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Villette Read-a-Long Week 3

February 24, 2011 by

Unputdownables is hosting a Villette by Charlotte Bronte read-a-long for the next couple of months.  And this is the third week of discussion (click on the image to see my earlier posts)

For this week, we had to read chapters 12-17.

Stay tuned next Thursday, March 3, 2010, which is my official due date, for the next discussion.

I’m going to try to keep reading along, but some posts from here on out could be delayed a bit.

In these chapters, Lucy Snowe stumbles upon a secret love affair and infatuation and becomes engrossed in uncovering the identities of the lovers.  In this way, she seems to take on the suspicious nature of Madame Beck, who continues to spy on her household.  At one point, Madame Beck even suspects Lucy of trying to ensnare Dr. John away from her, and she takes it upon herself to go through Lucy’s things, which angers and amuses our narrator.  These baffling reactions often leave the reader wondering if Lucy has any pride in herself; does she not see herself as trustworthy and that is why she brushes off the invasion of privacy by her employer.  It is almost like she’s living a household like the Big Brother reality TV show.

In many of Lucy’s observations of her fellow teachers and others, readers note a streak of venom.  It is almost as if she cannot stand qualities different from her own, such as enjoying wealth and jewelery, but at the same time she comments on moments when certain qualities that she disapproves of can come in handy.

When the play for the Fete or party for Madame Beck is nearly stopped due to another’s illness, however, Lucy jumps in head first, despite a rambling of reluctance as to why she should not.  Readers will find that assertive ultimatums from fellow teachers and Madame Beck often propel Lucy into action.  Our narrator is courageous and full of conviction even in light of things she wishes not to do.

“I said my say badly; but I said it.  That first speech was the difficulty; it revealed to me this fact, that it was not the crowd I feared so much as my own voice.  Foreigners and strangers, the crowd were nothing to me.  Nor did I think of them.”  (Page 147-8)

In these chapters, we see Lucy grow, coming out of her shell and becoming more impulsive with her speech and approach to others, though harsher than most expect at times.  However, it is this impulsiveness that seems to show her growing more comfortable with her surroundings, but how much have those surroundings and Madame Beck influenced her behavior?  She seems to have broken from her reserved nature to tap a well of passion and conviction buried deep within, but can she control that well of passion or will it consume her?  Only time and more chapters will tell.

Stay tuned next Thursday, March 3, 2011, for the next discussion.

Filed Under: Villette by Charlotte Brontë Read-a-Long 2011 Tagged With: ,

The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret C. Sullivan

February 22, 2011 by

The Jane Austen Handbook:  Proper Life Skills from Regency England by Margaret C. Sullivan, which Quirk Books will publish on March 8, is a nonfiction step-by-step guide on how to live in Regency England as a young lady or young man, though most of the advice pertains to women.  Chock full of illustrations of common dress for men and women, among other traditions, the handbook is practical and fun.  Humor is not forgotten either, as Jane Austen would have poked fun at certain traditions, so too does Sullivan.

For instance in the section “How to Raise Your Children,” among the tips listed to maintain decorum and sanity in the household is to provide children with cake!  “If all else fails, liberal slices of cake solve many a child-rearing problems.” (page 72)

The book is divided into three sections:  logistics of life among the gentry in Regency England; the ins and outs of daily life; and the rules for choosing a prospective husband.  Readers interested to learn how much Mr. Darcy is worth today should check out the handbook because apparently there is some controversy in the matter.

Each chapter contains a quote from one of Austen’s novels that applies to the contents of each chapter, and readers new to classic Austen books can rely on this handbook to understand the differences between a port-chaise, a hack, and other forms of transportation as well as the differences between various dresses worn by young ladies.  There is a schedule of a woman’s typical day running a household, the responsibilities of gentleman, what these people did in their leisure time, and how to recognize the gentry from royalty and more.

