Mr Selfridge

Since the tragic decline of Downton Abbey (oh, what a waste!), there's hasn't been much in the way of period drama to attract my attention. Recent adaptations of Ford Madox Ford's Parade's End and Emile Zola's The Ladies' Paradise still haven't made their way to my side of the pond, nor has the second series of the poignant Call the Midwife. I've been feeling the lack of new material keenly.

Fortunately, the compelling Mr. Selfridge recently began broadcasting to American audiences. I've only watched the first four hours (all that's currently available), but thus far it's quite engaging and provides a sorely needed dose of period drama. Recounting the rise of Harry Gordon Selfridge's London department store and how it transformed the shopping experience, the series follows the socialiite world into which Mr. Selfridge attempts to ingratiate himself and the lower-middle-class workers under his employ.

Jeremy Piven does a wonderful job portraying the nuances of a man who is both charismatic and deeply flawed, but already I'm deeply invested in the narrative arcs of many female characters. Agnes Towler (Aisling Loftus), an accessories assistant who attempts to rise above the difficulties presented by a troubled family life, is an especial favourite. So is Lady Mae (Katherine Kelly), a former actress who now oversees London society with her masterful powers of manipulation. Ultimately, I'm most intrigued by the series' respresentation of women who negotiate (subtly or forcefully) for empowerment in a world that couldn't offer evolved gender roles quickly enough.

The discussion of clothing, accessories and design are also a real treat to a viewer who craves immersion in Edwardian England. These little details alone make the show worth watching!

 Selfridge's, Oxford Street, on its opening day in 1909

Have you seen Mr. Selfridge? If so, what did/do you think? (No spoilers, please! I'd like to be surprised. :))

Simple Pleasures: Old Movies

Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan in

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

I don't know what it is about old movies, but I'm crazy about them. They evoke happy childhood memories of family togetherness and make me feel nostalgic for the seeming simplicity of former times. Still, it's difficult to articulate what it is about the films themselves I love so dearly, but I turn one on whenever I crave warmth and cosiness. Somehow they make me feel all the comforts of home before the opening credits conclude.

Recently some new (or old) gems have been discovered. I saw The Shop Around the Corner (the film on which You've Got Mail was based) for the first time and found it to be a delight. My brother emphatically declared, 'This movie is feel-good awesome!' At my friend's insistence we watched The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer which also enchanted me. I heartily recommend both.

I do, however, feel that I need to delve into the wonderful world of classic film more thoroughly. Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart have always been firm favourites in our house, but upon reflection I see I've watched little besides iconic, popular classics. Which old movies do you love most? Please pass on your recommendations. I see an Old Movie Marathon in my near future!

New Feature: Simple Pleasures

Sometimes art truly changes us, to the fibers of our being as the saying goes. Watching Amelie was undoubtedly one of those experiences for me. I remember being awed with the way she viewed the world, her capacity for imagination, her ability to appreciate the little pleasures each day affords as seen in the following clip:

(Author's Note: if you haven't seen Amelie, I suggest you do so immediately. I hate to hype up media, but this remains one of my favourite all-time films. It's poignant, life affirming and beautiful in every way.)

Since then, I've tried to incorporate her philosophy into my life. And oh, my! What a difference it makes. I've learned that this simple practice makes ordinary days meaningful. Taking notice of the smallest things (the aroma of spices stewing in the kitchen, listening to the rain fall while enveloped in the warmth of a blanket, sharing a joke with a friend): these seemingly insignificant details shape the rapid passing of time into a memorable and happy life.

So, I've decided to begin a new feature on this blog and share the simple pleasures that brighten my days...in the hope that doing so will brighten yours as well.

Sundance Here I Come!

I'm wild with excitement! The Sundance Film Festival begins today, and we have tickets!

Despite having lived in Utah for the majority of my life, I was always under the mistaken impression that one had to be somebody special to get tickets to one of world's most famous film festivals. Luckily for us, some tickets are reserved for locals, we signed up early, and my family and I will be attending four screenings over the next two weeks.

Today we'll be seeing Austenland (pictured above), an adaptation of Shannon Hale's novel concerning Austenitis at its most extreme. I can't wait to get up to Park City, see the movie, and just enjoy the overall atmosphere.

I'll definitely be providing updates about the festival, whether I spot any noteworthy celebs (generally, by my definition, those who have starred in beloved period pieces), and providing a few pictures. In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful weekend!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Love to See on the Big Screen

This week the lovelies at The Broke and the Bookish have encouraged us to share our picks for any previous Top Ten post, and it was such fun mulling this topic over. Books make the best movies. Just ask anyone in Hollywood (all their good ideas come from literature). Yes, the book is always better than the film. Yes, watching a beloved novel butchered on the big screen is like a dagger to the heart. 

But when an adaptation gets it right...

