Long, long ago, when summer was here, I visited the Classics Club blog--this page in particular. Jillian was, at the time, asking for volunteers to host read-alongs for classic books (do tell) over the next twelve months, and because I revel in over-committing myself and signing up to do things I don't actually have time for, I spontaneously offered to host a Wives and Daughters read-along for the month of December.
Which is why on Saturday a month-long read-along of Wives and Daughters will begin here on Yet Another Period Drama Blog. There will be tags. There will be discussion questions. There will be a character throwdown. There may be games. There may even be a movie review, but that will be extracurricular because the event's supposed to be about the book, you know. What do you have to do to join? Follow this blog and read Wives and Daughters during the month of December-- that's it! Oh, and snag this cute wee button for your blog, just to let everyone know you're participating (and leave me a comment).
I'm reading Elizabeth Gaskell's Wives and Daughters during the month of December... are you?
To begin with, Miss Laurie is hosting a Period Drama Don't Keep Calm contest over at Old-Fashioned Charm, and since contests are my one weakness, I couldn't resist entering. My three entries are as follows...
Les Miserables
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Northanger Abbey
The contest ends tomorrow night, so go enter!
In other news... Kellie over at Accordion to Kellie is hosting a special Black Friday giveaway--a gift card to her delightful Etsy shop, Kellie Falconer Design. Check out this post for details on how to enter, and don't forget to stop by her adorable shop while you're at it!
It's that giveaway time of the year, I think, because Jenny and Abigail are co-hosting a birthday party for their respective novels, The Shadow Things and The Soldier's Cross. They're answering questions, blogging about all sorts of novel-related things, and hosting a giveaway. I've read both books, and I mean it when I say that you should too. Go here for more details!
Also, I guest posted on Elizabeth Rose's blog today. "I'm a writer, and I know many of you are too. I've been writing for almost as long as I can remember. In the early years of my scribbling, the stories I hand-wrote on computer paper and stapled together all had at least one thing in common. And that was, to put it bluntly, plagiarism..." (Go here to read the rest.) Lat but not least, I'll be popping up on Charity's blog tomorrow as a guest poster for her musicals week as well, so don't forget to go there if you get a chance. (Anyone wanna guess which musical I'll be rambling about?) And since I won't be back on here until this weekend at the earliest, a happy Thanksgiving to you all! What have you been up to this week?
In the swirl of words [and schoolwork... and babysitting...] that surrounds me this month, I've barely had time to reply to e-mails, much less write blog posts. Which you've probably noticed, no? Well, anyway, my dear friend Puddle (also known as Petie or Country Girl) has come to my rescue with a guest post that had me grinning from beginning to end. Friends are the best-- thanks so much for guest posting, Puddle! Everyone else, enjoy your reading and don't forget to stop by Petie's blog and check out the pictures of her adorable new nephew!
Any period drama lover is familiar with BBC. Any good period
drama fanatic is borderline-obsessive with BBC. If you are the latter, please
raise your hand. *Petie promptly shoves her hand in the air with pride* C’mon,
people, I know I’m not alone. Get those hands up!
The British Broadcasting Company produces a variety of
period dramas, from Austen to Dickens to Gaskell to Eliot. And we period drama
fanatics soak them all up like sponges, latching onto each and every new drama
that is released. Really, those period dramas are our one weakness. They are
like the balm for our old-fashioned hearts, our instant transport into our
favorite times. And not only that, but they provide countless quotes and
one-liners which are so applicable to everyday, modern life. I mean, really.
Without BBC dramas, the world would never have been blessed with such
linguistic gems. You know, phrases like “SHAKE ME UP, JUDY!”
(Did I really just say that? I’m sorry, it just popt out!)
Seriously, though. BBC shows can be quite addicting. When I
receive a new one from the library, I just want to gather my family together,
settle in my living room with a cozy blanket and steaming cup of tea, and watch
for the next eight hundred years, forgetting any appointments and all engagements.
Now, some may say that an engagement is an engagement, but did I say an
engagement was an elephant? No. I just said I love BBC.
Lark Rise to Candleford
But, really, why do we love BBC dramas so much? What is it
about this British television that captures our hearts? Maybe it’s simply
because while Britain is producing epics like North and South, Pride and Prejudice, Lark Rise to Candleford, and Sense and Sensibility, we Americans just
get shows like… Glee. Or Modern Family. Yay for America. But
really, for one thing, BBC dramas are just deuced fine shows with no begad
nonsense about them. However, there are several aspects of BBC shows which
particularly draw in us old-fashioned souls and good-television-deprived
Americans.
Firstly, between the way they are filmed, the costumes, the
dialogue, the sets and scenery, and the dancing, BBC shows just look like they
came from a completely different era. Everything about them is purely
old-fashioned. It’s really quite a wonderful thing to behold. They are simply
beautiful shows, completely transporting you to another time. And you become
lost in the world of high society, carriages, silk bonnets, and cravats. And
tea. Lots and lots of tea.
Little Dorrit
And let’s not forget the spot-on accuracy of BBC! Not only
are they historically accurate to the various time periods, but most of BBC’s
shows are adaptations of classic books, and who can deny that BBC tries its
utmost to remain faithful to each book they turn to film? Take Pride and Prejudice 1995, for instance.
A large amount of the dialogue is taken directly from the book! How cool is
that? And this method isn’t uncommon with BBC. Their efforts to make sure their
film adaptations are as close to the original stories as possible are so
refreshing. Hip, hip, hooray!
