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Persuasion Readalong -- Sign Up Post

From Unputdownables:

Some Facts About the Read-a-Long:

  • You do not have to be a book blogger to join.
  • We will be reading the book in January (four weeks), with the first discussion happening on Friday, January 4th/ the book is  roughly 235 pages (depending on which edition you read) so that’s roughly 59 pages a week; about 8 pages a day.
  • Don’t be intimidated. We will be going at a slow pace and discussing the book throughout our reading. The discussions are quite fun, and make the reading process very enjoyable!

What is Persuasion about?  

Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen’s most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love? (via Godreads.com)

***

The following is the reading and posting schedule for this read-a-long. Please note, we will be reading roughly 59 pages per week (about 8 pages a day). Because it is always easier for us to stop at chapters (rather than on page numbers, because of different editions), I’ve had to round to the nearest chapter each week. Please look at the week’s page amount to best plan your reading in order to keep up.

Schedule:

Beginning Friday, December 29th and ending Friday, January 25th. 

READING SCHEDULE:

Week #/ Where to Stop (For example, in week one STOP and place your bookmark at Volume One Chapter IX.)

Week One/ Volume One, Chapter IX Week Two/ Volume Two, Chapter II Week Three/ Volume Two, Chapter IX Week Four/ The End

POSTING SCHEDULE:

Post #/ date discussion post will be up on blog:

Start up Post/ Today! Week One/ January 4th Week Two/ January 11th Week Three/ January 18th Week Four/  January 25th (Final Review)

** Please don’t forget to come to this blog each week to share your thoughts in the comments section of the weekly Read-a-Long discussion (see below for more information).**

How it Works:
  1. Each week, on Friday, I will post my thoughts about the week’s reading. You will have from Friday through the following Thursday to post yours. If you are stuck on what to comment about, you can respond to my post or others’ comments. Regardless, you MUST check in each week (two weeks without a response and you will be taken off of the list — see below for details on why). You may have only one “off week” (which may not be the last week of reading for obvious reasons) and still be kept on the list, but you must let me know in the comment section by saying something like, “This is my off week — I am catching up!” Please note that, in order to be counted, your offering to the discussion must be about the current weeks’ reading, not about past weeks.***For all week’s discussions please refrain from posting ahead, even if you have read ahead, as to not spoil the book for others***
  2. As these Read-a-Longs grow, so do the amount of people who participate – yay, all the more fun!!! Also, all the more keeping track of who is still reading. As you know – if you have been absent from discussion for two weeks, you will be removed from the list. However, now, in order to get back on the list, you need to a.) Have missed no more than two weeks of discussion, b.) Let me know you would like to be on the list again, and c.) Consistently be part of the discussion for the next two weeks after requesting to be put back on the list. Am I trying to be mean? Absolutely not! I LOVE having you all read a long. It is, however, a lot of work to keep track of who’s still reading. To keep taking names off and putting them back on the list becomes tedious. Most importantly though, consistency is good for the group; we tend to get to know each other through discussions and rely on the conversation to keep us reading.SinceI don’t do these read-a-longs to gain followers (I do them because the benefit of reading certain books with a group of dedicated people is often superior to reading them alone), I prefer to have a committed group – even if it is smaller. Reading with undedicated people is worst of all, which is why I care less about numbers and more about dedication to the book and the discussions. (Bonus! At the end of each read-a-long, those who have completed the entire read-a-long are eligible to be entered into the giveaway that correlates to the book… another reason why it is important for me to keep up with who is reading.)
  3. If you are a blogger, feel free to post a link to your blog if you are posting about each of the each week’s reading. If I, or other readers, have extra time we will gladly try to visit your blog; however, you must make sure to share your thoughts here on this blog, and be part of the main conversation or your comment will not be counted. This is to make sure that our conversation is easily accessible to everyone who is reading, and also to keep it from becoming disjointed.
  4. Comments from the previous week’s reading will be closing Thursday afternoon(before the next discussion takes place on Friday). If you would like to be part of the discussion, please remember to comment before then.

I must join this one, even though I just read Persuasion this last year.  It's my favorite book of all time, I love rereading it and finding a new perspective or a new favorite line.  Plus, rereading a favorite is a great way to start my 2013 reading.  Would you like to join me?  Jump on over to Unputdownables to sign up!

tags: Jane Austen, readalong
categories: Books
Saturday 12.22.12
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Title: Persuasion

Author: Jane Austen

Pages: 333

Rating: 5 /5 stars

Reading Challenges: Back to the Classics -- Reread; Mount TBR; Book2Movie; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: Own It!

Book

Say what you want about Elizabeth Bennett, Anne Elliott has always been my favorite Austen heroine.  Underneath it all, she's the one that keeps the Elliott household running, even in Bath.  She understands who she is and what mistakes she has made in the past.  She knows people and how to deal with them.  I love this story of growing up and realizing your mistakes.  Plus Captain Wentworth is just so dreamy!  Definitely my favorite of all of Austen's novels.

BBC Miniseries :

A few years ago I had a short-lived book club with some of my high schoolers.  We read Persuasion and then I hosted a movie night to enjoy a viewing.  Afterward we went around yelling "Wentworth" all over school.  Good times good times.

