Pride and Prejudice and Pride and Prejudice AND ZOMBIES

I just re-read Pride and Prejudice in preparation for reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which I hear, on NPR, is actually a clever spin off of the book. Some of the other spin-offs out there are dreadful beyond all belief. I read a Mr Darcy one last year. Turbull, jes turbull.

I think I'm going to get a copy this weekend or so, and I will let you how it is when I'm done. In the meantime, my fiction kick continues. I picked up Middlemarch today, which is so many people's favorite book, and might start that soon.

Coming My Way - DVDs & Books

DVD - Don't ask me what took me so long, but I finally ordered and will be receiving Colin Firth in "Pride and Prejudice." FIVE HOURS of my fav thing: the wet shirt, Jane Austen and The Best Book in the Whole Wide World (adapted to the screen).

FREE BOOK - I've been chosen as an early reviewer from Library Thing for "Superfoods". Stay tuned for a post on the book, once it come in the mail. I picked this book to review because of the whole health kick/ Mediterranean Diet thing.

NEW to ME BOOK - To round things out, I have also ordered Veil, Rae Armantrout's selected poems. I can't remember who it was that said they love "selected poems" rather than "collected works" because they're more portable and discriminating, but I agree.

Movie Review: Becoming Jane

Have I mentioned that I'm obsessed with Jane Austen? If I haven't, but you read this blog regularly, then you probably already knew this. But, yes. I love her dearly.

Er in came over a few weeks ago and we watched "Becoming Jane" on On Demand (brilliant little invention really). Many critics panned it, but they're the same ones who would pan any chick flick because of its chick-flickiness.

Have you ever noticed that only the movies that bend out of the genre are the ones that get the good reviews? Juno is a high school flick but with a sophisticated, pithy heart. Knocked Up is a goober guy comedy, but with a sweet and tender twist. Bourne Identity is an action film but with more intellectually complex characters and character development.

I mean, of COURSE 300 suct balz, if you are a normal person who doesn't like special effects and fighting and ogres being violent and blood and guts. But if you DO like that, if that's your thing, shouldn't the movie reviewer review the movie based on how well the movie fulfills the genre?

That tangent being established, for a chick flick, "Becoming Jane" is quite delightful. We've got forbidden romance, gallavanting around England, tensions within a mostly happy family, a touch od scandal, a ball (there must always be a ball!!!). But there's also seedy displays of pugilism followed by propositions from the wearers of merkins (google it), for a twist. And, the most important part, an independent chick who forges her way through the world despite the man trying to get her down. In a 1800s type way, of course.

That's why I was so flattered yesterday when Gramma said, "You remind me of Jane Austen." Apparently the obsession runs in the family, for Gramma, too, just watched all the PBS series and can reread the novels to no end. I've already watched "Becoming Jane" twice and it's one I'll watch every time it's on TNT of Lifetime or Oxygen or whatever.

-must -put -down Sense and Sensibility

Must Let Sense Win Out Over Sensibility For Now

Ha ha, I did pick up my Sense and Sensibility, just like I said I would. Edward! Engaged to Miss Lucy Steele! Imagine!

I finished volume one during lunch (breakfast, really -- I slept in; it's been a long long long week, particularly Thursday, which was the big Thesis Writing Day).

But really, I have to stop now. I can't go on to volume II just yet. For there is another tragic, cloistered, writing-genius spinster from the 1800s who I must now turn my attention to for the next week:


In particular, this little number right here:

Blazing in Gold and quenching in Purple
Leaping like Leopards to the Sky
Then at the feet of the old Horizon
Laying her spotted Face to die

Stooping as low as the Otter's Window
Touching the Roof and tinting the Barn
Kissing her Bonnet to the Meadow
And the Juggler of Day is gone
Beauty, ain't it?

=sighing=

Still, I wonder how it is that Elinor deals which such news...

Maybe I'll just read one more chapter.