Balanchine's Ballerinas by Robert Tracy
The Watsons and Emma Watson by Jane Austen and Joan Aiken
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
A Lady of Quality by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Reading Dance by Robert Gottlieb
Maureen O'Sullivan: "No Average Jane" by David A. Fury
Tess of the D'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy
Maggie: a Girl of the Streets and selected stories by Stephen Crane
Jane Austen's Charolotte by Julia Barrett
Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
Enchanted Hunters: the Power of Stories in Childhood by Maria Tatar
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Eugene Onegin by Aleksandr Pushkin, translated by Douglas R. Hofstadter
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser
Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs
Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs
Really Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs
Cast Two Shadows by Ann Rinaldi
George MacDonald: A Biography of Scotland's Beloved Storyteller by Michael Phillips
The Cater Street Hangman by Ann Perry
An Old-Fashioned Girl by Lousia May Alcott
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

updated 9/2/09

I should be reading my Intro to Librarianship textbook, but... *smiles sheepishly*

( Fanfiction )

( Videos )

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell (Five out of five stars)
( Read more... )

Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser (Five stars out of five)
( Read more... )

Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible, Bad Girls of the Bible, Really Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs (Five out of five stars)
( Read more... )

Cast Two Shadows by Ann Rinaldi (Five stars out of five)
( Read more... )

George MacDonald: A Biography of Scotland's Beloved Storyteller by Michael Phillips (Five out of five stars)
( Read more... )

The Cater Street Hangman by Ann Perry (Four out of five stars)
( Read more... )

An Old-Fashioned Girl by Lousia May Alcott (Five out of five stars)
( Read more... )

So what have you all been reading this summer?

1. Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Not usually, but I have sometimes had a book with my at lunch or dinner (when it has just been me at the table, of course!).
2. Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
Horror of horrors, no, no, no! I only write in my Bible, underlining favorite verses.
3. How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
I usually just remember the page number. Once in a while I'll use a bookmark if it is a very thick book. I do dog-ears for favorite pages sometimes.
4. Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Both. Non-fiction I mainly read biographies, history, ballet, and anything else that catches my interest. Fiction...classics, fairy tales, fantasy, historic fiction, suspense, mysteries, children's books, Christian fiction. A lot of the books I read have been around for a long time, rarely any "hot off the presses" titles.
5. Hard copy or audiobooks?
Hard copy.
6. Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
I can put done a book more or less at any point, though I prefer not stopping until I reach the end of the book. ;)
7. If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
No, I just try to say it and then move on.
8. What are you currently reading?
I'm reading a biography on the Scottish writer George MacDonald by Michael Phillips.
9. What is the last book you bought?
For myself? Probably my George MacDonald biography.
10. Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can read more than one at a time?
Oh I am definitely one who cam read several books at one time!
11. Do you like re-reading books?
Absolutely! Sometimes the second read is better than the first. :D

Leave me a comment and I will give you a letter. Then, write 10 things that you love starting with that letter. Post the list in your journal. Give out letters to your commenters in return.

miss_kallahan gave me the letter "H." Thank you, Jade!

Hadassah -- better known as Queen Esther, she is one of my favorite women in the Bible. If I could be courageous like her.
Hot peppers -- What can I say? I like my food spicy and hot. ;)
"Her Voice" -- From The Little Mermaid Broadway soundtrack. The song is so dreamy and romantic; and Sean Palmer has a great voice to boot.
hereswith -- Her Pirates of the Caribbean fanfiction is incredible.
Holst -- one of my favorite composers. His "The Planets" is stunning.
"Hedwig's Theme" - the best piece of music John Williams composed, in my humble opinion.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids -- one of Disney's most unique live action films with its huge sets and special effects.
Henry Tilney -- Austen's gentleman in Northanger Abbey, he is full of wit and humor.
Home by Paige Fan -- a deeply moving Chronicles of Narnia fanfiction of the train crash from Peter Pevensie's point-of-view.
Hardy Boys -- one of my introductions to mystery books, I still enjoy following Frank and Joe as they solve a case.

Would anyone like a letter?

