Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels (Everything Austen II)

As part of my last item to check off for the Everything Austen II Challenge, I read some more in Dierdre Le Faye's book Jane Austen: The World of Her Novel. I qualified my EA II list by saying that I needed to "read some/part/skim" this book because I am not the greatest of non-fiction readers.  I don't do well at all with them.  Even when it's a subject I enjoy, my eyes still start to fall shut!  I thought that if I qualified it some I might accomplish what I set out to do.  Lo and behold, I did!

In July I read the P&P section of Le Faye's book and just last night I read the section about Persuasion. (One of the other items on my EA II list was to read Persuasion again.  I have started it but have not made it very far yet because I got sidetracked by other Christmas present books.  But I was inspired to read this section because I wanted to complete the EA II Challenge and I received the DVD to the 2007 BBC Masterpiece production of Persuasion for Christmas, so I was itching to watch it.)

With my free evening (hubby off with da boys/child sleeping), I charted my course of action--curled up on the couch reading the P section of said book and when finished a reward of a Christmas cookie with hot chocolate as the DVD started.

So let's review with a few insights: I am hardly two chapters into rereading the actual novel, having not read it in a year or two or maybe three.  It is my second favorite JA novel only to P&P.  While reading Le Faye's synopsis of P and her insights to it, I discovered several things:

1. I apparently have no memory about some of the characters and their connections.  Mrs. Clay was Mr. Shepherd's daughter? (Mr. Shepherd is Sir Walter's lawyer in the beginning of the novel.)  Yup, missed that the first reading or two.

2. My mental map of England's Somersetshire is lacking.  Erm...umm, and my mental map of southern England in general is also lacking.  Since the map Ms. Le Faye offers the reader is from the early 19th C and the writing is hard to read, I found that a quick perusal of the area from Google maps allowed me to actually recall the setting's actual locales. (IE:  approximate location of Kellynch Hall to Bath and to Lyme etc.)

3. What I really like about Le Faye's work is that it is quite accessible to most readers.  She gives just enough background information to explain some of the historical events happening during the writing/setting of the book as well as gives some explanation of common customs of the time while reading the detailed synopsis of the story that as a reader you don't get too lost to those details without losing the story. Granted, a simple background knowledge of JA, her writing, Regency/Georgian England does help.  Hmmm, maybe I'm a bit biased and maybe it's not so easy a read as I initially thought.

If I have a complaint about JA: The World of Her Novels it is that there are a few points where in order to offer better explanation of the time or custom, Le Faye quotes a journal/diary/memoir (some other source) and does not tell the reader where the information came from with a citation  or source etc. Gha!--A bit frustrating for the trained English teacher/librarian that I am...This work is said to be one of the books in terms of JA literature background and criticism.  I, of course, wanted to know where the more detailed account came from.

So to finish out my delightful JA evening, I watched the 2007 Persuasion.  Ok, I'm torn here.  I love the Amanda Root/Ciaran Hinds 1995 version.  LOVE IT!  But this one is pretty good, and Rupert Penry-Jones as Captain Wentworth is a pretty good thing to look at.  But where I struggle is that both Penry-Jones and Sally Hawkins (Anne) show such guarded emotions.  In the 1995 P, the viewer feels the pain Anne feels, they see Wentworth struggle and feel it, too.  I wasn't sure what I was seeing and was left with a rather disconnected feeling as I watched the 2007 version.  I think the 1995 P might simply be the better version.  But of course, I'll need to watch the 2007 one another half dozen times to figure this out.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Jane Austen in Manhattan (Everything Austen 2)

(The below little ditty is mostly from my previous blog post, but for EA posting purposes, I am reposting so I can submit to the EA Challenge.) 

I watched "Jane Austen in Manhattan", circa 1980, as one of my "things" in the Everything Austen challenge.  I have one word to say about it: BAD.  So bad I'm not sure what to say or write. I'm just speechless.  I really struggled with the premise, the idea and the well, just plain old strangeness of the story and characters.  Not really a whole lot of Jane Austen here. Ok, so the premise is that they are going to perform a play based on JA's Juvenilia--Sir Charles Grandison. But really it was so minimal and the story so very strange.  The one and only highlight:  A very, very young Sean Young.  I think it was her first movie--ever.  Overall, not worth my time.  Slightly regretting the time I spent watching it, although I think I got some laundry folded. (At least I can tick off an EA item?) Sigh.  Going to read some Persuasion now....

