A Darcy Battle

Visit Jane Austen's World and vote in The Battle of the Darcys: Colin Firth vs. Matthew MacFadyen (my favorite Mr. Darcy!).

Ms. Place has basically declared a winner, but you can still vote (for Matthew!!!).

New Fancies

If you read my blogs, then you know I am a devout devotee of Jane Austen's. So, I was very excited to receive an e-mail from Sourcebooks, Inc., a publishing company, asking if I would like to read a couple of books and review them. I replied that I would be delighted.

Here are the press releases for the books, which I will receive soon:

The First Jane Austen Sequel Ever Written is Finally Republished!


If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Jane Austen should feel adequately flattered by modern-day authors. However, the Jane Austen sequel is not a modern creation. The first ever Jane Austen sequel was published in 1914 and quickly became a hit among Austen fans eager for more. However, that once beloved first sequel has been unavailable to readers for nearly a decade.

Sourcebooks, Inc. is proud to once again bring the original Jane Austen sequel into the hands of Austen lovers, Old Friends and New Fancies: An Imaginary Sequel to the Novels of Jane Austen by Sybil G. Brinton (ISBN: 978-1-4022-0888-1; July 2007; $14.95 U.S./$19.95 CAN; Paperback)


Charles Wenz, Life Member of the Jane Austen Society, calls Old Friends and New Fancies “the ultimate Jane Austen sequel.” Unlike other sequels, which focus on just one Austen classic, Brinton’s novel impressively intertwines the lives of the most beloved characters from all six. Making use of references made to the characters by Jane Austen herself, documented in her nephew’s memoir, Brinton brings together all the characters left standing at the end of the novels—particularly the unmarried ones—for an inventive and entertaining story of matchmaking.

About the Author

Little is known of Sybil G. Brinton. It is believed that Ms. Brinton was born in England in the 1870s, and that she was in her late thirties when her book was published. She describes her work as a “little attempt at picturing the after-adventures of some of Jane Austen’s characters.”

And the second:

Letters from Pemberley

The Story Lives on in this Enchanting and Celebrated Sequel to Pride and Prejudice


Originally self-published, Letters from Pemberley achieved great success, selling over 8,000 copies and receiving four stars and 88 reviews on Amazon. Sourcebooks, Inc. is proud to finally give this book its proper place in the bookselling market so it can reach even more Austen lovers.

Letters from Pemberley: The First Year by Jane Dawkins (ISBN: 978-1-4022-0906-2; May 2007; $13.95 U.S./ $17.95 CAN; paperback) has been praised by Susan Watkins, author of Jane Austen: In Style as “[D]elightful . . . it is great fun. Well done, Jane Dawkins!” Susannah Fullerton, President of The Jane Austen Society of Australia calls the book “[A] pleasant and believable story . . . an enjoyable read.”

Rather than a sequel, this book more closely resembles an old-fashioned patchwork quilt, combining Austen’s ideas, language and historical context with Dawkins’s original story. Dawkins caringly gives Austen her due, incorporating a line or a phrase or a sentence from one of Jane Austen’s books or letters into every piece of her tale about Elizabeth Bennet’s first eventful year at Pemberley.

About the Author

Jane Dawkins has been an Austen fan most of her life. Born in Palestine, she grew up in Wiltshire, neighboring county to Jane Austen’s Hampshire. This book is a product of her curiosity about Elizabeth’s first days at Pemberley and her study of not only Austen’s life but also her times. Dawkins aspires for her readers to be as entertained by reading this book as she was by writing it.

How Well Do You Know the Regency?

Over at Jane Austen's World, Ms. Place has posted a link to a quiz on the Regency.

As I adore studying the Regency, I had to take the quiz. I am pleased to say I got a 10 of 10!

You will find the quiz here.

Don't forget to visit Jane Austen's World. Ms. Place always has fascinating information about Jane's family and the Regency in general.

