A Very Slow Start to the New Year

January 2016 has been one of the slowest months for me, ever. I blame the busyness of the fall months and my need to recharge for the first month of 2016. It's difficult for me to believe that a new year has started, and yet I'm supposed to get started on my goals for this new year? So it's the last day of January and I'm finally getting myself (mildly) organized for the new year. I might be a month late in my planning but better late than never. So here's what 2016 has in store for me here in Oklahoma.

I suppose I should recap on 2015 before I delve into 2016. My best friend and I (along with my mother, who didn't make as much progress, which can be blamed fully on their move) set out to read three different books from different regions in England, and we finished those books in December. I am waiting until I can acquire a copy of the BBC miniseries of Cranford. I haven't forgotten about it, it's just delayed.

Reading England 2015 was such a success for us that we've decided to do the same thing again, with a slight twist. We decided that we need to expand our horizons outside of *just* England a little, so we will be doing Reading Europe 2016. We have chosen three countries: Russia, England, and France. Our first journey will be to Russia, to read Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Next we will travel back to England to read another Dickens novel to fulfill my yearly Dickens' requirement. And finally we will end in France with an Alexandre Dumas novel. We haven't decided which Dickens and Dumas we will read yet, mainly because my books are scattered between two states, and three different places at present and I haven't had the opportunity to find the books I need.

Outside of reading, I have a few sewing projects I hope to do, including quilting more, curtains for the master bedroom, and a few skirts, if I can find the fabric for them. I might try to paint some of our new home if I can find someone to help me. I also hope to start gardening some this spring. My sweet husband made me raised beds in the fall, and I'm ready to fill them with some veggies. I also hope to plant some more flowers in the front flower beds a little closer to spring. We will see how this goal turns out; in the past I've had a brown thumb, mainly because of my forgetfulness. Otherwise I plan to bask in housewifery and try to keep up with my husband's schedule.

I am very excited for this year. I have a few trips and other small projects planned, and I might even get around to posting a few blog posts about my adventures. But I am mostly excited for reading outside of my comfort zone. It's something I haven't done since college and am eager to do again. What are you planning to read this year? I encourage everyone to read something, even if it's not a classic. And if you don't listen to me, at least listen to Jane Austen: "The person, be it a gentleman or a lady, who has not the pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."

Writing, Research, and Completed Goals

I awoke this morning to a thick layer of frost on the ground, and without my contacts in, I almost thought it was snow. That was a very fitting sight for the first day of December. The last week of November was painful for Oklahoma as an ice storm ravaged the state for four days, leaving thousands without power and broken trees scattering the state. But as a new month begins, the sun is shining and the temperature is barely above freezing.

But before we move on to what December holds, we can't forget about November. It's always a busy and creative month for me. The laundry pile is knee high, the kitchen is a disaster, and the floors are horrendous. And while all of this is irritating my housewife tendency to keep everything (relatively) clean, I don't really care. Because I reached my goal. 52,700 words in twenty-six days. The novel total was 86,132 words, 234 pages. The most productive day was November 9th with 4587 words. Now I begin the task of proofreading TWO novels. That will probably take me longer than writing the story, because I get bored of proofreading within about thirty seconds. So if anyone wanted to read anything I've written within the next ten years, think again. Oh, and I came up with a working title. I'm not convinced it's the right or best one, but tentatively it's called The Countess and the Castle.

This is how I spent most of November. Quite cozy.

NaNoWriMo isn't just about writing; it's about discovery and growth. I learned a lot of things both about myself and about Regency England. In every novel I write, I try to expand my horizons and incorporate different aspects of 19th century society into the scenes. Of course, this requires a great deal of research. I've always loved doing research, but it can be very time consuming and frustrating when you have a deadline. Here's a few things that I learned: 