Oh the joy! The thrill of seeing characters whom you love and identify with brought to life is...well, it's like coming home. I gladly admit to crying during the opening credits of an adaptation. I sat there in the darkened cinema with a bit of apprehension (adaptations are always a bit of a gamble), but when that treasured author's name flashed across the screen I felt the tears well up. I knew these characters and this world so well, had enjoyed them on the page so often, and now here they all were before my eyes. 

Sometimes an adaptation portrays things just as I had imagined them, and it feels as though the filmmakers had plucked my thoughts from my brain and plastered it onto the screen. Sometimes an adaptation challenges me to consider a novel in a way I never had before And sometimes, it is pure magic.

So, without further ado, here are ten novels I hope to see translated to film.

Evelina by Frances Burney

 Frances Burney

by Edward Francisco Burney

People go nuts for Jane Austen adaptations/biopics/etc. -- and for good reason. Why then, do filmmakers ignore the novels of Fanny Burney, a writer whom many identify as a key influence on Austen? This story, about a young girl's entrance into London society after a rural upbringing, is one that would instantly appeal to period film fanatics. It has humor and a bit of romance. The settings and costumes would be sumptuous onscreen: ballgowns, parties, London streets, country estates. And the wigs! I get giddy just thinking about it.

And we thought 80s hair was over the top

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

This Newbery Honor-winning novel about a community of young girls who are groomed and trained to compete for the Prince's hand in marriage completely surprised me. I expected a run-of-the-mill fairy tale and was ecstatic to find instead a story that encourages education and independence in young women. Wouldn't it be a wonderful film for impressionable young girls? Hollywood is slowly moving away from the standard damsel-in-distress heroine presented to children, but more can be done in this arena. Hale's charming text offers a fantastic blueprint for filmmakers to follow.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Plath's autobiographical novel wouldn't be easy to watch on the big screen. Esther Greenwood's devastating struggle with depression is raw, painful and vividly depicted. But an adaptation, if done well, would provide some searing performances that would knock a viewer's socks off. Stigma around mental illness still persists in contemporary society, and nobody conveys the experience better than Sylvia Plath.

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights have been adapted to a visual format ad nauseum, but nobody seems to care to share Anne's novels with a larger audience. Such a pity! This simple yet sweet tale of a Victorian governess's experiences could make a wonderful film. Its characters are memorable, and since it's a relatively short novel narrative butchering could be kept to a minimum. Nothing is worse than seeing a favorite text chopped to bits before your eyes!

 The author, by her sister Charlotte

The Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliffe

All right, this is a tricky one. Conventions of Gothic fiction definitely wouldn't appeal to the average moviegoer. Everything is melodramatic, over the top and fainting fits abound. But this is precisely what I would love to see onscreen. If filmmakers embraced the cheesiness and theatricality of Radcliffe's novel, the results could be hilarious. Can't the BBC help us out with this one?

Pigs Have Wings by P.G. Wodehouse

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. P.G. Wodehouse cures all ills. I love him. While Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie brought the Jeeves novels to life, I'm dying to see some Blandings Castle stories given the same honor. Imagine a farcical, so-funny-your-sides-hurt Downton Abbey. That's what you get with Wodehouse. Who isn't on board with that? In Pigs Have Wings two country gentleman are at war, each bound and determined that their Berkshire sow will reign supreme at the Shropshire Agricultural Show. A diet supplement called Slimmo threatens to make its way into the feeding trough. Pigs are lost and found (pignapped?). Lovers quarrel. Lovers reunite. I've enjoyed every Wodehouse novel I've thus far had the pleasure to read, but this is a highlight!

(I posted a hilarious excerpt from a P.G. Wodehouse novel here. Have a peek if you're curious about this underrated author!)

 A Berkshire pig like unto the Empress of Blandings

Cornell University Library

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

This novel is included on the list precisely because I didn't love it. I enjoyed it. Always a sucker for literary vampires (Dracula rules!), I thought Kostova's historical approach -- her vampire is Vlad the Impaler, not just inspired by the legends surrounding this figure -- was original and intriguing. Unfortunately, Kostova's execution was a disappointment. Whole chunks of the novel dragged. A movie could fix that. By taking the author's fascinating ideas and eliminating the weaknesses with pacing, the result might be a film that surpasses the quality of its source material.

Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer is the author I turn to when I crave the splendour of Regency England but am (temporarily) bored with Lizzy, Emma, Elinor and Marianne. I would love to see filmmakers provide Austen fans with some adaptations of Heyer texts instead of the umpteenth version of Pride and Prejudice. Heyer narratives are familiar yet fresh. The humour and heart in Frederica could make a charming film.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Inspired by Kipling's The Jungle Book, this Newbery winner centers around a boy who is raised by the supernatural residents of a cemetery after the tragic death of his human, living family. It provides readers with both depth and escapism, and a skilfully adapted movie would offer viewers the same. Can you imagine what a good cinematographer could do with the Gothic cemetery setting? An adaptation is reportedly in the works. I just hope it does the book justice!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

One of the most enchanting novels I've read in years, I could immediately picture the charming characters depicted by Shaffer and Barrows. When I closed its pages, they had become dear friends. At turns hilarious and heartbreaking, the epistolary novel provides a fresh perspective on the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. The characters are not defined by the war but by the sense of community they share with one another and the literature that solaces them.

