I’ve Been Tagged!

Miss Georgiana Darcy has tagged me!

This is a tag with very elevenish rules:
1. Post these rules
2. Post 11 random things about yourself (optional)
3. Answer the questions the tagger posted for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that they have been tagged

Here are the 11 random things about me.

• Purple is my favorite color.  I prefer a dark, rich purple to a lighter lavender color.
• I just switched my Jane Austen blog from WordPress to Blogger.  I’m slowly but surely adapting myself to Blogger.
• I have the whole set (almost!) of the Elsie Dinsmore series.
• My favorite breakfast food to make is coffeecake.  I’m really good at it (IMHO).
• I love reading books by the Brontë sisters – I just finished Agnes Grey and I loved it.
• I entered a giveaway today.
• I love, love, love music – classical, from a Jane Austen film, just anything beautiful.
• My favorite blog is Old-Fashioned Charm.
• I started blogging a little over a year ago.
• My shoe size is a woman’s twelve.
• Little Dorrit is my favorite movie.  Period.

Here are Miss Darcy’s questions.

1: What is your favorite kind of tea?  A fruity tea – it doesn’t matter what brand.

 

2: What are your five absolutely-most favorite movies?  Ooooh, I love this question.  :)  In order of liking – Little Dorrit, Sense and Sensibility 1995, Emma 2009, Pride and Prejudice 2005, The Inheritance 1997

 

3: What are some fashion trends – from the present or the past – that you love and actually wear?  Um, I don’t wear anything from the past so I’ll just say that my favorite style is tailored.

 

4: What are three inspirational/devotional books that you love?  Daily Light, The New Girl, and Let’s Weigh The Evidence

 

5: What is your favorite artist or picture?  Hmmmm, I don’t really know…

 

6: If you had to describe your own looks as a character in a novel, what would you write?  Or your own looks as you wish they were.  You can have an imagination, y’know.  

 

Meg had long, dark-brown hair, and blue eyes with dark, quite long lashes.  She was quite tall and wore a silver ring on her left, middle finger.

 

7: What kind of music do you listen to most of the time?  Music from Jane Austen films.

 

8: What literary secondary character are you most like?  I like Jane Bennet from Pride and Prejudice a lot…especially when she’s played by the lovely Rosamund Pike.

 

9: What literary secondary hero-like characters do you love? (I know you can think of a million main characters.  So can I.  So I’m making it harder.)  I like John Chivery a lot…and I hope he did get a good wife because he deserves one.

 

10: What are your opinions of the subject of poetry?  I don’t really like poetry very much.

 

11: Which author’s writing styles do you admire the most?  I like Jane Austen, of course, because of her wit…she can always make me laugh and Charles Dickens is a really, really good writer too.  I think it’s a tie between them.

 

Here are my 11 questions.

1. If you could meet a character from a book in real life, who would you meet?
2. What is the worst movie you’ve ever watched?
3. What is your favorite color?
4. Who makes you laugh the most?
5. What do you think it would feel like to fly?
6. Have you ever met a famous person?
7. How many blogs do you have?
8. Have you ever read a book by one of the Brontës?
9. What fictional place would you most like to travel to?
10. How many followers do you have on your blog?
11. What is your favorite literary quote?

Since I never like leaving people out, I tag everyone.  If you happen to stumble across my blog, feel free to think yourself tagged (because you are).

The Classics Club

Jillian is starting a Classics Club.  The challenge is to read a minimum of 50 classics in a maximum of five years.  I plan to read 50.  I’m going to re-read a lot of books (which is perfectly alright with her).  She put a big list of rules and regulations but I just want to read the classics.  I will post five different posts at different times with ten book titles in them.  Once I’m done the ten books, I will post a new list.  I think it will be easier to keep track of everything that way.

Here are my first ten books.

Northanger Abbey (Jane Austen)

Persuasion (Jane Austen)

Bleak House (Charles Dickens)

Jane Eyre and Wuthering Hights (The Brontës)

Little Dorrit (Charles Dickens)

Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery) 

The Inheritance (Louisa May Alcott)

Little Women and Little Men (Louisa May Alcott)

If you have any other classics that you think I should add to my list, just let me know.

