belongings

My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging
$16.00
The title of the book, "My Grandather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging" says it all. The author, in relating what she learned, gleaned, absorbed from her Grandfather and translated those learnings, those blessings into her own life opens doors, essential doors, into the life of the individual who is reading the book. Dr. Remen explores some of the deep, basic needs of life, needs that are often not realized, glossed over and not realizing their significance in living life abundantly. Blessings are given a new meaning and the importance, the vitality of both giving and receiving. Intentional living comes to mind.

Belonging
$19.98
Brenda Blethyn's understated performance is amazing as a woman who goes through the shocking ordeal of being unexpectedly abandoned by her husband when it seemed the marriage was idyllic. The emotions she goes through, from the initial confusion when her husband doesn't return home one night, to the worry over the next couple of days, to the shock when told he was seen with another woman, to the anger and grief when he confesses to her...and then to eventual acceptance at the end is all very convincing from this great actress. As her husband leaves her to care for HIS three aging relatives (mother, great-aunt and cousin)she does it all without the slightest complaint...in fact it's something she's always enjoyed doing, but the fact that she's now given no choice in the matter adds to her turmoil of emotions. Through it all, she handles everything with a grace and dignity that not many people would be capable of, even going as far as having her husband, his younger girlfriend and her two children over for tea. There are several interesting scenes that indicate she's at least thought of some alternatives ways of dealing with everything...thoughts of getting rid of the "oldies" as they're called, and even thoughts of suicide. But, as most of us would do, she presses on day by day, waiting to see if she'll ever be able to accept and move on. This was a simple and understated film that's definitely worth a couple of hours of your time.

Walking Between Worlds, Belonging to None - The Ann Andrews Story
$19.95
I thought the content was fascinating. However, all that loud noise at the beginning of each DVD produced by the company is irritating and unnecessary. It was "home movie" quality and I had difficulty hearing what was said. I recommend this just for the content. Maybe reading the book would be a better choice though.

The Perils of Belonging: Autochthony, Citizenship, and Exclusion in Africa and Europe
$22.00
Despite being told that we now live in a cosmopolitan world, more and more people have begun to assert their identities in ways that are deeply rooted in the local. These claims of autochthony?meaning ¡Èborn from the soil¡É?seek to establish an irrefutable, primordial right to belong and are often employed in politically charged attempts to exclude outsiders. In The Perils of Belonging, Peter Geschiere traces the concept of autochthony back to the classical period and incisively explores the idea in two very different contexts: Cameroon and the Netherlands.??????????? In both countries, the momentous economic and political changes following the end of the cold war fostered anxiety over migration. For Cameroonians, the question of who belongs where rises to the fore in political struggles between different tribes, while the Dutch invoke autochthony in fierce debates over the integration of immigrants. This fascinating comparative perspective allows Geschiere to examine the emotional appeal of autochthony?as well as its dubious historical basis?and to shed light on a range of important issues, such as multiculturalism, national citizenship, and migration.