From the Times Online (UK) list of "the most comical and cringe-making literary quotes of the year:"
Most patronising rejection letter
“It seems like a really original and interesting read.”
Penguin turns down chapters from Pride and Prejudice, submitted by David Lassman
Lady Jane at A Lady's Diversions has carded me! (I'd make a joke about how haven't been carded in a while, but actually it happens pretty often still...)
This is what I get to do:
Being "carded" means I will come up with two wish lists -- one that is materialistic and one that is spiritual.
Here are the rules:
1. Each player starts with 5 gifts that they would want for the New Year.
2. People who are “carded” need to write their own post about their five things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your post, you can choose five people to get “carded” and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re “carded”, and to read your Blog.
And so, here are my lists:
My Materialistic Wishlist
1. A better job, possibly a new career
2. A wonderful trip to the Grand Canyon this summer
3. More free time to read, write, blog, watch movies, pamper myself, etc.
4. A digital SLR camera
5. Nice new furniture, and drapes to match!
My Spiritual Wishlist
1. And end to the wars that our soldiers are fighting (and to all wars, really, but this is a start).
2. Physical health and spiritual peace for my family, especially my grandparents who are facing a trying year on both fronts.
3. That I may find my key to spiritual contentment and personal happiness.
4. A greater connection with my neighbors and a deeper feeling of community in my new home town.
5. That all people on Earth will cultivate a greater appreciation for beauty, truth, goodness, and simplicity.
I like that this list acknowledges both materialistic and spiritual desires, and that it's open-ended enough to encompass whatever your definition of "spiritual" may be. If it speaks to you as well, please consider yourself "carded"!
Happy New Year!
JaneFan
I received a much-needed new laptop from my dear husband for Christmas. After downloading and installing all the requisite software, I then set this image from Molland's as my desktop background. It goes very well with the default Dell blue background which I'm too lazy to mess with right now. More importantly, it sets the tone quite nicely for this new gift and a new year of blogging. Thanks to Mags for the image, and to my husband for the laptop!
Just taking a quick break from the Christmas gaieties to pass along this important announcement:
The lovely Ms. Place at Jane Austen Today (and the Jane Austen's World blog as well) is sponsoring a contest to win a copy of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
I will graciously abstain from entering, as I already have an ARC of the novel (which I am currently reading and enjoying), and received another "official" copy as a Christmas gift. What fun! I hope to have a review to share before the year is out, but you know how it is -- 'tis the season, and all that...
cheers,
JaneFan
Jane Austen Festival
Manhattan Public Library
629 Poyntz Ave
Manhattan, KANSAS
January 29—February 2, 2008
In The Jane Austen Centre in Bath's December Newsletter:
--The conclusion of Mag's "There Must Be Murder"
--An article on 18th century ladies outerwear
--Winners of the Becoming Jane writing competition
In JASNA's Persuasions Online Vol. 28 Issue 1, Winter 2007
--Tons of scholary articles about Emma (from the AGM)
--Jane's "one-sided romance" with Tom LeFroy
--The role of music in Sense and Sensibility, and religion in Mansfield Park
There is a plethora of reading material between these two publications. I'd have to get snowed in to find time to read it all!
Arti at Ripple Effects has some beautiful pictures of Jane Austen's Bath, as well as Lacock Village, where many scenes for Austen films (and Harry Potter) were shot.
While you're at her site, be sure to check out Arti's review of Amazing Grace (now on DVD) as well!
From the JASNA events page:
"Penguin Classics and JASNA's Greater New York Region invite you to a special January 8 pre-screening of Persuasion, the first installment in the Masterpiece Theatre season of "The Complete Jane Austen."
"The event will start at 6:00 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception, followed by the screening at 6:30 p.m. And, we'll round out the evening with a panel discussion at 8:00 p.m."
More information on the location, registration, and guest speakers is available here.
Annual Jane Austen Birthday Tea
Gage Hall, 4 Archdale St, Charleston
Saturday, January 26, 2008
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Our tea is open to the public.
Admission is $10 for non-members and $5 for JASNA members
Visit the JASNA South Carolina Region's website.
Via The Book Depository: Until 18 January 2008, UK residents only can download a free unabridged BBC audiobook of Persuasion, read by Greta Scacchi, from audible.co.uk.
(If the last link doesn't work, go to The Book Depository and click the ad on the top right.)
The Frugal Duchess recently wrote about how Jane Austen's characters inspired some of her "smart career moves" and made her a better businesswoman. For example:
As an English major, I learned to write effective papers and to analyze texts. What's more, I learned to keep an open mind, which led me to ultimately pursue lessons about investments, real estate and wealth management. Money, I realized, plays a major role in every Jane Austen novel.
It's a thought-provoking post that will make you examine how you can apply the lessons of Austen's heroines to your own life.
Here's an interesting article, only tangentially related to anything to do with Jane. It deals with the restoration of Groombridge Place in Kent, which was the scene of the Bennet's home in the 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice.
A great deal of effort, pride, and love goes into restoring the beautiful wood paneling. I really appreciate the reverence for history and fine craftsmanship that these men feel.