As to the actual movie, this is my favorite adaptation.  The casting perfectly fits the characters.  Anthony Stewart Head is imposing as Sir Walter, perfect casting.  Amanda Hale  is a nervous wreck of a Mary.  Rupert Penry-Jones is just dreamy as Captain Wentworth.  And Sally Hawkins has those long looks so perfect for playing Anne.  My absolute favorite scene is the first time that Anne and the Captain meet again.  Their looks convey a huge range of emotions.  In that instance, you know that they still love each other even with the betrayals of the past.  And I love all the scenes in Bath if for nothing more than the architecture in Bath.  Even the deviations from the novel fit with the story and characters. I forgive the filmmakers and still watch it over and over again.

tags: 5 stars, Jane Austen
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Wednesday 10.03.12
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Title: Northanger Abbey

Author: Jane Austen

Pages: 239

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Classics - Romance; Mount TBR; Book2Movie

How I Got It: Own It!

Northanger Abbey is fast becoming my second favorite Austen (after Persuasion, of course).  I love Catherine Morland.  She may be young and naive, but she grows.  She becomes a woman right in front of the reader.  I love the progression more than anything.  I see an early version of Emma in Catherine.  She's not as well defined as a character, but the idea of character so wrong in her worldview comes through.  This volume doesn't have the recognizable quotes that Pride and Prejudice does, but it does have some good discussions between Tilney and Catherine about life and literature.  And the novel doesn't have the extensive social commentary so prominent in P&P and Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park.  But that's okay.  This is more of a nice story of a girl growing into a woman and falling in love.

BBC Miniseries :

I love this movie.  I love the leads, Felicity Jones and JJ Fields.  I love the Abbey.  I love Bath.  I even love Isabella Thorpe, that snake.  (Carey Mulligan is equal parts likable and killable...)  Every part was perfectly cast.  I don't even mind the dramatization of Catherine's gothic stories.  It fits with her character even if Jane Austen didn't write them in there.  In fact, this is fast becoming my third favorite movie adaptation of Austen (after P&P BBC version and Persuasion new BBC version).

tags: 5 stars, classic, Jane Austen
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Thursday 08.23.12
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

Austen in August Reading Challenge

Sign up over at Roof Beam Reader.

Welcome to the sign-up post for AUSTEN IN AUGUST, a reading event taking place next month! This event was inspired by a Twitter conversation that took place with @alliedanielson and @JillIsReading.  I am especially excited about it, I think, because I own almost all of Jane Austen’s books, but I have only ever read two of them (Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice).  Also, considering that I will be finishing up with Allie’s Victorian Celebration at the end of July, it is fitting and appropriate to move on to the most famous of all pre-Victorians, Jane Austen!

So, for this event, the goal is to read as many of Jane Austen’s novels as you want/are able, during the month of August.  Biographies and re-reads also count.  I will post throughout the month (planning for Tuesdays and Fridays) on different subjects, as well as with my own reviews of the Austen books I finish.  I will be offering giveaways and I am hoping that some participants will also be interested in writing guest posts or hosting giveaways of their own, to make this more interactive.

If you are going to participate, you can read any of Jane Austen’s novels, a biography about her, or any contemporary re-imaginings (such as Austenland or The Jane Austen Book Club, for example). All posts will help you qualify for prizes, which I’ll explain in a later post!

I plan on reading at least two Austen novels (probably Northanger Abbey and Persuasion) and a couple Austen-esque novels (possibly Midnight in Austenland).  Plus I will be rewatching a few of the mini series/movies.

tags: Jane Austen
categories: Reading Challenges
Tuesday 07.31.12
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Top Ten Tuesday -- Love Jane Austen

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We’d love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join.  If you can’t come up with ten, don’t worry about it—post as many as you can!

This week's topic is to pick and an author and then recommend their books...  Well my favorite author is Jane Austen and she has only six novels.  So I rounded out the list with some Jane Austen-esque books.  For the Austen authored books, I put them in the order I think someone should read them.

1. Northanger Abbey -- Her first novel.  It's short.  Catherine is a feisty young girl.  It's a fun little gothic tale.

2. Pride and Prejudice -- Probably the most popular.  And for a reason. Enjoy!

3. Emma -- Emma is a love her or hate her type of character. Upon multiple readings, I really like her now.

4. Sense and Sensibility -- Almost a companion to Pride and Prejudice.  Elinor still bugs me sometimes.

5. Persuasion -- My favorite, but you have to get into the Austen mindset for this to be completely satisfying.

6. Mansfield Park -- Fanny Price is the least likable of Austen's heroines.  But she comes alive after reading the others.

7. Austenland by Shannon Hale -- It's a great modern telling of Pride and Prejudice mixed with reality shows.  I can't wait to read the sequel.

8. My Antonia by Willa Cather -- It's a decidedly American book, but something of Cather's storytelling reminds me of Austen.  I loved it!

9. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery -- A beautiful love story...  must read.

10. Any Georgette Heyer -- She's a successor to Austen.  Written in the early 20th Century, the writing and ideas are a beautiful companion to Austen's.

tags: Jane Austen, Top Ten Tuesday
categories: Books
Tuesday 07.03.12
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Title: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Author: Jane Austen and Ben Winters

Publisher: Quirk 2009

Genre: Jane Austen; Fantasy

Pages: 340

Rating:  5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy; Mount TBR

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities. As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels? This masterful portrait of Regency England blends Jane Austen’s biting social commentary with ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters biting. It’s survival of the fittest—and only the swiftest swimmers will find true love!