Even as I was absorbed by the narrative, I frequently paused to think what a wonderful movie this could be. Imagine my elation, then, when I discovered that Kenneth Branagh will be directing an adaptation, for which filming is scheduled to begin later this year. Most of the casting has yet to be determined, but Kate Winslet has signed on to play the protagonist. I must admit to harboring high hopes for this one!

Are there any books you would like to see adapted for the big screen, or do you prefer for your favorite texts to remain untarnished? Have you ever seen a film translation outshine its source material? I would love to hear!

On Fishing and Swimming Upstream

Me, in York. Next to Water. Follow the Metaphor?

This week has been hard. At the moment, my life is in limbo. Stuck between my past and my future, the present has left me a bit confused about where I'm headed in life. Getting an interview for a job that would pay me even half of what someone with my education supposedly earns seems a task of gargantuan proportions. The past several months I've been consumed with thoughts of PhD study: writing proposals, rewriting proposals, emailing referees, emailing potential supervisors, applying for a place, applying for a scholarship, sending off a pile of words that I hope somebody will want to publish. Repeat. I've put everything I have into the process. A few days ago I received a personal email from a university, informing me that while I deserved a full scholarship that would pay my fees and living expenses while I wrote a thesis in a lovely English town, I didn't get it.

'This is not the news you deserve.' It's hard to be told you're not good enough, that your skills aren't up to scratch. But not receiving something that I've yearned and worked for, and that I apparently deserve, is more difficult to hear than any criticism I've previously been dealt. 

In short, my poor heart broke a little. Or a lot.

Don't get me wrong. I know I'm a lucky woman. I've experienced harsher difficulties in the past, and even those painful memories are a mere shadow of the injustices people the world over face on a daily basis. Today, however, I'm giving myself permission to admit that I'm struggling, that I don't like it, and that while the obstacles of others are undoubtedly worse, it doesn't make mine any easier to bear.

I'm swimming upstream.

Waiting for the catch

On Wednesday, I was fortunate enough to have a friend take me out for a lovely evening, a much needed distraction from my woes! (How's that for melodrama?!) Venturing out to the cinema, we saw Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (trailer here). Concerned with a sheik who wants to do the seemingly impossible, migrate British salmon to a habitat to which they aren't naturally suited, the film relies on the metaphor of the fish and the fisherman to explore relationships, love and life.

These particular salmon, you see, are farmed fish. The question looming over this Quixotic project is whether these fish, unaccustomed to a wild environment, will swim upstream or allow themselves to be swept down river. As I sat there in the cinema, this disappointing news weighing heavy upon me, I couldn't help but compare my situation to the metaphor of the salmon. Will I continue to swim upstream, fighting against the strength of the current, reaching for something higher? Or will I allow the currents to sweep me away?

But then, [SPOILER ALERT] a flash flood kills the vast majority of the salmon, so perhaps I don't want to compare myself to these unfortunate fish.

Perhaps I am the fisherman.

In a discussion between Fred (Ewan McGregor), a fisheries expert, and the ambitious Sheik Muhammed (played by Amr Waked), the latter asks if the former is religious. No, is the reply. 

'But you are a man of faith,' the sheik insists. Prompted by Fred's confusion, the sheik explains that fishing itself is an act of faith. A fisherman will wait patiently for hours, casting his rod time and again, merely hoping for a catch.

This bit of the movie stuck with me. Like Fred, I'm not particularly religious either, but I can get on board with the idea of faith: the belief in something that is hoped for, but not seen.

So, here I am, metaphorically casting my rod, exercising faith that something good will come out of it. Whether an amazing scholarship miraculously comes my way, I score a fantastic job, or the river steers me in a new direction I didn't see coming, I'm choosing to believe in an exciting future. Things will get better. My education will continue. Travel adventures aren't over. I know it.

I might have to stand in the strong currents of the river for a while, but sooner or later, I'm going to catch something spectacular, a catch work waiting for. 

The Hunger Games Premiere

The Hunger Games premiered in cinemas this past weekend, pulling in a staggering $155 million domestically. After seeing it twice, I'm ready to deliver the verdict. I realize this makes me sound a bit obsessive, but in my cinephile family we're very much into repeat viewings. And the verdict is...

Well done! Very well done!

I admit I felt nothing but trepidation leading up to the movie's release. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I'm still astounded the Twilight films managed to turn poorly written books into movies that somehow surpassed their source material in pure awfulness -- leading me to suspect all YA adaptations were a train wreck waiting to happen. I also worried about the complications that come from translating a futuristic sci-fi novel to the big screen. Would the movie come out looking like a low-budget Star Trek? Suffice it to say, these and other concerns forbade me from anticipating the film with any sense of excitement.

