Austen Overload

Hello!

Today's topic is Jane Austen. Why? Because I'm taking a course at Uni! That's right, we have the possibility of attending classes on Miss Austen. It was recommended we read at least two of her books beforehand - though it turned out that we only needed to read one after all - but I've read almost all of them. For some reason my brain doesn't like the idea of having to read Mansfield Park, so that one is still unopened.

My first touch with Austen was when I was 13 years old and we watched Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility in class. Back then my reasons for liking it were simple: the relationships between people and Alan Rickman. (Not that these reasons have much changed in seven years.) I wanted to see it again and again, and when I told my dad I'd seen it and liked it, he gave me a stack of videos. On those videos my mum had recorded to whole Pride and Prejudice when it was on TV. I remember very little of my first reactions to this classical version of PandP, but it must have been good because I now have it on DVD and watch it once or twice a year.

For a long while PandP and SandS were the only ones I knew about. Finally in 2008 there was a lot of new Austen on TV. Northanger Abbey, Emma (with Kate Beckinsale and Mark Strong), Persuasion, Mansfield Park... All the lot. I was thrilled, but still hadn't picked up the books as I thought them too hard for me. 2009 there was more new Austen, Sense and Sensibility in four parts. In 2010 I got myself the version of Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam (and Ewan McGregor, even though he really isn't too good in it) and saw the new 4-part version. I also saw the 1980's version of it, as well as Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park.

Also, in the spring of 2010, I read my first Austen. I liked Northanger Abbey, even though the style it's written in felt heavy and I made slow progress. In the summer I read Emma, but after that had a few months' break before a friend at the University demanded I read Pride and Prejudice. Now it's 2011, and I've read Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey (minus the five last chapters) in the matter of couple of weeks.

So that's my history of Austen. Now about the course I'm taking. Our teacher specialises in Austen, so he really knows what he's talking about. In order to complete the course we need to write an approximately 2000 word essay on the book of our choosing and have a class talk. Of the latter I was a little nervous about, since I'm a terrible public speaker, but when I heard what it'll be about, I got excited. One of the options for this 15-20 minute speech is ballroom etiquette, which I've been searching just for fun lately. I intend to get that topic. It would be good for my performance, to be genuinely interested in what I'm talking about.

In short, I'm already in love with the course, even though there's been just one class thus far. I even put a little more effort to my homework than was strictly necessary - we are all supposed to find out what certain words meant in Miss Austen's time. My word is 'fortune'. ^^

Now I need to get on with cleaning.

Love, Wilzo

Books read 2010

So here's the list of what I've read this year.

William Shakespeare: Macbeth

Terry Pratchett: Night Watch

P. G. Wodehouse: Jeeves In the Offing

Terry Pratchett: Monstrous Regiment

Colette: Chéri

Eva Hoffman: Lost In Translation (x3, an entrance exam book)

Scott Lynch: the Lies of Locke Lamora

Anne Rice: Angel Time - the Songs of the Seraphim

Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey

Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimna: Good Omens

Humphrey Carpenter: J.R.R. Tolkien - a biography

Jaana Kapari-Jatta: Pollomuhku ja posityyhtynen (a book by the translator of the Potter-series, about her decisions in translating)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A Study In Scarlet

E.M. Forster: A Room with a View

Mike Ashley (edit.): the Mammoth Book of Fantasy

Ellen Kushner: the Privilege of the Sword (x2)

Ellen Kushner: Thomas the Rhymer

Gregory Maguire: Wicked

Ellen Kushner: Swordspoint

Jane Austen: Emma

Gregory Maguire: Son of a Witch

Trisha Telep (edit.): the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

Gregory Maguire: A Lion Among Men

Diana Wynne Jones: Tough Guide to Fantasyland

Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman: the Fall of the Kings

Terry Pratchett: Going Postal

J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix

Oscar Wilde: the Picture of Dorian Gray

Jonathan Strahan and Lou Andrews: Swords and Dark Magic: the New Sword and Sorcery

Donna Tartt: the Secret History

J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Choderlos de Laclos: Les Liaisons Dangereuses (in English despite the name)

Jon Sprunk: Shadow's Son

Diana Wynne Jones: House of Many Ways

Scott Lynch: Red Seas Under Red Skies

Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer: Sorcery and Cecelia, or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot

Robin McKinley: Deerskin

Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice

Toby Barlow: Sharp Teeth

George R.R. Martin: A Game of Thrones

Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer: the Grand Tour, or the Purloined Coronation Regalia

Soooo. That's quite a few books more than last year. The list doesn't include stuff I've read for school:
Shakespeare - King Lear
Joseph Conrad - Heart of Darkness
Graddol et al. - Changing English (x4)
Yule - Pragmatics (x4)
Melchers and Shaw - World Englishes
+ miscellaneous items of literature, such as Swift's A Modest Proposal and excerpts from Beowulf
The Graddol book and the Yule book were entrance exam books, hence why I've read them so many times. Have to say, Changing English is actually very interesting, not to mention useful in my line of study.