This is another book that languished on my TBR bookshelf for way too long!  Thankfully I came to my senses during the Bout of Books Readathon and added it to my immediate TBR stack.  I had high hopes after reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (and subsequent sequel and prequel).  I wanted it to be just as good.  It isn't, but only fractionally so.  This book blends Austen's story of two sisters (well, three, but Margaret is too young to be much of a character) looking for a place in the world.  Only this time, Colonel Brandon's face has tentacles, Willoughby is a treasure hunter, there is a pirate, Barton Cottage is on a mysterious little island, Bath is the Sub-Marine Station Beta on the ocean floor, and all manner of sea life want to kill humans.  Every day is fraught with perils, both from the sea and of the heart.  I loved the blending while keeping Austen's own words.  The twists at the end are fun, but wrapped up a bit too neatly.  Of course that is keeping with Austen's own works.  Maybe it's because I love zombies so much that P&P&Z holds a spot over this volume.  It was good, but not absolutely amazing.  There were some great illustrations and characters.  And that Lucy Steele, watch out for her!  I would recommend to lovers of Austen and monsters.  Great Saturday read!

tags: 5 stars, Bout of Books Readathon, Jane Austen, monsters
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 05.19.12
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

Title: Definitely Not Mr. Darcy

Author: Karen Doornebos

Publisher: Berkley Trade 2011

Genre: Romance

Pages: 384

Rating:   4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romance; Support Your Local Library

How I Got It: Library loan

 Chloe Parker was born two centuries too late. A thirty-nine-year- old divorced mother, she runs her own antique letterpress business, is a lifelong member of the Jane Austen Society, and gushes over everything Regency. But her business is failing, threatening her daughter's future. What's a lady to do?Why, audition for a Jane Austen-inspired TV show set in England, of course.

What Chloe thinks is a documentary turns out to be a reality dating show set in 1812. Eight women are competing to snare Mr. Wrightman, the heir to a gorgeous estate, along with a $100,000 prize. So Chloe tosses her bonnet into the ring, hoping to transform from stressed-out Midwest mom to genteel American heiress and win the money. With no cell phones, indoor plumbing, or deodorant to be found, she must tighten her corset and flash some ankle to beat out women younger, more cutthroat, and less clumsy than herself. But the witty and dashing Mr. Wrightman proves to be a prize worth winning, even if it means the gloves are off...

 This was a fun, albeit fairly predictable read.  A retelling of Pride and Prejudice, of sorts.  Chloe was thoroughly likeable.  A few times her density got the better of me, but I was still rooting for her throughout.  Grace was a standard villain.  Of course, I loved Henry and couldn't wait for Chloe to wake up and see him.  The writing was clear and engaging.  I swept through this novel fairly quickly.  A good few days in reality tv Regency Era.

tags: 4 stars, Jane Austen, Karen Doornebos, romance
categories: Book Reviews
Friday 04.13.12
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster

Title: Lost in Austen

Author: Emma Campbell Webster

Publisher: Riverhead Trade 2007

Genre: Historical Fiction; Choose Your Own Adventure

Pages: 352

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction; My Years - 2007; Mount TBR

How I Got It: I own it!

Bringing together Jane Austen's most beloved characters and storylines-a clever, playful, interactive, and highly entertaining approach to the wildly popular novels in which you, the reader, decide the outcome.  Name: Elizabeth Bennet.  Mission: To marry both prudently and for love.  How? It's entirely up to the reader.  The journey begins in Pride and Prejudice but quickly takes off on a whimsical Austen adventure of the reader's own creation.  A series of choices leads the reader into the plots and romances of Austen's other works. It's all up to the reader.A labyrinth of love and lies, scandals and scoundrels, misfortunes and marriages, Lost in Austen will delight and challenge any Austen lover.

So much fun!  I love this concept: choose-your-own-adventure.  This one, of course, based on Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice to be exact.  Webster easily weaves P&P with Austen's other works to create a new story line.  If you know P&P well, it's not that hard to choose the right paths.  However, I loved the inclusion of some Austen-era knowledge questions.  Thankfully, I knew enough history to get those question correct.  I'm proud to say that I choose the right paths and ended up married to Mr. Darcy at the end.  Lots of fun!

tags: 5 stars, Emma Campbell Webster, Jane Austen, Winter's Respite Readathon
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 01.29.12
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

For the Love of Jane of Austen - Reflections

The wonderful people over at Historical Tapestry are hosting Jane Austen Week.  My goodness, that's right up my alley.  It's like they knew JA was my favorite author and thought it would be nice to share that fact with the blogging world.  Anyway, I love Austen.  As part of their week, they are hosting some interesting activities and questions.  I think I should participate also!  And I think I will be needing update my reading and watching list to include some Austen. 

Today's post:

Do you have a story to tell about how you were introduced to Jane Austen? A review of your favourite Austen, sequel or spin off? Have you already read and reviewed JANE AUSTEN MADE ME DO IT?Anything else that is Austen related? We are looking forward to know how others enjoy Jane Austen's work and what she has inspired. If you want to participate in our week please use the Mr Linky to add a post from your blog or tell us your story in the comments field. Looking forward to chat about Austen with all of you!!

 My introduction to Jane Austen came late in life.  Well, not completely late in life, but definitely later for such a big reader.  I probably saw some Austen adaptations during high school, but thought the books were way too old-fashioned and boring.  (I know, how wrong I was.)  During later high school, I started reading exclusively American classics.  I went through a huge transcendentalist phase and a Emily Dickinson phase, but no Austen.  In college, I finally decided that I should read this book that everyone keeps raving about: Pride and Prejudice.  I read it and loved it.  I loved it so much that I had to run out and rent the BBC mini series.  It was beautiful.  Of course Colin Firth was just amazing.  But so was everyone else. 