Literary Heroine Blog Event

Kellie at Accordion to Kellie is hosting a Literary Heroine Blog Party.  It’s taken me forever to get all the questions answered but here it is.  Hope you enjoy reading this.

What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?

A girl who isn’t afraid to speak her mind…a true lady, sweet and kind but with spirit.

Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. 

 

Elinor Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility) – I don’t think I can ever match up to Elinor but I admire her very much and I think that I’m the most level-headed of my siblings.

 

Amy Dorrit (Little Dorrit) – What’s not to like about Amy?  She sweet and steadfast and so many other good qualities.

 

Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre) – I like Jane.  She’s not the typical, ultra-pretty heroine.  I like her very much.

 

Estella Havisham (Great Expectations) – I don’t exactly admire Estella and I hope that I don’t relate to her but I like her anyway despite the way she treats Pip.  Besides, if you have someone like Miss Havisham taking care of you, how are you expected to turn out?

Five of your favorite historical novels?

Mansfield Park (Jane Austen)

 

Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë)

 

Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)

 

Little Dorrit (Charles Dickens)

 

Emma (Jane Austen)

 

Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?

 

Amy Dorrit – see above

 

Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?

 

Jane Fairfax – elegant and refined.

 

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to – and what would you plan to do there? 

 

I’d travel to England to a little village called Chawton and visit the Jane Austen museum.

 

What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? 

Regency England wins hands down.

You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation – what is your act comprised of?

I hate performing in public so I’d probably turn down the invitation. 

If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? 

Catherine Morland.

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? 

Wonderful!  Milk chocolate (especially Galaxy ©) is my favorite but I also like dark if it isn’t too dark.

Favorite author(s)? 

Jane Austen

 

Charles Dickens

 

Charlotte Brontë

 

Amanda Grange

 

Those are just a few of my favorites.

Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land?

My set of Jane Austen novels

My Jane Austen Anthology – Jane Austen Made Me Do It

My writing notebook

In which century were most of the books you read written? 

England

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…

Elinor Dashwood
 
Describe your ideal dwelling place. 

Where I’m living now…it’s a secret…

Sum up your fashion style in five words.

Tailored.  Simple.  Mix-and-Match.  Purple.  Denim.

Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name?

No…never.

In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is… 

Riguad, Blandois…Whatever you want to call him.

Three favorite Non-fiction books?

Jane Austen: A Celebration of her Life and Works

Spirit of the Horse

The Jane Austen Handbook

Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?

Writing and listening to beautiful music.

What I’m Reading

I’m currently reading Jane Eyre and I’m really enjoying it.

I probably won’t be posting a review when I’m finished it, because I can never find the right words to describe great classics.  Just read the book for yourself if you want to see what it’s about.

By the way, I reading a lot of classics these days and I have several books on my TBR shelf.  The include – Bleak House, The Olde Curiosity Shoppe, Persuasion, and Charity Girl (By Georgette Heyer.  It will be the first book of hers I’ve read.) 

Jane Austen Film Proposals Part 1

I’m going to do a short series of my favorite Jane Austen film proposal scenes.  There will be three.  Note:  All of the posts in this series will contain serious spoilers.

My first proposal scene will be…

Pride and Prejudice 2005!

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I love this scene.  It’s so beautiful – the sun rising and coming up between them (by the way, that was pure accident – but what a lovely accident!)  And the script is wonderful too.  Let’s compare the script and the book.

Script:

LIZZIE: I couldn’t sleep
DARCY: Nor I. My aunt?

He stops, looking wretched.

LIZZIE Yes. She was here.
DARCY: How can I ever make amends for such behavior?
LIZZIE: After what you have done for Lydia and for all I know, for Jane also, it is I who should be making amends.

Darcy looks at her for one deep moment.

DARCY: You must know – surely you must know, that it was all for you.

Lizzie is still as stone.

DARCY: (cont’ d) You are too generous to trifle with me. I believe you spoke with my Aunt last night, and it has taught me to hope as I had scarcely allowed myself before. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me forever.

Lizzie is silent.

DARCY: (cont’d) If, however, your feelings have changed. .

Darcy looks at her. Something in her eyes gives him confidence.

DARCY: (cont’ d) I could, I would have to tell you, you have bewitched me body and soul and I love and love and love you. And never wish to be parted from you from this day on.

Lizzie looks at him very serious, very simple.

LIZZIE: Well, then.