The Battle of Waterloo

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1815, Waterloo, Belgium, where the English Duke of Wellington, principally, defeated, for the last time, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Huzzah for General Wellington!


You can read all about the bloody Battle of Waterloo, including combatants, generals, British regiments present, and troop movements, here.


Today, Waterloo reenactment draws thousands.

And more:
The Allied Order of Battle
The French Order
The Casualties (British only)
Uniforms, Arms, Equipment, Training

Waterloo-The Battle
Eyewitness to History: Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo

The Closer: Season Premiere Tonight!

One of my favorite televsion shows of all time, The Closer, begins its third season tonight! (official website with great stuff here) All tonight and tomorrow you can watch re-runs of the first and second seasons on TNT. Don't miss the 3rd season premiere at 9pm!

I can't wait!

Reading Burns Calories

Did you know that reading (especially Pride and Prejudice!) burns calories?

That's according to a recent study:

The researchers say when a person has been engaged in reading for a few hours, his basal metabolic rate doubles.

People normally burn around one calorie per minute when sitting still, they say. However, reading encourages the production of adrenaline, and thereby causes BMR to rise to up to 1.75 calories per minute.
[. . .]
They say if a person reads at a rate of 300 words a minute, he may burn off more than 1,100 calories by the end.

And my favorite:

9. Pride and Prejudice: Jane Austen (443 calories)

Get reading!

Finish the Sentence Meme

I saw this over at Kwizgiver's blog what if this is as good as it gets? and thought I would post it too. :)

My Roommate and I once: tore the sheet. When we were little, my sister and I shared a bed. We were fighting one night and kicking and the sheet tore (she did it!!!). We told our mother that it just tore.

Never in my life have I: wanted to be drunk. I get migraines occasionally. Why would I purposefully give myself a horrid headache?

High school was: a great experience at a wonderful school.

When I am nervous: push my glasses back and tuck my hair behind my ears. I hate my hair in my face. Oh, I probably blush, too (though not as much as I used to!).

My hair: is right at my shoulders and I have no ability to make it look at all styled.

When I was 5: I had been friends with my dearest friend Roz for over a year.

By this time next year: I will hopefully have a teaching job at my favorite school!

My favorite aunt is: a huge Johnny Depp fan and absolutely fabulous.

I have a hard time understanding: why people don't like to read!

You know I like you if: I take the time to bake/cook and make things for you (that applies to anyone!).

My ideal breakfast is: Ferguson's French Toast with Hashbrowns and Crisp Bacon, with hot tea.

If you visit my hometown: I will take you to Ferguson's!

If you spend the night at my house: I will make sure your room is comfy and has some little surprises like candles or soap or chocolate.

My favorite blond is: not a blonde anymore (but her soul is still blonde!).

My favorite brunette is: only 4 years old!

The animal I would like to see flying is: a horse. Like Pegasus.

I shouldn't have been: staying up so late all week!

Last night: I went to see the midnight opening of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer with my sister. We saw a group of boys who just graduated from our high school (where we substitute teach) and said hello. Oh, and we got to see the HP and the OotP trailer! Exciting!

I've been told I look like: someone I have forgotten!

If I could have any car it would be: some really lovely British car with a driver! :)

Jill's Book Bag

I saw this over at Cozy Reader and thought it was a fantastic idea.

Jill over at Who Could Ask For Anything More? has come up with a contest of sorts called Jill's Book Bag.

Here's her plan:

Jill's Book Bag will be a monthly event wherein one participate will receive my pick-of-the-month book, plus some other goodies of my choosing, all sent to you in a cool little bag.

How does one ener?

To be eligible for the Book Bag:

1. leave a comment here and
2. link back to this post with a post on your own blog.

This month's contest is open until Midnight (9pm PST) tonight, so hurry over!

Friday's Feast #2

Appetizer
Fill in the blank: The best thing about where I live is _________________…
The best thing about where I live is having all four seasons.