I was, therefore, thrilled to find that The Hunger Games impressed me much more than I thought it would. Indeed, I enjoyed it as much, if not more, upon a second viewing. Is it perfect? No. I don't think any adaptation can be. But all around, Lionsgate succeeded in producing a film that is a credit to the book which inspired it. 

The Hunger Games sets itself apart from other teen films by casting young soon-to-be stars with the acting chops demanded by their rigorous roles. Katniss is not an easy part to play. She's prickly and not the most demonstrably emotional girl; much of the what the reader knows about her is gleaned through internal dialogue. Yet Jennifer Lawrence blew me away with her performance. Physically speaking, she's doesn't strictly follow the description of Katniss Collins provides, but I don't think they could have found another young actor who embodied the character like she did. The entire film is hinged upon her performance, and she carries it off nicely. I was also pleased by Josh Hutcherson's portrayal of Peeta, and while we haven't yet seen much from Liam Hemsworth as Gale, he didn't bother me like I thought he would. (He's primarily known for starring in a Nicholas Sparks adaptation with Miley Cyrus. Can you blame my skepticism?) 

An array of better known adult actors fill in the cast of minor characters. I was particularly impressed by Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci who play Effie Trinket (fantastically clad in neo-Victorian clothing) and Games host Caesar Flickerman, respectively. Both provide nice comic relief in what is an otherwise bleak narrative. My main complaint with the movie is the casting of Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. The District 12 stylist is one of my favourite characters, but he's subtle and nuanced. They needed an actor, not a has-been musician, to adequately convey Cinna's depth. 

Finally, I wanted to point out that the violence was handled well by the filmmakers. It never felt gratuitous. Hand-held shots during action sequences prevent the audience from seeing anything in graphic detail, but it was enough to express the horror of the situation. I, for one, was filled with nothing but repulsion that such young defenseless children were subjected to such a fate.

In short, I heartily recommend The Hunger Games to any fan of Suzanne Collins's trilogy. I'll be looking forward to the next installment! May the odds be ever in your favor, and Happy Hunger Games!

Waiting for the movie to start

My mum is looking peeved, because my dad leaked a major

spoiler from book three (she's only read the first two)

And I am looking happy because I won 

a ten dollar giftcard to the cinema at our private screening

The odds were in my favor!

Have you seen The Hunger Games yet? What did you like about it? What do you think they could have done better? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Oscar Night

As a movie buff, I generally look forward to the Academy Awards. There are movies I root for and movies that I hope crash and burn (I won't name names, but...[cough] Avatar). There are speeches that makes me laugh and cry and speeches that successfully put me to sleep in record time. Oh, and I love passing judgment on the endless parade of dresses -- the good, the bad and the ugly.

This year we're watching the epic-length show with an Oscar Party. I'll be cheering on The Artist, Midnight in Paris, and the ladies from The Help over an abundance of food. Chatting with friends and family during the boring bits will hopefully keep me conscious during the lengthy ceremony. Will you be watching? Which films/actors would you like to see awarded the Golden Statue?

P.S. Thank you for your excellent Edith Wharton recommendations. The House of Mirth was the clear winner, so I'll shortly be digging into it for my first Wharton experience!

The Artist

Having been nominated for (and won!) a plethora of awards this year, I was quite looking forward to seeing The Artist. I am here to inform you that the hype is warranted. I absolutely fell in love with this creative and poignant motion picture.

The Artist chronicles silent film star George Valentin's fall from grace as Hollywood is invaded by the 'talkies' while he is rendered obsolete. Peppy Miller, the fan-turned-actress with whom George shares a flirtation, has managed to transfer her talents over to speaking roles. The gap between them proves a difficult one to breach. Throughout the narrative George is accompanied by his adorable terrier (played by canine superstar Uggie). Watching their entertaining antics was a highlight of the film for me. But then, I clearly have a soft spot for feisty terriers.

I admit I was a bit apprehensive about seeing a silent film -- despite hearing rave reviews that assured me its charm needed no verbal translation. I've built my life around words! I needn't have worried. Viewers quickly adapt to gleaning dialogue from the title cards. In fact, I was amazed at how much more I noticed when not distracted by dialogue. Facial expressions, sets, costumes: these all provided added layers of meaning and insight, and I was forced to take notice. It's almost a lesson in subtextuality. Both hilarious and heart-warming, The Artist is a cinematic treat. I'll be rooting for it throughout awards season!

P.S. I highly recommend watching Uggie's appearance on Ellen. He has so much character!

Bossypants; Or, Converting to Feynasticism

In my last post highlighting New Year's resolutions, I resolved to get better acquainted with the world of non-fiction reading. When a friend lent me Bossypants I was eager to dig into a biography that has been consistently lauded by critics as one of the best of the year.

I did, however, have a few trepidations. Tina Fey is somebody I like more than I find her funny. I love her geek-chic glasses, unabashed feminism and the fact that she's living proof that adult virgins can be awesome too! I'd like to hang with Ms. Fey some time. But Sarah Palin impersonation aside, our senses of humor don't always jive. Let's take 30 Rock as an example. Everybody tells me how uproariously funny it is, but the few times I've watched the show it barely manages to evoke a mild giggle from me.