BBC period dramas have mastered the forgotten art of being
completely hysterical and side-splitting without being crude, profane, or
insulting. (If you don’t believe me, go watch Cranford.) Without exception, every BBC drama I have seen is
hilariously funny, clever, and witty. (Oh, you disagree? Be quiet, Sparkler.)
And to add to that, for the most part, BBC keeps their period dramas pretty
squeaky clean. Of course, like anything, there are exceptions, but BBC series
are pretty much the only movies I feel comfortable recommending to anyone. There are almost never any
scenes to skip (but why, oh why, did they feel the need to throw in that first
scene of S&S’08?), and the rare cases of bad language are always extremely
mild.
North and South
But now. I have come to the main reason why period drama
fanatics (particularly fans of the female sort) adore BBC dramas. Are you ready
for this? I’m sure you all know this, so say it with me…
THE BRITISH ACCENTS.
Duhhhhhh. Thank you, Petie. I think we have all apprehended
that much.
Seriously, though. What period drama-loving gal doesn’t love
her a good, thick British accent? What young lady in her right mind doesn’t
completely melt when they hear Richard Armitage a British person speak?
What girl doesn’t nearly have a heart attack whenever a British guy opens his
mouth? CAN I GET AN AMEN??
*Petie is blown out of her chair by the raucous response*
Thank you. Faith in humanity restored.
Pride and Prejudice
And now, there’s really not much more to say. BBC is just
amazing. End of story. So. Let me sum up: why do we love BBC? Because the
British Broadcasting Company simply IS the very epitome of period drama.
BBC, we period drama fanatics salute you. And we do hope
your family is in good health.
What is your favorite
BBC period drama?
Heya! I’m Petie, an aspiring author, wanna-be Brit, and
die-hard Okie country girl. I love my Jesus with all I am, and I take great
pleasure in good books, laughter, the color red, coffee, and of course, a good BBC
drama. I blog over at All Things Bright and Beautiful. Come visit me, yes? I
love making new friends. Cheers!
Yes, I realize this makes two Les Mis posts in a row, a phenomenon that has not taken place here since Les Mis week back in June. But hey, I'm excited. (Understatement.)
The official Les Mis international trailer was released on Thursday, to the best of my knowledge (at least, that's when I first saw it) and it bowled me over. I can't resist giving a breakdown of this one like I did last time, so...
(note: I'm skipping the parts that were in the last trailer, for the sake of space and time)
0:02- "I found her wandering in the woods, this little child, I found her trembling in the shadows." Cannot get over how cute Little Cosette is-- I just want to hug her and comfort her and take her away from the evil Thenardiers forever.
0:05- I replayed this bit too many times. LOVE how they melt the actress' face into the original logo... paying tribute to it again, just like they did with the poster!
0:15- "I'm cold, will you let me stay here for tonight?" Um... what??? That wasn't in the musical! It looks like they're adding in some spoken lines... that's okay with me as long as they don't cut the music. (Ha... like it's my decision.)
0:17- At first glance I almost thought this guy was Colm, but it's obviously not. Who is he, then? And how does he know that this is Jean Valjean?
0:18- This music. Is amazing.
0:21- We saw this bit in the original trailer, with the galley slaves, but I just wanted to mention how I like the rhythmic grunting--it's reminiscent of the original opening to the Prologue. And it's also cool that Valjean is actually a galley slave in the movie (as he was in the book!), pulling ships around, and not just digging ditches on the roadside. The stage does have its limitations.
0:23- OH WOW. That SHIP. Anne-girl is going to go nuts over this movie.
0:24- Javert standing on the dyke--we'll get to Russell Crowe's singing voice later on, but for now may I just say that he is the complete epitome of how Javert should look? There, I've said it. Thank you.
0:28- "He cannot escape... OH WAIT HE DID." This is probably the part during the Prologue where the police round Valjean up with the candlesticks. "Tell his reverence your story! Let us see if he's impressed!"
0:31- Yep, here's Javert shouting Valjean's name. Definitely an added line. I like his horse; it's a pity Javert can't have a horse on stage. He looks more imposing on a horse.
0:34- Oooh, evil factory foreman. Hmmm, he's not ten feet tall like in the 25th concert--he seems less scary somehow.
0:39- Wait, what? Is Javert watching as Fantine gets fired? This is new!
0:42- *chokes up* Okay, that teeny little snippet was much worse than in any of the concerts. Bodily dragging her out of the factory? The horrible man!
0:45- "I Dreamed a Dream" sounds much more forceful this time around. Is it a different version of the song, or just another part of it that we didn't hear in the first trailer? At any rate, I actually like it better this time.
0:47- It looks like Valjean is stopping to help Fantine just out of the blue here, not breaking up the fight with Bamatabois. (I'm not nit-picking. I'm just observing.)
0:51- Let's hear it for Valjean!!! Where on earth is Javert? I do hope they haven't cut the part with him trying to arrest Fantine. "But Monsier Mayor..." "I will SEE IT DONE!" *emphatic music*
0:54- D'awwwww. Poor little thing. :(
0:55- I really like how they're playing Fantine's song while showing Cosette... after all, Cosette is part of her dream, and the Thenardiers are basically killing her by inches. Sounds morbid, I know, but THEN--
1:00- One Day More. ONE DAY MORE, FOLKS. I may or may not have clamped both hands over my mouth to keep from screaming out loud when I saw this the first time. The thrill that went through me made up for the disappointment in Hugh Jackman's voice. (hey, this is an opinion post, after all...)
1:06- "Mademoiselle." I have played, replayed and re-replayed that two-second bit, and I love it more every time. "I'm meeeeeeelting!"
