Remarkably Jane: Notable Quotations on Jane Austen by Jennifer Adams

Some quotes from the book:

"One of Jane Austen's greatest talents is that she presents sexual tension with such subtlety."

"For all the body's powers and vulnerability, [Austen's:] novels demonstrate that, for her, the real dance of life lies in language and in understanding."

"Each of us has a private Austen."

This was a wonderful collection of quotes on Austen and her works. This book even throws in the criticism and condemnation quotes! Yes, I can't believe they're out there! Great read for Austen fans everywhere!

*Part of the Everything Austen Challenge

The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini

This does get a bit steamy in parts and there is some language, but overall this was a really fun love story. The author did a wonderful job of modernizing the story of Pride and Prejudice.

The story rests around Lizzy and Darcy, she's a lawyer and he's the judge...sparks soon fly in out of the courtroom. They have a steamy romance in England, but they have to break up once they're back in the States...do they find a way to be together despite the courtroom ethics?

We still have Jane and Bingley, his witchy sister Caroline, and the rest of her family...but the author introduces Lou to us, Lizzy's best friend who is gay. It adds a wonderful dynamic to the story. There is no Wickham in this adaptation. I like that, though, since the story turns into how two people finally realize what true love is (i.e., plot isn't quite as complex).

So read P&P first and then pick up this delightful adaptation!

*Part of the Everything Austen Challenge

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

My Review in another Haiku:

Lizzie has spirit
Mr Darcy is too proud
Love overcomes all

I really enjoyed rereading this one. It was a pleasure, but not guilty, I promise! I won this version with the lovely cover from Velvet at vvb32 reads! So I just had to get it on my blog! If you haven't read any of Jane Austen start with this one. And don't forget to watch the movies...the BBC 1995 version is excellent with Colin Firth as Darcy, but my personal favorite is the 2005 version with Kiera Knightley and Mathhew McFadyen. He's just my yummy Darcy! And Lost in Austen is also a treat. Check out my links for reviews!

Isn't this the greatest cover! It's so pretty! Thanks again, Velvet!

*This is part of the Everything Austen Challenge hosted by Stephanie.

Everything Austen Challenge and Giveaway!

J.T. of Bibliofreak is holding an Everything Austen Challenge Giveaway! AND it's an INTERNATIONAL GIVE AWAY. One lucky reader will get the Jane Austen action figure, complete with quill, writing desk, and copy of Pride and Prejudice.

All you have to do is either write a six-word summary of one of her novels or Haiku poetry summary! And if you're apart of Stephanie's Everything Austen Challenge you get a few extra entries. So for more info. click on the Everything challenge link above and get started (the one next to Bibilofreak link)!

My Pride and Prejudice Haiku:

Too much pride excels
Too much prejudice avails
Then much love begins.

Mansfield Park six-word summary:

Fanny and Edward, cousins, together forever.

Book Review: Tea With Jane Austen by Kim Wilson

Summary:

Who would not want to sit down with Jane Austen and join her in a cup of tea? Here for the first time is a book that shares the secrets of one of her favorite rituals. Tea figures prominently in Jane Austen's life and work. In fact, the beloved novelist was the keeper and maker of tea in her family. Tea with Jane Austen begins with tea drinking in the morning and ends with tea in the evening, at balls and other gatherings.

Each chapter includes a description of how tea was taken at a particular place or time of day, along with history, recipes, excerpts from Austen's novels and letters and illustrations from the time. The book also reveals how to make a perfect cup of tea!

Review: This book was full of fun facts about what Jane Austen would've been eating and drinking! It was just fabulous. I even attempted one of the recipes: Modern Bath Cakes! They were super yummy. I would really like to get my own copy and try a few more of the recipes. This is a fun read for those who enjoy Jane Austen and the Regency era.