"Here, Vincent points mournfully at three sections that look oddly out of place - the grain is less subtle, the panels look too clean. This is where a contractor used chemical stripper and caustic soda to try to clean the panels, and nearly ruined a work of art. Fortunately, English Heritage officers were around, took one look at the bleached bare panels and put a stop to all the work, until Vincent was brought in. "You can't just strip this wood, you'll take all its life and depth and history away. There are more than 300 years of dirt and dust in here that have to be acknowledged, they're part of the wood now."
It is so refreshing to see people who want to restore something instead of replacing, destroying, or "improving" it with synthetic materials!
PS - Be sure to check out page 2 of the article for some beautiful wood-panelled English homes for sale.
I know that the final days of affordable and timely holiday gift shipping are nearly past, but here it is:
For the Artsy Janeite:
No, I didn't forget that yesterday was our dear Jane's birthday... I was just too busy introducing two kittens to their home and couldn't pry myself away. Kittens are far superior to the Internet as a way to pass the time, I must say. One is purring in my lap right now, and seems to momentarily have forgotten her recent fixation with my computer screen, thankfully.
Anyway, here's a roundup of how the rest of the Austen Nation marked her birthday:
This essay by Emily Auerbach sheds some light on the notorious literary feud.
Bethany House Publishers, specializing in Christian Fiction, Nonfiction, Children's Books, released two new books this past fall that are of interest to Austen fans.
Book Publishing News had this to say about Just Jane: A Novel of Jane Austen's Life
"Basing her novel on actual family letters, historical writings and careful research, acclaimed author Nancy Moser illuminates Jane Austen and the world she lived in, transporting readers into the life and mind of the witty young writer. In this realistic and moving portrayal, Moser lets readers tag along on Jane's journey as she tries to accept both who she is and the meaning of the life she has been given, learning to trust that her own circumstances have some purpose beyond herself."
"The text is the same wonderful story of love and family and humor that centuries of readers have enjoyed. Sprinkled with trivia, lists, notes, facts, jottings, and even inspiration drawn from Austen's own prayers and writings on faith, this new edition will provide an even more memorable reading experience."
The multi-talented Jane Odiwe, illustrator at Austen Effusions and a writer to boot, recently e-mailed to let me know that her novel, Lydia Bennet's Story is now available on Amazon.com. Please note that while it is not listed as a "pre-order," it will not ship for at least another 2-5 weeks in the US. :(
If you can't wait that long, you can get a sneak peek on her blog. This book looks like a fun foray into the mind of one of Austen's most intriguing characters!
PS - It looks like it is in stock in the Amazon UK store though, and can arrive by Christmas (if you're in the UK).
TVO will be airing in Ontario the BBC's production of "Persuasion" and ITV's "Northanger Abey" and "Mansfield Park" later this month.
They have set up a Jane Austen-themed website, where you can find air dates, stills from the films, links to other online Jane Austen resources, and more. I particularly enjoyed the gems of advice "inspired by and borrowed from" Jane Austen - some are sincere and some are tongue-in-cheek, but all are useful!
As an added bonus, TVO has produced three "exclusive videos on themes found in Jane Austen's work." They feature commentary from some very smart JASNA members, as well as clips from the films. You can find it all on TVO.org. Even if you're not in Canada, I think you'll enjoy the videos!
PS - I'll post info about the upcoming stateside PBS airings of "The Complete Jane Austen" soon, I promise!
The Jane Austen Centre in Bath posted this in their newsletter last month (yes, I'm a bit behind!).
Make Jane Austen's Needle Case
This looks like a craft even I could make without royally messing it up!
Ever wanted to study Literature at Oxford?
"The Oxford Experience is a residential summer programme which offers a choice of about a dozen seminars each week over a period of five weeks. Classes meet in small, friendly groups, usually of ten to twelve people. The programme is held at Christ Church, one of the most impressive and beautiful colleges in Oxford."
"The Oxford Experience is designed for non-specialists. Participants do not need any formal qualifications to take part, just an interest in their chosen subject and a desire to meet like-minded people."
One week costs about a thousand British pounds minimum, but includes tuition, room & board. There are many more courses offered in a wide range of subjects, but here are the courses on Language, Literature and Creative Writing:
Alice’s Adventures in Oxford
British Crime Fiction in the 21st Century
Creative Writing – The Art of Lying
Famous British Heroines of Fiction
Five Centuries of British Poetry
A History of the English Language
Kingship and Politics in Shakespeare
Late Victorian and Edwardian Detective Stories
Oxford and the Novel
The Play's the Thing
Revolutionary Romantic Poets
Romantic Jane Austen
Shakespeare in Oxford
The application deadline is 1 April, 2008. More information here.
Our State magazine is hosting a tour of "England's Literary Landscapes" in late May 2008. Stops will include sites related to such authors as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Thomas Hardy, Lewis Carroll, and of course our dear Jane Austen. Much more information is available here.
(cross-posted on my other blog, The Bookworm's Hideout)