After the success of P and P, I thought I should try some of the others.  I read Sense and Sensibility (pretty good!), Emma (not my favorite heroine, but good), Mansfield Park (little heavy, but interesting topics), Northanger Abbey (really fun read), and finally  Persuasion.  As soon as I finished it, Persuasion became my number one favorite Austen novel.  I love the idea of redeemed love.  Anne Elliott may be a bit withdrawn, but she has a level head.  Once she realizes her mistake, nothing will stop her from reconnecting with Captain Wentworth. 

Since my discovery, I have gone on to own at least one copy of all six novels.  I also have two movie versions of each novel.  I love Austen.  I give copies of the books to people as presents.  I have convinced J that Austen is a good writer.  He doesn't love her like I do, but that's okay.  He at least appreciates her place in the literary canon.  I have read a few Austenesque novels, but in general stick with the original.  I reread all the novels every couple of years.  (That's even one of my goals for my Day Zero Project).  I watch the movies when I need a bit of melancholy or romance or something pretty to look at. 

My novel ranking:

  1. Persuasion
  2. Northanger Abbey
  3. Pride and Prejudice
  4. Sense and Sensibility
  5. Emma
  6. Mansfield Park
tags: Jane Austen
categories: Books
Monday 10.10.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 3
 

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

Title: The Jane Austen Book Club

Author: Karen Joy Fowler

Publisher: Plume 2005

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 288

Rating:   4/5 stars   Movie: 4/5

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Contemporary; Page to Screen

How I Got It: I own it!

This is one of those books that I have tried not to read.  I was afraid that it would take my beloved Jane Austen and butcher her stories.  I was afraid it would try to be clever, but fail miserably.  For some reason, I eventually picked this up on clearance.  And I'm pleasantly surprised.  This book is more about the themes of Austen's books and how they connect to these characters' lives.  I loved  how the book was set-up.  Each month the book club meets at one of the character's houses and discusses one of the books.  Each chapter we get a person's life story and how it relates to the themes of the books.  I love the focus on themes and opinions rather than trying to recreate the stories.  And so, I ended up liking this book way more than I thought I would.

Specifically, I loved Bernadette's story.  Her unconventional life was a real treat to read.  Jocelyn and Sylvia's stories of marriage just didn't connect to me.  But Bernadette's was fun to read.  Grigg seemed like a side character with no much to really learn from him.  Allegra made me mad.  Her anger and constant pessimism really got to me.  And her treatment of Sylvia was just wrong.  Prudie's story was interesting, but then her mother died.  It seemed like after that she disappeared.  Her character comes back from the funeral, but we don't get any deep exploration of what happened and what's going to happen.  I would have liked to hear more from her, but alas none.  So some stories I liked and some not.  But overall, it was an interesting book.

Movie

Disclaimer: I saw the movie before reading the book.  While reading the book, I tried to completely block out the movie.  I did a fairly decent job of it.

In some ways, I liked the movie more.  In this case, the movie focused on less the connection to the books and more on the characters themselves.  I thought the movie did a good job at interspersing the stories with the current action and book discussions.  I especially loved the little shots of each character reading the books.  I love the atmospheric shots.  Very nice.  As to the characters:

  • Allegra -- Still annoying and still my least favorite.  She is completely self-centered.
  • Prudie -- She irritating, as she should be, but I still do like her character.  I feel sorry for her messed up existence.  I thought the inclusion of the affair with the student makes a lot of sense for her character.
  • Sylvia -- The movie makes her more sympathetic to me.  She's much more of  a real person in the movie.
  • Jocelyn -- If anything, the movie makes me like her less.  She's self-centered and oblivious, but she is caring deep down.
  • Bernadette -- Less crazy than the book, and I love her more for it.  She's definitely my favorite character.
  • Grigg -- Much more attractive (in every way) than the book.  He seemed like a caricature, but becomes a much more developed character in the movie.

Overall, I really like the book and the movie.  Big surprise to me!

tags: 4 stars, Jane Austen, Karen Joy Fowler, romance
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Wednesday 09.21.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

A to Z Movies: Bridget Jones's Diary

Title: Bridget Jones's Diary

Year Released/Rating: 2001 R

Starring: Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent

Directed By: Sharon Maguire

Written By: Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies, and Richard Curis

Star Rating:  4 /5 stars

Trivia:  Salman Rushdie's cameo came about by total fluke. Old friend (the movie's author) Helen Fielding called him up and asked, "How would you like to make a fool of yourself?"

J had a migraine and I spent all day scrapping across town.  So, he spent some quiet, dark time in bed and I picked a movie all by myself.  After starting to read and failing to read so many BJD copies, I thought I would rewatch the movie.  All of my original ideas stood the test of time and rewatching.  Hugh Grant plays the most magnificent twat.  Renee Zellweger is still one of my least favorite actresses.  But that's okay because I adore everything that Colin Firth does.  Yes, the movie is a redone Pride and Prejudice, but that story is so great that I can forgive it.  I can even forgive Bridget's self-depreciating behaviors.  We all go through that phase at some point.  Thank god Mark Darcy is a rational steadfast man.  Plus, I get a kick out of the Tarts and Vicars party every time.

Best Bits: 

Bridget: This is an occasion for genuinely tiny knickers.

Bridget: Thank you, Daniel, that is very good to know. But if staying here means working within 10 yards of you, frankly, I'd rather have a job wiping Saddam Hussein's arse.

Mark Darcy: I realize that when I met you at the turkey curry buffet, I was unforgivably rude, and wearing a reindeer jumper.

Bridget: It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces.

Mark Darcy: Natasha, this is Bridget Jones. Bridget, this is Natasha. Bridget works in a publishing house and she used to play around naked in my paddling pool.

