Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Hi All!
I just wanted to let you all know this blog now has a co-author! Known as Lady Adonnenniel or Addie on the FTN Forum, she's a fellow Austen fan, and I am confident will be a wonderful addition to this blog! I'm excited to read what she has to say. Please give her a warm welcome. :)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Long Overdue...
The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. --Jane Austen
It has been a ridiculously long time since I last wrote on here. And I don't intend to be any better in the future...I am a failed blogger, we might as well admit. :) I'll keep it up though, for when the mood to write a post does hit. As it did tonight.
I've decided to tell you about what books I've been reading lately, and random thoughts I've had about them. Because I know you're incredibly interested. ;)
Recently I have read Anne of Green Gables, Prince Caspian, and The Enchanted Castle.
Anne of Green Gables--I am an Anne. Our personalities are pretty much exactly the same--with one difference...I can't hold grudges. I tried it once, and decided I didn't enjoy it. The book itself is incredible. Wonderfully written...you don't get that kind of amazing writing much. In fact I may venture so far as to say this and the Lord of the Rings are in a category all themselves. Not sure if I could back that up, but that's my feeling at this moment in time. :) Needless to say, I'm a big fan of both.
Prince Caspian--If I had read the book before seeing the movie, I'm afraid I would not have liked the movie much. As it is, I think it's a great movie. And a good book. I was surprised at how little action was in it. But since I'm more a fan of characters than action (I didn't get into The Horse and His Boy as much because it didn't include the four characters I've come to love), I enjoyed it.
The Enchanted Castle--This was a random book I found in my personal library. It was very entertaining, almost hard to put down. I'm not a fan of unexplainable magic though (not sure when that happened to me...) and that's pretty much all that was in this book. But I still liked it a lot. :)
And now I'm reading The Two Towers, Thorn in my Heart (thanks to Elena for letting me borrow it!), German Enchantment, and Farmer Boy.
The Two Towers--Amazing. I started it about a year ago and stopped in the middle. Same thing I did with the first one. And also the same as the first one, when I picked it up again I wondered why I'd ever stopped reading it. I love it. The one fault is that whenever I read it I don't feel very accomplished, because (at least with my version) it takes forever just to read one page. But it's worth the time it takes. :)
Thorn in my Heart--I'm really enjoying this. It's a Christian romance...a retelling of the Jacob, Leah and Rachel story. The Leah and Rachel characters really remind me of Blanche and Rose from the Fairy Tale Novels (funny, because Rachel's name in this is actually Rose!). It's a great book so far and is definitely keeping my attention. Which is something books haven't been doing lately. :-/
German Enchantment--Another Christian romance. This one is a collection of four short stories. The first story was very good...and I was excited to discover that the second is a sort of continuation of it--one of the minor characters from the first story is one of the major characters in the second. :) Nothing incredible about the writing or any other part of it...it's just enjoyable. One needs books like this sometimes.
Farmer Boy--I can't recall if I ever read the Little House on the Prairie series before or not. I feel I must have. But I remember nothing about it. So I'm reading it again, or for the first time. And I'm enjoying it. Farmer Boy threw me off a little, when all the sudden there were all new characters and Laura and Mary and Carrie were gone! But I've gotten used to Alonzo and his family now. :) Another thought--there is very very little dialogue in these books. Strange for me, because when I write it's practically all dialogue (until I edit, of course). I honestly can't decide what I think of this approach.
I've gotten excited about reading again. I'm not sure what happened to me lately...I just got sick of books, nothing could keep my attention. But, as you can see, that's changed now. Thankfully. :)
Blessings everyone!
It has been a ridiculously long time since I last wrote on here. And I don't intend to be any better in the future...I am a failed blogger, we might as well admit. :) I'll keep it up though, for when the mood to write a post does hit. As it did tonight.
I've decided to tell you about what books I've been reading lately, and random thoughts I've had about them. Because I know you're incredibly interested. ;)
Recently I have read Anne of Green Gables, Prince Caspian, and The Enchanted Castle.
Anne of Green Gables--I am an Anne. Our personalities are pretty much exactly the same--with one difference...I can't hold grudges. I tried it once, and decided I didn't enjoy it. The book itself is incredible. Wonderfully written...you don't get that kind of amazing writing much. In fact I may venture so far as to say this and the Lord of the Rings are in a category all themselves. Not sure if I could back that up, but that's my feeling at this moment in time. :) Needless to say, I'm a big fan of both.