The appendix contains synopses of Jane Austen’s novels and other works, plus a list of film adaptations, sequels, retellings, and other “paraliterature.”  There are a number of other resources, a glossary, and selected bibliography as well.  The Jane Austen Handbook:  Proper Life Skills from Regency England by Margaret C. Sullivan is a great companion for the Jane Austen fanatic and fan because it offers guidance on how young men and women navigated a complex set of social rules and even broke them at times.  As each moment in life is addressed, Sullivan also offers moments in Austen’s work where traditions are bent.  Overall, a fantastic guide to a time period that many modern readers have a hard time imagining but will have fun navigating in not only Austen’s novels but also in the handbook.  It gives new meaning to role-playing.

About the Author:

Margaret C. Sullivan is the editrix of Austenblog.com. She lives in Philadelphia.

This is my 7th book for the 2011 New Authors Reading Challenge.

Filed Under: New Authors Challenge, nonfiction, Publishers/Publicists, Quirk Classics, Read in 2011, review copy, reviews Tagged With: ,

Winner of Madame Tussaud and Marie Antoinette Cupcake Earrings. . .

February 21, 2011 by

Out of 43 entrants into this giveaway for a signed copy of Michelle Moran’s latest novel, Madame Tussaud, and a pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings, Random.org selected:

#28 Carol Wong, who said, “I started to get interested in the French revolution i n my high school world history class and later in French Literature class in college. It was so disappointing for grand ambitions of a democracy to collapse into te reign of terror. I would love to read more about the women leaders and the women writers of the time. Don’t think that they are ever mentioned in the history books.”

Congrats Carol, and I hope you enjoy the book and the earrings.

Filed Under: giveaway, winners Tagged With: ,

Mailbox Monday #119

February 21, 2011 by

Mailbox Mondays (click the icon at the right to check out the new blog) has gone on tour since Marcia at The Printed Page passed the torch.  This month our host is Library of Clean Reads .  Kristi of The Story Siren continues to sponsor her In My Mailbox meme.  Both of these memes allow bloggers to share what books they receive in the mail or through other means over the past week.

Just be warned that these posts can increase your TBR piles and wish lists.

Here’s what I received:

1.  What Would Mr. Darcy Do? by Abigail Reynolds from Sourcebooks for review in April.

2.  Wickham’s Diary by Amanda Grange from Sourcebooks for review in April.

3.  The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret C. Sullivan unrequested from Quirk Books and Random House.  The book is due out in March.

These are the books I received from the office baby shower; aren’t my co-workers fantastic?!

4.  Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book!, which I had two of so I gave a copy to Anna for her nephew.

5.  Jamberry by Bruce Degen

6.  In My Meadow by Sara Gillingham and Lorena Siminovich, and this one has a puppet!

7.  But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton

8.  Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs! by Sandra Boynton

And yet more unsolicited review copies; these from Atticus Books:

9. Nazareth, North Dakota by Tommy Zurhellen, slated for publication in April.

10. The Bee-Loud Glade by Steve Himmer, slated for publication in April.

What did you receive?

Filed Under: mailbox monday, meme

Giveaway: $35 Credit at NextDayFlyers.com

February 20, 2011 by

Whether you are starting a business or are interested in spreading the word to other book lovers and writers about your blog or writing, business cards remain an essential tool.

NextDayFlyers.com may sound like a company that only provides posters, but they also offer designer business cards.  Lucky for you, you have an opportunity to win a $35 credit to use toward making business cards.

There are no geographic restrictions on this giveaway, and you only have one obligations upon entering:  Just answer how you would use the $35 credit if you win after you check out their business card section and the rest of the Website.

Deadline to enter is Feb. 26, 2011, by 11:59PM EST.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With:

Winners. . .

February 20, 2011 by

I had some giveaways end on Valentine’s Day, but took forever to pick the winners.  Sorry about that!

The winner of Anjali Banerjee’s Haunting Jasmine is #3 Linda B, who said, “What an interesting interview and kudos for going for environmentally friends materials. I looked thru the ergonomic tips, good advice! thanks for the giveaway. I’m intrigued by the idea of a bookstore being part of the setting.”