Soup
Create a new name for a deodorant (like “Flower Fresh” or “Shower Scent”).
Lady In Lavender

Salad
What was the last piece of software you installed onto your computer?
I have no idea. My dad does that sort of thing.

Main Course
If you were to receive a superlative award today beginning with the words ”Most likely to…”, what would the rest of the phrase say?
Most Likely to Read Several Books

Dessert
What two colors do you like to wear together?
Navy Blue and White

FF2 and HP5

My sister and I just got back from the Midnight showing of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. If you liked the first one, you'll like this one. It was pretty good and not too long, good summer entertainment.

The most exciting thing, I have to say, was the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix trailer that played before FF2. I was not expecting it and it was super exciting! I cannot wait to see it in . . . what does the countdown say? 25 days? It was fabulous, chilling, and great!

More later.

Vote for P&P!

Via Austen-tatious:

Head over to The ultimate NY book bracket: Semifinals and vote for my favorite Pride and Prejudice! It is up against Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner .

One More For Today

You scored as Elinor Dashwood, As Marianne's older sister, Elinor lives at the other end of the emotional spectrum. She rarely reveals her intense feelings and is more concerned with being honest and loyal than having what she deserves. Even though her intentions are pure, she sets herself up for loss by constantly placing other people before her own needs. Overall, Elinor is gentle and rational but is just as capable of radical emotions (despite her withholding them) as her sister. Elinor Dashwood 75% Elizabeth Bennet 72% Charlotte Lucas 63% Lady Catherine 44% Marianne Dashwood 41% Emma Woodhouse 38% Jane Bennet 38% Which Jane Austen Character are You? (For Females) Long Quiz!!! created with QuizFarm.com

Which Classic Female Literary Character Am I?

Which Classic Female Literary Character Are you?

You're Elizabeth Bennett of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen!
Take this quiz!








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Napoleon's Sword Sells for $6.4 Million

AP: Napoleon's sword sold for $6.4 million---

FONTAINEBLEAU, France - A gold-encrusted sword Napoleon wore into battle in Italy 200 years ago was sold Sunday for more than $6.4 million, an auction house said.

The last of Napoleon's swords in private hands, it has an estimated value of far less — about $1.6 million, according to the Osenat auction house managing the sale.

Applause rang out in a packed auction hall across the street from one of Napoleon's imperial castles in Fontainebleau, a town southeast of Paris, when the sword was sold.

Osenat did not identify the buyer, but said the sword will remain in Napoleon's family, which had put it up for sale. The auction house did not immediately elaborate on the details.

My previous post on this topic here.

And in other news, Napoleon runs for parliament seat. Seriously. Right now.

*Sigh*

I saw this photo and HAD to blog it. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous. Thanks to Poebegone on Flickr for having it!

Pride & Prejudice - Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet 05,
originally uploaded by poebegone.

I ADORE this picture!

Is He Out There?

My mother and I are watching my favorite Pride & Prejudice and it is pouring rain outside.

I wonder if I should go outdoors and see if Mr. Darcy is waiting for me?


After all, that could be my hair in the picture. Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) and I do have the same color of hair and eyes.

It's Rags to Riches!

When I was growing up, I was obsessed with horses (especially black ones). While I don't think about horses quite so much anymore, I watched the Preakness last month and the 139th Belmont Stakes today. Horse Racing is the sport of Kings, you know.

The Belmont was exciting! I was going to cheer for Curlin, who won the Preakness, but during the race couldn't make up my mind. CP West was a gorgeous black, but then . . .

AP: It's the filly! Rags to Riches takes Belmont Stakes---

NEW YORK (AP) -- Rags to Riches is racing's queen for a day.

The fabulous filly outdueled Preakness winner Curlin in a breathtaking stretch run and won the Belmont Stakes by a head Saturday, becoming the first of her sex in more than a century to take the final leg of the Triple Crown.