Prince Caspian--If I had read the book before seeing the movie, I'm afraid I would not have liked the movie much. As it is, I think it's a great movie. And a good book. I was surprised at how little action was in it. But since I'm more a fan of characters than action (I didn't get into The Horse and His Boy as much because it didn't include the four characters I've come to love), I enjoyed it.
The Enchanted Castle--This was a random book I found in my personal library. It was very entertaining, almost hard to put down. I'm not a fan of unexplainable magic though (not sure when that happened to me...) and that's pretty much all that was in this book. But I still liked it a lot. :)
And now I'm reading The Two Towers, Thorn in my Heart (thanks to Elena for letting me borrow it!), German Enchantment, and Farmer Boy.
The Two Towers--Amazing. I started it about a year ago and stopped in the middle. Same thing I did with the first one. And also the same as the first one, when I picked it up again I wondered why I'd ever stopped reading it. I love it. The one fault is that whenever I read it I don't feel very accomplished, because (at least with my version) it takes forever just to read one page. But it's worth the time it takes. :)
Thorn in my Heart--I'm really enjoying this. It's a Christian romance...a retelling of the Jacob, Leah and Rachel story. The Leah and Rachel characters really remind me of Blanche and Rose from the Fairy Tale Novels (funny, because Rachel's name in this is actually Rose!). It's a great book so far and is definitely keeping my attention. Which is something books haven't been doing lately. :-/
German Enchantment--Another Christian romance. This one is a collection of four short stories. The first story was very good...and I was excited to discover that the second is a sort of continuation of it--one of the minor characters from the first story is one of the major characters in the second. :) Nothing incredible about the writing or any other part of it...it's just enjoyable. One needs books like this sometimes.
Farmer Boy--I can't recall if I ever read the Little House on the Prairie series before or not. I feel I must have. But I remember nothing about it. So I'm reading it again, or for the first time. And I'm enjoying it. Farmer Boy threw me off a little, when all the sudden there were all new characters and Laura and Mary and Carrie were gone! But I've gotten used to Alonzo and his family now. :) Another thought--there is very very little dialogue in these books. Strange for me, because when I write it's practically all dialogue (until I edit, of course). I honestly can't decide what I think of this approach.
I've gotten excited about reading again. I'm not sure what happened to me lately...I just got sick of books, nothing could keep my attention. But, as you can see, that's changed now. Thankfully. :)
Blessings everyone!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
My View on Life
I do not think it worth while to wait for enjoyment until there is some real opportunity for it.--Jane Austen
Everything that comes at me can either delight me or vex me, and in most cases it's my attitude alone that decides which. I prefer to see things in the best light possible. If there's a good side to a problem, I want to know what it is, and I want to focus on that. If something happens that made me happy, even just for a moment, I want to remember it. Even if the rest of the day goes poorly, I have that little piece of happiness to think about. This keeps me cheerful--always a good thing.
Lately I've been finding myself in some rather awkward situations. When I explain them to people, their reaction has been of sympathy. But I'm not looking for sympathy; I'm looking for someone to laugh with! You see, I'm not upset by these situations...I'm amused by them.
And, as Elena pointed out to me, that's a very Austen way to be. :)
Everything that comes at me can either delight me or vex me, and in most cases it's my attitude alone that decides which. I prefer to see things in the best light possible. If there's a good side to a problem, I want to know what it is, and I want to focus on that. If something happens that made me happy, even just for a moment, I want to remember it. Even if the rest of the day goes poorly, I have that little piece of happiness to think about. This keeps me cheerful--always a good thing.
Lately I've been finding myself in some rather awkward situations. When I explain them to people, their reaction has been of sympathy. But I'm not looking for sympathy; I'm looking for someone to laugh with! You see, I'm not upset by these situations...I'm amused by them.
And, as Elena pointed out to me, that's a very Austen way to be. :)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
This Is Just To Say...
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox...
;) Actually it's just a quick and rather pointless note to say that I know I have been rather lax with my posting on here lately, but that I have high hopes that will change quickly. Sorry!
the plums
that were in
the icebox...