Mark Darcy: All right Cleaver, outside. Daniel Cleaver: [half laughing] I'm sorry? Outside? Should I bring my dueling pistols or my sword?

tags: A to Z Movies, comedy, Jane Austen, romance
categories: Movies
Sunday 09.04.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Title: Sense and Sensibility

Author: Jane Austen

Pages: 282

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Page to Screen; 2011 - Back in the Day

How I Got It: Own It!

Sense and Sensibility is the first published novel by Jane Austen. Originally published under the pseudonym “A Lady,” Sense and Sensibility tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, who, upon the death of their father, are left in reduced circumstances to live on the country estate of a distant relative. At Barton Park, the Dashwood sisters engage in romances with the reserved Edward Ferrars, the dashing yet fickle Mr. Willoughby, and the gentlemanly Colonel Brandon, and eventually find the fulfillment of their romantic yearnings.

I participated in a readalong of the novel.  You can check out my post here.  For this review, I want to focus on the the transition from page to screen.  I have two versions of S&S on dvd, so I will be comparing and contrasting both.

Overall I think S&S ranks towards the bottom of my Jane Austen ranking.  I find Elinor a little too stiff and Marianne a little too silly for most of the book.  And I absolutely loathe Edward!  Who would want a sniveling husband?  Definitely not me.  The biggest redeeming factor has to be Colonel Brandon.  I absolutely love him.

sense 1

Ang Lee version:

Although I simply adore Emma Thompson, this version radically changes the book.  Characters are dropped; where'd you go Miss Steele and Lady Middleton?  A few scenes are added or changed.  But my biggest complaint about the movie is the tone.  It makes Elinor and Edward's relationship into a Harlequin romance novel.  Now I love Harlequin romance at the right time.  But this is Jane Austen.  We don't need the smoldering looks, the breathy sighs, the accidental (not really) touches.  It seems all too out in the open.  The book paints Edward and Elinor as two acquaintances who could fall in love, but cautiously and slowly.  They are not the fall head over heels romantics; that's supposed to be Marianne.  And speaking of Marianne, I hated the last screen shot of Willoughby at the hill watching the weddings.  It makes him a much more sympathetic character.  While I can't stand Willoughby's actions, I really think he did love Marianne.  But we don't need more screen time for him.  That shot should have been reserved for Elinor, Edward, Marianne, and Colonel Brandon.  Overall, a decent version with some great actors (Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, and Hugh Laurie (my fave side character)), but a few issues concerning the tone.

sense 2

BBC version:

This version is my preferred version.  I love the actresses who play Elinor and Marianne.  Elinor is appropriately serious, but we do get to see her emotions.  Marianne is silly, but not to the point that I can't stand her on screen.  Colonel Brandon is (like he should be) strong, dependable, and overall amazing!  Even Edward is more likable in this one.  That is the one change that I completely approve of.  I don't mind Edward marrying Elinor in this one.  The Miss Steeles perfectly portray two young women looking out for the "best match."  And Willoughby is perfectly deplorable in this version.  My one big complaint: the opening scene.  We see Willoughby and Colonel Brandon's ward (we don't know them at the time) engaging in an illicit tryst.  I think the story that the Colonel tells Elinor later in the movie is just fine.  We didn't need the visuals to go with it.  Other than that, I absolutely love this version.  And watch it again, and again, and again.

tags: 5 stars, Jane Austen
categories: Book Reviews, Movies
Monday 08.22.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 3
 

Sense and Sensibility Readalong Vol. 1

I joined another readalong....  (What is wrong with me?)  Oh well.  It's been awhile since I reread Sense and Sensibility, so I thought I would give it a go.  As I prepared for the readalong, I went to my handy shelf where i keep all my Austen and Austen-related books and stopped.  S&S was nowhere to be found.  Where was it?  What forgotten placed had it wandered too?  I was at a loss.  The other five novels were sitting on the shelf.  My P&P&Zombies series was sitting on the shelf.  I even had my P&P graphic novel sitting on the shelf.  But where was S&S?  After searching high and low, I gave up.  It must have been placed somewhere for the move and didn't make it.  Or maybe it's stuck in some random box in the garage.  Either way I didn't have access to it.  But thankfully I was making a trip to Half Price Books to sell some things.  They always have copies.  I looked through the five different editions on the shelf and picked this one.  Mainly because it was among the cheapest, but still in good condition.  Everything was once again right in the universe.  I ran home and dove into Austen's world, just in time to finish for the readalong update post.

Discussion One: Sense & Sensibility: Volume One

Do you think, had his (John Dashwood) wife been of a more genial nature, that Dashwood would have gone ahead and settled his original thought of three thousand pounds on his sisters?

 I definitely think Fanny pushed him to reconsider.  She played the kid card and made him feel guilty from "taking away" from Harry's fortune.  I agree that John lacks the malice that it would take to consciously cheat his sisters.  I believe that truly does not know the meaning of money in that time.  He's convinced that 500 pounds a year is sufficient yet gives in to his wife's whining about them taking the crockery and such.  His character is overall very weak which leads to his reconsideration of his sisters.  He is one of my least favorite characters in the novel because he is so weak.  I even like Fanny more because she has a strong will (even if it leans toward the evil side).

And is it just me? Or 

don't you sometimes wonder if perhaps Colonel Brandon and Elinor could so easily make a match of it?