The winner of Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower is #7 Nan, who said, “I somehow became interested in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. I can’t remember if it was initially through one of MM Kaye’s historical novels or The Raj Quartet.”

Thanks to all the entrants and congrats to the winners.

Filed Under: giveaway, winners Tagged With: , , ,

85th Virtual Poetry Circle

February 19, 2011 by

Welcome to the 85th Virtual Poetry Circle!

Remember, this is just for fun and is not meant to be stressful.

Keep in mind what Molly Peacock’s books suggested. Look at a line, a stanza, sentences, and images; describe what you like or don’t like; and offer an opinion. If you missed my review of her book, check it out here.

It’s a new year, and if you haven’t heard there is a new feature on the blog this year . . . my first ever, poetry reading challenge.  Yup, that means everyone should be signing up because all you need to do is read 1 book of poetry.

Here’s a treat from Derek Walcott‘s White Egrets:

1. (page 3)

The chessmen are as rigid on their chessboard
as those life-sized terra-cotta warriors whose vows
to their emperor with bridle, shield and sword
were sworn by a chorus that has lost its voice;
no echo in that astonishing excavation.
Each soldier gave an oath, each gave his word
to die for his emperor, his clan, his nation,
to become a chess piece, breathlessly erect
in shade or crossing sunlight, without hours —
from clay to clay and odourlessly strict.
If vows were visible they might see ours
as changeless chessmen in the changing light
on the lawn outside where bannered breakers toss
and the palms gust with music that is time’s
above the chessmen’s silence. Motion brings loss.
A sable blackbird twitters in the limes.

Let me know your thoughts, ideas, feelings, impressions.  Let’s have a great discussion…pick a line, pick an image, pick a sentence.

I’ve you missed the other Virtual Poetry Circles.  It’s never too late to join the discussion.

Filed Under: virtual poetry circle Tagged With: ,

March 2011 Independent and Small Press Month

February 18, 2011 by

As many of you know, I will be pre-occupied with the new bundle of joy for the next month or so, but in my absence, I’ve got a great line-up of small and independent press owners and publishers, some guest reviews, and other goodies coming in March.

I dubbed this event a Celebration of Independent and Small Press Month.  Lucky for me, I was able to “twist” the arm of another blogger, Shellie from Layers of Thought, to make me some fantastic buttons and a banner for everyone to use in March who wants to jump on the bandwagon.  Check out these cool buttons and banner she created:

The banner:

buttercups with white banner 3

The two badges:

buttercups with white badge b3

buttercups with white badge 3

What do you think?

For those of you still interested in writing up guest reviews of small and indie press published books, please contact me or send in your reviews by Feb. 25 with all the graphics, links, and personal information you would like included.

Filed Under: announcements, Events, Independent and Small Press Month Tagged With:

Villette by Charlotte Bronte Read-a-Long Week 2

February 17, 2011 by

Unputdownables is hosting a Villette by Charlotte Bronte read-a-long for the next couple of months.  And this is the second week of discussion (click on the image to see my earlier posts)

For this week, we had to read chapters 6-11.

Stay tuned next Thursday, Feb. 24, 2010, for the next discussion.

We begin with Lucy Snowe in London where she feels a sense of freedom that she has not felt previously, at least what we can tell from the narrative thus far. She seems positive and eager to begin her new life given the open possibilities before her.

“I saw and felt London at last:  I got into the Strand; I went up Cornhill; I mixed with the life passing along; I dared the perils of crossings.  To do this, and to do it utterly alone, gave me, perhaps an irrational, but a real pleasure.”  (page 53)

Alas, the plot pace continues in rapid succession and despite the “Gothic” storm and sea elements, Miss Snowe begins yet another adventure in the late evening and boards a vessel slated to depart the next day. Our narrator seems not only fearless, but also a bit naive in the ways of the world given her penchant for over paying and her decisions to board boats in the late evening despite her position as an unmarried woman.  However, what better place for her to observe more people and make commentary about not only their personalities, but their behavior and social status.  It is clear from the few interactions and the many observations she’s made about people around her that she has very well-defined opinions, and many of them are harsh.  What does this tell us about her personality and her behavior?  Upon reading these passages, readers may get the sense that she both values and fears the opinion of others, which forces her to shrink into the background as an observer whenever possible but does not prevent her from speaking her mind to a certain extent.  For example, she has no qualms about telling the steward once she is aboard The Vivid that she knows she paid the boatman too much or telling the stewardess that now that she has arrived on board she has not plans to leave no matter the lateness of the hour.