I wrote two Christmas scenes, something I'd never done before, so I had to research Christmas traditions such as what they ate and how they celebrated. Regency Era traditions were very different from how we celebrate today, in fact, they even differed from Victorian and Edwardian traditions! Christmas trees were uncommon, unless the person had connections with Germany or the Americas, but they did decorate with other greenery. The greenery would be put up on Christmas Eve and taken down once Epiphany ended. Leaving it up longer was considered bad luck. Furthermore, I ventured outside my comfort zone by specifying dates and events throughout the story. The novel takes place between 1814 and 1817. Napoleon returned from Elba early in 1815, and since one of my characters was a naval Captain, he potentially would have been in the line of fire had Napoleon not been defeated at Waterloo. Also, 1816 is known as the "year without a summer". Modern scholars attribute this phenomenon to the eruption of a volcano in Indonesia that affected the climate worldwide (New England experienced snowfall in June!) Because of this climate change, crops failed and winters were a great deal harsher than other years. I wrote a line that said "the crop yield was good this year" only to have to change it after I realized that nobody's crops would have excelled that year.

This is a fraction of what I learned, but it all feeds into the vat of knowledge I've accrued about life in Regency England. One day, I'll get through a chapter without having to look something up. I also found a bunch of links that will aid future research. Thank goodness for bookmarks! But what's more important than facts and figures is that I discovered that I can write 50,000 words in a month. I can finish something if I really put my mind to it. No matter what I think, or what anyone else thinks, I can finish what I started. I still don't know exactly how I did it, and frankly sometimes I think that I did my math wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. I suppose it all goes back to the old adage: how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

So December. There will be lots of proofreading, cleaning, and video gaming. I'm about a quarter of the way through Cranford, the last book in my list for Reading England 2015. I am looking forward to a great deal of baking, sewing, and decorating, after Advent is over, of course. Also, I should probably mention something about no longer placing my fictional characters above my husband's needs. He probably appreciates having my full attention again. So with the sun shining and essential oils in my diffuser, I delve back into the swing of things after a month's sabbatical. And I'm not even complaining.

NaNoWriMo - Year Two

It's that time of year again where the leaves are changing, people in most of the country don their coats, sweaters, and boots, and everyone prepares for the colder weather by stocking up on firewood, or at least buying a few cans of soup in preparation for foul weather. For some people, November is a time where they don't have to shave for a month. Others spend the latter half of the month preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmastide. Then there's a small group of people who challenge themselves to crank out a novel in just thirty days.

I've always struggled with writing a lot in a short amount of time. Between distractions and my perfectionist tendencies, I've frequently spent a half hour trying to come up with the right word to properly describe a situation. But this year, along with the encouragement of my best friend, essential oils to help stimulate creativity and productivity, and copious quantities of chocolate, coffee, and bourbon, I am eager to overcome all obstacles in my way. My goal this year is to either reach 50,000 words (the typical NaNoWriMo challenge) or finish the novel I started last year, which is currently just shy of 35,000 words. I am estimating the finished product being somewhere between 75,000 and 100,000 words, which makes either goal feasible. My daily goal will be approximately one chapter a day, or between 1500 and 2000 words, or a half chapter a day for the longer chapters.

Currently, my Regency heroine, Philippa, has endured the death of her husband and enchanted half the men in the county before she is fully out of mourning. But the Countess' world is about to drastically change as events spin out of control. She finds that her unruly step-son continues to spend recklessly and chooses a bride that threatens the estate's stability even further, and that Napoleon refuses to accept defeat as he returns from his banishment, threatening the entire country. But what becomes of Philippa, the ancient Surrey estate, and her family is a mystery to all but my deranged and devious mind.

For the next month, I'll be positioned, laptop nearby, somewhere between the dining room table, the love seat enjoying the fire, or the bedroom as I cuddle with the cat. So here's to a month of growing piles of laundry and neglected dishes, unswept floors and dusty dressers, empty coffee cups and last minute meals, a lonely husband and limited sleep. And though I may neglect my duties as a housewife for four weeks, I am stimulating my brain and challenging my creativity, which is always a worthwhile endeavor.