As I reread the book, I definitely picked up on this "thing" between Colonel Brandon and Elinor.  They have a conversation about Marianne (this is right after her meeting Willoughby) in which they both acknowledge her silly nature.  I like to think that if they didn't end up married to one another, they could be great friends.  In a dream world, Brandon would have married Elinor (I detest Edward so maybe that colors my view) and Marianne would have married Willoughby (and he would have lived up to her view of him) and the marriages would have been happy.  But that's not how Austen wrote it...

What do you think of Willoughby? Especially his attitude toward Marianne? 

Willoughby is probably my favorite of Austen's cads.  Underneath the casual nature, the flirting, the (for that time) ungentlemanly like behavior, I think he was a good guy.  I think he really did love Marianne, but his previous life choices disrupted his dream.  I think he did the honorable thing by leaving Barton Cottage.  He was persuaded by others to seek a more endowed bride and he let that pressure get to him.  In my dream world, he lived to regret his behavior towards Marianne, but wished her happiness with Brandon.  (Now if you want to take nasty behavior, I put up John Tilney from Northanger Abbey or Mr. Elliott from Persuasion.)

Does anyone know why Austen chooses not to give such descriptions? Do you think she was thinking of the universality of her characters? Allowing for anyone to put themselves easily in their shoes?  

I like that Austen doesn't give us overly descriptive paragraphs about the characters' looks.  A little mystery works for me.  It always my imagination to run wild with images.  The looks are not central to the plot so why should they be focused on?  In the case of S&S, I have a slight problem.  I saw the Emma Thompson movie years ago before reading the book.  Hence, the images of the characters take on those from the movie.  Which is okay.  I don't have a big issue with that.  Just my experience.

What do you all think of the Palmers? Especially Mrs Palmer?

Can it be she is so in love with him that she does not see this? Or that she does not understand because she herself is of such a cheerful nature?

The Palmers are my comic relief in S&S.  I don't know if Austen intended it, but they make me laugh.  I can just imagine Mrs. droning on and on about some inane little thing while Mr. sits there and reads the newspaper.  I secretly think he listens to every word she says, but after so many years of marriage, it's become a game to see if he can use sarcasm to throw her off her train of thought.  I specifically like Hugh Laurie portrayal of Mr. in the Emma Thompson version.

How do you think Austen represents marriage so far in Volume one? The Middletons and Palmers seem very odd matches.

I think at the core of it, Jane Austen was very conflicted by the idea of marriage.  On the one hand, most marriage in the books (Middletons, Palmers, Bennetts, Elliotts, Bertrams, etc.) seem to be based on things like status and money.  They have no regard for personality matches or love.  The two people were paired together by parents who thought it would be a "prudent" marriage.  In some cases, like the Bennetts, they seem to have fallen into a routine.  They don't seem to hate one another, but have accepted their position.  The Middletons, at least on the part of Lady Middleton, seem to bristle at concept of together.  With all these marriage based on things other than love, I find Austen to be the most romantic of writers, in that all her heroines despite obstacles marry for love.  So Austen doesn't like the reality of marriage in her time, but loves the idea of marriage?

What do you think of the Steeles and they way the fawn over Lady Middleton?

The Steeles were raised to be social climbers.  That is their purpose.  They fawn over Lady Middleton because they think she will accept them into her circle and help boost their social standing.  Classic stereotypical characters much like Isabelle Tilney in Northanger Abbey.  They are focused on the material in life.  And if someone has that material, they want to make friends to get access to that material.  They care more about what's on the outside that the strength of one's character.  These are the type of Austen characters that I detest the most.

Which character (that is not a Dashwood) do you take to the most so far?

My favorite character is definitely Colonel Brandon.  I love that we just get snippets of him here and there.  And most of it is third person.  He's this enigmatic character that we want to know more about.  We know that he's a good person, no one can deny that, but there's a mystery, a past pain that haunts him.  I have this urge to fix him.... but I'll leave that up to Marianne.

Wow... that was a lot of writing for Volume 1.  Now I think it's time to publish this post and go check out what everyone else in the readalong is saying.  Ta ta for now!

tags: Jane Austen, S&S readalong
categories: Book Reviews
Saturday 08.13.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

Austen Heroine

This is usually the day that I participate in the Top Ten Tuesday, but I just wasn't a huge fan of the topic (Rebels in Literature).  So instead, I thought I would share the results of this fun little quiz I took.  Most people know that I am I huge Jane Austen fan.  I had to take the "Which Austen Heroine are You?"  quiz.  Going into it, I thought my results would either be Anne Elliot (from Persuasion), Elinor Dashwood (Sense and Sensability) or Fanny Price (Mansfield Park).  And look at that, I'm Fanny Price! You Are...Fanny Price!

You are Fanny Price of Mansfield Park! You are quiet, faithful, and moral, but those around you may think you priggish. You love deeply...and jealously.

I am Fanny Price!

Take the Quiz here!

tags: Jane Austen
categories: Books
Tuesday 07.05.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
 

Mr. Darcy's Decision by Juliette Shapiro

Title: Mr. Darcy's Decision

Author: Juliette Shapiro

Publisher: Ulysses Press 2008

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 206

Rating:  4/ 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; May Read and Review; Historical Fiction

A sequel to Pride and Prejudice that didn't disappoint.  I'm always leery of "sequels" and "companions" and "prequels" and etc for Austen novels.  often they come off cheap and way too modern.  This is Jane Austen, master of the Regency time period, we are trying to emulate.  Now there are some Austen reimagings  and companions that I do like.  See Riglerand Hale.