Darcy takes a step towards her, one hand stretched out. Lizzie takes hold of his fingers.

LIZZIE: (cont’d) You’re hands are cold.

Darcy nods.  Their heads touch as the sun rises behind them.

Book:

“Mr. Darcy, I am a very selfish creature; and, for the sake of giving relief to my own feelings, care not how much I may be wounding your’s. I can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my poor sister. Ever since I have known it, I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully I feel it. Were it known to the rest of my family, I should not have merely my own gratitude to express.”

“I am sorry, exceedingly sorry,” replied Darcy, in a tone of surprise and emotion, “that you have ever been informed of what may, in a mistaken light, have given you uneasiness. I did not think Mrs. Gardiner was so little to be trusted.”

“You must not blame my aunt. Lydia’s thoughtlessness first betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the matter; and, of course, I could not rest till I knew the particulars. Let me thank you again and again, in the name of all my family, for that generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble, and bear so many mortifications, for the sake of discovering them.”

“If you will thank me,” he replied, “let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you.”

Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her companion added, “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. Myaffections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject for ever.”

Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances. The happiness which this reply produced, was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. Had Elizabeth been able to encounter his eye, she might have seen how well the expression of heartfelt delight, diffused over his face, became him; but, though she could not look, she could listen, and he told her of feelings, which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment more valuable.

*************

I think that both the book and the script have their undeniable merits and I like both of them very, very much.  (Although I must say the script was more romantic.)

What I’m Watching

That’s right.  I’m watching Emma 2009 with my mom and sibs.  I watched the first part yesterday and am planning to watch the second today.  I really like it so far and I’ll def be posting a review when I’ve finished it.  If you want to check out a good review just go here.

The photo I used came from here.

A Spirited Discussion

I have a blogging weakness.  (Actually I have several but we won’t get into that right now.)  Whenever my readers post delightful, well thought out comments (not the generic “nice post” comments), I want to post them and let the whole world see their cleverness.  Usually I resist but in this instance I couldn’t (or wouldn’t).

You remember the post I did a few days ago about Pride and Prejudice 2005?  (I also did a page, but that’s another matter.)  Anyway, I received a lot of comments on this post, all by one person – Maria Elisabeth of Miss Georgiana Darcy.  Now if there’s one thing I like, it’s a good discussion, especially by comments on my blog.  And Maria did just that.  She challenged my to a verbal duel and I accepted.  Here is our discussion:

Maria – I, ahem! respectfully disagree on which adaptation is the best. But to each her own, right? Now will you tell us why you like 2005 P&P better than the 1995 P&P? Because I love arguing, *coughs again* I mean debating.

Me –  The reason I think 2005 is the best is a manyfold reason.

1. Kiera Knightley has all the vigor, wit, and playfulness that Elizabeth Bennet should have – and fine eyes to boot.

2. Matt Macfayden is the perfect Mr. Darcy. The right mixture of shyness (as in the book – “You are right, none of us perform to strangers.”) and pride, mixed with a passionate love for Elizabeth Bennet.

3. The cimeotography and music are delicous and beautiful. I love listening to the soundtrack and the scenery (Liz on top of the world.) is breathtaking.

4. IT’S THE BEST!

Now despise me if you dare.

Maria - Indeed I do not dare, but I will argue with you anyways.

1: Kiera Knightley does have vigor and wit, but to me she has too much modern ‘rebelliousness’ and is a little too rude sometimes. Elizabeth is witty and sometimes borders on the uncivil, but not downright rude. She does have fine eyes, but then, so does Jennifer Ehle.

2: Matthew Macfayden’s Mr. Darcy gets the shyness very well, but, in my opinion, not the pride. I’m trying to remember a single instance where what Elizabeth thought was his pride can’t be traced to something else. In this he doesn’t seem to have ‘no improper pride’, he has no pride. And it makes Elizabeth’s opinion of his seem even more ridiculously ill-founded than it actually is.

3: I won’t disagree with you on this. The scenery is beautiful, although it annoyed me that to put in the scenery they changed the settings of many of the scenes. Isn’t Jane Austen good enough for them? I listen to the soundtrack regularly, and love it almost as much as the 1995 soundtrack.

4: It……….. isn’t. 