Having said that, Bossypants is a hoot! After wading through the initial upbringing and early adulthood chapters -- they're amusing but not the heart of the memoir -- I raced through the final two-thirds of the book. I just couldn't get enough of Fey's writing. 'Why has she never penned a full-length book before?' I asked myself. 'When will she write another one?' The humour with which she imbues subjects such as women in positions of power, celebrity photo shoots, standards of beauty, working moms and the need to take one's pants off as soon as one gets home is both hilarious and thought-provoking. One highlight for me was the chapter entitled 'Dear Internet.' In it, Fey writes ironic responses to nasty remarks people have posted about her online. Let's look at the letter dedicated to the commenter who asserted she ruined SNL and is only celebrated because she's a woman and outspoken liberal:

'Huzzah for the Truth Teller! Women in this country have been over-celebrated for too long. Just last night there was a story on my local news about a "missing girl," and they must have dedicated seven or eight minutes to "where she was last seen" and "how she must have been abducted by a close family friend," and I thought, "What is this, the News for Chicks?" Then there was some story about Hillary Clinton flying to some country because she's secretary of state. Why do we keep talking about these dumdums? We are a society that constantly celebrates no one but women and it must stop! I want to hear what the men of the world have been up to. What fun new guns have they invented? What are they raping these days? What's Michael Bay's next film going to be?

When I first set out to ruin SNL, I didn't think anyone would notice, but I persevered because -- like you trying to do a nine-piece jigsaw puzzle -- it was a labor of love.

I'm not one to too my own horn, but I feel safe with you...so I'll say it. Everything you ever hated on SNL was by me, and anything you ever liked was by someone who did it against my will.

Sincerely,

Tina Fey' (p. 165)

See what I mean? A hoot! So, I would like to go on the record to say:

Dear Miss Fey,

You are pure brilliance! As lovely as it is that we are a country obsessed with noting what drugged-up pop stars wear to their court dates, it's nice to see a woman showcased for her intelligence, humour and classiness. One who actually knows how to read. One with natural (photoshopped) beauty. And yes, one who now has to take her pants off as soon as she gets home. Have you considered running for President? I think you might have a shot, even if you can't see Russia from your doorstep. I look forward to your response in your next book -- please say there will be a next book!

Affectionately,

Diana

P.S. I have to take my pants off as soon as I get home too.

When the Cat's Away...

 ...The mice will play!

My parents are traveling back east this week, so I am the designated house/baby-sitter.  Let me tell you, we are going cuh-razy in their absence. Not only have I been cultivating my domesticity by cleaning, cooking and chauffeuring teenagers, we've been partying big time.  Yesterday Chelsea and I decided to get really wild by hanging out at the bookstore.  We ordered hot beverages from the cafe (salted caramel hot chocolate for her, hot apple spice with extra caramel for me), and we read.  For over an hour.  Crazy, right? 

It doesn't stop there.  Tonight we completely defied all the rules and went out for dinner and a movie on a school night (as pictured above).  We saw Johnny English Reborn, which I'm pretty sure is the most rebellious movie of all time.  I don't think I've ever seen anything so...transgressive.  Just when I thought we couldn't get any more unruly, we listened to Christmas music in the car -- well before Thanksgiving.  Where did our inhibitions go?

Honestly, my teenage years didn't look much different from this.  This mouse was always a low-key geek whose conflicts with the supervisory cat generally involved piano practice (I wanted to practice; my mum disagreed) and the fact that I stayed out past curfew to watch period films with my best friend.  Clearly I haven't changed much.  I hope my brother and sister have enjoyed getting their geek on with me this week so the next time the parentals propose traveling and leaving me to rule the roost, Christian and Chelsea will reply with a 'Hell to the yeah!'  

I (Heart) Alan Rickman

A friend posted this on facebook, and I had to pass it along.  This quote is so touching, it made me want to cry.  (Don't worry, I refrained.)  Alan Rickman is just plain spectacular. 

J.K. Rowling and the Stroke of Death

I was browsing the Entertainment Weekly website when I came across two (related) intriguing articles about J.K. Rowling.  EW got the dish on a conversation between the Harry Potter author and Daniel Radcliffe that appears on the Blu-ray of The Deathly Hallows, Part 2.  Rowling apparently doesn't hold back as she shares her shifting mortality plans for certain characters.

Most shocking to me was the revelation that during a dark time in her life she briefly considered doing Ron in, if you catch my drift.  I've pledged allegiance to Team Ron, so I probably would have chucked whatever volume contained his untimely death across the room in a fit of rage.  I would have cried for days -- no exaggeration there, as Dumbledore's demise kept me on the verge of tears for a full week.  Would I have forgiven Rowling had she ruthlessly murdered Ron?  I simply don't know.  Perhaps writing her an angry letter expressing my displeasure would have guided me through the grieving process.