Nicholas Nickleby: A Review

My second stop in Reading England 2015 was Nicholas Nickleby. For the last six years, I've read a Dickens novel over the summer/fall, and I believe that this exercise stimulates my mind. Why Dickens? Because Dickens is difficult to read. He wrote in a language different from what 21st century readers are accustomed to, and his plots are so complex that sometimes missing a sentence can cause confusion. But at the same time, this is why Dickens is one of the most beloved authors in British literature. His novels address social issues in Victorian England, yet have something for everyone -- romance, mystery, crime, and adventure.

Nicholas Nickleby is no different than other Dickens novels in that regard. Recently widowed Mrs. Nickleby arrives in London with her two children, Nicholas and Kate, to beg her brother-in-law, Mr. Ralph Nickleby, for financial assistance. Mr. Ralph Nickleby places his nephew in a position as a teacher in a boy's school in Yorkshire. Nicholas soon discovers that the school master, Mr. Squeers, is a harsh employer who fails to properly feed and clothe the boys placed in his care. After a confrontation where Nicholas beats Mr. Squeers "till he roared for mercy", he seeks employment elsewhere - first in the theatrical company of Mr. Crummles and then for the Brothers Cheeryble. Of course, the story ends happily, as every Dickens novel does: Nicholas finds happiness in life and love, Kate finds love and stability, and Mr. Ralph Nickleby and Mr. Squeers are both punished for their crimes.

This is not one of Dickens' best novels, but Dickens wrote nothing inferior. The twisted plots and characters keep the reader guessing throughout the entire novel. This novel did not succeed in intertwining the characters as well as his other works (Bleak House will always win that competition) but it is still filled with intrigue and adventure. Where Dickens did succeed is creating unique heroes and villains. Calling Nicholas "hot headed" is an understatement; most protagonists in classic literature are rational individuals. And normally the hero is fighting the system, whether harsh employers or the legal system, but Nicholas' self-proclaimed nemesis is his uncle.

Starkly different from the novel, the film adaptation is horrible. I bought it on DVD at the beginning of the year in preparation for finishing the novel. Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy, Crimson Peak) and Romala Garai (Emma 2009, Atonement) are two of my favorite actors/actresses, plus add Anne Hathaway and Jamie Bell (TURN, Jane Eyre 2011) into the mix and of course it will be fantastic! *shakes head miserably* The only adaptations I've seen that are worse than this one are some of the 80s and early 90s Austen adaptations. The acting wasn't bad; Charlie's acting style was a bit unrefined, but it was also toward the beginning of his acting career. (And he didn't have his fake American accent, which was the best part.) The travesty, as in all period dramas, was the omission of the bulk of the second half of the novel. The plot-line followed the novel relatively well throughout the first half of the movie, but somewhere in the second half the writers decided that they needed to cut something out and opted just to ignore half of what occurred. I fully understand that making a 800 page novel into a two hour movie is difficult, but the writers could have omitted some of the minutia in the beginning instead of failing to include the last few hundred pages of the novel.

My conclusion is this: read the book and watch the adaptation but don't expect a lot. Nicholas Nickleby shouldn't be your first choice when choosing a Dickens novel, but any Dickens novel is better than no Dickens at all. The last stop in Reading England 2015 is Lancashire for Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell!

Far From the Madding Crowd: A Review

Upon visiting the movie theater with my husband, nearly a year ago, I saw a movie poster for "Far From the Madding Crowd", and I was instantly intrigued. Very rarely does Hollywood produce period pieces, and even more rarely do these pieces make it to the movie theater. My excitement grew after doing some research into the film when I discovered that Carey Mulligan, one of my favorite British actresses, was cast to play the role of the heroine, Bathsheba Everdene. After mere seconds of contemplation, I decided to make this book the first stop on my journey of Reading England in the Reading England 2015 Challenge.

The Book

Far From the Madding Crowd is set in a place called Wessex -- originally a region in pre-Norman Britain which Hardy adapted into a fictional land for his books. The geographical equivalent in modern England is the rural county of Dorset. To condense the plot to one sentence, this novel is about a young, attractive woman who has three suitors, all of which are appealing in their own way, but she is too wild, headstrong, and childish to chose one and reject the others. Bathsheba Everdene is the epitome of a child who is trying, desperately, to be an independent woman but doesn't understand the world enough to make mature decisions until the last chapter of the book. So here is a synopsis, in order of the suitors who approach Bathsheba.