5: WARNING: TOTAL RANDOMNESS AHEAD There’s one thing in the proposal scene I don’t like. Matthew Macfayden’s shirt. It isn’t even done up, and he’s not wearing a cravat. (I have this thing about cravats, actually.) What the use of a proposal scene if the hero’s not wearing a cravat? END OF RANDOMNESS

Me - I will of course respect your views but I won’t agree with them.

I must confess that I never saw any bad manners of Lizzy (examples, please). But of course when you think that P and P 1995 is the best you just look for faults (sorry, just saying). Matt Macfayden is not as full of pride as Colin Firth but he does have his moments (the first proposal, when Elizabeth and him are talking at Netherfield, etc.).

I will admit that P and P 2005 does have some faults.

1. Pigs in the Bennet’s house? No way!

2. Mr. Bingley would never go into Jane’s bedroom even to see how she was doing and even if Elizabeth was there. In those days, a lady’s reputation was everything.

4. Elizabeth Bennet often has her hair down – another Regency no-no.

However, I still will stick to my opinions and you may stick to yours.

Good day, Madam.

P.S. About that total bit of randomness, I don’t blame you. Cravats – oh my! But, I still enjoyed that scene very much…

Maria - The reason I wasn’t focusing on the good points of both movies is because they have so many and that would get really beside the point.

Argument aside, I will confess that I did love the 2005 P&P. Not as much as the 1995 one, but still quite a bit. And I’m even putting one of your buttons on my sidebar! (After saying why I didn’t like as much? Am I crazy? Yes  )

And about the cravats, I know this is beside the point, but have you watched The Scarlet Pimpernel 1982. The cravats are ooooh, so amazing. (As is the rest of the movie, except for two scenes that are easy to skip) I’m linking to my blog devoted to The Scarlet Pimpernel, where I hope I will post a review in a few days.

Me – I haven’t watched the Scarlet Pimpernel but I hope to read the book(s) soon. I’ve checked out your S.P. blog and I quite like it.

Thanks for putting up one of my buttons on your blog – and thanks for not turning your comments into nasty ones.

P.S. I quite liked the invigorating discussion we’ve had.

Maria – Exactly!  There’s nothing better than a good discussion.

11 Random Things Tag

You know how much I love answering tags so when I saw the one on Miss Abby’s blog Newly Impassioned Soul, I planned to do it as soon as possible.

Here are the rules:

• Post these rules.
• Post 11 random things about yourself.
• Answer the questions set for you in their post.
• Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
• Go to their blog and tell them they are tagged.
• Tag 11 people.

11 random things about myself:

1. I currently listening to classical music
2. I love to write
3. My Pride and Prejudice soundtrack is missing.  :( 
4. I wear glasses
5. I have two blogs
6. I love grape juice
7. I a wearing a plaid shirt right now
8. I am currently reading Les Miserables – it’s tough but I’m working on it
9. One of my favorite books is Uncle Tom’s Cabin
10. I like playing around with the My Memories software
11. My absolute favorite movie is Sense and Sensibility 1995

The 11 questions Miss Abby made up:

1)      What smell reminds you of your childhood?  Homemade pizza

2)     What one thing would you like to change about the world?  More people appreciate Mansfield Park – dumb, I know, but it’s my wish.

3)     How long is your hair?  I’m not sure the exact length, but everyone says it’s quite long

4)     Which period in history would you love to spend a day living in?  Easy – Regency England

5)     Do you have one maxim you try to live by?  No

6)     What is your favourite accent?  British

7)     What did you think of the last book you read?  William and Catherine.  It’s a book about Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s romance and wedding.  Gorgeous photos

8)    What is your favourite foreign cuisine?  Sushi!  I could eat it every day

9)     What is your handwriting like?  Kind of messy – in a nice way

10)  What is the first thing you notice about people?  I couldn’t really say

11)  What colour is your bedroom?  Blue, but I’d like it to be lavender

My 11 questions:

1. What was the last thing you wrote (grocery list, note, letter, instructions, novel, etc.)?
2. What color are your eyes?
3. Spaghetti or lasagna?
4. Do you like Jane Austen’s novels?
5. How many friends do you have on facebook (if you have a facebook account)?
6. Do you keep a journal or diary?
7. How many books do you estimate you own?
8. What kind of music do you like listening to?
9. What’s your least favorite color?
10. What is your favorite food?
11. What are you wearing right now?

