Author Archives: davetcourt

Reading Journal 2024: The God of Endings Author: Jacqueline Holland Didn’t love the non-linear approach, but for every moment I found myself wavering there was an encounter with a page, a plot turn, a section, a conversation that grabbed me and pulled me right back in. It is those moments of beautiful and inspired proseContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: The God of Endings”

Film Journal 2024: Suncoast Directed by Laura Chinn Totally my descriptive, not the films, but dang it if this thing didn’t quietly stake its claim for me as one of the best “faith” based films I’ve seen in a long while. Raw, vulnerable, uncensored, and real. Unafraid to bring nuance and empathy to a complex Continue reading “Film Journal 2024: Suncoast”

Film Journal 2024: Sometimes I Think About Dying Directed by Rachel Lambert “Its tough, you know, being a person.” “The more I think about the movie, the more I like it.” If the overall execution of this film is uneven and disjointed at times, which is definitely felt in the films deliberate pacing early on,Continue reading “Film Journal 2024: Sometimes I Think About Dying”

Reading Journal 2024: Everybody Come Alive: A Memoir in EssaysAuthor: Marcie Alvis Walker Walker writes with a careful hand of someone with experience. Someone for whom these experiences shaped a perspectives on what, as she says, it means for her to be a woman, to be black, and to be holy in this world AContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Everybody Come Alive: A Memoir in Essays”

Film Journal 2024: Argylle Directed by Matthew Vaughn Where to watch: now playing in theaters Seems to find this strangely and somewhat ambiguous soft spot between being even more over the top than it actually is, which would have been one option the filmmakers could have taken, and trying to play this thing pared backContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Argylle”

Reading Journal 2024: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unaologetic WorldAuthor: Danya Ruttenberg Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, a celebrated and award winning author, scholar, activist, and thinker, tackles the tough subject of repentance and reconciliation in her book, On Repentance and Repair, using the philosophy of Maimonides as her guide. She moves seamlessly betweenContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unaologetic World”

Film Journal 2024: Four DaughtersDirected by Kaouther Ben Hania Where to watch: now playing at cinematheque Four Daughters is a unique docu-drama that blends the documentary elements in an unconventional way. It’s a bit isolating at first as I tried to gain my bearings, but once I found the rhythm I was able to understandContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: Four Daughters”

Reading Journal 2024: Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case For Good ApologiesAuthors: Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy A quick overview of my experience with this exhaustive guide to and study of the art of good (and bad) apologies:There are portions that are incredibly insightful There are a few sections that will be necessary to have accessible,Continue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Sorry, Sorry, Sorry: The Case For Good Apologies”

Film Journal 2024: All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt Directed by Raven Jackson Where to watch: available on VOD “An ode to connection — with loved ones and with place.” This descriptive from the official synopsis perfectly captures the spirit of this film. It’s a series of moments, captured as memories, strung together in theContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt”

Reading Journal 2024: The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee Author: Marja Mills Nothing sullies a reading experience like being made aware of controversies after you finish the book. In this case, the controversy stems from a statement, issued in Lee’s name, saying that she was not made aware of this book before itsContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: The Mockingbird Next Door: Life With Harper Lee”