Update: I am officially done with the Everything Austen Challenge! I have read and watched all twelve on my list:
1. Pride and Prejudice (2005)
2. Pride and Prejudice (TV 1995)
3. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
4. Emma (Miramax 1996)
5. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
6. Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
7. Persuasion (TV 2007)
8. The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Mary Street
9. Pride and Prejudice: a Latter-day Comedy (2003)
10. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange
11. Sense and Sensibility (TV 2008)
12. Intimations of Austen by Jane Greensmith

Extra Credit!
1. Lost in Austen (TV 2008)
2. Persuasion (1997)
3. Jane Austen For Dummies by Joan Klingel Ray
4. Mansfield Park (TV 2007)
5. Emma (TV 1996)
6. Northanger Abbey (TV 2007)
7. Bride and Prejudice (2004)
8. Pride and Prejudice (TV 1980)
9. Pride and Prejudice (1940)
10. Clueless (1995)
11. Miss Austen Regrets (TV 2008)
12. Mansfield Park (TV 1983)
13. The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater
14. The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)
15. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
16. Mansfield Park (1999)
17. Tea With Jane Austen by Kim Wilson

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Pemberley Ball RSVP

Greetings! I am Lady Godiva, wife of Lord Archibald of America. My dear husband is taking me over to his beloved home land of England and there we will be staying with our dear friends the Bingleys. I guess I should it's my homeland as well, but I was born here in the Americas. I met my dear husband when he came over for business.

The Bingleys have invited us to a ball in Derbyshire at the Pemberley Estate and a Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy will be our host. I hear he has 10,000 a year! Alas, I fear I have not a chance since I am already married, but a lady may look, no? But I also have heard strange rumors about the Darcy family...brooding, proud, secretive, dark, and mysterious...I feel a slight shudder of fear...and yet longing...

Here is my beautiful gown with which I shall grace Pemberley Ball:













And I drew this little sketch of how I envision my Mr. Darcy:












To RSVP for yourself please head on over to Velvet's blog vvb32 reads for the official invitation and pertinent information.

Book Review: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange (Aug. 1, 2009)

Summary:

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre starts where Pride and Prejudice ends and introduces a dark family curse so perfectly that the result is a delightfully thrilling, spine-chilling, breathtaking read. A dark, poignant and visionary continuation of Austen's beloved story, this tale is full of danger, darkness and immortal love.

Review:

This was a light and fun adaptation of what happens after Pride and Prejudice. Why is Darcy so brooding and miserable all the time? Well, now we know...he's a vampire! Well, there's not a lot of vampire action, and she didn't quite portray Lizzy the way I imagined her in the original Pride and Prejudice, but it was still a fun twist and well worth at least one read.

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge, Helluva Halloween and R.I.P. Challenges.

Movie Review: Mansfield Park (1999)

Release Date: November 19, 1999

Director: Patricia Rozema

Summary:

At 10, Fanny Price, a poor relation, goes to live at Mansfield Park, the estate of her aunt's husband, Sir Thomas. Clever, studious, and a writer with an ironic imagination and fine moral compass, she becomes especially close to Edmund, Thomas's younger son. Fanny is soon possessed of beauty as well as a keen mind and comes to the attention of a neighbor, Henry Crawford. Thomas promotes this match, but to his displeasure, Fanny has a mind of her own, asking Henry to prove himself worthy. As Edmund courts Henry's sister and as light shines on the link between Thomas's fortunes and New World slavery, Fanny must assess Henry's character and assert her heart as well as her wit.

Austen purists probably won't appreciate this one...Fanny Price isn't the mellow and submissive heroine from Austen's novel. She writes and she's quite spunky. But if you don't think about that too much and just enjoy the movie for what it is, it's a pleasant surprise. Mansfield Park is my least favorite of Austen's novels so I thought this was a fun interpretation despite the many liberties taken. The acting was also superb and I thought Edmund was pretty darn handsome as well!

Interesting Trivia: Johnny Lee Miller who plays Edmund actually played Fanny's younger brother in the 1983 version of Mansfield Park.

Memorable Quotes:

Fanny Price: Well, Lady Bertram is always suffering near-fatal fatigue.
Susan Price: From what?
Fanny Price: Usually from embroidering something of little use and no beauty... not to mention a healthy dose of opium every day.
Susan Price: Your tongue is sharper than a guillotine, Fanny.
Fanny Price: The effect of education, I suppose.

This is part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Book Review: The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

The Jane Austen Book Club:

Summary:

In California's Central Valley, five women and one man join together to discuss Jane Austen's novels. Over the six months they meet, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book. I loved learning about the characters and all their foibles. None of them are perfect and it shows. Fowler really delves into their backgrounds and thus we see a bit of why they are the way they are today. The movie had a hard time showing this since they could only fit so much into a two hour movie. So now reading the book I know a bit more about why they do the things they do.

