Quite a coincidence

that right when Iraq is embattled in sectarian conflict that has a Kurdish component to it (in addition to the Sunni-Shia one), I am in the middle of "From the Holy Mountain" by William Dalrymple.

The book traces eastern christianity through out the erstwhile Byzantine empire.

Korean wave

Quite taken with Korean movies these days. They do rom-com/rom-drama really well, must say.
April Snow
Good Morning, Mr. President
Dancing Queen
Art of Seduction

Next on watch list - movies/tv-series featuring Bae Yong-joon and Jang Dong-gun.