I will never be able to find 11 blogs to tag so just use this tag.  Please link back to me.

Pride and Prejudice 2005 Banner

Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Elegance of Fashion has made an Elizabeth Bennet banner from P and P 2005.  She has made several other lovely banners, but this is the first one she has made from P and P 2005.  

I was the one who asked her to make it since I feel very strongly about P and P 2005.  Even though it’s not her favorite version, she graciously agreed to spend her time making it.  She e-mailed it to me this afternoon.  Isn’t it beautiful?

Join the Revolution!

Pride and Prejudice 2005 is THE BEST P and P adaption.  However, many bloggers do not share my opinion.  ”1995 one is the best…Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth are the best…”  Whatever.  You and I know that P and P 2005 is the best, but until now we’ve kept it a secret, afraid to let the truth out and get bombarded by angry 1995 fans.  No more.

I am starting a revolution only for the stoutest and bravest of P and P 2005 lovers.  If you love the 2005 version display one of these buttons on your blog or website.  Tell the world that Pride and Prejudice 2005 is the best.

When you put one of these up on your blog please link back to this post or the page that I’m going to create to go with this post.  I want to see how many of you out there are brave enough to do this.

I got the photos for the buttons from here.

Please feel free to e-mail me your thoughts at kraftyhorselover@hotmail.com.

Lizzy

My favorite Lizzy!  I got the pic from here.

Defending Mansfield Park Update

I wrote a post a couple of months ago called Defending Mansfield Park.  You can read it here.  This is post is by far the most controversial and the most commented post.  It received five comments by other people and two by me.  There are conflicting views expressed in the comments and I will post the different comments I received:

You really believe that Fanny Price is mature? I don’t. I find her to be a hypocritical bore. – ladylavinia1932

___________________

I can’t decide which between Persuasion and Mansfield Park is Austen’s most mature work. Anne Elliot and Fanny Price are two unlike characters, having been brought up in vastly different environments. One cannot expect Fanny to trust her own mind and be as lively and pretty as Anne…

Mansfield Park is a very interesting novel. Not only did Austen explore to some depths the human mind but also wrote a story that seemingly runs on its own–almost independent of the author’s hand–letting the characters struggle, suffer the consequences of their ambition and ideals, and work themselves through the world they’d been placed in.

(I raise my glass.) To your valiant defense of Mansfield Park! – auxochrome

___________________

I remember seeing this post a few days ago and felt glad you were defending MP. It’s rather strange to some, perhaps, that I defend my least favorite Jane Austen book so much; but that just says how much I love all her works, that though it may be my technical ‘least favorite’ I still love it!

The main thing I like about it is Fanny Price. I sympathize with her and love her. I’m not really a fan of Edmund – mainly for going for Mary – but I still like him tolerably well enough. =) He is such a nice fellow. Now if Miss Austen had included a redeeming proposal quote, I might be more disposed to rate him highly. tehe…

It drives me nuts when people say Fanny is judgmental, or boring, or whatever else they say about her. They just don’t understand her if they do! =)

I think the main thing to boost MP’s popularity would be a good miniseries of it. I hope one comes soon! – Melody

___________________

Mansfield Park may not reach my top three favorite Austen books, but I found it neither dull nor boring. It was, in fact, interesting. Fanny’s a lovely character with wonderful, strong qualities. Although Edmund doesn’t rank high as my favorite Austen heroes, I agree: he still has many good character traits as well. – Jemimah C.

So as you can see, I received conflicting views and opinions.  However, I welcome all your comments, positive or not-so-positive, as long as they are kept polite.

Sense and Sensibilty

Sense and Sensibility is a story about two girls – Elinor (sense) and Marianne (sensibility).  When they move to Barton cottage with their mother, Marianne is swept off her feet by a dashing stranger, Willoughby.  Meanwhile, Elinor must mask the love she feels for Edward Ferrars because it is impossible for them to marry.  When Willoughby leaves suddenly, Marianne is heartbroken and succumbs to her ‘sensibility.’  How the two sisters find their own true loves makes and interesting and enjoyable read for anyone.

