Short and sweet tonight.
First, if you are in the Philadelphia area, the Frida Kahlo exhibit that was in Minneapolis over the winter is at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Go see it is you can. The last day is May 18th and then it is off to San Francisco. The exhibit is breathtaking. I have never felt so emotional while viewing paintings before. And in case you are wondering why you should see the exhibit, or can’t go but wish you could, there is a great write up about in the New York Review of Book.s
Have you seen the Ecojustice08 Challenge? It’s not a reading challenge, it’s a self-challenge. Challenge yourself to finally take the steps you’ve always been meaning to to make your daily life a little bit greener. And, of course, blog about it. C’mon, join up! What are you waiting for?
To conclude with something bookish, Dante’s Inferno Test. Take the test and find out what circle of Dante’s hell you can look forward to spending eternity in. Me? I’m going to the first level of Hell–limbo:
Charon ushers you across the river Acheron, and you find yourself upon the brink of grief’s abysmal Valley. You are in LImbo, a place of sorrow without torment. You encounter a seven-walled castle, and within those walls you find fresh meadows illuminate by the light of reason, whereabout many shades dwell. These are the virtuous pagans, the great philosophers and authors, unbaptised children, and others unfit to enter the kingdom of heaven. You share company with Caesar, Homer, Virgil, Socrates, and Aristotle. There is no punishment here, and the atmosphere is peaceful, yet sad.
This virtuous pagan thinks that Hell’s LImbo sounds rather heavenly.
Darn. I am the Seventh Level of Hell:
Guarded by the Minotaur, who snarls in fury, and encircled within the river Phlegethon, filled with boiling blood, is the Seventh Level of Hell. The violent, the assasins, the tyrants, and the war-mongers lament their pitiless mischiefs in the river, while centaurs armed with bows and arrows shoot those who try to escape their punishment. The stench here is overpowering. This level is also home to the wood of the suicides- stunted and gnarled trees with twisting branches and poisoned fruit. At the time of final judgement, their bodies will hang from their branches. In those branches the Harpies, foul birdlike creatures with human faces, make their nests. Beyond the wood is scorching sand where those who committed violence against God and nature are showered with flakes of fire that rain down against their naked bodies. Blasphemers and sodomites writhe in pain, their tongues more loosed to lamentation, and out of their eyes gushes forth their woe. Usurers, who followed neither nature nor art, also share company in the Seventh Level.
Deemed gluttonous and gloomy by this quiz, I’ve been sent to the Third Circle, “admist eternal rain, maledict, cold and heavy”. Does it make sense to send someone already gloomy to a rainy, dreary place? I think those truly gloomy could find gloom anywhere.
Seems like I’m another “virtuous pagan”, so I’ll be joining you Stefanie! This reminds me that I still haven’t read Dante’s Divine Comedy.
Thanks for the links, particularly the Ecojustice 08 Challenge.
Wish I could see that Kahlo exhibit. Sigh!
I am in Purgatory . . . I always think of myself as a “good two shoes,” so I’m a little “bad” I guess. . .
I will try to get up and see the Kahlo exhibit . . . thanks for the tip.
I go to the sixth level of hell for being a heretic. I almost made it to limbo but not quite. Oh, well — guess I won’t be seeing you there
Apparently….I’m a lustful, violent heretic.
Hmmmm, I guess the Bookman and Bookwoman are gonna just stay here…together…Hooray for immortality. Heck, can’t die until we’ve read all of these books, now can we?
I’m in the second circle — among the carnal and lustful. Me and Cleopatra and Helen of Troy. I can think of worse places to be.
I ended up in Limbo, with the virtuous pagans.
Charon ushers you across the river Acheron, and you find yourself upon the brink of grief’s abysmal valley. You are in Limbo, a place of sorrow without torment. You encounter a seven-walled castle, and within those walls you find rolling fresh meadows illuminated by the light of reason, whereabout many shades dwell. These are the virtuous pagans, the great philosophers and authors, unbaptised children, and others unfit to enter the kingdom of heaven. You share company with Caesar, Homer, Virgil, Socrates, and Aristotle. There is no punishment here, and the atmosphere is peaceful, yet sad.
By the way, I saw the Frida Kahlo exhibit at Christmas time when I visited friends in Minneapolis. You are right. Very emotional. Quite astounding. A must see if it comes anywhere near.
Thanks for a fun post! TJ
Whoa, Dark Orpheus. At least you get all the interesting creatures
Cam, sounds like you’re going need a good umbrella
BooksPlease, well, I will see you in limbo. We’ll talk books
I’ve not read the Divine Comedy either. I keep meaning too. I ope it doesn’t ruin my chances of making it into limbo.
Litlove, sorry. Maybe a vacation across the pond is in order? San Francisco is a beautiful city.
Andi, so you have a secret bad girl within?
Dorothy, I’m surprised I didn’t make heretic. Maybe we can get visitors passes for occasional get togethers.
Bookman, is that why we can’t stop buying books?
JD, ooh, there would be worse places then spending time with Helen and Cleopatra.
TJ, we’ll start a book group in limbo. Great that you got to see the exhibit. I was surprised at how small most of her paintings are. Photos in books make them see so large. Or maybe I thought they would have to be large to contain all that they do.
Um, can Purgatorians join the Limbo book group? I have some questions for Homer…
Oh, I wish that exhibit were going to be in Philly longer. I don’t have time between now and the 18th. Sigh! Thanks for passing on the news of the Ecojustice Challenge. Guess what. I’m actually in purgatory (I think I only got there through all the hard work the ecojustice challenge has taken!).