Announcing Jane Austen Week

I have been wanting to do this for quite some time so now I just jump into it: my first blog party/theme week.

As I wanted it to be about something literary, what could be better than to spend a whole week dedicated to my favourite author: Jane Austen.

I still haven't planned the details but there will definitely be posts about her books, movie adaptions, characters and I'll probably also throw in a game and a tag.

The only way I can think of to make it even better was if I could get someone to write a guest post, so if anyone wants to write a post of anything Austen related I would be thrilled. (If you want to just leave a comment)

Now all that is left to announce is the date: it will be  from 25.-31 August.

If you want to participate in the week just leave comment. And if you want to, grab one of the buttons and put it on your blog so we can spread the word.


<a href="http://best-of-classics.blogspot.dk/2014/06/announcing-jane-austen-week_29.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbco-o_rVtGcqbIqMo7cYhtjACbJSWhpxN5dbmLSv_UotoAET-jO3xzPkIN0aPO_uWCJv0GvNaBdWUzte3_TjSRSNKrmVqMHQjPj7YPo8H713PE-4YDTIsxOvVUf3CXS7iImLoIrBGw8g/w200-h260-no/Jane-Austen-portrait-victorian-engraving.jpg"/></a>



<a href="http://best-of-classics.blogspot.dk/2014/06/announcing-jane-austen-week_29.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSbtw-tGYpmCBoAUh_I2Et-oVRNdg8mK4UAZ0UUgPiI2En3I3QfuLYPdaw8eDd1DhQkOdC9n87ZHMpNz_anOAv3NK4MIC7mybJ3FG4OcvToziiJA_Kixasd-NZuB-tB0ClUoDmLUCh2s/w175-h277-no/JaneAustenSilhouette.jpg"/></a>

The Great Gatsby

As a part of my Back to the Classics challenge I have recently read The Great Gatsby.

I'm still trying to find out if I love or hate this book - it's an ambivalent relationship.

Let me illustrate...when I started reading it I spent the first 5 pages exclaiming:
why am I doing this to myself again? It is still not to late to stop reading.
But after 10 pages I was already caught completely up in the story.

And on one hand I didn't especially like the characters or the plot, but on the other hand I do not remember the last time a book left me so sad (and threw me into a post reading depression that lasted almost a month)

So I must conclude, while I didn't particularly like the story it still left a deep impact - but I guess that is what a good author can do. That is one thing I like about the book - it is really well written and gives a very good picture of  the Roaring Twenties.

The way it describes the life among the jet set and their everlasting search for new parties and amusement stroke me as very similar to the way many people live their life today - though it all happened 90 years ago. So I guess the themes are still relevant.

The thing I both like and dislike about "modern" classics is that they often focus less on making a plot and more on presenting themes and problems for us to think about. While I like stories that make me think after I put it down, I sometimes just want a good story I can lose myself in. If it also makes me think then all the better.

But I'll admit I look forward to going back to the "old" classics that describe a society and way of living long gone.
 

The Sunshine Award

I bring you another blogger award post.

This time I have been nominated for the Sunshine Award twice.  By Laura at Gazing Wonders, and by Anna S at A Cowgirl and A Dream.
Without further ado - here are the questions and answers.


Laura's questions:

1.  Do you have a favorite childhood book?

I don't have just one, but my favourite book series was The Famous Five by Enid Blyton (and probably all her other books too)

 

2. What is the worst book / book series you have read so far? 

I don't think I have read something that was really bad all the way through - but one of the more disturbing books I have read is "Wuthering Heights".

 

3. Do you speak any other languages or would you like to learn a new one? 

Well, actually English isn't my first language, so apart from that I speak Danish and German. But I would love to learn more languages, French and Russian are at the top of my list at the moment.

4. A country you would like to visit someday is...

USA

5. What do you like to do in your spare times? 

The question is more: what don't I do in my spare time? 

I have a long list of hobbies, but I love playing piano the most. I also like reading (obviously), drawing, writing (occasionally), watching movies/series, riding my bike, walking, spending time with my friends and family etc.

 

6. Your favorite childhood movie is ...

There was a movie adaption of "The Ugly Duckling" that I really loved watching. One day I watched it 4 times in a row. Sadly I don't know what company made it so I won't be able to find it again.

7. What is your favorite fruit to eat?

Oranges.
Though cold watermelon on a summer's day is a close second.  

8. Would you rather prepare a recipe from a cook book or from the Internet? 

A cook book. I like to be able to have the recipe lying just beside me at the kitchen table.

 

9. What do you like to do in a rainy day ?

Staying in doors, probably reading fanfiction on my computer.


10. Have you ever read the Bible completely or at least tried to?

Yes, I have read it at least 2 times - one time from the beginning to the end, an one time chronologically.


11. What book of the Bible inspires you the most?

That's a nearly impossible choice. But one book I really enjoy is the Psalms - there is so much that I can relate to on a personal level.

Anna's questions:

 

Dogs or cats? 

I like both, but my family has a dog that I just adore, so it must be dogs.

Eponine or Cosette?

Eponine in the musical.
Cosette in the book.

What is your favorite kind of cultural food? (Chinese, Mexican, Italian)

It's a tough choice, but probably Italian - you can't beat both pizza and pasta.
 

One dream role on Broadway? (yes one!)

 Eponine from Les Mis. She just have some awesome songs, and they are actually within my voice range.

 

"One Day More" or "Do You Hear The People Sing?"

Now, that's just mean...You can't make me choose between the 2 most epic songs in the musical...
 Well, I guess it must be "One Day More" - the placement of the song, and the way they sing 4 different melodies at once is just epic (I know I use that word in-proportionally much when talking of Les Mis)  

"The Phantom of the Opera" or "Love Never Dies"? 

The Phantom of the Opera - it's the true original. Nothing can ever compare to it.

Favorite Book?

Asking such a question to a bookworm is a sure way to get an hour long rant about how it is impossible to pick a favourite (and just 1) out of all the books I have read.
But I guess, some books I really love are: Anne of Green Gables-series, Little Women, Little House on the Prairie-series, Pride & Prejudice.   

What would your ideal first date be?

Well, I think that depends on the person the date would be with.
Dinner and a movie is always a classic, or maybe just dinner followed by a long walk where we could talk.

 
Where do you find the most beauty of God's creation? (sky, trees, your own home, etc.)

It's hard to choose. I think we are surrounded by beauty everywhere.
I do find the sea fascinating - it gives you such peace to just sit and look at it, and it's filled with so much life.
The starry sky is another thing that always strikes me with awe - I loved astronomy in school, and learning about it just makes it even bigger.

Iced tea or lemonade? 

I don't really drink either. But if I was offered one of them I would choose Iced tea.

Who are some of your favorite blogger friends?

I don't really have much contact with other bloggers yet, but I do enjoy reading the blogs of Miss Dashwood and Anna S


So..that was it. I hope to return soon.