This S and S graphic novel is not the best Jane Austen graphic novel I have seen.  On one hand, it stays true to the book – often directly quoting it in places.  On the other hand, the artwork is atrocious.  The characters heads swell out of proportion with warning, Elinor is unattractive to say the least, and the overall appearance is quite shabby.  However, it did follow the book closely.

I love Colonel Brandon’s Diary by Amanda Grange.  I have read all her ‘diaries’ except Henry Tilney’s and this one is the best one.  It goes far back into Colonel Brandon’s life and recounts how he fell in love with the first Eliza, lost her, found her, and how he took care of her daughter when she died.  It tells the story of S and S skillfully and believably.  I love reading this book over and over again.

Emma Watson: The Watsons Completed

Author: Joan Aiken

Genre: Regency Romance

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 8

Type: Romance

Time Period: Early 1800′s

Main Characters: Emma Watson

My Review: In this interesting and skillful completion of Jane Austen’s literary fragment, The Watsons, Joan Aiken brings again to life the trials and troubles of Emma Watson and her family members.  I was happily surprised at how easily the story blended right into The Watsons.  Emma Watson is palmed off to several family members after her father dies.  Where will she fit in?

My overall opinion:  An entertaining read with a surprising ending.

What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew

Sorry it's blurry

Author: Daniel Pool

Genre: ?

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 8

Type: Non-fiction

Time Period: A book about the Regency and Georgian Period

Main Characters: None

My Review: What Jane Austen Ate… is a comprehensive guide to all the puzzling factors of the Regency and Georgian Periods.  What does ‘franking’ mean?  How were you to address the King’s children?  What was the etiquette of calling cards?  This books offers these answers and many more.  A great book for any fan of those time periods.

My overall opinion:  I enjoyed reading this book.  It gives information in an interesting way and I would recommend it to anyone.

The Highborn Governess

My new novella is going along quite well.  I’ve decided to answer a novel tags and sketch my characters.  However, my characters change so much, this information might not always be acurate.

What is your current word count? About 3,000 words, but I still have lots more to write.

What would you consider is best about your novel: plot, dialog, characters, or description?  My characters are really developing in this novella, even better than the first one.  But my dialogue is really good too (In my humble opinion).

Which of the above would you consider your weakest point?  Description.  I’m pretty bad at that so I hardly ever incorporate it into my stories.  It sounds unnatural and forced.

Of all your characters who do you like the best?  Edmund Troppe, the hero, is probably my favorite character.  But I like Emma too.

What was the inspiration for your novel?  My first novella, Eleanor and Catherine: Tender Hopes and Dreams.

What other writing projects have you completed or are in the process of writing?  I don’t have anything planned right now.

What would you consider the funniest line in your novel?  They both shyly greeted her and then they all stood there, feeling uncomfortable.Go to the 11th page of your novel and paste the last paragraph here.  

“Oh, it’s just that Fan and Lydia have not been behaving as well as they ought, or that Mother thinks they should,” he said.  Then, conjecturing rightly that she was shy and did not wish to talk, at least not at the moment, he bowed and exited the schoolroom.  Emma, lingered a few more moments and then went out.

What time period is your novel set in?  The mid-1800′s, Regency England

Please paste here the paragraph you consider the best.  The maid left her alone in the schoolroom.  She walked down the room to the large, handsome oak desk that was to be hers.  She noted that Fanny and Lydia’s desks were, though not the same size, still as well crafted and of the same material.  Emma looked at the different titles of the many, handsomely-bound books that were in the room.

What are you planning to do when your novel is all written and edited? Writing wise, that is.  I want to do another story, perhaps a sequel to this one.

My story is constantly changing in little details but here is the rough synopsis.

Emma Ashby is left an orphan upon her father’s death.  Her mother died several years ago.  She becomes a governess at the Troppe household and teaches their two girls, Fanny and Lydia.  Emma develops an affection towards the Troppe’s only son, Edmund.  When her rich aunt and uncle, Eleanor and Henry Davrille find her and take her to their home, will she see Edmund again?  Does he have feelings for her?

The Characters

Emma Ashby – Emma Ashby is a bit shy, accomplished, intelligent, and kind.  She is unsure at first about being a governess, but even though she is not treated well by many of the servants and family members, she adjusts quickly.  Emma is probably my favorite female character I’ve created.

