Dragons and Jane Austen
No, not together….though that would be interesting. I suppose you could do something like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies did, but with enormous winged serpents.
These are just the two things in my head this morning. Have to make a few modifications to the chapters, which have otherwise gotten a big smiley thumbs up from my lovely agent…these mainly involve having my heroine be even more incredulous and freaked out by her rescue at the hands of a guy who can apparently turn into something enormous that could eat her. She’s very concerned about the being eaten part. Of course, we all know that ain’t gonna happen:-) Bane isn’t a white dragon, but I thought the picture was cool anyway. Especially because this one actually looks happy while watching the sun set. You don’t get a lot of happy with dragon pictures!
As for Jane Austen, I continued to slog my way through Persuasion last night at the pool. I’d heard some really lovely things about this book, but I’m just having a rough time getting into it. I can see who she’s going to hook the heroine up with in the end, but so far, they have zero chemistry, she has like two other guys chasing her, he’s in some sort of love with this annoying giggly chick who has managed, through her own idiocy, to get a concussion, and besides all that, Anne (the heroine) is awfully weak-willed for my taste. Give me Lizzy Bennett any day!! I’m doing a lot of skimming, and I hate it when that happens. It’s going to be one of those times when I get to the finish only out of mild curiosity about how things are wrapped up. Have any of you read this or seen it? I wish I could love it. I certainly wanted to. But ugh.
Happy Hump Day, everyone! We’re working our way through January, one of my least favorite months, and I’m glad the other side of it is approaching! Got a seedling catalog yesterday, and am debating about whether to doom a few poor plants by having them sent here. Though I have to say, the Northern Spy apple tree I got from these people last year probably doubled in size and was gorgeous by the time it went to sleep. I, erm, killed the rest of what I bought there, but I have a sneaking suspicion that’s on me. Just hoping everything wakes up healthy in the spring. I miss being warm outside!
I hear ya on the plant destruction, about the only plant I can keep is a rhodeadredian
Hi Kendra! I am a HUGE Jane Austen fan- love her characters and settings.
I saw the 1995 Masterpiece Theater version of Persausion and liked it a lot.
But my very, very favorite Jane Austen story outside of the P&P is “Mansfield Park” – I adore that story and movie.
If you want a good dose of Jane Austen with chemistry and sexy scenes, rent the 1999 version of Mansfield Park with Jonny Lee Miller (he’s SOOOOO great as Edmund!!).
Those are my two all time favorite Jane Austen movies, followed VERY closesly by “Sense & Sensibility” (1995 version that won DOZENS of awards) with Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman – Alan Rickman STOLE my heart in this version. Love that man!
Now you’ve got me craving Jane Austen movies! *grins*
I think the 1990′s were VERY good to Jane Austen classics and they are my favorite versions with the exception of P&P – I like the Kiera Knightly version the best from 2005 – but Colin Firth did a superb job in the 1995 version.
Now I know I am going to have to watch some Jane Austen movie today! lol
MsM
Ok computer glitch, I was trying to spell this big word, spelling not my best subject, and all of a sudden, it posted. Well what I was trying to say is I can’t keep anything green alive…now my Mother was a diferent story. We always had plants around the house, it was like a forrest of plants.
The surviving plant was one given to my Mom when I was born, one of those viney thingies…yes the plant is still with us and in the same planter is was given in. I turn 53 in May, so I must say after many moves, having a cat almost eat the thing alive, to still have it here….I’m good!!!LOL
I should try plants but I’m not sure I have a green thumb. I have not read Persuasion as of yet though we’ve sold a few copies lately for school.
The dragon picture is really cool and I’m excited about your upcoming books Kendra. Happy Wednesday
Jessica, LOL, there always seems to be one that makes it despite our best efforts to kill them! I have a very nice Christmas cactus that my grandma grew from one of her clippings (she’s actually really good at growing things, which she sadly didn’t pass to my mom or me). I have no idea how it survives, but I’m glad for it. probably helps that I don’t have to remember to water it very often! That’s so cool that you still have that plant.