I also loved the way all these different people can come together over Austen and liken her novels unto their own lives. We also see how Austen can subtly influence the lives of those who read her. I just loved the way the characters interacted with each other. Lots of times they didn't even like each other, but eventually they see the beauty in each other and love grows.

It's a wonderful read for any Austen fan and just a great read in general!

A fun quote:

"There was something appealing in thinking of a character with a secret life that her author knew nothing about. Slipping off while the author's back was turned, to find love in her own way. Showing up just in time to deliver the next bit of dialogue with an innocent face."

This is part of the Everything Austen Challenge

Movie Review: Jane Austen Book Club

Jane Austen Book Club (2007): Based on the book by Karen Joy Fowler

Director: Robin Swicold

Genre: Drama, Romance

Tagline: You don't have to know the books to be in the club.

Summary:

Explores Austen's adage that general incivility is at love's essence. Sylvia's husband dumps her for another woman, so Bernadette and Jocelyn organize a book club to distract her. They recruit Sylvia's daughter Allegra; Prudie, a young teacher whose marriage may be on the rocks; and Grigg, a sci-fi fan who joins out of attraction to Jocelyn. The six read and discuss one Austen novel per month. Jocelyn tries to interest Grigg in Sylvia; Allegra falls in love with a woman she meets skydiving; Prudie contemplates an affair with a student; Sylvia's ex keeps popping up. In the discussions, characters reveal themselves in their comments. By the end, are truths universally acknowledged?

My review: I first watched this movie when it first came out and was undecided. It wasn't my favorite. But I decided to watch it again after hearing some glowing reviews from my fellow Austen Challengers. I'm really glad I did! I really enjoyed seeing how six completely different people could find a way to relate to all of Austen's books. I loved seeing their different perspectives on life and how they applied Austen into their own mini universes. I don't know if I completely agree with how Daniel and Sylvia turn out, but I still found all six characters interesting and romantic! I just love Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, and Hugh Dancy. So please check this one out if you love Austen and love a good romance!

Interesting Trivia: Each cast member was required to read the Austen book their character was reading in the movie!

Memorable Quotes:

Bernadette: All Jane Austen, all the time. It's the perfect antidote.
Prudie Drummond: To what?
Bernadette: To life.

Grigg Harris: What about me? Am I your friend? Or am I just some widget to help you make Sylvia feel better about herself? Why did you invite me to be part of your book club? What went through your mind the first time you saw me? "There's a man who is dying to read every book Jane Austen ever wrote." Is that what you thought?
Jocelyn: No.
Grigg Harris: But I thought, "What a beautiful woman. I hope she looks over at me." I thought if I read your favorite books that you would read mine. But, no, no, no, no... You just want to be obeyed. That's why you have dogs.

Book Review: The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater

The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater (2009)

One Line Review: He catalogs his own books, hangs out with Lord Byron, and sleeps with prostitutes and serving girls.

I like the idea of a diary from Darcy's perspective, but though it was more detailed than The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy, it portrayed my beloved Darcy as rather boring and a bit too free with the opposite sex than I would ever imagine, and the friendship between him and Lord Byron was a bit too much. I don't think they would have ever gotten along; it seemed forced.

And from this Darcy I can't understand why Lizzy would have ever fallen for him! Oh, well. I still have Pamela Aidan's novels on Darcy's perspective to keep my company and I have yet to read Amanda Grange's Mr. Darcy's Diary. So hopefully there are others out there worthy of my Mr. Darcy!

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Mansfield Park (1983) and Update

This adaptation encouraged me to read Mansfield Park the first time I watched it...I got through one chapter and that was it! Though, it is still a goal.

I actually enjoyed this adaptation. This is how I pictured Fanny and Edmund and Henry and Mary Crawford. Lady Bertram was very idle while petting and holding her pug all day on the sofa. Mrs. Norris was quite the devil. It was a bit dry, but I think that's just how they were made in the 80s! And I enjoyed this one a lot better than the most recent version.

Here's some interesting trivia:

The sheer brown gown with red and blue dots Jackie Smith-Wood (Mary Crawford) wears discussing the play is the same gown Christina Cole (Caroline Bingley) wears playing cards at Netherfield Hall in "Lost in Austen" (2008).

Update:

I am now officially done with eleven of my twelve for the Everything Austen Challenge!