1:09- He's in a carriage, I think, but going where? Valjean and Cosette didn't actually start for Calais that night, did they?
1:11- Ah, Monsieur and Madame Oy-vey-and-spit. He, at least, doesn't look as creepy as he did on the poster. The lack of purple lipstick probably helps.
1:12- Whoa. Javert coming to check up on Cosette at the Thenardiers? As I remember, that did actually happen in the novel, but it's definitely not in the play. And why are Valjean and Cosette still there? So many questions.
1:14- I love how they so smoothly transitioned from Little Cosette to Older Cosette. I had my doubts about Amanda Seyfried but now I think she's practically perfect. So pretty!
1:18- And her voice! Not Judy Kuhn for sure, but not half bad either. Is it just me or does the city view look a bit fake? (Thank you, my dear Amy, it IS fake... it's a STUDIO...)
1:19- It seems to me that they're going to handle "One Day More" the way "Tonight (Reprise" was done in West Side Story (the movie). Rather than having a suspended-disbelief scene with all the characters gathering together to sing, it looks like we're going to see shots of everyone singing individually, almost as if they're just thinking. Which is all good. My question is, how about the "one day to a new beginning, raise the flag of freedom high"? Where does the chorus come in?
1:20- It's "some bourgeois two-a-penny thing," not "Cosette!" Okay, now I'm nitpicking. I will stop. Yay for Samantha Barks! How does she manage to still look fabulous in rags, dirty and starving? I actually had to pause this bit and take a screencap. The looks on their faces are just so perfect.
1:23- At long last we have a Marius who can do the naive-and-completely-smitten act without being, you know, incredibly annoying and immature. (Cough, cough, I name no names.) I'm starting to even be reconciled to his hair (and that's a big step, you must understand).
1:27- And we have an Eponine who's heartbroken without being whiny, the right age, the right appearance... Lea Salonga was still the best but Samantha Barks is, like, the one-and-a-half best.
1:29- She has the best facial expressions of any Eponine that ever was, though. That I can say with no reservations.
1:33- "I rode through the rain!" Ha, that had nothing to do with anything, but I must have me my Jane Austen quotes. :P
1:35- Oh. My. Stars. Confrontation, Confrontation, this has got to be the Confrontation. With SWORDS. And the look on Valjean's face... *rubs hands together with anticipatory glee*
1:36- All together now, three two one--THE BARRICADES! Better than I dreamt it! Annnnnnd... Russell Crowe's voice. Not as great as I dreamt it. *ducks* The problem is that I'm mentally comparing him to the Mighty Quast and nobody will ever, ever measure up, so I should stop comparing. It really is good. No, I mean it. Just not as good as I'd hoped.
1:37- If I'm not mistaken, there is Alistair Brammer next to Marius (you know, the guy who plays Joly in the 25th concert--is that the same actor?) in the crowd scene. Cameos, hooray! Now, where's Hadley Fraser??
1:39- O_O Kiev scene in Fiddler on the Roof, anyone?
1:42- Valjean's evidently in a church, but why?
1:44- I spy Killian Donnelly! Also Enjolras. Who seems to be incapable of smiling. Where is the charisma? The winning grin? (oh, wait, that was just Ramin Karimloo...) The RED VEST OF POWER AND AWESOMENESS?
1:46- PERCYYYYYYY! ... Ahem. Pardon me.
1:47- That had better not be Enjolras. Because if we see Enjolras die in the trailer... *shakes head direly*
1:48- Eponine, watching someone get shot? But wasn't she the first to fall? And look, she's still in her girl clothes. I think this is just a different scene, cut into the First Attack to add Drama.
1:49- Well now, look who's here! Hey, Gavroche!
1:51- Cosette racing through a church in her wedding dress--alone? I'm intrigued.
1:52- "To the barricades!" *relieved sigh* Now that was the Enjolras we all know and love, yes?
1:53- I really ought to be sighing over how cute they are together, but my attention was actually drawn to the neckline detail on Cosette's dress. Heh. Isn't it lovely?
1:54--1:59- Parades! Flags! Jean Valjean in a uniform (and looking way older than he did at the beginning)! The National Guard! He Who Cannot Smile! It's all such a sequence of continual excitement...
2:00- That sound you heard, that was my heart thudding into my shoes.
2:02- No. No stop don't fire they're just a bunch of kids! I think my biggest question now is not "will I like this movie?" but "exactly how many boxes of tissues should I have handy when I see it?"
2:04- Shivers, spine-tingles, all that jazz. SPLENDIFEROUS rendition of "Do You Hear the People Sing?"
2:05- My immediate impression is that this is "Who Am I?", just from the look on his face.
2:07- I have got to get over this association of any and every epaulet with Prince Charming from Cinderella. I shall conquer this. I shall.
2:09- The locket, Fantine has the locket! And, I might add, a much prettier dress than any of the stage costumes I've seen, though it be heresy to say it...
2:14- I'm still feeling like Helena Bonham-Carter looks too young... she's supposed to be Eponine's mother, after all, and Eponine's eighteen by the end.
2:16- Ewww. Go away, disgusting people.
2:18- Without a doubt, this is the part where Valjean lets Javert go. The LOOK on his face... ohhhh.
2:19- Ring out the bells! Choke up! Squeal and drum your feet up and down!
2:20- Several months ago when the first pictures were released, one of my friends pointed out how fascinating it is to see the barricade "for real"--to see how truly tiny it was, how alone-and-with-no-friends the students really were. Which is something you just can't grasp as well on a revolving stage.