;) Actually it's just a quick and rather pointless note to say that I know I have been rather lax with my posting on here lately, but that I have high hopes that will change quickly. Sorry!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
A Welcome!
I just wanted to quickly introduce two new members of the blogosphere--Lanta and Bridget! Their blog, Random Profound Thoughts by Two Evil Twins (lovely title, isn't it?), promises to be funny, random, crazy, &c. &c. Please check out their blog and welcome them!
http://randomprofoundthoughts.blogspot.com/
http://randomprofoundthoughts.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Drawings
"To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love." --Jane Austen
These past few days I've been drawing many many pictures of my character Ella, and her fiancee, Joe. I decided to post a few of my favorites here. Please don't be too harsh--I just started drawing this year, and therefore am not very good yet. :)
Ella as a wee one:
Splashing through puddles:
Their first kiss:
Joe trying to play his daddy's guitar:
Ella playing piano for her daddy:
Ella and Joe's wedding:
Friday, October 3, 2008
Happiness
Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery. --Jane Austen
It has been too long since I last wrote. Or, I should say, since I last wrote on here. I have been putting nearly all my creative energy into editing my novel. When I was not busy with that, I was reading. Yes, I have a hard life. ;)
This post may be all over the place. Just to warn you.
In thinking up topics for my next article, my mom suggested I write about happiness. So I have been thinking about that topic lately.
Ever since I turned 19, I have become increasingly happier. I've always been a very happy person, but nowadays it seems I'm in a nearly constant state of bliss. It really doesn't make sense; there are things happening in my life that, while out of my control, are frustrating and by all accounts should be leaving me in a constant state of something ranging from apathy to depression. And yet, my smile remains as genuine as ever. I can't explain it. I know when it started, but I don't know how or why. Not that I'm complaining, of course.
This train of thought is interesting to me. I see it in myself, and I see it in friends. The moment we find someone is happy, we want to know why. You have a grin on your face, something good must have happened to you. I know I can't explain my own recent happiness, because I've tried. I've thought about it a great deal. I can come up with no reasonable explanation.
So this makes me wonder...do we need a reason to be happy? If I need reasons, here they are: I'm alive and comparatively healthy, the same is true for my family and friends, and God is a loving God who is in charge of the big things and the small things. The same can be said at just about any moment of my life, so why am I not blissful always? Two years ago I was near the opposite end of this bliss. In general, not a lot has changed since that point. Just my attitude, which has been altered with God's help alone.
I don't have a startling new theory for you, or any other inspiring thought to leave you with. These are just some thoughts I've had, and I have no answers, no conclusions. I know that I'm happy, and I know it's not because of anything I have done. And that's enough for me.
It has been too long since I last wrote. Or, I should say, since I last wrote on here. I have been putting nearly all my creative energy into editing my novel. When I was not busy with that, I was reading. Yes, I have a hard life. ;)
This post may be all over the place. Just to warn you.
In thinking up topics for my next article, my mom suggested I write about happiness. So I have been thinking about that topic lately.
Ever since I turned 19, I have become increasingly happier. I've always been a very happy person, but nowadays it seems I'm in a nearly constant state of bliss. It really doesn't make sense; there are things happening in my life that, while out of my control, are frustrating and by all accounts should be leaving me in a constant state of something ranging from apathy to depression. And yet, my smile remains as genuine as ever. I can't explain it. I know when it started, but I don't know how or why. Not that I'm complaining, of course.
This train of thought is interesting to me. I see it in myself, and I see it in friends. The moment we find someone is happy, we want to know why. You have a grin on your face, something good must have happened to you. I know I can't explain my own recent happiness, because I've tried. I've thought about it a great deal. I can come up with no reasonable explanation.
So this makes me wonder...do we need a reason to be happy? If I need reasons, here they are: I'm alive and comparatively healthy, the same is true for my family and friends, and God is a loving God who is in charge of the big things and the small things. The same can be said at just about any moment of my life, so why am I not blissful always? Two years ago I was near the opposite end of this bliss. In general, not a lot has changed since that point. Just my attitude, which has been altered with God's help alone.
I don't have a startling new theory for you, or any other inspiring thought to leave you with. These are just some thoughts I've had, and I have no answers, no conclusions. I know that I'm happy, and I know it's not because of anything I have done. And that's enough for me.
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