Suitor One: Gabriel Oak. The novel begins with Gabriel and Bathsheba meeting when our heroine is working on her aunt's farm near Gabriel's small sheep farm. Gabriel quickly falls in love with Bathsheba; he proposes and is rejected. After his inexperienced sheep-dog drives his flock of sheep over a cliff, thus ruining poor Farmer Oak, he sells the farm and sets off toward the nearest town to find work. As he searches for work, he comes upon a burning barn and he rushes to help put out the flames. He is approached by the owner and asks for a job, only to discover that the owner is Bathsheba, the recent heiress of a large fortune and farm.

Suitor Two: William Boldwood. Bathsheba undertakes the management of the farm herself, a highly unusual occurrence in rural, Victorian England. When she goes to sell grain at a local market, she first encounters Farmer Boldwood -- a wealthy, middle aged, eligible bachelor. She peaks his interest when she send him a valentine with a wax seal saying "Marry Me" as a joke. The besotted man does not understand the joke and begins to pursue Bathsheba. Gabriel chides Bathsheba's behavior, and she fires him. When her sheep get sick and are dying, she is forced to beg Gabriel to come back to help save her flock, which he does willingly.

Suitor Three: Sergeant Francis Troy. Walking home late one evening, Bathsheba bumps into Sergeant Troy and becomes entangled with him. While trying to get her dress untangled, Troy remarks that she was beautiful. Bathsheba rebukes him and hurries away. A few days later, he impresses her with his swordsmanship and her hatred turns into infatuation. Gabriel warns Bathsheba that Troy is a scoundrel, but she takes no heed. They meet in Bath and are married. Upon returning, Sergeant Troy throws a wedding feast; he and all the rest of the farm workers get exceedingly drunk. Gabriel warns Bathsheba that a storm is coming, and the two of them struggle to get the crops covered so that they are not destroyed.

The Troys encounter a girl on the road who Frank discovers to be his lost lover, Fanny Robin. Trying to keep Bathsheba ignorant of the girl, he sends her ahead and gives Fanny some money with the promise of finding her soon. But before they could rendezvous, Fanny dies giving birth to Frank's child. Fanny and child are brought to Bathsheba's estate, as that location was her last place of employment, and Bathsheba's servant informs her of rumors that Fanny and Frank were lovers. Upon opening to coffin, she discovers Fanny, along with her child. Frank enters the room, kisses the corpse, and informs his wife that the dead woman means more to him than she ever will. Frank leaves and goes swimming in the ocean, leaving his clothes upon the sand, and is picked up by a boat. After he fails to return for a year, he is presumed drowned.

Farmer Boldwood renews his attentions toward Bathsheba. On Christmas Eve, Troy returns and confronts Bathsheba at Boldwood's Christmas party. Boldwood shoots Troy and kills him. He is imprisoned for insanity and Troy is buried with Fanny and their child. When Bathsheba's farm is secured, Gabriel informs her of his intention to leave for America. Confused by his intention to leave and desperate to keep him by her side, she confronts him, asking for his reasons, and he admits that her reputation was his main motive. He proposes and they are married.

This novel is more about a child becoming an adult through trials and grief, and less about a good love story. Bathsheba marries Troy out of passion, agrees to marry Boldwood out of convenience and logic, and finally marries Gabriel out of love and respect. Gabriel displays unending devotion, concern for her well-being, and genuine desire for her to succeed and be happy, which Bathsheba is too immature to recognize at the beginning to the book but cannot live without by the end. Gradually she realizes what she needs, not what she wants, and marries the man who completes her inadequacies. 

The Adaptation

I finished this book in April, and was unable to watch the adaptation until last week because no theater in the entire state of Texas was showing it (despite the fact that the local theater had a movie poster up, but you know, details.) Finally, it came out on DVD and an Amazon order was promptly placed. It was worth the wait. This is the best Hollywood adaptation (as opposed to BBC adaptations) that I have ever encountered. They thoroughly botched the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and did an adequate job with the 2012 adaptation of Great Expectations, and frankly there haven't been many other classic British literature adaptations since then. 