2:22- Let's just say goosebumps.
2:23- The Mighty Small One again!
2:24- Okay, I realize it's just a jump cut, but I adore how it almost looks as if Fantine is watching Cosette and Marius approvingly... sniffle...
2:25- Marius on the horse with the flag!! Sigh, squeal, you know the routine by now.
2:26- Cosette in the carriage leaving the wedding--this is reminding me of the final scene in Emma 2009.
2:27- Awwwww. I can't wait for "Suddenly"! ...Actually, I can't wait for ANY of it.
Wow. Just wow. This post got a lot longer than I meant it to. Which means I ought to get off Blogger and go write.
Just in case anyone's counting, only forty-eight days remain until the Les Mis movie is released to the public. (Those of you who pay attention to such whims and inconsistencies may notice that in the past I've abbreviated the title as Les Miz, but on further consideration I decided it's more logical to say Les Mis, so that is how I shall write it henceforth and forevermore unless I forget.) I'm not planning on seeing it in theaters, but I'm still incredibly excited about its release.
As the thrilling date approaches (December 25th, if you don't want to bother to do the math), Working Title Films has been releasing more and more photos and videos related to the movie, and all the mounting excitement is making me want to run around the house singing Red and Black at the top of my lungs. Which I have not actually done. My family, I think, is grateful.
Anyways. In light of the severe lack of Real Blogging I've been doing lately (it's Half NaNo's fault), it seems a bit silly to write a post comprised mostly of movie posters and a wee video stuck at the end (no, no, don't scroll down to see it now--be patient and wait, it will not go away). But half a loaf is better than no bread, and certainly better than stolen bread (please politely giggle at my apropos reference), so I give you the Les Mis posters and pictures I've been sighing over recently.
This one may well be my favorite. I just love how they took the original logo (see below) and used it as a prototype for the photo. I mean, that image is iconic, and the fact that they're honoring it in this poster just makes me happy.
The only thing that bugs me a bit with the poster is that they quite obviously Photoshopped her eyes. And the blue looks... odd. Now, I realize Amanda Seyfried (Older Cosette) has blue eyes and maybe they just wanted to make it look consistent, but if so, why isn't Little Cosette wearing blue contacts in the actual film? In the picture below her eyes look pretty brown to me... and even if they are blue (it could just be the lighting that gives an impression of brown) they're certainly not as Windex-blue as in the poster. Just a minor quibble.
One of my biggest fears about Hugh Jackman playing Valjean was that he might not look old enough for the later scenes. This poster, however, is reassuring, because he definitely looks older than in those first-scenes-as-a-convict pictures. Again, though, the eyes are weird. Too translucent, somehow.
This one pleases me so, so, SO much. Not just because I think Russell Crowe has the perfect looks for Javert, but because of the pose. Er, the expression on his face. Whatever. A Javert poster could easily and logically have depicted him snarling or angry or vengeful looking, "watch out Valjean I'm gonna get you," but instead he looks sad and almost lost. Which is exactly what Javert is. Hooray for the most complex kinda-villain of all time! Oh, and I like his coat. Not Philip-Quast-worthy, but still interesting.
I'm not overly thrilled with the Fantine poster. On the one hand, she still has her hair, which is nice because most of the trailer shows her without it, and Anne Hathaway has gorgeous hair. So that's all good. But I would have liked to see a slightly more interesting facial expression. Something tragic, you know? Heartbroken, or even dreamy. Instead, she's just kind of... there. Not smiling, not sad, just looking at you, and not even looking at you with the haunted eyes I imagine for Fantine. And the eyes are just weird. Again. I know I'm making a big deal about the eyes, but really, with the weird color, this could almost pass for a Twilight poster. *does the oy-vey-and-spit thing from Fiddler on the Roof)
Enough with the negative. This poster of Older Cosette has taken away the last shred of doubt that I had about Amanda Seyfried. She just LOOKS like Cosette ought to. Hair down and all. Now, I know young ladies were supposed to wear their hair up by that age in 1832, but you have to remember that Valjean tended to baby Cosette and didn't want her to grow up. So it's quite logical that her hair should still be down in a little-girl style, even though she's sixteen. (Or is it eighteen? Why can't I remember? Somebody help!)
Her dress, also, is pleasing to my critical eye--I'm not a huge fan of the traditional Cosette dress with the wide lace bib. I realize Valjean babies her a bit, but come on. This one (what we can see of it) looks much prettier. So in that respect I'm okay with a deviation from the traditional stage costumes, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to weep for the tragic loss of Enjolras' Red Vest of Power and Awesomeness.
Here we get a slightly better view of the dress, and a pretty awful view of Marius, but it's an adorable picture so I won't fuss. And yes, I've been sighing over every appearance with the two of them together in every single video. They're just so CUTE. I am completely reconciled to Eddie Redmayne. Completely. I still would rather have picked a guy who was slightly more aesthetically blessed, as a friend of mine puts it, but I really think he's going to make an amazing Marius. As long as he shaves a little bit. What's up with the chin stubble?
...All right, all right, I WILL stop being cynical. In all honesty, I think this poster is sweet. The whole talking-through-the-railing thing looks so romantic in the sneak peek, and I liked that they used that scene for the poster.