So I came into this novel with some trepidation.  And I was pleasantly surprised.  Shapiro sounds like Austen.  The tone, the sentence construction, the characters are all there.  I really did feel like I was reading a lost Austen novel.  The continuation of the story of Elizabeth and Darcy went just how I could have imagined it.  (And I often think about how the story would continue after the end of the written book)  The characters grew, but didn't grow away from their hearts.  A great read, full of Austen goodness!  Definitely recommend.

tags: 4 stars, Jane Austen, Juliette Shapiro
categories: Book Reviews
Thursday 05.12.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 

Top Ten Tuesday: Jerks in Literature

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten listsEach week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

This week the topic is "Top Ten Jerks in Literature."  Looking through literature, there are definitely a lot of jerks.  But I thought I would highlight jerks from my favorite author. Here are my picks for Jerks in Jane Austen's Literature:

1.  George Wickham from Pride and Prejudice - Can't hate him enough!  He interest Elizabeth, but his duplicitous nature just gets me.  He manages to deceive everyone and make Mr. Darcy look bad for holding onto his principles.  And then, he runs away with Lydia, but doesn't actually want her.  Makes me so angry!

2. Mr. William Elliot from Persuasion - He seems so nice when Anne meets him.  The heir to Kellynch, but such a gentleman.  A breath of fresh air from the ongoing does he or doesn't he of Wentworth.  I really liked Mr. Elliot.  I thought he would be a good match for Anne.  And then we find out that he has a mistress on the side and definitely has eyes for the estate.  That two-timing bastard!

3. Henry Crawford from Mansfield Park - The icky icky lothario with eyes on Maria, and then Julia, and finally Fanny.  I can't believe Fanny fell for this guy!  Definitely not a surprise when we hear that he runs away with Maria, a married woman!

4. Mr. Elton from Emma - A man of the cloth!  For shame sir!  To treat Emma so kindly, then spurn her for that dreadful Augusta when Emma denies you!  You are a icky icky guy!

5. Frank Churchill from Emma - Another two-faced man.  Flirting with Emma, making her feel liked she's the only one, and then finally, revealing your engagement to Jane Fairfax.  And we're supposed to forgive you in the end?  I think not.  I also think Jane should dump you after how you behaved towards her.  For shame!

6. John Willoughby from Sense and Sensability - Another love 'em and leave 'em ladies man.  Romancing Marianne while having multiple ladies on the side.  I see how you are.  Thankfully he showed his true color and Colonel Brandon never left her side.  Marianne deserves a man who can take a strong lead.  Willoughby is too much a coward to do so.

7. Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice - A boring, slightly gross, high reacher.  He wants a Bennett woman just because they are pretty. Jane's taken, so he moves onto Elizabeth.  And then he plans to marry off the rest of the girls to his good-for-nothing brothers.  And all the time, he's under the influence of Lady Catherine!  Every time I read about Elizabeth denying him, I do a mental happy dance at her strength.  And every time I read about Charlotte Lucas marrying him, I cry a little at her fate.  It seems so unfair!

8. John Thorpe from Northanger Abbey - A good-looking guy.  The brother of a (supposed) new friend.  How isn't he a catch?  Oh yeah, he has no standards or morals.  Thanks goodness Catherine saw the deficiencies in Thorpe and choose Mr. Tilney (my second favorite Austen hero! Captain Wentworth is #1).

9. Tom Bertram from Mansfield Park - A guy who's only interested in drinking, gambling, and women.  Sounds like a few I know!

10. Mr. Rushworth from Mansfield Park - A spineless wonder!  I almost feel sorry for Maria, but then again, she was only marrying him for his money and status.  And then she runs off with Crawford.  I kind of feel sorry for Rushworth, but then again, he was too stupid and silly to notice the ambitions of his wife.  No excuse sir!

Bonus 11. Edward Ferrars from Sense and Sensibility - Yeah, yeah, he's supposed to be one of the heroes, but I can't stand him.  He's so spineless, I just can't see how Elinor could love him.  He flirts and makes an attachment with her when he knows there's an understood engagement with another women.  Such a cad!  Definitely my least favorite of the romantic leads.  Colonel Brandon shows Edward up at every turn.  I would much rather take him than Edward!

tags: Jane Austen, Top Ten Tuesday
categories: Books
Tuesday 05.10.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 8
 

Dreadfully Ever After by Steven Hockensmith

Title: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After

Author: Steven Hockensmith

Publisher: Quirk Books 2011

Genre: Jane Austen; Zombies

Pages: 320

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: April Read-a-Thon; Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and its prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, were both New York Times best sellers, with a combined 1.3 million copies in print. Now the PPZ trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After.

The story opens with our newly married protagonists, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, defending their village from an army of flesh-eating “unmentionables.” But the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the proper course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote under development in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after.

Great ending for an awesome zed filled trilogy.  I love the first Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and the prequel Dawn of the Dreadfuls.  This was a satisfying conclusion to the story.

Within the first few pages, Mr. Darcy is bitten by a dreadful.  The following story finds Elizabeth trying desperately to save him.  Lady Catherine attempting to thwart her plans while pretending to help (not really a spoiler if you remember the character of Lady Catherine).  Kitty taking a more prominent role in the family since Lydia's marriage to Wickham.  Mary becoming a self-assured woman.  Mr. Bennet trying to keep everyone focused.  And a host of new colorful characters.  Definitely my favorite character of the book had to be Bunny with his pet rabbit Brummell, comedic relief with in the presence of unmentionables.