Other interesting tidbits from the EW peek of the dvd clip: Lupin was originally meant to live through the series and Hagrid's survival was largely dependent on the scene depicted at the top of this post.   

Would a character's death have affected how you felt about the series as a whole?  I, no joke, had a Do-Not-Kill List (Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny) and would have had a difficult time overlooking the authorial slaughter of any of those four.  Are there characters (like Harry, perhaps?) you maintain should have bitten the proverbial dust?

100th Post!

Wearing red lipstick (see #5)

This humble little blog has reached its 100th post!  I understand that it's a sort of blogging tradition to share 100 facts about oneself on this occasion.  So I've accrued some random tidbits about me, myself and I.  I just hope it doesn't bore everyone to tears.  Right, here we go...

1. Today is my birthday! One more year before the dreaded 3-0.  I was born exactly half a century after Sylvia Plath, which I think is pretty awesome.
2. I have to pinch myself sometimes when I think about how spectacular my friends and family members are.  How did I get so lucky?! (By the way, I don't literally pinch myself.  It's just a metaphor.  I like metaphors.)
3. I am prone to tangents (see #2).  Sometimes others poke fun at me for it, but I like to believe this is due to the fact that I'm always thinking (see #61).
4. I can't stay away from sugary treats.  Cake is a favourite, so I constantly rephrase the infamous line of Marie Antoinette propaganda to 'Then let me eat cake!'  And then I eat cake...
5. I adore the color red; can't stay away from it.
6. I have lived in England on and off for three years, but in all that time, I never once visited Scotland, Wales or Ireland despite the best of intentions
7. I'm determined to change that the next time I cross the pond, starting with Edinburgh.
8. I have four sisters and one brother.  Some of these are half-siblings by blood, full-siblings in terms of love.
9. I am the oldest.  Hello baby-sitting duty!
10. Therefore, I can't quite understand those people who are scared of babies.  Seriously, it's just a baby. 
11. London is the best city in the world.  No question.
12. I can quote entire scenes from movies I haven't seen in years, thus provoking some spontaneous one-woman shows.
13. As I ease into my 'old age' this 'gift' is beginning to fade. It now requires 3-5 viewings for me to memorize full passages of dialogue.
14. This is a tragedy for me, but a blessing to those around me.
15. My first job was as a market research associate; aka, I endured the cruel hell that is conducting over-the-phone surveys.  Never again.
16. Every time I live in England, I move further North.  I worry that if I continue this trend I will eventually end up at the North Pole.  
17. I love trees.  They make any setting more beautiful.

Taken at the grounds of Harewood House

18. Pride and Prejudice is the first classic I ever read.  It was my gateway to the wonderful world of nineteenth-century literature. 
19. I want to visit every English estate that has starred as Pemberley in a P&P adaptation.
20. I want to get a degree in the History of Art.  Just because.
21. I adore Pre-Raphaelite art. Millais' Ophelia and Waterhouse's The Lady of Shallott are among my favourite pieces.
22. I firmly believe a life without spicy food is not a life worth living.
23. I can't watch The Office (UK version) or Extras without laughing.
24. Extras once made me laugh in my sleep.  For reals.
25. It drives me crazy when people use the word 'good' in a sentence when they should be saying 'well.'
26. Obviously, I'm a bit of a Grammar Nazi.
27. I moved approximately twelve times before the age of eighteen (the moves before age three are a bit fuzzy).
28. I was born in Utah and have also lived in Idaho and Colorado.
29. I'd love to live back East.  I think it's more my style.
30. I'm engaged to Richard Armitage from the BBC adaptation of North and South.  He just doesn't know it yet.

31. It drives me crazy (no pun intended) when people steer vehicles with their knees, especially if it's only so they can employ hand gestures while chatting.  I'm talking about you, Mum!
32. In 13 years of driving, I've managed to avoid a ticket. (Touch wood.)
33. Jane Eyre is the book that I go back to most often -- for the good parts.  You know what I mean.
34. If you don't know what I mean, I would advise you read said novel at once.
35. I am obsessed with all things Victorian.