In a sense I'm pleased with this next one because it gives us our first look at the Thenardiers, but at the same time I'm annoyed that they chose to use M. and Mme. Slimebucket for promotional pictures instead of Enjolras or Eponine. How about a Little Fall of Rain poster, folks? Now THAT would be ducky. At any rate, I'm not disappointed with Mme. Thenardier in this picture (not that I really care about her, heh) but Thenardier himself... ewwwwww. My initial impression was that he looked like a seriously disturbed version of Gussie Fink-Nottle from Jeeves and Wooster. Not a pleasant thought. Plus, he's too young. So is she, I suppose, but I always imagined Thenardier with gray hair.
However, I really do like the fact that they're both dressed up in their Christmas "finery." I think this was done for a reason-- not because the film is being released Christmas Day, but because in the novel (pardon me, "the brick") Valjean rescues Cosette on Christmas Eve. This isn't mentioned in the stage musical, but it looks like the film producers are trying to stick as close to the book as possible in little details such as that, and Amy is pleased. Muchly so. Now, if only they had ignored the passage about Enjolras being blonde...
I haven't seen any more posters from the series above, but if you find any more, do send them my way. I've come across a few others, though, which are also highly satisfactory. Like this one. Love, fight, hope, dream seems to be the tagline for the movie, which isn't quite as evocative as I might have hoped (hey, Do you hear the people sing? gets the message across beautifully) but I like how they've combined the tagline with the characters for this one. If this is, indeed, an official poster and not just a piece of fan art.... ha. I realized just now that there is no release date at the bottom, nor is there any title or the name of the film company. So this may very well just be a fanmade picture. As Aristotle said, "You cannot believe everything you read on the Internet."
I don't care if it's in a foreign language, I absolutely love this poster. Probably my favorite of them all. Doesn't it just give you shivers to look at it? Red and black and clouds and light streaming everywhere... so many of the posters have dark backgrounds but this one is full of light and I like that, because Les Mis IS full of light. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise--ooh, now, if I were in charge of taglines, I think I'd use THAT one.
And just one more little tidbit of delight-- the latest Les Mis TV spot! Please tell me I am not the only one who gasped and squealed over Marius-on-the-horse-with-the-flag and got goosebumps when Javert whipped out his sword and melted into a little puddle when Valjean said "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."
November is upon us, and with it comes NaNoWriMo for some and Half NaNo for others. What, you've never heard of Half NaNo? That's because I made it up. Head on over to my writing blog, The Quest for Stories, to read about it!
Due to Half NaNo and general busyness, Yet Another Period Drama Blog is going to be severely neglected during the month of November. There may be a few posts here and there, but I can't promise anything. However, I shall still be here to moderate comments and read your posts, and if you care to pop over to The Quest for Stories, I'll likely be there from time to time.
I also guest posted over at Anne-girl's blog during her Writers' Conference last week (see here and here) and at Melody's blog earlier this week for no reason in particular. Just for fun. I'll be stopping at Elizabeth Rose's blog (Literary Lane) later this month, too. See you there-- and get writing!
It was a seemingly simple question, phrased in ordinary language, appearing on The Classics Clubin a quiet and unassuming font and size. Yet as soon as I saw it, it took into account all the Wheaties it had been eating and did the proverbial leap off the webpage.
Why do you read the classics?
Until then, I hadn't answered any of the Classics Club's monthly meme questions--a combination of "not enough time" and "I'm not really that interested." But this one... this one wouldn't leave me alone. I hadn't the time to answer it when I first saw it, as I was in a flurry preparing for houseguests, but now I have a bit more time on my hands and I'm just squeaking in under the wire. There IS a little bit left of October, after all.
So. It's probably evident to anyone reading my blog that I read classics. But the question isn't whether I read classics or not--it's why do I read the classics?
The short answer to that question would be that I am an unashamed book snob and that I prefer reading classics because they tend to be far superior to almost all modern books out there.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It just POPT out!"
The long answer is much less rude and takes quite a bit more time to articulate (do tell, Amy! Is that why it's called the long answer? What a clever creature you are, to be sure!).
Since the long answer is such a biggie, I'm going to channel my inner organizational nut and use bullet points. Yay for bullet points! For some reason they always make me feel so Academic. Am I the only one?
I read the classics because...
I could not live without books. And classics are books, as I am sure you will all agree.
I love me a big, thick tome. A book that I can get my teeth into (figuratively speaking). A book that will last me a long, long time. Classics tend to be like that.
I like reading about the past, whether it be non-fiction history books, historical fiction or literature written in a bygone era. I sometimes think I was born in the wrong century.
I love me a big, thick tome. A book that I can get my teeth into (figuratively speaking). A book that will last me a long, long time. Classics tend to be like that.
I like reading about the past, whether it be non-fiction history books, historical fiction or literature written in a bygone era. I sometimes think I was born in the wrong century.
Classics tend to focus on people and how they relate to each other rather than galloping plotlines. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying a classic book doesn't have a plot. But I tend to be more attracted to the characters and what they think about the world than to the adventure the characters move in. And classics are stories that have remained timeless, because in general they focus on people. People don't change. Societies change, times change, the whole world changes, but people have been the same since Adam and Eve.
There's a certain sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, lean-back-and-stretch-after-a-job-well-done that comes with reading a good hefty classic. I've yet to experience that with reading most modern fiction.
There are so many friends to be found within classic books. You don't mean to tell me that anyone could forget Emma Woodhouse after once reading about her, do you?
Classics tend to be inexpensive and easy to find at used bookstores. It is the truth, and there is no shame in admitting it.
"In reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself." (C.S. Lewis) Could it possibly have been said any better?
I love the smell of a good, old book. I will never own a Kindle or Nook if I can possibly help it. There is no substitute for real, old-fashioned paper and binding.