"My hat is off to Rags to Riches," said Curlin's trainer, Steve Asmussen, who never gave up hope his chestnut colt would prevail in the dramatic final strides.

Rags to Riches is the first filly to win in 102 years, since Tanya in 1905. Before the race, the commentators were doing a story on the fact that no filly had won in that many years and how fillies are usually not as strong as the male horses (which is really a big "no kidding"), etc., etc. But, apparently, Rags to Riches is a bit bigger than the typical filly and trains with male horses. She certainly did well against them today!

Rags to Riches became the third filly to capture the Belmont -- Ruthless took the first running in 1867 and Tanya won in 1905. Only 22 fillies have tried the Belmont, with Rags to Riches the first since Silverbulletday finished seventh in 1999.

Very elite company.

Despite a slight stumble at the start, Rags to Riches turned the Belmont into a sensational showdown -- a true battle of the sexes.

When the field of seven 3-year-olds turned for home, four horses were up front, Rags to Riches on the outside and Curlin sneaking in between two other rivals.

In an instant, it became a two-horse race -- a quarter-mile to the finish of the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont, the longest and most grueling of the Triple Crown races.

The end was quite exciting and I was on my feet. Horses are such beautiful creatures. I am in awe.

Congratulations, Rags to Riches!
Isn't she a beauty? (#7) I really want to go to a horse race now!

Napoleon's Battle Sword For Sale

My favorite period of history to study is the English Regency. Of course, during the same time period Napoleon Bonaparte was taking over the Continent, so most people know the period as the Napoleonic Era.

Any article, book, story about this time period captures my attention quite easily. I was interested to see this article today:

AP: Napoleon's battle sword up for auction---

FONTAINEBLEAU, France - After more than 200 years in the family, the gold-encrusted sword Napoleon carried into battle in Italy will be auctioned off Sunday, across the street from one of his imperial castles.

The intricately decorated blade is 32 inches long and curves gently — an inspiration Napoleon drew from his Egyptian campaign, auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat said.

"He noticed that the Arab swords, which were curved, were very effective in cutting off French heads" and ordered an imitation made upon his return, Osenat explained.

What fascinating information!

Napoleon's Battle Sword
More about the sword:

The sword was worn by Napoleon — who was not yet emperor at the time — into the battle of Marengo in June 1800, where he launched a surprise attack to push the Austrian army from Italy and seal France's victory, Chataignier said.

After the battle, Napoleon gave the sword to his brother as a wedding present, and it was passed down through the generations, never leaving the family, according to the auction house.

Today the sword is owned by eight direct descendants of Napoleon, including Prince Victor Napoleon, Chataignier said. The auction house will hold the auction in view of Fontainebleau castle south of Paris, constructed by Napoleon as a quiet retreat.

Strong enough for battle, the sword is uncommonly ornate, with geometric designs in gold covering the hilt and most of the blade.

You can follow the timeline of the Egypt Campaign here. The French landed at Alexandria, Egypt on 1 July 1798 and took the city on 2 July 1798. A French soldier discovered the famous Rosetta Stone only 17 days later, on 19 July 1798.

Of course, Napoleon eventually lost (again) to Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, at Waterloo, Belgium, on 18 June 1815.

I would love to own this sword (or at least see it!).

Friday's Feast #1

I feel like playing around on the internet this evening, so I thought I would join Friday's Feast (at least today!)

Appetizer
What do you consider to be the ultimate snack food?
I think popcorn is the ultimate snack food. It is my favorite snack and you can do so many things with it. My favorites are salt & butter or Cheese Whiz (which is kind of a family tradition).

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name?
My last name is not very popular or common, so I would say a 1. It is Americanized French and I don't know of anyone other than my (huge) family in the U.S. Basically, it is a big, well-known region of France.

Salad
Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why?
I was just lamenting the fact that Nick-at-Night seems to have gone away. I used to watch it all the time as a child. My all-time favorite sitcom character . . . that is a difficult decision! I would probably have to say Samantha Stephens from Bewitched. I always wanted to be her.