From costuming to sticking to Hardy's original plot line, this adaptation was the level of quality I would expect from the BBC. The minor changes they made were to simplify the story and condense a 500 page book into a two hour film -- all changes that did not alter the plot line, just failed to enhance the depth of the characters.

As this was the first Thomas Hardy novel that I have read, I cannot compare it to his other novels. His writing style is poetic and romantic, similar to other 19th century authors. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, and the film adaptation as well, and I cannot wait until I can explore more of his works.

Enchanted: The Influence of Stevie Nicks

While my husband was flying last night, I curled up in my chair and embraced the opportunity to watch a few movies which I knew would not interest him. At the end of the second movie, Stevie Nicks' unmistakable voice rang out, placing a smile on my face as I shut off the television and downstairs lights and headed up to bed. As I sat in bed listening to Stevie's second-to-newest album, In Your Dreams, I realized just how much her music has impacted my life. I associate almost every song on the album to some event in my life, or emotion that I felt during a rough patch.

Stevie has always been my favorite. Under the influence of my aunt and uncle, I became interested in classic rock during high school, and for Christmas one year, I acquired greatest hits albums of ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Pink Floyd, and, of course, Fleetwood Mac. I remember listening to these albums, particularly Fleetwood Mac, incessantly. My love of Fleetwood Mac increased when I found a vinyl copy of Rumours and Stevie's The Wild Heart (among other classic rock albums) in my parents house. They promptly became my albums, and thus began both my love of vinyl and Stevie. In college, my collection grew to contain thirteen vinyl Fleetwood Mac albums and nine Stevie albums, five vinyl and four CDs, and the original Buckingham Nicks album. I blasted my vinyl Fleetwood Mac/Stevie collection so frequently that my college roommate is a fan of Stevie, too.

And truthfully, cranking my turntable's volume as high as I could without people complaining was one of my few solaces in college. And the lyrics brought me comfort in a chaotic environment. I cried through Beautiful Child as I struggled to get over a crush who had chosen another. I danced with one of my closest friends to Oh Diane. Trying to impress me with his sound system, a friend asked me what my favorite song was, and I replied Edge of Seventeen. Other times that I nursed my broken heart, I found comfort in Rose Garden and Love Is, among many others. I walked through the streets of Charleston, South Carolina listening to New Orleans on my iPod. Charleston was one of my grandmother's favorite places, and it was the last family vacation we would take with her; she died the following spring.

In my married life, Stevie's words continue to be inspirational.  I have broken into song countless times singing some Fleetwood Mac song, prompting concerned looks from my husband. I refrain from dancing while he is home, but when he leaves for a flight, all bets are off. Even as I was starting this blog a few months ago, I combined Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks songs that define me: Leather and Lace, for the two sides of my personality; Wild Heart, for my ever-changing, "wild" emotions; and Gypsy, for my restlessness and eclectic interests. Even now, I am sitting at my dining room table writing this blog post and listening to "The Other Side of the Mirror", which is, in my opinion, a highly underrated album.

Despite the big hair, this album will always be my favorite.

Beyond the elements of my personality that those songs remind me about, they remind me of who I am and where I've been. Stevie's songs are based on what she has experienced, which I think is why her songs are so meaningful to me. We all experience hardship, and we all find comfort in different things. Stevie's songs speak to my heart and comfort my soul. Some of her songs make me smile and others make me cry as they bring back memories of good times and bad. But they are also a reminder that there's always something more, always hope in everything.

Are all those tears necessary?
For all that pain that you carry,
You just send those tears away.
Come in and out of the darkness;
It’s a beautiful day.

Death Comes to Pemberley: A Review

For the last 200 years, Jane Austen has been an increasingly popular literary icon. The 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley reinvigorated interest in the 19th century author, along with other film adaptations of all of her works within the last decade. Austen-inspired spoofs and modern day interpretations have popped up on occasion, too, including three exceptional vlogs. And that only covers the film side. There are countless books about all of Austen's characters, ranging from sequels integrating Austen heroines from different books to the retelling of Elizabeth Bennet's life as a zombie hunter. Most of these tales are adequately done, with a few exceptions, but few measure up to Austen's style and wit.