I just discovered that Annette Crosbie who played the Fairy Godmother in The Slipper and the Rose>/i> was Mr. F's Aunt in Little Dorrit! I hadn't recognized her at first. She was hysterical, firhgtening poor Arthur. Neat. :)

Title: Eternity
Rating: PG (K+)
Disclaimer:
Summary: Fifty glimpses into the relationship between Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer. Bookverse, AU. No chronological order.

Author's Note: Written for the 1sentence challenge on LJ. Bookverse and AU, this contains spoilers for The Last Battle.

( Once upon a time... )

Title: In the Quiet
Rating: G (K)
Disclaimer: Little Dorrit, all characters, places, and related terms belong to Charles Dickens and BBC.
Author's Note: Written for a challenge.
Summary: Arthur, Amy, quiet longing and unspoken love... 2009 BBCverse, bookverse

( Little Dorrit )

This afternoon I saw UP with my brother. I went in not knowing really what it was about and enjoyed it a lot. Amazing animation, wonderful characters, and brilliant storytelling. I found it different from previous Pixar films (sort of like Wall*E -- a bit melancholy and dark for a kids film. My heartstrings were tugged on a lot. Several hours after seeing UP I'm still thinking about it: how wonderful dreaming can be, yet perhaps we have to let those dreams go, not let them sidetrack us from the path God has in mind for us. And when we let dreams consume us, nothing else matters, they can destroy us, turning us into people who will do anything to fulfill that dream...

Great, great movie.

My favorite fairy as a child was The Prince and the Princess by Marianna Mayer. A retelling of a Bohemian fairy tale, it is a story with magic windows, a prince on a dangerous quest, three unusual companions, loops of iron, an evil wizard, and a princess turned to stone whose spirit roams the world.

I recall the wonder I felt each time my mom bought this book home from the library and read it to me and my brother. I marveled at the prince's strange companions -- growing as tall as the highest tree, able to become very wide, and see for miles away -- who used their special talents to help the prince; loyal, faithful friends. The wizard frightened me with his cruelty and ability to change into terrifying monsters (the illustrations of him the book were so creepy). And I was in awe of the prince who went through so many dangers to rescue the princess, how much he loved her.

I found The Prince and the Princess again at the library several years later, and since then I have revisited the tale many times, and its enchantment has yet to wear off.

Just want to wish Liz a Happy 20th Birthday!!! XOXOXO *offers cake and ice cream*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQbmFAE5WI

O_o ...Sir Arthur Conan Doyle must be turning in his grave!!

*Final episode of Little Dorrit was amazing: secrets revealed, castles in the air crumbling, and a satisfying ending.

( SPOILERS!! )

Four out of five stars

*Tess of the D'Urbervilles. This was my first reading of Thomas Hardy. Man, that book was depressing! It was hard to root for anyone: Tess I never really grew to care for; Angel was disappointing with how he abandoned her; and Alec I despised completely from his first appearance. The story seemed to offer no hope. And I did not understand the ending. Not as bad as Atonement, but it doesn't make my favorite books list.

Two out of five stars

*Last week I read Charlotte, Julia Barrett’s continuation of Jane Austen's Sanditon and found it very disappointing. The plot (or lack there of) was all over the place once Barrett picked up the story. She did a great deal of explaining characters’ motives and mental states instead showing them really accomplish anything.

( Slight spoilers )

Two out of five stars

*I think I'm turning into a Dickens fan. Bleak House was brilliant. And Little Dorrit, which I finished today, was amazing!! I enjoyed it so so much, more than the miniseries. I understood the story better. I loved the characters more, and despised those who deserved it. Arthur and Amy were... *sigh* An excellent read.

Five out of five stars

*And to close this post: Dickensblog

Part four of Little Dorrit wasn't quite as interesting as the previous episodes. This one focused greatly on Mr. Dorrit, causing Amy to be more in the background. No scenes with both Arthur and Amy, darn it. (Though it was so sweet seeing Arthur read Amy's letters.) Fanny was very good, and she actually grew on me some. Loved John in the brief scene he had with Mr. Dorrit. Arthur is so patient with his stubborn mother. Why was he seemingly being matched up with every lady in sight?! I'm still quite confused about Frenchman Rigaud's connection to Miss Wade and the House of Clennam.

Can't wait for the final installment to tie up all the loose ends, discover what secrets Mrs. Clennam's hiding, and (hopefully!) see Arthur realize what's been under his nose!