Main Course
Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies.
I do shop online sometimes. I usually like to browse Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Half.com. I usually buy books.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I think ___________ should be ___________.
I think Jane Austen should be mandatory reading for everyone!

The Classic Dames Test

Your Score: Myrna Loy

You scored 23% grit, 28% wit,

23% flair, and 38% class!

You are class itself, the calm, confident "perfect woman." Men turn and look at you admiringly as you walk down the street, and even your rivals have a grudging respect for you. You always know the right thing to say, do and, of course, wear. You can take charge of a situation when things get out of hand, and you're a great help to your partner even if they don't immediately see or know it. You are one classy dame. Your screen partners include William Powell and Cary Grant, you little simmerpot, you.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Chicken Curry!

A couple of summers ago my dear friend Lady Lori introduced me to Indian food, which is one of her favorites. I have had it a couple of times, but never attempted it until recently.

As I do for most recipes, I turned to Rachael Ray, specifically her magazine, and found this: Chandran's Chicken Curry.

The kitchen smelled fabulous the entire evening. Cinnamon. Coconut milk. Garlic. Fresh Ginger (Yum-o!).

It was easy, very delicious, and, based on my experience, tasted authentic. If you have never made curry before, I highly recommend this recipe!

Here are some pictures of my Chicken Curry:

Chicken Curry

Basmati Rice and Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry with Basmati Rice and Chai Tea

We Miss You, Dani!

Dani

13 May 1998-2 June 2006

We love you always!

Always Happy to Be Lizzy

Take the Quiz here!

I Know It Well

The Pirates of the Carribean Quiz: For Those who Memorize Movies

My, are you good!! You know the movie up and down, backwards and forwards. You could probably quote it in your sleep. Good job.
Take this quiz!








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Oh! Pirates!

Just got back from POTC: AWE (oh, that spells "awe" and I am definitely in it . . .). Fabulous! Exciting! Adventurous! Romantic! Scary! Just excellent!

Go see it! And, even though the end credits are super long, do stay for a very special scene.

And may I say, Will Turner aka Orlando Bloom . . . Hot! (And I usually don't talk that way!)



I will write a review some time this weekend.

"At the End of the World, the Adventure Begins"

In a few short hours, I'm off to see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End!!! I am very excited, as Pirates is one of my all-time favorite movies.


Are you going??? Let us know what you think!

Official website here.

Ship For Sale

I'll take! Especially if it comes with Horatio Hornblower (aka Ioan Gruffudd) aboard. Well, I wish, at least.

the Daily Mail (UK): Yours for £3m - one replica 18th Century frigate---

Are you bored by your Learjet? Fed up with your private island? Then why not splash out on a full-size replica of an 18th Century British frigate, complete with 12 cannon? One care- ful owner and an absolute snip at £3million.

The Grand Turk is the ultimate millionaire's plaything. I know because I built her.

She was commissioned by ITV for the Hornblower series starring Ioan Gruffudd in the title role and Robert Lindsay, and was the first wooden frigate to be built for more than 150 years.

Isn't that amazing?!

We finished the ship, which we named the Grand Turk, in August 1997, at a cost of £2million and only a month late. She was a magnificent sight: a ship Nelson himself would have been proud of, and we were anxious to set sail for Yalta.
[. . .]
Hornblower premiered on ITV that autumn and was a huge critical and popular success. Since then, the Grand Turk has been used for sailing events, corporate or private charter, and receptions in her spacious saloon or on the deck. But now I'm putting her up for sale for £3million because I am retiring.

She would make a fantastic toy for a rich business- man and, of course, taking her out on the waves is an experience like no other. There's messing about in boats - and there's piloting the Grand Turk.

I will be sad to let her go - she is a wonderful reminder of how great the British Navy once was, and she draws crowds wherever she goes.

God bless her, and all who sail in her.