When the BBC announced the film adaptation of a Pride and Prejudice sequel, I was surprised. Of all the literary sequels that have been released, I never expected to see a film adaptation. Being the dedicated Austen addict that I am, I ordered a copy of this sequel from Amazon in order to read it before the film adaptation aired on BBC America. Even though I am not usually a fan of mystery novels, never before was I so impressed by an Austen sequel in my life. And to be honest, the producers of the film adaptation created something just as remarkable.

The Book

Death Comes to Pemberley is the literary masterpiece of mystery novelist P.D. James. The novel takes place a few years after Darcy and Elizabeth are married. They have one child and are the epitome of marital bliss. Georgianna is unmarried, but has two worthy suitors seeking her hand. On the eve of Lady Anne's Ball, an event which coincided Darcy's mother's birthday, Lydia Wickham arrives at Pemberley screaming incoherently (in a very Lydia fashion) that Wickham has been shot. Upon further investigation, Wickham is found in Pemberley's woods, crying over the body of his best friend, Captain Denny. Thus ensues the investigation, trial, and, eventually, the truth behind the mysterious death of Captain Denny.

P.D. James is brilliant -- but not in the way that most modern authors try to be brilliant. The storyline of this novel is possibly one of the simplest in modern literature. After the death occurs, the investigation is (outwardly) straightforward and the trial is conducted quickly. The motives behind how the characters acted is what gives the novel depth and makes the story interesting. James explains Regency Era judicial practices flawlessly, and uses only the resources and logic that early 19th century investigators had at their disposal.

But none of these reasons account for James' brilliance. Death Comes to Pemberley is magnificent for one reason: James understands Austen. The writing style in Death Comes to Pemberley mimics Austen's style perfectly. Many Austen sequels say that the author has a style like Austen's, and this is rarely true. But reading James' writing truly feels like you're reading an Austen novel. The other part is James' understanding of the characters. Mr. Bennet makes clever remarks; Mrs. Bennet complains about her nerves. Jane provides comfort; Lydia loves pretty dresses. Wickham is a scoundrel. Darcy and Georgianna both struggle to balance their duties with their emotions. And Elizabeth is a beautiful mixture of wit, curiosity, and kindness. Never once did I think, "Oh Lizzy would NEVER say that" or "Darcy would never do such a thing." All of the characters come to a similar ending as Austen envisioned in Pride and Prejudice. Good characters have good endings, and the wicked pay for their deeds. Austen would be proud.

The Adaptation
 
With any film adaptation, I feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Since I always read the book first, I have certain expectations and certain ways which I envisioned the characters and setting. If the BBC produces the adaptation, I have no doubt that it will be excellent. If the adaptation is American, I know that it won't live up to my expectations. (The two 2012 adaptations of Great Expectations is a prime example of this.) The film adaptation of Death Comes to Pemberley is no exception.

The film adaptation sticks primarily to the book. The only major way that it deviates is to give Elizabeth a larger role in discovering the truth behind the murder of Captain Denny. Otherwise, the differences are miniscule. Truthfully, this adaptation does a better job at using the original text than any other film adaptation that I have watched. The casting was fantastic -- Anna Maxwell Martin makes a fantastic Elizabeth, and Jenna Coleman deserves an award for her performance as Lydia. My only (slight) irritation was Mr. Alveston's proposal to Georgiana. Another disheveled proposal scene? Didn't we already see that with Mr. Darcy?

If you are an Austen fan, I highly recommend both the book and the film adaptation of Death Comes to Pemberley. Both are extremely well done, and worth your time and energy. If you aren't an Austen fan, I suggest reading and watching Pride and Prejudice before looking into this sequel in order to fully understand all the references and character back story. Few adaptations or sequels can measure up to the standard that Austen set, but this one would make her proud, without a doubt.