Hi MsM! AHA, I had a feeling you were a fellow Austen junkie! I hate that I’m struggling through Persuasion, but I can see where it might make a much more engaging movie than a book, so I’m going to finish it and then watch the version you mentioned before I make my mind up about it completely. I don’t know if I can even have a favorite film version of the rest…I LOVE Sense & Sensibility and have just about worn out my DVD. Rickman. *sigh* I have such a thing for that man. He can read me Shakespeare any day
I also love the Gwyneth Paltrow version of Emma, and I love BOTH versions of P&P, for different reasons. The newer one is much more romantic, I think, but there is a sweetness about the Firth version (apart from the awesome fact that it just has Firth in it…YUM), and you can’t beat the detail. Plus, I love that they made Miss Bingley so utterly, ridiculously hateable, and that you get to see Darcy really set her down about her constant bitchery with Lizzy and her “fine eyes”. That turban…OMG. I actually think I may have seen that version of Mansfield Park, but it would have been forever ago. I’ll have to check it out again! I just have to get over the fact that Edmund and Fanny are first cousins. I do recall being squicked out by that, but not much else. Hmm, maybe I’ll watch it this weekend! Yay Jane!
Hi Ana! I hope you have a greener thumb than I do! Glad you like the white dragon…I thought it was pretty cool too:-) Happy Wednesday!
Kendra,
I’m lucky I guess. I come from a long line of Greenthumbs. My yard is small. But it’s covered in flowers from Spring to fall. Right now the snow banks are too high to see my Autumn Joy Sedums. I’m ready for spring. I’ll start planning the color and flower arrangements soon. But I’m not a big Jane Austen Fan. I’ve watched the films. But Dragons yes!! How about Rock the Big Tooth Fairy? LOL!!! I just watched Ellen. And Josh Holloway was on there. Some Day he needs to wear a Mantastic Man Crown. Damn he cleans up nicely. OMG!!!! I read the Dragondoodle story. I’m so happy that the Dragon was tamed. But now I’m worried for the single gals, they better be afraid. If they start dreaming about Draggona. Runaway.
Good morning!You know, I have to agree, January would be my least favorite month, followed very closely by April. By Friday, I have to come up with a 4th qtr tax payment for my husband’s business and while I’ve been doing this for him for nearing 20 years, sadly, it still seems to take be by surprise and depress me, completely and utterly, to no end. Once it’s done, I’ll bounce back-but writing that check just about kills me everytime.
Love plants, would have them all over the house, but sadly, I did not inherit the green thumb of my grandfather who could literally take a branch, stick it in the ground and it would take root. My husband is pretty good with vegetables and we’ll have a little garden each year with tomatoes, zucchini, and green beans but that’s it. The “annuals” we plan each year do not come back in the spring-luckily they are inexpensive and do make the front yard pretty with all their colors.
When I was at B/N the other day I picked up Wuthering Heights (yet again) because you had discussed reading P&P last week. Tried to read a few pages, and it’s just how it’s written-the “language” I just can’t get into it. I don’t seem to have the same reaction to the spoken old style and proper English (as I have always been a huge fan of the PBS series), but reading it just is so not my thing!
Happy Wednesday!
Hi Donna! You’re so lucky, with your green thumb and your beautiful garden. I wish some of that luck would rub off on my and my yearly Garden of Horrors, LOL. Josh Holloway is some hotness, for sure. I’m sure I can have him wear the crown one week! I even like him scruffy, actually:-) Draggona, huh? THAT sounds interesting!
Hey Lisa! You have a veggie garden? I want to try one of those! My uncle is like your grandfather. Back when we all lived in the same neighborhood, everyone made him do their landscaping. It’s like all he had to do was touch something. YUCK on the tax payment. Sorry it’s going to give you a crummy week…play some Gaga and try to smile:-) I don’t know that I ever asked you, but what sort of business does he have? Don’t feel bad about Wuthering Heights. I read it a zillion years ago and didn’t like it at all. The language can be tough. In some things it doesn’t bother me at all, but it depends. I’ve watched enough movies based on Austen books that the reading of some of the expressions makes me smile, because I can “hear” them now, you know? Have a great day!
Hi Lisa! If you have trouble with the language in the classics try and abridged version – those are easier but still hold to the story.
Hi MsM, thanks for the heads up! I’ll have to check it out.
Kendra, my hubby has a mobile business and his customers are the big dealerships up and down auto row here. He does interior repairs on used and new cars…vinyl, leather repairs and re-dyeing. There was a time he was the only one out there, but boy has that changed over the years (very competitive) but he’s been very lucky to have some loyal people. Of course, the economy is bad, so not a lot of car sales….but he’s out there everyday. He’s got a lot of years of experience and it’s pretty amazing that he can make something look almost new.