How I wish I could afford to purchase The Grand Turk. It is a magnificent ship. Use the link to see some pictures or, better yet, buy the Horatio Hornblower dvds and see The Grand Turk in action! Magnificent!

Hokie Healing

If you knit, you might want to participate in this:
Use the link to find all the information you will need.

Another Tea Benefit?

Reuters: Tea drinkers may have lower skin cancer risk---

People who unwind with a cup of tea every night may have a lower risk of two common forms of skin cancer, new research suggests.

In a study of nearly 2,200 adults, researchers found that tea drinkers had a lower risk of developing squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma, the two most common forms of skin cancer.

Men and women who had ever been regular tea drinkers -- having one or more cups a day -- were 20 percent to 30 percent less likely to develop the cancers than those who didn't drink tea.

The effect was even stronger among study participants who'd been tea fans for decades, as well as those who regularly had at least two cups a day, according to findings published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

However, the findings do not mean it's okay to bake in the sun as long as you have a cup of tea afterward. The researchers found no evidence that tea drinking lowered skin cancer risk in people who'd accumulated painful sunburns in the past.

Why?

Still, the findings support the theory that tea antioxidants may limit the damage UV radiation inflicts on the skin, according to the study authors, led by Dr. Judy R. Rees of Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

In particular, a tea antioxidant known as EGCG has been shown to reduce burning on UV-exposed skin.
[. . .]
Tea consumption was linked to a lower skin cancer risk, even with factors such as age, skin type and history of severe burns considered. However, tea drinkers who'd suffered multiple painful burns in the past did not have a lower risk of skin cancer.

It's possible, the researchers explain, that the antioxidants in tea are enough to limit skin damage caused by moderate sun exposure, but not the "more extreme" effects of sun exposure, such as cancer-promoting damage to the DNA in skin cells.

So drink more tea! I always recommend Earl Grey and English Breakfast.

And, while we are on the subject of tea, Queen Elizabeth is stateside and will be attending a White Tie State Dinner at the White House. One can only suppose they will have tea at some point. I wish I could be there.

Don't forget, don't add milk to your tea.

My VisualDNA

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Interview Me!

Kimba at Stay Sane Inside Insanity has chosen to Interview Me (read her interview here). If you'd also like to be interviewed, leave me a post & check out the "rules" below!

Here are her questions and my answers:

1. You've just been given $1000. What are you going to spend it on?

I would probably spend it on paying student loans, but that isn't very fun. So, instead, I would use it to pay for my airfare to England. I have long wanted to go there. See my next answer.

2. Where would you like to visit that you've never been to?

I would love to visit England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Going to those countries would be my dream trip and I would want to stay for ages and ages.

3. If you could instantly be given a talent, which would you choose?

I would love to be able to sing and sing opera, like Renee Fleming (and then I could duet with Josh Groban!). Isn't it beautiful?

4. Where did you last dine out & what did you order?

This afternoon I had lunch with my sister and father at one of our favorite restaurants/diner, Ferguson's. The diner scenes in Benny & Joon, starring Johnny Depp, were filmed at Ferguson's. They have great, inexpensive food. I had the half-order of French Toast with Bacon. Even the half-order is a ton of food. They use big, thick bread and lots of cinnamon. I like tons of syrup. Soooo good! I also had chocolate milk.

5. Do you subscribe to any magazines? Which ones?

I subscribe to Every Day with Rachael Ray (my favorite), Cooks Illustrated, Taste of Home, and Entertainment Weekly. I think that's it. I only subscribe to Entertainment Weekly because I got a free 8 week subscription when I purchased a movie and I haven't canceled, even though it has been a year and a half! Silly me!

Thanks, Kimba! Kimba and I share a birthday and a love of all things Regency England.

If you want to continue, here are the rules:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

We're going to see Josh Groban!

Ahh! I just bought tickets to see Josh Groban with my friends Aj and Lady Lori, in Seattle on 18 August 2007! I am soooooo very excited and we got absolutely fabulous seats!