I'm not gonna add pictures just now, maybe later.
At the moment I'm contemplating on buying all the three books by Stevermer and Wrede, but maybe I'll just start with buying the third one, since it's not available in the libraries.

I just watched the Serpent's Kiss for the second time after buying it, and I love love love love it. It's still wonderful, and I've probably seen it about ten times. ^^

That's all folks!

~Wil

//2nd Jan 2011: Added pictures, but couldn't be bothered with the Potter covers.

Dreams And Bunnies And Other Stuff

I've been meaning to update for a while now, but haven't for some reason. Oh well.

Because it's quite possibly the biggest thing in the cinematic world at the moment, I fell I should say a few words about Inception.

I went to see it after two friends had told me they liked it a lot. Well, I did too, sort of. The script was very good, and some of the details were intriguing, but I feel Christopher Nolan could've gotten more out of the idea. Leonardo DiCaprio did alright, I guess, though the character annoyed me to no end. And it was extremely interesting to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt in this kind of role - at least if you're used to the Third Rock From the Sun. The ending of the movie pleased me.
Yes, I am aware this is a bad review. It's been about three weeks since the movie, and the things I mention are the ones that have stuck with me. It wasn't sensational or a Best Motion Picture of the Year nominee, but it's entertaining. Take ear pluggs with you though, the effects are loud. Afterwards you may feel the need to have a big gun, just for the kicks. I know I wanted one.
Nolan should get a nomination for the script.
I like that poster, oh yes I do! It's so nifty! :D


A latter movie I saw - Miss Potter (2006).

As a Ewan McGregor fan I've been wanting to see this film, but never actually got to the cinema to see it. Now I'm glad I didn't - I cried my eyes out. Renée Zellweger was like she always is, this time a tone down from Bridget Jones and move like Barbara Novak. But oh, Ewan! He did such great work as Norman Warne! Even with the disturbing mustache. This is a short movie, only about an hour and a half, and it's very fresh and airy. I warmly recommend this. I found it to be of inspiration - Beatrix became an author despite what her family (well, her mother) thought of it, and was extremely successful, as we all know.
Here another sweet picture from the movie. I dare say it might be from my favourite scene:

You'll have to see it to know why I think it so sweet.



What else, what else? Books, maybe?
I read A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire, and came to the conclusion that yes, Wicked is the best one in the series. But this book gathered some loose ends from the two first ones, so I forgave almost all the politics.
After Maguire, I finally got my hands on the Fall of the Kings by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman. With much regret I have to say I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other Riverside books, maybe because there was some magic in this one. Don't take my wrong, it's not a bad book - you can read it to just enjoy the language. But it wasn't as intricate as I had hoped, and I was slightly disappointed with the ending. I think the Privilege of the Sword remains my favourite (though I have to read it again to be sure), and chapter XXI from Swordspoint my favourite chapter. (A thought - Katharine Talbert reminds me of Elizabeth the First.)
Now I'm rereading Pratchett's Going Postal, which is rapidly taking the Hogfather's place as my favourite Discworld novel. The reason for this second reading is the movie, of which I saw trailers and am now a little suspicious about, because good books usually don't translate to film so well. But I'm hopeful - the actors seem decent.

So after I'm not with Mr von Lipwig, it's finally time to reread all the Harry Potters. I intend to do that in less than two weeks for two reasons:
1) Orientation week starts in two weeks and
2) There's a series of Oscar Wilde lectures, the first one about the Picture of Dorian Gray, and I intend to read that wonderful book again before the lecture so I'm sure to remember everything.
And then I probably have so much school stuff to read I have little time for fiction, but I'll go through the Secret History by Donna Tartt somehow. A friend just read it and was thrilled, so I promised to read it as well, seeing as we have it.