I have met so many kindred spirits through reading classics... why, without Jane Austen and Charles Dickens and the like, this blog would never have begun. Smoke on your pipe and put THAT in!
"...she is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain..."
...Or, as this post might more appropriately be titled, "Railroads, Hoopskirts and Extreme Emotional Trauma (2009) Review."
I hardly know how to begin with a review of Return to Cranford. The writing of it might be an easier task if I knew what my conclusions were-- as I do not, I'm rather at a loss what to say. Did I hate it? No, indeed! Did I love it? Eh... no, I didn't. I think, really, I must invoke both Henry Tilney's and Edmund Sparkler's disapproval and say that it was a very nice movie, but it had a great deal of nonsense about it. It was Cranford... and yet it wasn't quite the Cranford of the first movie. And since I didn't think much of the original novel trilogy (Dr. Harrison's Confessions, Cranford and My Lady Ludlow) I can't say that the book was better, but I can say that the first movie was better. Yet there was so much to love in RTC that I couldn't help enjoying it tremendously--yet I was so annoyed by certain plot twists that I was ready to throw an orange at someone. Oh, dear, now my head's in a muddle. I suppose the best way to proceed would be in my usual rambling fashion. I shall endeavor to tell you what I liked and didn't like, and since I don't like to begin or end on a sour note, the Likes will come first, followed by the Dislikes, then more Likes in conclusion.
...Shutting up.
(Warning: this post is written with the presupposition that all you readers have seen RTC. If you have not, you may wish to skip this review, for it will be absolutely studded with spoilers.)
What I Liked About Return to Cranford
~Miss Matty, bless her heart, had not changed in the two or three years that passed between films. Not much, anyhow. (I'll get to that.) She's still as sweet and caring as ever, still unpretentious and down-to-earth. I loved her relationship with Tilly and how she supported Peter in pretty much anything he wanted to do, and I applauded her when she put her foot down and refused to have that horrid feathered parroty creature in her house. Go, Miss Matty!
~All my favorite ladies made delightful reappearances. Caroline Thompkinson is the only one who didn't show up, but she annoyed me exceedingly in the first movie and I was quite content to do without her. Miss Pole is probably my favorite of the group, and she didn't disappoint. "You will rend every garment you possess when I give you THIS piece of intelligence!"
~So I'll admit it up front, William Buxton was one of my favorite characters in this movie. (Puddle darling, do please stop the hysterical giggling. You wreak havoc on my poor nerves.) I liked him far better than Dr. Harrison in the first movie (hey, nothing against Dr. Harrison, but I just like William better) and he made a nice addition to the original bunch. Please tell me I'm not the only one who immediately thought of Willy Wonka when I first saw his hair... in fact, when he first appeared I thought him a nice fellow but quite unattractive. I changed my mind, peoples, I changed my mind, and then I saw Henry V and repented of everything I'd ever thought in the beginning, but that is a story for another day.
~Peggy Bell is an absolute doll. She was sweet and kind and caring, reminding me a little of Amy Dorrit in her familial situation (I came this close to slapping Mrs. Bell right through the screen on multiple occasions, and as for Edward--let's just say that I may or may not have squeaked, "Ding, dong, the wicked witch is dead!" at some time or another during the course of the film. Ahem.) and her timidity. However, she definitely had some backbone to her and I admired that (not that Amy Dorrit doesn't, but I think Peggy had more.) I loved how she kept coming and coming to see William even when his horrid father wouldn't let her in, and how she took command when Edward got into trouble... et cetera and so forth.
William and Peggy's relationship, too, was sweetness itself. I actually ended up liking them better than Dr. Harrison and Sophy--who, though cute, just weren't as interesting as William and Peggy. Couples who have to go through some trouble together before they can have their happily ever after rarely fail to endear themselves to me. Plus, they're just so perfect for each other. *blissful sigh*
~Lady Glenmire was such a fun and welcome addition to the Cranford Gossip Club. Mrs. Jamieson annoyed me far more than she did in the first movie, but I liked how Lady Glenmire was so down-to-earth. She was one of the elements brought over from the original books, and I appreciated that-- I might prefer to movies to the books, but I'm always pleased when the screenwriters include things from the actual novels rather than just taking the names of the characters and running amok with them. Cough, cough, Michael Landon. COUGH COUGH.
~Miss Galindo was back! She quickly became almost my favorite character in this film (can't decide who was my ultimate favorite) and I liked her even better than in the first one. In the first one I had been worrying in the beginning that she was one of those corset-burning soapboxers, but she turned out to be an absolute duck and I like her immensely. Especially when she bawled out Lord Septimus. Yessssssssss.
~Harry Gregson quickly became one of my favorite characters (replacing Mr. Carter, in a way) this time around, though he frustrated me no end at times. (Hmm, this is a good way to segue into What I Didn't Like About RTC. Consider everything after these parentheses to be Dislikes until we get to the Happy Ending. I'll let you know when that comes around.)
What I Did Not Like About Return to Cranford
~Harry seemed to have changed. Okay, so obviously he'd grown up a bit in two years, and I hadn't expected him to be the same naive little boy who had gone off to school in the first movie, but I did not like how he suddenly had become indifferent to all Mr. Carter's wishes for him and so set on doing things his own way. I realize that being at his horrible school made a difference and all that, but I do not like it when I spend half the movie joining with my sisters in shrieking at the screen, "NO HARRY STOP IT DON'T BE AN IDIOT!"
Especially in the running-away-and-jumping-on-top-of-the-train scene. Can I get an amen? Not to mention making everyone think he was dead (and causing me to vow never to watch this horrible movie again) and then coming back to life with a sort of "LOL just kidding."