The book is fast paced yet not too fast.  The writing is less Jane Austen than the other two books, but still retains the essence of her style of writing.  The illustrations are a joy to peruse.  I loved every minute of reading it.  I'm sad to see the series end, but it's a good ending.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

  • #1 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
  • #2 Dawn of the Dreadfuls
  • #3 Dreadfully Ever After
tags: 5 stars, Jane Austen, Steven Hockensmith, zombies
categories: Book Reviews
Monday 04.11.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 2
 

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Title: Austenland

Author: Shannon Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury 2007

Genre: Jane Austen tribute

Pages: 208

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Contemporary Romance; February Romance Month; A to Z Authors: H

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man-perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

I tried another Jane Austen-esque book to finish my February Romance Month.  And this one was surprisingly good.  Basic plot summary: Jane, a Pride and Prejudice addict, has had such bad luck in the romance department that she convinces herself that she'll never find love.  Her great-aunt Carolyn leaves her a trip to Pembrok Park, a Austen world immersion resort.  Jane reluctantly goes, if nothing else, to once and for all rid herself of her Darcy obsession and resign herself to spinsterhood.  Once there, Jane finds that the lines between and reality and play are very hard to distinguish.  I won't give away the ending, but I will say that the book had me guessing til the very end.

The characters are likable (Jane), irritating (Miss Charming), devious (Mrs. Wattlesbrook), swoony (Colonel Andrews), mysterious (Mr. Nobley), and goofy yet adorable (Theodore).  I felt for Jane as she tried to navigate Austen's universe, but a playacting version of Austen's universe.  It almost became a mystery: who's who and what's their motivation.  You never knew who was going to reveal something real or  real sounding.  The book reminded me of the movie Lost in Austen (one of my faves).  Jane is completely out of place in Austen's world, but so desperately wants to belong there.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book and can now add it to my library as I bought the book for a $1 at one of those crazy clearance sales I always seem to find.

Austenland

  • #1 Austenland
  • #2 Midnight in Austenland
tags: 5 stars, Jane Austen, romance, Shannon Hale
categories: Book Reviews
Sunday 02.27.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 4
 

BTT: Romantic

What’s the most romantic book you’ve ever read?

(Mind you, I don’t mean the hard-core stuff you hide in plain wrappers under your mattress. I mean True Love, Romance, deeply emotional, heart-tugging, and all that stuff.)

And, secondly, did you like it? Is it your usual kind of reading, or did it take you by surprise?

Anyone who knows me or has read my blog has probably figured out that one of my favorite books is Persuasion by Jane Austen.  It just so happens to be my favorite romantic book.  The story of lasting love between Anne Elliott and Captain Wentworth hits me right in the mushy heart.  They never stopped loving each other.  After years apart, a chance meeting finally gets them to admit their feelings to each other and end up where they should have been.  I love that they are both very realistic and pragmatic characters.  They don't go running off to silly infatuation (like Catherine Morland or Marianne Dashwood).  Instead, they took time to examine their feelings.  That is romance to me.  Maybe it's because I'm such a cynic, but I still think this is the most romantic book I've ever read.  Every time I read it a panic rises in me.  I start thinking about half way through the book that Anne and the Captain won't end up together, that they'll deny their feelings and/or get too scared to admit them to each other.  I panic... and then I get to the end.  He writes the letter, they reconnect, and everything is good in the world again.  It is such a release.

As to the second question, no, my answer did not really surprise me.  I love Jane Austen, so of course, the book is part of my regular reading.  I don't usually read those labeled as "romance"  (although I have picked up a few more lately for a light read in between more serious fiction).  I tend to read more historical fiction and anything paranormal.

tags: Booking Through Thursday, Jane Austen, romance
categories: Books
Thursday 02.17.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 5
 

Bespelling Jane

Title: Bespelling Jane Austen

Author: Mary Balogh, Colleen Gleason, Susan Krinard, Janet Mullany

Publisher: HQN 2010

Genre: Paranormal; Jane Austen

Pages: 377

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Vampires

Jane Austen retells, vampires, witches, and romance... must read.  I absolutely loved this book!  Well, all except the last story, but that had more to do with the writing style than the subject matter.  The volume consisted of four short retellings of Austen novels with paranormal twists.

  1. Almost Persuaded by Mary Balogh -- a retelling of my favorite Austen novel Persuasion, but through reincarnation.  I loved that this story was still set in the Regency era world of Austen.  The characters, similarly but not the exact same as Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth, were perfectly cast into the world.  I liked the reincarnation twist to the story.  It was an interesting change; not an intrusive one.
  2. Northanger Castle by Colleen Gleason -- Northanger Abbey but filled with the threat of vampires.  Well, more of the idea of the threat of vampires.  For our heroine Caroline Merrill doesn't have any real evidence of vampires existing, but she looks for them anyway.  Imagine her surprise when it turns out there really are vampires in Regency era England.  My second favorite Austen book retold.
  3. Blood and Prejudice by Susan Krinard -- Another vampire retelling.  This time set in today's world but inhabited by the familiar characters of Bingley, Darcy, and the Bennett.  Good story, but not the absolute best from the book.
  4. Little to Hex Her by Janet Mullany -- A retelling of Emma, but in a modern world with vampires, witches, elves, werewolves, and various other supernatural beings.  I just couldn't get into this story.  I read it, but definitely didn't enjoy it like the others.  This may be because Emma is my least favorite of the Austen novels.

Must read for fans of the genre of Austen retellings, sequels, spin-off, and prequels.  I will definitely recommend this one!

tags: 5 stars, anthology, Jane Austen, romance, vampire
categories: Book Reviews
Tuesday 02.01.11
Posted by Tobe Buffenbarger
Comments: 1
 
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