Friday, December 17, 2010

5 Jane-ish Things (of Some or Little Importance)

I think I might change the title of this blog to Jane Austen Slacker.  Where does the time go and where to my blog posts go that I write as I'm drifting off to dreamland?  Surely, Jane is finding them across the mist and is pleased by my thoughts, at least.

Here's a short recap of thoughts and ruminations Jane related since my last true post.  (Excluding birthday wishes.)

1. I watched "Jane Austen in Manhattan", circa 1980, as one of my "things" in the Everything Austen challenge.  I have one word to say about it: BAD.  So bad I'm not sure what to say or write. I'm just speechless.  I really struggled with the premise, the idea and the well, just plain old strangeness of the story and characters.  Not really a whole lot of Jane Austen here.  The one and only highlight:  A very, very young Sean Young.  I think it was her first movie--ever.  Overall, not worth my time.  Slightly regretting the time I spent watching it, although I think I got some laundry folded. (At least I can tick off an EA item?)

2.  As seen in the Janeite blogosphere:  From the website Single Minded Women...They are offering up a series of "What Would Jane Austen Do?"  to their blog/article post.  Priceless relationship advice from Jane's POV.  I suggest reading them.

3. Also as seen in the Janeite blogosphere:  Read this article:  "Colin, Go Jump in the Lake.  Wait, don't!" by Scott Herhold from the San Jose Mercury News.  If this article doesn't make you smile, nothing will.  (I've heard Colin Firth is up for some serious Oscar nods with "The King's Speech."  Must see this before the Oscars...!)

4. Why I Wish I Had A HECK OF A LOT OF CASH! Austen family china available at auction?!? AND some of Martha Lloyd's copies of Austen's books?  Drool! (And no that wasn't a zombie...)

5. Blush.  Awww shucks! I was mentioned on a blog:  Laurel Ann at Austenprose mentioned me in some of the JA Blogs in the blogosphere.  I'm flattered and blushing, but really.  This momofa2yrold, schoollibrarianwhoonlyreadsllamallamaredpajama, janeiteluciddreamingbloggerwhodoesn'thavetimetoshaveherlegsletanloneblog does not deserve the nod! (Again, I am contemplating changing the name of this blog to JA Slacker.  Any artists want to help make me a cute header to go with that thought?)  Sigh, blush and well, I'd better get my act together and try to work on writing inspiring thoughts (and maybe some new ones rather than just reporting what I see/read in the Janeite blogworld). (At least the librarian in my knows about copyright etc. and I don't steal content from others without citing my sources properly!)  Anyway, I guess I've just discovered what one of my new year's resolution needs to be:  write some fabulously witty thoughts regarding JA.  (Hmmmm.....does it count if I write them in my head and they never make it to paper/computer?)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Happy Day To You, Dear Jane!

Dear Jane,

Today (December 16) marks your 235th birthday.  Happy Birthday, Dear Jane!  Or, as I like to say to my friends and family, Happy Day To You!  (You don't mind if I liken you to friends and family, do you?)  I just wanted to make sure you know how much we're still enjoying your delightful wit and wry humor these days.  We know you didn't mean to be such a big deal, but you have this amazing ability to share day to day life regarding friends, family, & romance in ways that still speaks to so many of us today.  Well done, kind lady!  That's quite a talent that you've got there!  (Which must be why I've asked for yet another copy of P&P for Christmas this year.  It IS a different edition, I tell you!)

Granted, there have been a few set backs related to your works (Namely mashups--Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.  The zombie fighting duo of Darcy and Elizabeth seems to work for most.) Know that it's done out of love.  (Well, some love, and a lot of money making schemes....but I think as someone who worried about money and their livelihood throughout most of your life, you can understand.)

Either way, I digress.  Today, I raise a copy of P&P in your honor.  I will recite to my now sleeping 2 year old the first few paragraphs of the book just as I did to her as she slept in my arms in the hospital when she was born.  Whether she likes it or not, she's a Janeite in the making.   Happy Thought, indeed!

To you, dear Jane, to you!
Bloggin' BB
Delightful graphic from Adriana Zardini (JASBRA) to celebrate the day and to celebrate the online party!
Should you want to participate in Jane Austen's Birthday party online, go to My Jane Autsten Bookclub and checkout the links of great bloggers!