Read/watched on my list:

1. Pride and Prejudice (1995)
2. Intimations of Austen by Jane Greensmith
3. Sense and Sensibility (2008)
4. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
5. Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-day Comedy (2003)
6. The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Mary Street
7. Persuasion (2007)
8. Emma (1996 Miramax)
9. Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
10. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
11. Pride and Prejudice (2005)

Still to read on my list:

1. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange. I am number eight on the hold list at my library, so I'm waiting with anticipation!

Read/Reading/Watched not on my list!

1. Lost in Austen (TV 2008)
2. Persuasion (1997)
3. Jane Austen For Dummies by Joan Klingel Ray
4. Mansfield Park (2007)
5. Emma (TV 1996)
6. Northanger Abbey (2007)
7. Bride and Prejudice (2004)
8. Pride and Prejudice (1980)
9. Pride and Prejudice (1940)
10. Clueless (1995)
11. Miss Austen Regrets (TV 2008)
12. Mansfield Park (1983)
13. The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater- Currently reading!

I'm having so much fun with this challenge! Thanks again to Stephanie at the Written Word for hosting it!

I thought I should add as a disclaimer that I don't have TV channels and I have a 7 month old son and so while taking care of him throughout the day I put on my Austen movies! Because as I glance back over this list it really looks like I have nothing better to do than watch these movies and have no life! he he!

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Movie Review: Miss Austen Regrets

This movie was smartly written and greatly acted. Olivia Williams makes a great Jane Austen as well as Greta Scacchi as her sister Cassandra. These were definitely the positives.

They decided to focus on the what-ifs of Austen's life. We only know of one marriage proposal that she received from Biggs-Withers. But this movie throws in a few more from some eligible gentleman. They portray Austen as turning them down in order to be independent and focus on her work. It's an interesting concept, but I don't buy it. I really don't think she found anyone she wanted to marry. I think she would have married had she had an excellent man to marry. So while the film itself is well done, I just can't agree with the concept. I just don't believe Miss Austen regretted...

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Book Review: Intimations of Austen by Jane Greensmith

Synopsis from Goodreads:

This collection of nine short stories includes backstories, sequels and what-ifs to Jane Austen's beloved novels. Greensmith provides sympathetic insights into characters you love to hate. Her what-if stories are realistic, true to Austen’s characters, and delightful to sink your teeth into. And always, Greensmith, Romantic that she is, calls forth the power and beauty of the natural world to heal, bless, and nurture the wounded, the misunderstood, the lonely, and the confused on their journeys through life.

My Review:

These short stories were amazing!

1. Rainbow Around the Moon-

The snow has stopped and the cold has set in. It's growing dark. I light the lamps and make the fire roar. I stop my work and go outside to read the skies and pay my homage. And there, low on the horizon, hangs the moon, still full but waning. Its halo speaks of coming snow, or sore, rain. Its halo is iridescent, a rainbow around the moon. A promise of peace. Peace at last.

Just a taste of her beautiful imagery. This story was inspired by Persuasion.

2. 3 Sisters- Is a bit of a mish-mash of all of her novels!

3. The Last Baby- We learn more about Mrs. Bennett and her side of the story and how she fell in love with Mr. Bennett and her anguish over losing her only son; a very touching story.

4. Bird of Paradise- Inspired by Mansfield Park. We learn more about Fanny and her relationship with Edmund and how she grows into her role as Mrs. Bertram.

And by this stream, Edmund kissed me as if for the first time. He ran his fingers through my hair, catching them in the curls that bobbed about my neck and throat. We went inside and went upstairs, and used up three candles complete that night. My feet never got cold.

5. Color of Love- Inspired by Pride and Prejudice.

His marriage banns were blue, and gold , and green. He never took for granted the kaleidoscope that was Elizabeth. Even in old age, when his eyes began to fail him and he had to squint to see the contours of her sweet, loving face, Darcy felt her yellow candle warmth caress and love his blues away until all the world was Eden once again, and all the light was the soft green of newly mown hay. Sunrise, sunset. Waterfalls in dark forests. A meadow filled with flowers. Craggy heights and distant vistas. Elizabeth was the color of his love.

6. Remember We Are English- Inspired by Northanger Abbey. We learn more how Henry defied his father and fell in love and married Catherine! It's very romantic.

