plays the contract killer. Both excel in their roles and drive the movie forward with captivating performances. Jada Pinkett Smith and Mark Ruffalo hold their own with significantly less screen time, and brilliant cameos from Javier Bardem and Barry Shabaka Henley round out the top-class acting.
The screenplay is a perfect puzzle with no extra pieces. And each piece is a crucial element to the overall story. Director, Michael Mann, put the actors through the paces to bring the story to life. Months of prep work went into the character building, which only shows on the screen in the flow of the acting, but it was crucial for bringing out the intensity of the movie. The detail that went into creating the film’s world can be seen on the DVD extras in the making of the film.
*If you want to see how months went into choreography, character building, scene prep, camera work, art direction, and the score of the film, check out the link— it gives a stunning inside look into how much work can go into the making of a movie.
Collateral has so much depth from a simple story because of the original script by Stuart Beattie. That framework allowed everyone involved to bring their expertise and talents to the table, which resulted in the powerful final product. The movie’s competence and quality in all departments are what makes it last in the annals of film history. It is certainly worth checking out for a future movie night.
Brainfood of the Week:
“Cognitive Distortions: 10 Examples of Distorted Thinking” – Healthline.com article
Cognitive distortions are thought patterns that promote inaccurate, usually negative, ways to view reality.
– Failing when trying something for the first time and assuming that you’re not good at it or that it’s not for you.
– Being able to cheer others’ accomplishments but not your own— Viewing what you did as not great and being subjectively negative about achievements.
These are examples of cognitive distortions. They can occur as random thoughts or when you’re tired and stressed. But they can become habits if done often, which results in increased anxiety, depression, and difficulty interacting with others.
The Healthline.com article discusses the types of cognitive distortions, where they come from, and how you can change them. It is a useful article to review and can be a valuable tool for understanding these types of behavior.
Whether cognitive distortions are something you experience or are something you see in the actions of others, being able to identify them is extremely helpful in recognizing and breaking out of the negative viewpoint.
Closing Prayer/Passage:
“Do not be led by others, awaken your own mind, amass your own experience, and decide for yourself your own path.”
– Atharva Veda
Something I’ve worked on over the past year is being present and being able to speak up and advocate for myself. It’s still a work in progress, but I believe listening to your heart is crucial in living your best life.
That doesn’t mean I’m always right, but it’s a good compass to go by, and I hope to always learn from my mistakes.
Have a blessed week ahead, and listen to your heart!
*P.S. My apologies to anyone who filled out a contact form on the Contact tab. There was an issue with the programming, and I did not receive your message. I have fixed the problem, and I will now be able to receive messages.
Another enjoyable post!
I read Stephen King’s book On Writing, but always thought of him as a horror author and avoided his fiction like the plague. But I LOVE fantasy! Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to check it out! I know he is gifted and was always sad to think I wouldn’t enjoy his books because of the content. I look forward to giving him a try! Thanks!
Thanks, Brandy! I’m glad this post hit for you. Let me know what you think!
Hello, Drew, I look forward to your posts each week – so very proud of you!!
Stephen King is so much more than a horror writer. No doubt, the “scary” is there; however, while concentrating on the spooky, many might miss some underlying themes. For example, he really “gets” kids – how they think, relate, relate. The Stand is a wonderful example.
Closing Passage:
Speaking up and advocating for yourself can be difficult. Somehow, my youngest grandson has this ability in spades (no idea where this comes from!). He researches his point, proposes other facts, etc.
Keep up the GREAT work!!
I love the point you made about the underlying themes in King’s work! I agree with how he depicts kids, and I think his characters, in general, are extremely well written. Cujo is the example I use for a simple concept that had much depth due to his writing and the story he decided to tell.
That’s awesome to hear about your grandson! That’s a great base to build while you’re young.
And thank you for the kind words, Mrs. Roderick!