Edmund Troppe – Edmund Troppe is a handsome young man of five and twenty.  He enjoys a variety of pastimes, one of the first of which is reading.  He posesses a sense of humor and teases his sisters, Lydia and Fanny.  He is attracted to Emma’s shyness and her plight.

Eleanor Davrille – Eleanor Davrille is Emma’s aunt.  I wrote her story in Eleanor and Catherine.  She is kind and warm towards everyone she meets.

There are a lot more characters than who I’ve shown, but those are the main ones.

Lady Vernon and Her Daughter

Author: Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

Genre: Novel

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 5

Type: Historical Fiction

Time Period: Late 1700′s 

Main Characters: Lady Vernon, Miss Vernon

My Review: I recently read Lady Susan by Jane Austen, so I borrowed this book from the library.  Even in it’s letter form, Lady Susan had been entertaining, so I had high hopes for this book.  Boring.  I got through the first twenty chapters to where it really starts following the book (the other chapters had been background).  I did like the middle, then it got boring again, and then the last few chapters were interesting.  They included letters throughout the book – some from Lady Susan, others that weren’t.  If you are a die-hard Austen fan and you have lots of time on your hands, this book is for you.  Includes excerpts from Lady Susan.  I’m reading a continuation of The Watsons right now, and I hope to give it a more favorable report.  

My overall opinion:  A (in my opinion) bit boring.  I probably won’t read it again, but it was interesting enough.

Jane Austen: A Life

Author: Claire Tomalin

Genre: Biography

My rating on a 1 – 10 scale: 10

Type: Non-fiction

Time Period: Written in modern times.

Main Characters: Jane Austen

My Review: Jane Austen: A Life is the best biography on Jane Austen I have ever read (and I’ve read several).  The biography is written in a semi-story format.  Claire Tomalin takes myths, traditions, and hard facts about Jane Austen a makes a highly entertaining biography.  It has a whole chapter devoted to Mansfield Park – “Inside Mansfield Park” which I enjoyed.  I think I can say that M.P. is my favorite Jane Austen novel.

My overall opinion:  A great book, entertaining read, and a good authority on Jane Austen and her family.

Write Like Jane Austen!

Of course, no one can write like Jane Austen…or so you think.  Just install this font on your computer and you will be writing like Austen in no time at all.  Only takes a few seconds to download.

BRAVO!

One of my favorite Jane Austen bloggers amazed and delighted me today.  Miss Laurie of Old-Fashioned Charm put this up in answer to a Jane Austen tag question.

Which is your least favorite JA novel, and why? (Everybody posts about their favorites… I want to know what’s at the bottom of your list!)
Probably my least favorite novel would have to be Pride and Prejudice. “What!?!” you ask. “Are you CRAZY!?!?!?” Well let’s just agree that I am.
I’m not sure why it’s my least favorite really. Perhaps it’s a combination of a lot of little pet peeves I have.
I don’t really identify with Elizabeth Bennet, even though I admirer her. I have quite a different personality than her (I’m more like an Elinor Dashwood) so on occasion her more out-going and feisty personality gets a bit tedious to me. Mr. Darcy is my least favorite hero mostly because although he is a gentleman he can also be quite a snob at times (sorry!). Also Mrs. Bennet, Lydia, Wickham and Mr. Collins drive me crazy! Yes they are funny but they also can make me mad (especially Lydia!). One definite reason that P&P has less appeal to me now is that I’ve probably watched too many film adaptations too often. Also it seems that many people have copied the story line of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s romance in other books and films. I’m a bit sorry that P&P gets a lot of the attention from media and fans when Jane Austen wrote five other amazing novels. Sometimes I think that just once I’d like to say “I love Jane Austen. You know, she’s the author of…” without having to mention Pride and Prejudice.
Now, all that being said (and lest you think me completely horrid), I would still adore Jane Austen if the only novel she had written was Pride and Prejudice. My love for Jane Austen’s work as a whole far outweighs my love of every other author. Picking a least favorite Austen novel is very difficult!   

This is exactly my opinion.  It conicides with my answer to the same question:

This is really tough!  I love all of her novels, but my least favorite would be…Pride and Prejudice *united Janeite gasp*.  The way I see it, Pride and Prejudice has been so dramatized, made over, etc. that most people lose sight of the actual book itself.  Don’t worry, I really enjoy P and P.