Um, not funny. NOT. FUNNY.
~Mary Smith was a huge disappointment. I was quite happy to see her reappearance... at first. The lack of Jack Marshland was quite a let-down (I still think they should have ended up together) but the fact that Mary suddenly became the corset-burning soapboxer was incredibly trying. Hey, I have no problem whatsoever with her Articles of Writing ("is it a recipe?") but the way she went about it, with her "I don't need a man and a family to tie me down because I must Follow The Star Within Me And Be True To My Inner Freedom (Whatever That Means)" seemed quite inconsistent with her character. Ugh.
~Though the shunning of Mrs. Jamieson after the advent of Lady Glenmire was a rather hilarious fiasco (good word, fiasco) it just didn't seem like something the Cranford ladies would do. Now, Mrs. Jamieson's rudeness about not letting the other ladies socialize with her sister-in-law (or was she her cousin) wasn't too out of character (I never much cared for Mrs. Jamieson), but the idea of Miss Matty refusing to speak to anyone is pretty much laughable. And Miss Pole staying home from a part just to sulk in silence? Ridiculous. I was sure up until the last minute that she'd cave. But she didn't. And I didn't like that. The ladies of Cranford may get their danders up every so often, but they are good souls on the whole and don't hold grudges of that sort. Sure, everything was sorted out in the end, but it still fidgeted me.
~Mr. Carter was dead. GRRRRR. Miss Deborah was dead. DOUBLE GRRRRRRRR.
~Mr. Buxton was a piece of work. "No, I will not let you marry my son, sweet and lovely young woman, because you are way far beneath him. Get out of my sight instantly. But wait, let me do everything in my power to help your deadbeat brother who just stole money from his employer. Please applaus me now for being such a reasonable human being."
TRIPLE GRRRRRRRRR.
~The ending, though deliciously happy, seemed a bit too perfect in one or two spots. Jem and Tilly randomly popping out of the magician's wardrobe thing? Really?
~The whole cow-on-the-line thing appeared to be stolen straight from the archives of Thomas the Tank Engine. 'Fess up, BBC. Are you really THAT desperate for storylines???
~Lady Ludlow died. Sniffle. Martha died. Sob. Edward Bell died. Party time!
Okay, back to the good stuff.
What I Liked About the Ending of Return to Cranford
~The magician was HILARIOUS. Here was another character taken from the book, and I was so pleased to see him. The little scene with Miss Pole was one of the most hilarious in the whole movie.
"I suppose this is a variation on the classical trick with the hat being A and the dove being... B."
"Naoooow. Eeet eess maaaaaaaaageec."
:D
~Good old Captain Brown got a happy ending. I defy you not to smile and perhaps even clap a little for him and Lady Glenmire.
~That ending scene was just cuteness. Especially the waltzing. I couldn't make up my mind as to whether the whole lady's-hands-on-the-man's-shoulder was something Peggy invented because William's left arm was out for repairs, or if that was actually the fashion back then. Everyone else seemed to be dancing that way too, but the people of Cranford have a habit of doing little things like that so that no one will feel awkward. Now THAT is typical Cranford-ness. None of the petty shunning or staying home from parties. These are the ladies who gave up their candles, remember.
~Miss Matty finally got her turban. And it actually looked quite sweet. Who would have imagined?
Final rating... undecided. There were so many aspects to this movie, with good being A and bad being B (well, duh)... what did you think?
I feel rather horrid for having blogged so little over the past few weeks. An anniversary should be celebrated with many wonderful posts about shoes and ships and sealing-wax (and cabbages and kings), but I've been so busy scurrying hither and yon and writing guest posts for lovely friends that I've hardly had time to write posts for my own blog. I promise that there shall be at least one new movie review next week, however (anyone want to guess the movie? comment, please!), and I'm working on that Les Miz dream cast... but until then, we must all content ourselves with the elevens tag that is flying yet again through the blogosphere. This time I've been tagged by Kiri Liz and Hayden, and I'll let you in on a little shameful secret. Hayden tagged me earlier this week, but I held off on answering her questions for a little while because I wanted to wait and see if anyone else tagged me (presumptuous, I know). That way, if I had two sets of questions to answer, I'd have an excuse to skip the eleven random things at the beginning (which I muchly dislike). And what do you know, along came Kiri today with her tag! Voila! Kiri, you've saved me from the Eleven Randoms. I am infinitely obliged to you, my dear. *assumes Lady Dedlock voice* So you all know my secret. And now you are going to expose me. *returns to normal manner of speaking* Without further prattling, I present to you the twenty-two questions that I had great fun answering. I've also tagged several friends at the bottom, so don't forget to check down there!
Hayden's Questions If you could choose any superpower, what would it be? Probably the power to be invisible. That would be great fun. I could freak people out and become an international spy. Bows and Arrows, Swords, or Guns? Um... none of the above? What’s your favorite black and white film?
It might very well be Roman Holiday (1953). Hilarious, touching, full of lovely costumes, Audrey Hepburn being glamorous, Gregory Peck being... Gregory Peck (cough), a fascinating story and of course Rome in black and white. It's all such a sequence of continual delights, to quote Mrs. Forrester. "Irving! Am I glad to see you!" "Why, did ya forget your wallet?"
"Tell me, Mr. Radovich, what is a ringer?"
"Oh, er, it's an American term. It means anybody who has a great deal of charm."