36. I finally visited Italy in April of this year.  Florence is my favourite Italian city.  I think.  It's so hard to choose.
37. My favourite household chore is vacuuming.  I dream of owning a Dyson.  Literally; I'm not using a metaphor for this time.  
38. My guilty pleasures are bad YA novels and reality television.
39. Chip (or crisps) and salsa is my favourite food.
40. I always crave them when I'm ill.
41. English chips cause me to gain approximately 10 pounds every time I'm over there. 
42. I am terrified of sharks, but I tune in to Shark Week on the Discovery Channel every summer.
43. If I could travel back in time, I would check out Victorian London.
44. But I would do so as a man, like Irene Adler in Arthur Conan Doyle's 'A Scandal in Bohemia.'
45. I love nerds. Seriously, a man instantly becomes more attractive to me if he's reading a (good) book and/or wearing glasses.
46. Misogyny, an inability to make me laugh and smoking, on the other hand, are major turn-offs.  As are non-readers -- I just can't do it.  Is this why I'm perpetually single?
47. My Master's degree is in Victorian Literature (see #35)..
48. I also adore children's lit and novels from the late eighteenth century.
49. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite Disney film.  I know a lot of men like Gaston.
50. I maintain this film has one of the romantic moments in screen history.  He gives her a library.  A library.  I'm practically swooning as I type.
51. I've made a lot of jokes about swooning ever since reading Ann Radcliffe's The Romance of the Forest earlier this year.
52. I am an absolute baby when watching horror films.
53. So I just avoid them altogether.
54. Unless they're set in the Victorian period (see #35).
55. I'm a proud feminist.  Gender rights for all!
56. I can't wait to explore more of Europe.  Vienna and Prague are at the top of my list. 
57. I adore Flight of the Conchords and sing their songs at random moments.
58. Elizabeth Gaskell is a favourite author, but I've only discovered her in the past few years.
59. I'm a night owl who can't seem to convert to early birdism despite my best efforts.  I'm always a zombie in the morning and often do ridiculous things in my sleepy state -- like look for milk in the cupboard for a full minute before realizing why that isn't leading to the desired result.
60. I get very annoyed by pretentious people.
61. I can be a pretentious person. 
62. I don't keep up-to-date with the music scene, but I enjoy indie rock.
63. Chopin's Etude in E is one of my favourite piano pieces.
64. I am always very curious and eager to learn about new subjects.
65. Except mathematics.  Gross.
66. I have so many rules for borrowers of my books to follow that people generally don't bother.
67. But I use any excuse to buy books for others, which I hope makes up for my OCD book behavior.
68. One of my favourite quotes is from Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey: 'The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.'
69. I love, how they went crazy with commas, in the nineteenth century, and often have to restrain myself, from following suit,,,
70. I have seen every episode of Sex and the City numerous times.  I'm a Miranda.
71. Modern Family is my current tv fave. 
72. I obsessively sanitize surfaces in the winter to avoid illness. It never works.  I still come down with the flu.
73. I enjoy yoga but very rarely practice. 
74. I'm dying to visit India where I hope to ride an elephant.
75. I'm kidding about the elephant.  Kind of.
76. I adore dogs, especially my terrier Percy.
77. He is named after The Scarlet Pimpernel, a favourite from my teenage years.

78. I don't understand why people don't like dogs, even though I went through a lengthy period where I was indifferent to them.
79. Little Women was the first literary adaptation for which I went absolutely crazy.
80. Amelie is my favourite foreign film.
81. I used to want to live in France. Then I saw the error of my ways. : )
82. High modernism is my literary phobia.  I avoid it at all costs, because I feel like the biggest idiot on the planet when attempting to interpret it. 
83. I dream of having a job that pays me to read and/or travel.
84. Bach's Prelude to Cello Suite One moves me every time I hear it, even if it's the soundtrack to a ridiculous advertisement. Thus, learning to play the cello is on my bucket list.
85. After years of being told I look too pale, I have finally embraced my pallor.
86. I rarely leave the house without sunscreen, because I'm slightly heliophobic. Thus I adore the rainy English weather.
87. I saw JK Rowling across Leicester Square when scoping out The Prisoner of Azkaban premiere.  I think this is far more exciting than conversing with the vast majority of celebrities.
88. It's one of the supreme disappointments of my life that I never attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry -- pretty sure I would have been a Ravenclaw.  
89. One of my pet peeves is Microsoft Word's limited vocabulary.  Transgressive is a word!  I tell you, it is!
90. Bad 80s movies (like Dirty Dancing, Sixteen Candles and Troop Beverly Hills) take me back to my childhood.  Love them. 
91. I can't get enough of West End theatre when I'm in London. 
92. It's now difficult for me to stomach community theatre (see #61).
93. The Sound of Music is my mom's favourite movie, therefore it's a childhood favourite for me.
94. I used to enact scenes from the film.  I played the first six Von Trapp children.  My sister Deb played Gretl. 
95. So I suppose it's no surprise I was a drama geek in high school. 
96. I hated high school and am very suspicious of anyone who says it was the best time of her life. 
97. I love(d) university.  I could go to university forever. 
98. Favourite contemporary films include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and 500 Days of Summer.
99. Christmas is my favourite holiday, and it's entirely possible that I've already begun holiday cheer preparations by researching Christmas music on iTunes.  Don't worry, I haven't actually downloaded anything.  Yet.
100. I would be very surprised if a single person has made it through this list.

Mr. Darcy or Mr. Wet Shirt?

It occurred to me after my post on Mr. Darcy kitsch that not everyone may be familiar with the phenomenon of The Wet Shirt.  Though...I'm not sure how this could be.  Isn't this something they teach in schools worldwide?  

In my effort to educate the masses I am including clips of The Wet Shirt from the classic Colin Firth Pride and Prejudice as well as its parody from Lost in Austen (which appears at the bottom of the post).