While a determined young woman, Miss Snowe does leave quite a bit up to chance and fate, following blindly an inner voice who speaks occasionally about which destination should be next.  Arriving in France, this voice explains that she must go to Villette where a young Miss Fanshawe from the boat said she was going.  Again she relies on fate to get her where she needs to go and often relies on the kindness of strangers when misfortunes befall her.  Once employed by Madame Beck, she waffles between the adventurous woman who left her home nation in search of work and a young woman scared of her current surroundings and the challenges they impose.

Although her opinions and observations are very clear about other people, her own observations about herself are often incongruous with her actions.  In one instance, her determination to prove Madame Beck wrong about her “spineless” nature spurs her to actions that readers may find disturbing and a bit out of character once in a classroom with students outside the nursery who speak French eloquently.  Meanwhile, Miss Fanshawe reappears and the banter between her and Miss Snowe is entertaining, but also sheds more light on our narrator’s personality, prejudices, and faults.

Overall, this section of the book is revealing of the narrator’s character and her ability to interact with others in a foreign land without speaking the language.  While it highlights her adventurous and spontaneous nature, it also serves to show how complex she is when making decisions that concern herself versus decisions that others must make for themselves.  Miss Snowe is an enigma, which is slowly unraveling.

Stay tuned next Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, for the next discussion.

Filed Under: Events, Villette by Charlotte Brontë Read-a-Long 2011 Tagged With: , ,

Jarrettsville by Cornelia Nixon

February 16, 2011 by

Jarrettsville by Cornelia Nixon begins in 1869, four years after the Confederate surrender and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, in Jarrettsville, Md., just below the Mason-Dixon line.  Tensions continue to run high in this town with former Confederate and Union soldiers continue to hold their prejudices and wear them on their faces and express them in their venomous words.

With tensions running high, the only possible outcome for a young love between Martha Jane Cairnes, the daughter of a Southern and loyal Confederate family, and Nick McComas, a former Union soldier and advocate of Black rights, is heartache and murder.

Nixon rips pages from events in her family history to create a novel that breaths life into the tensions following the U.S. Civil War.  Despite the reunification of our nation, both sides are unwilling to let go and reconcile.

“‘We’ve got to get the Black Code back, by God.  Negroes roaming around free, reeling drunk, menacing descent women? We can’t have that here!’

‘And the women are worse than the fellows.  They’re degenerates, full of disease, corrupting our youth.  Even the little girls, I swear.’

‘That’s right, Negro girls can’t help themselves.  They’re overheated by nature, worse than the fellows, I swear.'”  (page 106 of ARC)

Martha is a strong-willed woman who sets her sights on what she wants and goes after it, while Nick is more deliberate and cautious in his approach to decisions.  However, when love takes them over, passions get out of control, leading them into compromising situations.  Then the rumors begin among the former Confederates about Nick and Martha, equally untrue and equally damaging to their reputations.  Unfortunately, these rumors are what slices and dices their relationship, particularly since it is so new and untested and both sides are tragically unable to confide in one another with the depth that friends would do.

The novel is broken into four parts, plus an epilogue, and those readers looking for integrated points of view throughout the story will find Nixon took a different approach, instead breaking up the narrative into parts dominated by one point of view or by several witness’ points of views in the final section.  The format is a bit disconcerting when the first sections end in the same place, but are told from different points of view.  However, although the events are similar, there are moments where more is revealed by one point of view than another, which helps explain more of the characters’ motivations.  Although not an ideal format for this historical fiction novel, it is easy to understand Nixon’s decision for choosing it.