Are you going?

For Shakespeare and St. George

Today is the great William Shakespeare's birthday and the Feast Day of England's patron Saint, St. George. Both events are worthy of note. So,

Happy Birthday, Shakespeare!

And,

"Cry God for Harry, England and St George!"
William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act 3, Scene 1, l. 31

I highly recommend this column about both.

26!

I will be away this weekend, working on a retreat, and my birthday is Saturday, 21 April (I share it with Queen Elizabeth II and Charlotte Bronte!)! There will be no posting (not that it hasn't been light already!). I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Friendship is the Finest Balm

I saw this quote over at the Jane Austen Quote of the Day blog and had to post it. Most appropriate (and I am also re-reading Northanger Abbey).

"Friendship is surely the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love."

• Northanger Abbey, volume 1, chapter 4

For K.: Adieu

How well do you know HP?

Entertainment Weekly has an abbreviated version of the huge Harry Potter quiz they put in the 6 April magazine. You can take the 12-question version here.

If you haven't seen the cover of Book 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, you can find it here (and pre-order it here.).

Technorati Tags: Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling, Book 7,

'Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art'

I love Keats' poetry, particularly poems such as "When I have fears that I may cease to be" (sadly, it foretells Keats' fate), "La Belle Dame Sans Merci," and "Ode On A Grecian Urn."

The Guardian (UK): Film-makers fall in love with Keats:

Rarely has death seemed so cruel yet so poetic. John Keats fell in love with Fanny Brawne when he saw her walking in her garden and was inspired to produce some of the most beautiful verse and love letters ever written. By the age of 25 he was dead, the world robbed of his genius by tuberculosis.

Perhaps it was only a matter of time before such ingredients caught a filmmaker's eye. The intense but doomed affair is to be the subject of a literary biopic written and directed by Oscar winner Jane Campion.
[. . .]
The film's title, Bright Star, comes from a love poem for Brawne which Keats wrote in the flyleaf of his copy of the works of Shakespeare. It begins: 'Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art'. It finishes with the memorable lines: 'Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,/To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,/Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,/ Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,/ And so live ever - or else swoon to death.'

Keats's life was even shorter than those of fellow Romantic poets Byron and Shelley. Living in Hampstead, north London, between 1818 and 1820, he enjoyed a stupendous burst of creativity, producing works including 'Ode to a Nightingale' and 'The Eve of St Agnes'. Brawne was the daughter of the family who lived next door and Keats initially considered her a 'minx' but could not help falling in love with her. They became engaged in October 1819 but the wedding day would never arrive. Stricken by tuberculosis, Keats was advised to seek a warmer climate, and left Britain for Italy in 1820. His final poem was called simply: 'To Fanny'.

Sadly, Keats and Fanny never met again. But such romance . . .

Gravely ill in Naples, he wrote of his love for Brawne to his friend Charles Brown: 'The persuasion that I shall see her no more will kill me... I can bear to die - I cannot bear to leave her. Oh, God! God! God! Every thing I have in my trunks that reminds me of her goes through me like a spear. The silk lining she put in my travelling cap scalds my head. My imagination is horridly vivid about her - I see her - I hear her. There is nothing in the world of sufficient interest to divert me from her for a moment... O that I could be buried near where she lives!... Oh, Brown, I have coals of fire in my breast. It surprises me that the human heart is capable of containing and bearing so much misery. Was I born for this end?'

He never saw her again and died in Rome in February 1821, unappreciated by the literary establishment during his lifetime. Brawne soon fell ill and went into mourning as if she had been married to Keats, wearing a widow's black dress for three years and spending hours in her room re-reading his letters or wandering alone on Hampstead Heath. In 1833 she married and later had two children, but never took off the ring Keats had given her. It is now on display in the museum at Keats's house, along with a lock of her hair and a letter to her from the poet.