1. Comment and I will give you 3 people.
2. Post this meme with your answers.
3. Provide pictures and the names of three people.
4. Label which you would marry, shag, or throw off a cliff.

I'm changing "shag" to "kiss" to protect my innocence! ;)

I got this from miss_kallahan and the names she gave me are: Edmund Pevensie, Link Larkin, Jack Sparrow

...This is going to be hard.

Going to do this backwards to get the worse part over and done with.

I would throw off a cliff:

Jack Sparrow (I heart him, truly I do!!! Of the three he seems to the one most likely to be able to handle the situation; he pulled it off in CotBP.)

I would kiss:

Link Larkin (Just one little kiss and then Tracy can reclaim her guy.)

And I would marry:

Edmund Pevensie (Don't even have to think about that one. I so want to be Mrs. Edmund Pevensie.)

That was fun. :D

Want to play? Leave a comment!

I was given Jack Sparrow by miss_kallahan. *nods to icon*

01. Do you like this character?
Oh, yes! He's the best thing about PotC.

02. What names do you call this character?
Jack or Sparrow.

03. What image/color do you associate with this character?
Brown for his eyes and silver for the tickets in his hair.

04. What image/song do you associate with this character?
"Professional Pirate" from Muppet Treasure Island.

05. What bloody type do you think this character is?
Bloody type? I'm not sure...

06. Of all the titles this character appears in, what character do you like to put this character with?
Elizabeth. They're peas in a pod. :)

07. What would you want to say to this character?
I would ask to become part of his crew.

08. What do you want to do with this character?
Hear stories of his adventures, find the fountain of youth, and catch up with the Black Pearl, of course.

09. What's your favorite quote by this character?
I can't pick just one!
"She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word really... except for, of course, Elizabeth, who is in fact, a woman."
"Dirt. This is a jar of dirt."
"There'll be no living with her after this."
"No. If we don't have the key, we can't open whatever we dont' have that it unlocks. So what purpose would be served in finding whatever need be unlocked, which we don't have, without first having found the key what unlocks it?"
"Now where is that monkey? I want to shoot something!"

10. Please choose 5 friends with your choice of character.
Okay...
wyntertwilight Chuck Bass
selene_fairy Peter Pevensie
narnialovers Robin Hood
hintofawhisper George Weasley
wibbelkind Prince Caspian

I just finished watching the first three episodes of "Little Dorrit" online.

(This is one of the rare occasions where I'm watching the movie before reading the book. I put the book on hold at my library, but all three copies are out and I'm the forth one on the list... It will be a couple of weeks before I get my hands on Dickens' novel.)

Wow, wow, WOW!!!! I am totally hooked and engrossed in this miniseries. It is both suspenseful and moving. (What a chilling cliffhanger at the close of the last episode!! *shiver*) "Little Dorrit" is brilliantly filmed, and the sets, costumes, and music are all lovely. Its great cast is seemingly as large as "Bleak House"'s; it is hard at times to remember who is who, and what part they contribute to the plot(s). Some characters I love: Amy, Arthur, John, Pancks, Maggy, Frederick; and others I loath: Mr. Dorrit, Rigaud (a very creepy and scary Andy Serkis), Flintwinch, Tip, Fanny.

Clare Foy as Amy "Little" Dorrit is wonderful. She is a pretty girl, with a very expressive face. At times more was conveyed through her eyes when she was still and listening than when she spoke. Good-hearted, caring, loving, quiet, I identified with Amy very much. My heart broke for her, first, in her discovery of her secret love for Arthur being hopeless (his head was turned by a young lady), and later by her family's attitude towards her and her conduct when they became wealthy. I just wanted to hug her tightly.

Arthur Clennam is played by Matthew Macfadyen. I am liking Matthew much more here in "Little Dorrit" than I did in P&P. His is a very human, haunted character here. Determined to discover what it is his dying father wished for him and his cold mother to "put to right." I heart his concern for Amy and her family. There is a wonderful chemistry between Arthur and Amy. I hope he will soon realize how special she is.

There are several elements in "Little Dorrit" I do not like: the mild language scattered throughout; seeing Rigaud start to have his way with a woman; and the disturbing tension between two female characters in several scenes.

Overall this is another great miniseries from BBC. I'm looking forward to episode four.