Overall, Jarrettsville by Cornelia Nixon provides an inside look at the tensions that still plagued the south following the resolution of the civil war and how it tore apart families, friends, and neighbors.  Additionally, it depicts the struggles that the families in the south faced in light of scarce resources and finances.  Nixon is a talented writer who can deftly translate a portion of her ancestral history into a compelling tale of fiction.

About the Author:

Cornelia Nixon is the author of two novels, Now You See It and Angels Go Naked, as well as a study of D. H. Lawrence. She won first prize in the 1995 O. Henry Awards. She teaches in the M.F.A. program at Mills College, near San Francisco.

I hope you enjoyed this latest Literary Road Trip in Jarrettsville, Md., following the U.S. Civil War and assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

This is my 1st book for the U.S. Civil War Reading Challenge 2011.

This is my 6th book for the 2011 New Authors Reading Challenge.

Confession time, I’ve wanted to read this book since I picked up an ARC at the 2009 Book Expo America.  This is my 4th book for the 2011 Wish I’d Read That Challenge.

Filed Under: ARC, challenges, historical fiction, New Authors Challenge, Read in 2011, reviews, The Literary Road Trip, U.S. Civil War Challenge 2011, Wish I'd Read That Challenge 2011 Tagged With: ,

Interview With Authors Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery

February 15, 2011 by

Yesterday, I told you about a great event (happening tonight in Washington, D.C., at the Folger Shakespeare Theater) with Authors Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery, who co-wrote Kill Shakespeare a graphic novel that mixes classic literature and fantasy.  I’ve got another treat for you from the authors, an exclusive interview in which they discuss their inspiration for the graphic novel and the role of graphic novels in today’s society and literature.

Without further ado, here are Anthony and Conor:

Kill Shakespeare seems to be a graphic novel that mixes classic literature with fantasy.  Did you or your colleagues read Shakespeare’s work before writing the graphic novel?  How long ago have you read those plays and did you enjoy them?

A: I’ve been a fan of the Bard’s work for years – since high school. But it wasn’t until after I graduated from university and started to see theatrical performances of his plays with my sister – who has always been a HUGE Bardolater – that his stories and characters really came alive for me.

C: I was like most students. I read a number of Shakespeare’s work in high-school. I enjoyed all of the plays I read with my favorites being The Tempest and Julius Caesar.

What was your main reason for adapting Shakespeare’s characters into a graphic novel with fantasy elements?

C: We didn’t have a main reason per se. The idea of a world where Shakespeare’s characters co-exist came to us and comics ended up being the right medium for us. A.) because the stage and comics have so much in common. Both are at their best when there are elements that are larger than life, and both are visual mediums than also really reward the poeticism of language.

And B.) a comic was something we felt we could do at a high level right out of the gate. Especially once we found the very talented Andy Belanger as our artist.

A: Shakespeare’s plays feature many great dramatic elements, including fantasy – drama, violence, love, romance, comedy, double-crossing and cross-dressing. It’s the height of storytelling. And we wanted to add as many of these elements into our tale as possible.

The images in your graphic novel are vivid. How did these images come to pass? Were they extrapolated from Shakespeare’s actual text?

A: A lot of the credit goes to our artist, Andy. Andy, in our first meeting, talked about adding a lot of detail to each and every panel, so that each would tell its own story. He’s done a significant amount of research into the time period and the costumes used in Shakespeare’s plays, and then done a lot of stylistic additions to them.

C: We definitely worked to find great “bits” from Shakespeare’s canon that Andy could play with (Hamlet’s Father’s ghost, some of the gory bits from Titus), but it is Andy’s imagination that gives flesh to ours.

Working with a co-writer and a graphic artist must take a lot of time and collaboration. Please describe any writing routines or techniques you employed during the process to ensure the project was completed.

C: We really just talk things out with each other and with Andy. One of us tends to write an issue and the other guy edits it. And then Andy puts in his thoughts and we sort of push and pull until we get something everyone can at least live with.