That about covers it, I think. Now I shall turn to fanfiction and then go to gym - we're dancing latin at last, after a long pause. I'm so looking forward to it, zumba is getting boring.

With love,
Wilzo

And the Oscar Goes To...

It has apparently been a while since I've last written... Please excuse me. ^^;

First of all, I want to tell me opinion about the movies I've seen.
The Wolfman would've been alright if they hadn't felt the need to scare the audience every five minutes. The movie itself isn't scary, and even though there were some intestines dropping out from people and severed arms and such, it wasn't disgusting. So, the director had to resort to sudden movements and semi-unexpected loud noises. It took half the experience away, having to keep your guard up in anticipation of a hairy creature jumping from some direction roaring loudly. The music gave it's cues, of course. Plotwise I liked the thing, though I'm still pissed at the woman involved and what happened with her - it would never work that way! Casting was great, Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins did great.

Men Who Stare At Goats, then. I thought they would've had more fun with the whacky, psychic soldiers, but sadly they didn't. It was amusing, and I did laugh, but it wasn't exactly the film experince of the year. Even Ewan McGregor didn't save this movie for me, though it made me giggle hearing him ask "What's a jedi?" I'm not sure most of the audience got the irony, but then again, why should I care? I had fun.
But I'm not going to see that movie again. Jeff Bridges was good, George Clooney was good. Not much more to say about it, I'm afraid.

I also went to Orion to see Pillow Book for the first time. It was strange, and I think it requires several reruns before you really get it, but I fell in love with McGregor's jealous/mad Jerome. If only he didn't attempt to speak other languages... French was alright, but I think he tried Japanese - and if that was Japanese, he shouldn't speak it.


The release of Scott Lynch's third book, the Republic of Thieves, has been postponed again. They're talking 'bout spring 2011, which for me seems way too long. I hope at least Bastards and the Knives is on schedule this year.

The Academy Awards are tonight, and I'm as excited as perusual. This year is a little different - I've never stayed up with so many friends! Usually I've been by myself or one friend at most, but this year we're going to be four or five! :D I'm looking forward to it, it's nice to have company. Here, far far away from Hollywood, the gala starts around 3am, so watching it live is always a little task. I, however, enjoy seeing everything there is, and not the shortened, subtitled version you can see two days later.

I wish best of luck for Mr. Tarantino and his crew. If Christoph Waltz doesn't get an Oscar, no one deserves it.

I Certainly Love Phillip Morris

I saw I Love You Phillip Morris last night. I'm a Ewan McGregor fan, so that was reason enough to pay for it - I didn't expect to like it as much as I did.

It isn't exactly a "good movie". It was funny, but then again, you can see it as just a sweet love story. It works both ways, though some moments are so clearly comedy you may feel annoyed when they interrupt a tender lovey-dovey scene. It's not Jim Carrey at his best, and it's not Ewan McGregor at his best, but you'll be entertained. Particularly if you're into conmen, gays and McGregor like I am. ;)
For all you McGregorists out there who are suspicious of this film - it's worth it! Ewan is insanely adorable in this one!

 

Yes, I'd love you too, Phillip Morris! ^^

I've also seen two other new movies during the last couple of weeks.

Sherlock Holmes was better than I thought. It wasn't how I like my Conan Doyle, but it was entertaining. Just try to forget the fact that it's the Sherlock Holmes, and imagine it's just someone with the same name. Jude Law was a surprisingly good Watson, but don't get me started on Rachel McAdams, her American accent and those darned there'll-be-a-sequel hints.

Princess and the Frog had a preview, too. And my, did I like it! It fits in well with all the old Disney classics and got me all emotional. Some rather good songs, and not one but TWO great minor characters. (I was very fond of Charlotte. She's what every girl gets like inside sometimes, even if they don't want to admit it.) Prince Naveen was rather annoying, though.

And I finally saw Dorian Gray. It was much better than I thought. I'm not sure whether Ben Barnes was acting or being himself, but either way, I enjoyed him as the naive, innocent Dorian of the beginning. Colin Firth did also very well, only a slight hint of Mr. Darcy from time to time. (He has been doing better lately, I'm happy for him!) The bits that followed the books were good, and those that didn't were simply unnecessary. We didn't need Lord Henry's daughter to mess with Dorian - or Dorian falling in love, for that matter. Props on the time skip though - no annoying "a few years later" text!



I think this pretty much sums up my latest seen movies.