What is something random that freaked you out as a child, even if it wasn't supposed to be scary? I was terrified almost to death of the lorikeets at the zoo. There used to be a cage where you could actually go inside and feed the birds (though it cost a bit more than tuppence a bag) with a little cup of sugar water, and they'd come and perch on your arm or finger. My grandmother took me there on multiple occasions but I was always far too scared to even try feeding the Flappy, Feathery Animals of Terror. Still am, for that matter. Did you read Dr. Seuss books as a kid? Which one is your favorite? I did indeed! By far, my favorite was The Five Hundred Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. I also really liked And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street. What is your favorite musical? Heehee. You ask ME this question. Everybody, on three. One, two three-- LES MISERABLES!
Except it's not awkward. Ever.
What is your least favorite book by your favorite author? Lady Susan by Jane Austen. I haven't even finished it yet. What I've read of it bored me. Did I just type that out loud? If you could steal any movie/television character’s wardrobe, who would it be? Marianne Dashwood's from Sense and Sensibility 1995. I may devote a post to her costumes sometime in the near future. They're just amazing.
What is your opinion on clowns? I can take them or leave them. Didn't inherit my mom's terror of them, but I certainly don't think much of them. What is one obscure book, movie, or television show that you recommend? So Dear to My Heart (1948), one of the best (if not THE best) of Walt Disney's films. Most people have never heard of it, and it's a crying shame.
"Mama's already sent away for the pattern. For my new dress."
"What's that got to do with it?"
"I was gonna wear it to the fair."
(yes, I have the entire script memorized...
that's what happens when you watch a movie more than thirty times)
Oh no! You’re stuck in an elevator when the power goes out. It’s going to be several hours before help comes. Who would you rather be stuck in there with- Mr. Collins or Hyacinth Clare Gibson? Um, can we make Fanny Dorrit an option instead? Because she'd actually be kind of fun... no? Oh, very well. Mr. Collins. I'd have fun insulting him to his face, I think. Horrid, I know, but... um, anyways. Moving on.
Kiri Liz's Questions What is your third favorite color? Hmmm... probably cream. Pink and blue are first and second, though I couldn't tell you which is which. If you could rewrite any scene from any book, which one would it be and why? Well, I'd be happy to tell you, but my fellow Leaguettes must promise not to guillotine me. It's the scene in The Scarlet Pimpernel (do tell!) where Marguerite and Percy have their Cold-Shoulder Discussion in the garden, after which Percy follows Marguerite up the steps and kisses the place where she walked. I mean, COME ON. That chapter was fabulous, and then that ridiculous end bit-- I have to admit I burst out laughing every time I read it. I lose some respect for one of my favorite heroes, let me tell you, and that's not a good thing. Would you rather live in a old palace, a cottage in the woods, a pirate ship, or a underground burrow? Toss-up between an old palace or a cottage in the woods. I'm rather inclined to the palace at present but a little cottage is always very snug.
How do you pronounce the word "often?" Off-ten? Or Off-fen? Off-fen, unfortunately. I'm not much like Jane Fairfax, I'm afraid. Jane always speaks so distinct, you know. What is your favorite holiday film? It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!
"Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?"
"You want me to kiss her, huh?"
"Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people."
If you had a book (any book including a cookbook or a research book) published, what would be featured on the cover? Cherry blossoms, perhaps. I'm partial to those. :D Where would your dream home be located? Isn't this kind of a repeat of the one about castles and cottages, burrows and ships? Well, I'd probably like a lighthouse by the sea. A small cottage at the foot of the lighthouse, maybe, or even the lighthouse itself. Full of old-fashioned knickknacks and lacy curtains at the windows, indoor plumbing and all manner of modern conveniences of course, but still rustic and lovely and simply crowded with salt air and wet winds blowing off the coast. And cats, maybe. Plenty of books, a sewing room, a lovely low-ceilinged kitchen and of course Mr. Knightley and six or seven children.
If there was no such thing as tea or coffee in this world, what hot drink(s) would you consume? Hot chocolate, of course. And I should not suffer in the drinking of it, not one bit.
What one song describes your life/day/mood? At present, you mean? Hmmm... Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting. I'm quite content and peaceful and happy right now. Of course, I am not resting in Jesus only when I'm content and peaceful and happy, but that song's been running through my head tonight. Peanut butter cookies, snickerdoodles, or gingerbread men? Peanut. Butter. Cookies. What is something you absolutely love right now? Sewing. Indubitably. Also Jane Austen. And books in general. But that's a given, right? My Questions
Who's your least favorite literary heroine?
Did you read the American Girl books when you were younger? Which series was your favorite? Which book?
You're having a friend over who has never seen a single period drama in her life. Which one do you choose for her indoctrination?
Raspberries or strawberries? Why?
What's your favorite cartoon movie?
Who is your favorite singer?
When do you start listening to Christmas music?
Which was the best birthday of your life so far and why?
Why did Mr. Gibson marry Hyacinth Horror Kirkpatrick? Explain your answer in 200 words or less and don't forget footnotes. If you haven't read/seen Wives and Daughters, write a two-paragraph essay on why lobsters don't wear socks.
Who would you rather have tea with, Miss Bates or Mrs. Bennet?
What is the ugliest/most unflattering dress or outfit you've ever seen on a period drama? How would you have dressed the character who was so unfortunate as to wear it?
And, of course, anyone else who wants to do it is more than welcome. Leave your answers in the comments, if you'd like. I ignored the less-than-200-followers rule, because I was already so flagrant in my flaunting (no random facts! shocking, shocking!) that I figured I may as well be hung for a follower or two as a random fact. Toodle-pip, lovely people, and see you next week!