A: And, of course, when there is an argument, everything is settled with a simple game of Rock-Paper-Scissors. . .

What role do you think graphic novels play in the world of literature, and do you think that they help readers ease into reading other genres, including classics like Shakespeare?

A: Graphic novels have been fighting for years to be seen as a credible piece of literature. I think this is a shame. I myself used to hold the opinion that comic books are just superhero stories for children but when I started to read some of the recent (past ten years) titles I came away really impressed – Y The Last Man, The Walking Dead, Blankets, Fables.

C: I think the question unintentionally sheds light on a big part of the problem comics have. Comics are NOT a genre. They are a MEDIUM that encompasses every genre. In North America, we’ve been slow to realize what the Europeans and Japanese have known for decades – that comics are a sophisticated medium that can be used for limitless thematic purposes. If you’re a reader, I GUARANTEE I could find you a comic you’d enjoy if you gave it a chance.

Today, Feb. 15, you’ll be speaking at Washington, D.C.’s Folger Shakespeare Library. What prompted the visit and do you have any specific plans for the event?

C: I chatted with people at the Folger well over a year ago when we were just starting the project and got them excited by our vision. THEY were the ones who so foolishly invited Canucks into their midst. But I think they were intrigued by the opportunity to show how the perception of “stuffy Shakespeare” is more a dead stereotype than reality. The Folger is really hip in their relation to the Bard, they are trendsetters as well as the keepers of the flame.

A: Some of the best reviews have been by Shakespeare fans who have never read a comic book before but after reading ours have started to read others. I hope that we can convert some Bardolaters to comic book readers while there!

What other projects are you working on?

A: Kill Dickens? We’ve love to continue our series beyond the current twelve issues that we have scheduled at the moment, and then see if we can get a film version of Kill Shakespeare off the ground. We have a lot of interest in it and we’ll see what happens in the next six-twelve months.

C: And Anthony and I had worked on a number of projects before this one. A neat kids show set in the world of rock-paper-scissors, a very fun comedy involving outsourcing, a kitchen-sink family drama, a vampire epic — we have interests in a lot of very different types of story. Hopefully our work with Kill Shakespeare will give us a chance to tell those stories.

I, for one, would love to see a series of Kill Dickens, but only if that entails that mysterious Edwin Drood.

Thanks to both of you, Anthony and Conor, for answering these questions. I wish you luck with the novel and the event. Most of all have fun.

Dear readers, please do check out the YouTube video, and some great graphics from the book, here, here, and here.

About the Authors:

Anthony Del Col has worked in the music, film and television industries, produced two independent feature films and most recently assisted with the management of international pop star Nelly Furtado and her world tour.

Conor McCreery has served in both creative and business positions for film and television companies, contributed over 1,000 stories and articles for media outlets and also provided expert analysis for Canada’s Business News Network.

Andy Belanger works out of the Toronto-based Royal Academy of Illustration & Design and has done work for comic book publishers D.C. Wildstorm, Devil’s Due, and Boom! He is the creator of Zuda Comics’ “Bottle of Awesome”.

Interested in attending tonight’s event?  Authors Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery will be at the Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Theater on February 15, 2011, at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15 each.

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: , ,

Giveaway: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

February 14, 2011 by

As many of you already know, this month Michelle Moran‘s latest historical fiction novel, Madame Tussaud, comes out February 15 in stores.

Book synopsis:

Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American Ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, and when word arrives that the royals themselves are coming to see their likenesses, Marie never dreams that the king’s sister will request her presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. Yet when a letter with a gold seal is delivered to her home, Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.  . . .

Spanning five years from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.

Michelle is generously offering 1 signed copy of Madame Tussaud to one of my readers anywhere in the world, along with a pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings.

To Enter:

1.  Leave a comment about what you know about the French Revolution or if you have ever visited a wax museum and where.

2.  Facebook, Tweet, or blog about the giveaway and get a second entry.

Deadline to enter is Feb. 19, 2011, at 11:59PM EST

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: ,