I particularly love the response to The Wet Shirt in the latter scene:

'I'm having a bit of a strange postmodern moment here.'

'Is that agreeable?'

'Oh, yes, yes.'

I hope you find it agreeable as well!

P.S. Do you know, I've actually visited the estate that stars as Pemberley in Lost in Austen.  I'll have to share more about that soon.

Like Crazy

 

After hearing lots of buzz and a great review from my awesome friend Amanda, I looked up the trailer for the upcoming film Like Crazy.  It looks absolutely incredible!  Confession: it might have made me cry.  The difficulties of transatlanticism is an issue to which I thoroughly relate.  The movie won't be hitting my area until late November, but I can't wait to see it.  Check out the amazing trailer:

Have a Fun Weekend

 Photo via The Daily Muse

Dear friends and family, I hope you have a fun weekend.  My siblings are out of school for fall break, so I will be having a blast with the fam going to an amusement park and hopefully seeing a movie.  Do you have any exciting plans?  I also wanted to share some great literature links I discovered this week.  Sadly, they are not as cultured as this beret-sporting dog.  Ah, well.  One does what one can.   

A 100-page private notebook belonging to Bram Stoker has been discovered by his descendant.  I love that these authorial treasures are still being found!  How amazing would it be to discover one?

A UCL professor discusses his choices for the Top Five Victorian Novels.  I was thrilled to see both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights but surprised at the absence of George Eliot.  What would be on your list? 

A great blog post about reading James Joyce.  I myself made it through one chapter of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man before jumping ship. 

A fun little catalogue of Jane Austen heroes (and villains).  Question: where is Jonny Lee Miller as Mr. Knightley?  

Ah, that's better. 

Jane Austen Kitsch

I love literary kitsch.  It cracks me up, and sometimes I just have to pass it along.  (Refer to the literary kitsch label if you'd like to see more.)  Jane Austen's material has perhaps become the epitome of this kitsch, and I feel it got some oomph from one particular moment in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.  Every Austenite knows to what I am referring.  Remember this?

Colin Firth in a wet shirt.  Period-film fanatics the world over immediately fell into fainting fits and swoons over this little scene that does not appear in the book.  There is a possibility I was one of them; I can't say.  It was later brilliantly parodied in Lost in Austen, a mini-series in which one reader realizes every Austenite's fantasy: she magically finds herself within the world of the novel and falls in love with Mr. Darcy.  Duh.

After some words of love and affection are exchanged, the heroine of said programme asks Darcy to do something for her.  This is what follows:

Do you see how The Wet Shirt has been immortalized?  Imagine the laughter that ensued, then, as I opened this gift from Ana, courtesy of the Jane Austen's House Museum gift shop:

Wicked, am I right?  In hindsight, I should have purchased one for every Mr. Darcy admirer I know -- and I know a lot.  I might be one of them; I cant say.

Happy Weekend!

Dear friends and family, I hope you have a great weekend.  I really started mine off right by spending an evening with a dear friend whom I hadn't seen in over a year.  She thoughtfully treated me to an enchilada dinner, frozen yogurt and a bag of saltwater taffy.  How do I score such awesome friends?  I also wanted to share a few of the cyber bits that have brightened my week.

Mindy Kaling (Kelly Kapoor from the American version of The Office) wrote an article for the New Yorker that had me laughing out loud.  She outlines seven female archetypes that consistently manifest themselves in romantic comedies, my favourite being 'The Skinny Woman Who Is Beautiful and Toned but Also Gluttonous and Disgusting.'  Here's a little snippet from the article:

'This poor skinny actress who has obviously lost weight to play the likable lead character has to say things like "Shut up, you guys!...If I want to eat an entire cheesecake, I will!"  If you look closely, you can see this woman's ribs through the dress she's wearing -- that's how skinny she is, this cheesecake-loving cow.'

Entertainment Weekly contemplates the possibility of a Princess Bride remake.  I adored, and completely concur, with one reader's comment of 'a remake? Inconceivable.' 

Have a look at the candid pics a photographer snapped as he announced the news of his impending fatherhood to friends and family members from A Cup of Jo. 

Finally, some subtle and chic ideas for Halloween decor from Cupcakes and Cashmere.  I myself can't wait to pick and carve pumpkins!

A Peek of The Great Gatsby Movie

To be honest, I don't love F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  (Go ahead.  Throw those cyber darts my way).  I enjoy analyzing it, but as a stand-alone story I'm not its biggest fan.  This picture from Baz Luhrmann's upcoming cinematic interpretation of the novel, however, gets me really excited for the movie's release, slated for next fall.  

If this photo is any indication, Luhrmann and Co. have managed to capture the spirit of the age.  There's also been a lot of buzz about the director's casting decisions, but I am on board with most of his choices (which you can find out about on the film's IMDb webpage).  Carey Mulligan can do no wrong in my eyes. 

If you've been following the buzz, how do you feel about the casting of the film?  Are there other upcoming movie releases that have grabbed your attention?