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Tag: Martin McDonagh

Gilbert K. Chesterton, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, In Bruges, Island Hopper TV, and an Irish Proverb

Gilbert K. Chesterton, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, In Bruges, Island Hopper TV, and an Irish Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 21, 2024

Sunday Supplement #167 (July 21st, 2024)

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.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“The traveler sees what he sees; the tourist sees what he has come to see.”

– Gilbert K. Chesterton

Book of the Week:

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – John Le Carré

David John Moore Cornwell, better known by his pen name John Le Carré, worked for the United Kingdom’s MI5 and MI6 in the 1950s and 19060s.

Le Carré’s novel career began in the 1960s, and he reached international acclaim with his third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

The novel covers shadowy dealings of international espionage through the story of a British agent who wants to retire but undertakes one final assignment, playing the part of a dishonored spy to lure the East German Intelligence to an ultimate defeat.

I’ve featured another spy novel, Ian Fleming’s Moonraker, in Sunday Supplement #60. While I enjoy the Bond novels, Le Carré’s writing has a more realistic take on the spy genre.

However, I’d recommend both novels for those interested in testing the waters of two classic novelists. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is one of my favorites of Le Carré.

Movie of the Week:

In Bruges

Playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh has received six Academy Award nominations for three feature films and won an Oscar for his short film Six Shooter in 2006.

McDonagh’s first feature film, In Bruges (2009), is about a hitman and his partner hiding out in Bruges, Belgium, after a botched job.

Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson star in the offbeat dark comedy. Ralph Fiennes, Jordan Prentice, and Clémence Poésy have great supporting roles.

The film is engaging and quirky, but it also has an interesting depth when the two main characters explore the medieval city and engage in odd philosophical discussions.

In Bruges might not be for everyone, but I’ve found it a movie I’ve enjoyed over the years and recommend at least checking it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

Best Budget Travel Destinations in the World 2024 | Island Hopper TV

Island Hopper TV is a travel channel dedicated to providing relevant travel information and adventures worldwide. Their mission is to bring you closer to the people, cultures, and nature that make each destination unique.

This video from their channel discusses 17 different countries you can travel to, with breakdowns of the US dollar to local currency and expected conversions for food/accommodations.

I think some of the biggest barriers to travel are fearing you won’t have the means, you will run into trouble, or you won’t be able to navigate a foreign country.

This channel does a great job of providing information that helps on all fronts. And a lesson I learned from my brother is to set travel plans as far in advance as possible to ensure cheaper travel/accommodations. 

Take a look at Island Hopper TV and see if you find a video that inspires you to travel!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.”

– Irish Proverb

I haven’t featured an Irish Proverb before in a Sunday Supplement, but this one stuck out to me, and I thought it was worth sharing.

The sentiment of the proverb can be positive or negative, depending on how you view it. I think it is a reminder to understand your heart and be aware of your emotions.

If you lose control of yourself, you may find your path dictated by outside influences. Awareness, reflection, and understanding will help you navigate your adventure.

Travel with an observing and full heart, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Marcel Proust, Tigana, The Banshees of Inisherin, Richard Reeves, and a Bhagavad Gita Verse

Marcel Proust, Tigana, The Banshees of Inisherin, Richard Reeves, and a Bhagavad Gita Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 25, 2023

Sunday Supplement #111 (June 25th, 2023)

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.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

– Marcel Proust

Book of the Week:

Tigana – Guy Gavriel Kay

Guy Gavriel Kay provides a grand epic of magic, politics, friendship, war, and the power of love and hate in his 600-page fantasy standalone novel.

The book follows the history of a land on a planet orbited by two moons. The story takes place on the Peninsula of the Palm, which like medieval Italy, comprises provinces with a shared culture and language.

Two powerful sorcerers control the land, and one casts a curse over it, which removes the name and history of part of the land from the people’s minds.

Only those born before the curse remember Tigana, and a group of rebels aim to free the land from the grips of the sorcerer.

I’m a huge fantasy genre fan, but I don’t always like to read a series that the genre tends to gear toward. This solo novel offers an excellent and complete story worth checking out.

Movie of the Week:

The Banshees of Inisherin

Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin didn’t do well at the box office but received nine Academy Award nominations.

The film follows two lifelong friends who find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for them both.

Colin Farrell, Brendon Gleeson, Kerry Condon, and Barry Keoghan star in this excellent film that explores the purpose of life, friendship, and critiques the history of Ireland.

The Banshees of Inisherin isn’t a movie you should throw on if you’re looking for a popcorn flick to pass the time.

If you give it a chance, look at the movie’s themes and how they provide us with a story that allows us to reflect on how we live our lives.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Friendship Recession | Richard Reeves | Big Think

Richard Reeves is a British American writer, scholar and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

In this video, he opens with the comment that some studies suggest that being without a close friend, being lonely, is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Richard Reeves goes on to explain the friendship recession we’re in, the value of friendships, and what we’re losing if we don’t cultivate meaningful friendships.

The video is an intriguing look at how significant a role friendships play in our lives and how one of the hardest things we can admit is that we need a friend.

Big Think is the channel that hosts the video. They are a leading source of expert-driven, actionable, and educational content. Check out their other videos if you liked this one.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Let a man lift himself by his own Self alone, and not let him lower himself; for, this Self alone is the friend of oneself, and this Self is the enemy of oneself.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:5

I’ve picked this verse from the Bhagavad Gita in a post about friendship because I believe we are responsible for cultivating our worlds.

This passage highlights how we can be our own best friend or worst enemy. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have friends, but we can be the ones that prevent that from happening.

Friendship is a crucial part of our lives, but it is up to us to cultivate an environment where we allow friendships to flourish.

Sometimes we must work on ourselves first to allow space for those around us to come into our lives.

Be grateful for your friends, nourish those friendships, and have a blessed week ahead!

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