7. When the Fates Conspire- Inspired by Persuasion. This one is pretty humorous! Two fates actually conspire to bring back together Anne and Frederick!

8. Heaven Can Wait- Pride and Prejudice. We learn about Jane's first love who wrote her poetry and how Bingley helped her to move on.

9. All I Do- Pride and Prejudice. This puts a different twist on the events of P&P. Lizzy marries Col. Fitzwilliam rather than Darcy! That's all I'll give away!

This book was such a treasure to find. My only complaint is I wish Jane Greensmith would write all of these short stories into actual novels! They are amazing. I recommend this book of short stories for any fellow Janeite!

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Book Review: The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy by Mary Street

The Confession of Fitzwilliam Darcy:

Pride and Prejudice retold through the eyes of Mr. Darcy. I love seeing what other authors will do when it comes to Mr. Darcy.

The beginning was a bit slow and Darcy was pretty boring and broodish and arrogant. But by the middle it was starting to get pretty good. I liked hearing his thoughts, but I thought she rushed the book a bit and left out details I would have liked to known. She just gave brief summaries of what he was doing when he wasn't with Elizabeth...so I would've liked to have seen and heard and experienced what he was doing. That's why I really enjoyed the Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman Series by Pamela Aidan.

It was a quick read and fun, overall.

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Book Review: Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, Grade: B

From Amazon.com:

Laurie Viera Rigler’s debut novel, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, was a hit with fans and critics, and a BookSense and Los Angeles Times bestseller. Its open-to-interpretation ending left readers begging for more—and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict delivers. While Confessions took twenty-first-century free spirit Courtney Stone into the social confines of Jane Austen’s era, Rude Awakenings tells the parallel story of Jane Mansfield, a gentleman’s daughter from Regency England who inexplicably awakens in Courtney’s overly wired and morally confused L.A. life.

For Jane, the modern world is not wholly disagreeable. Her apartment may be smaller than a dressing closet, but it is fitted up with lights that burn without candles, machines that wash bodies and clothes, and a glossy rectangle in which tiny people perform scenes from her favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. Granted, if she wants to travel she may have to drive a formidable metal carriage, but she may do so without a chaperone. And oh, what places she goes! Public assemblies that pulsate with pounding music. Unbound hair and unrestricted clothing. The freedom to say what she wants when she wants—even to men without a proper introduction.

Jane relishes the privacy, independence, even the power to earn her own money. But how is she to fathom her employer’s incomprehensible dictates about “syncing a BlackBerry” and “rolling a call”? How can she navigate a world in which entire publications are devoted to brides but flirting and kissing and even the sexual act itself raise no matrimonial expectations? Even more bewildering are the memories that are not her own. And the friend named Wes, who is as attractive and confusing to Jane as the man who broke her heart back home. It’s enough to make her wonder if she would be better off in her own time, where at least the rules are clear—that is, if returning is even an option.

My Review:

For my review on Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, which was her first book, click here.

I had a hard time with the philosophy of the previous book, but enjoyed the idea of traveling back in time and experiencing a new life and new time, especially around the time of Jane Austen. There remained quite a few unanswered questions and a lot of suspended belief by the end of the book, so I was really hoping for some final answers in her sequel.

So there were a few! But not as many as I was hoping for. Basically, my take is that we're all one and therefore can float between space and time, kind of a type of reincarnation. So Jane's spirit guide, the old woman, grants her her desire for her new life and her soul ends up in Courtney's body while Courtney heads to Jane's.

SPOILER ALERT

In the first book Courtney heard from others that Jane had talked about someone named Abraham Lincoln and that she had other ideas on what the future was to hold. How did she know since Jane never ends up back in her own time and vice versa for Courtney? We also learn that Courtney drew an exact likeness of Jane in her sketchbook before she ever set foot in the past. And their respective men we're also treated as different versions of the same man. So in an essence Jane and Courtney are one in the same. I just don't like that. I was hoping that Courtney and Jane could learn new things and ideas in these new times and lives in order to figure out how to make their actual lives better. I wanted them to get back to their own times and learn how to love their own lives with these new perspectives. It's too easy to stay where one is at than have to go back and face our real problems. I also didn't like the fact that Courtney, basically, had to forget who she really was so she could be comfortable with the past! She loses her whole identity about who she is and literally becomes Jane Mansfield...just reminds of brainwashing and I don't like that!