You will find more information on John Keats, as well as his poetry, letters, etc., here.

Technorati Tags: John Keats, Fanny Brawne, Poetry, Films, Bright Star,

He Is Risen! Alleluia!

Luke 24:1-9:

1 But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. 5 They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? 6 He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day."

8 And they remembered his words.

9 Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.


Jesus Christ is Risen Today! Alleluia!
Happy Easter!

Opening Day for America's Pastime!

Today is Opening Day for the 2007 Baseball Season! I am watching my Seattle Mariners take on the Oakland A's. Go M's!

Who are you cheering for?

100 Books

I have seen this several places and have even received it in my e-mail. Why I decided to do it today, I have no idea. I am not going to tag anyone, but feel free to copy it.

The 100 Books Meme
• bold the ones you’ve read
• italicize the ones you want to read
• cross out the ones you won’t touch with a 10 foot pole
• put a cross (+) in front of the ones on your book shelf
• asterisk (*) the ones you’ve never heard of

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. + Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. + To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. +Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. + The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. + The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. + The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. + Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. *A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11.+ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13.+ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. + Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone (J.K. Rowling)
17. *Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. + Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J.K. Rowling)
20. + Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. + The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. + The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. + Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. *The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. + Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. + The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. *Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. + 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. *The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. *The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. *I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. *The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. *The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. + Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. + Bible
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. *She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. + A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. *Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. + Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. + The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. + Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. * Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. + Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. + The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. *The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. *The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. *Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. + Of Mice And Men (John Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. *Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. + Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. + Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. * The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. * Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. * Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. * In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. + Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Ludlum)
96. + The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

Deathly Hallows Cover Released!

The cover of the final book in the Harry Potter Series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has been released.


Book 7 will be released on 21 July 2007, a week after the 5th movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, comes out in theaters.

According to the article:

As always, the cover was designed by illustrator Mary GrandPre, U.S. publisher Scholastic, Inc., announced Wednesday.

"The structures around Harry show evident destruction and in the shadows behind him, we see outlines of other people," David Saylor, Scholastic's art director, said in a statement.

"For the first time, the cover is a wraparound. On the back cover spidery hands are outstretched toward Harry. Only when the book is opened does one see a powerful image of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, his glowing red eyes peering out from his hood."

I can't wait to see the inside (but do I want to?).

What do you think of the cover of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows??

Technorati Tags: Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling, Book 7,

Josh on TV

Josh Groban will be making some appearances on tv shows in the coming week (or so).

According to his website, Josh will be on:

04.02.2007 ABC Jimmy Kimmel Show
04.03.2007 ABC Dancing With The Stars
04.25.2007 Fox American Idol

Technorati Tags: Josh Groban,

Lady Jane the Elegant

This is fun. What is your title?

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Most Noble Lady Jane the Elegant of Westley Waterless Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig oraibh!
From Lady Jane

(Lots more on St. Patrick's Day and Ireland here.)

My Favorite is Britain's Favorite

AFP: 'Pride And Prejudice' voted Britain's best read---

LONDON (AFP) - Jane Austen's "Pride And Prejudice" topped a poll of Britons' 100 favourite books released Thursday, indicating that classic novels are still most people's idea of a good read ahead of modern offerings.
[. . .]
In the rendering of "Pride and Prejudice", actor Colin Firth won the hearts of millions of British women with his portrait of Mr Darcy, including a notorious scene in which he emerged from a lake in a wet shirt.

The 1813 novel has also been filmed for the cinema several times, the most recent being a 2005 version with Keira Knightley and Donald Sutherland, and a Bollywood make-over in "Bride And Prejudice", starring Aishwarya Rai.

Its opening sentence, "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife," is one of the most famous in English literature.

My favorite film adaptation is the 2005 version.

Also on the list are a number of my other favorites: Rowling's Harry Potter, Tolkien's LOTR, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Jane Eyreby Charlotte Bronte, Shakespeare's Complete Works, and, of course, the Bible.

Go read Pride and Prejudice!