But there were important lessons to be learned, even though it didn't end how I wished. I wrote down a few great quotes from her book:

Even if a man who looks like a thief is, indeed, a thief, that is not the whole story. Only by stepping into his shoes can you begin to comprehend what made him a thief, and what else he is besides a thief, for we are not only just one thing, we are many...

Each of us has the power to create heaven or hell, right here, right now.

Time is fleeting, and few of us are fortunate enough to notice that there is always another chance at happiness.

So overall I enjoyed this book much better than her first and feel that I'm probably in the minority when it comes to how I see this philosophy so I do recommend both books for Jane Austen fans; this opinion just happens to be mine!

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Sex and the Austen Girl (& a BIG Giveaway)

Stephanie over at Written Word has Laurie Viera Rigler as a guest poster...she is the author of Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict. Read her guest post here. She is also giving away both of her books to three lucky winners, just read her post and answer her question at the end in the comments section and for an extra entry either tweet about it or blog about it. So I'm blogging about it!

The question is: Are we better off now, or would we be better off back then?

This is a tough one. I definitely enjoy the way my dating relationships have gone and how I met and eventually married my husband. But my dating experiences have been kept within a culture within a culture. I'm a Mormon and all of my experiences have stemmed from that. So in a way I think I grew up with a hybrid of the two. I wasn't allowed to date til I was sixteen. My Church says abstinence before marriage. We also believe marriage is for eternity, not for just this life. So when we date every person becomes a perspective spouse! So it's a hugely different dating dynamic when we bring God into it and the dominating culture. I should clarify that I grew up in Utah as a Mormon where most everyone around me was my same religion...thus the culture/social expectations of dating were everywhere, not just the religious ones.

So when I dated, I dated men I knew would help me keep my standards and would respect me. My courtship with my husband was great! I made the first move and he responded in kind. So like I said before, a hybrid works best and that's the way it worked for me!

Movie Review: Clueless

Clueless, Grade: A-

When this movie first came out I was in high school and boy did it resonate with me (not that I was rich, etc...!), but the idea of becoming someone better, especially at the adolescent stage of life, just resonated with me. I didn't have any idea that it was based on Jane Austen's Emma til much later! So this movie has always been a little close to my heart!

Cher is a rich fifteen-year-old in LA, who's rich and popular and totally clueless! Just like her Emma counter part, Cher feels she is the queen of her domain and uses her charms to convince her teachers to give her better grades and ends up bringing two of her teachers together! Soon a new girl Tai moves in from the wrong side of town and Cher decides to befriend her and give her a makeover. And then there's her Mr. Knightley, Josh, who happens to be her ex-stepbrother. Will Cher get a clue or remain clueless???

This is a great modern adaptation of Emma, but more than anything it's just a great movie!

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.

Jane Austen Mix Match Part I

Nicole at Books and Bards is sponsoring a giveaway for the book Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster. All we have to do is mix and match characters from Jane Austen's beloved books! She has a whole list of possible bachelors and bachelorettes on her post. But you can come up with any ideas!

My two happy singles are Caroline Bingley and General Tilney. Since Caroline couldn't get Darcy to marry her she ends up meeting Captain Tilney at Bath. She figures she'll give him a try, but once she realizes that his father is rich and a widower she soon pursues him instead! Since she has a bit of a fortune through Charles she's able to snag up the general and has no worries that he doesn't love her since she isn't in love with him either. So they're both happy in their misery!

Movie Review: Pride and Prejudice (1980 &1940)

Pride and Prejudice (1980), Grade: C-

Let's just say I'm very grateful for the 1995 version and the 2005 version. This one was boring and I didn't like Darcy at all or Lizzy for that matter. I kind of hoped they wouldn't get together in the end. I guess if you're a purist this may be worth one view, but I really could have missed this one.

Pride and Prejudice (1940), Grade: B-

This one was short and sweet and they had a few changes to the story so that made it fun! Definitely worth one view. I definitely didn't get the feel that it was Regency England. The costumes were all wrong. I felt like it was taking place in the Civil War south of America! I was expecting Scarlet O'Hara to pop around the corner at any time with her 'fiddle-dee-dees.' The acting is a bit cheesy, but overall it was a fun adaptation!

Part of the Everything Austen Challenge.