Inkling Explorations and Funny Story Openings

The theme of this month in Heidi's Inknlings and Explorations is a funny story opening.

                                       

And how could I ever pass off a chance to mention my favourite author: Jane Austen. While maybe not hillariously funny, the opening to Northanger Abbey is funny in that down played, ironic and slightly sarcastic way that is Austen's trademark style.

"No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were all equally against her. Her father was a clergyman, without being neglected, or poor, and a very respectable man, though his name was Richard — and he had never been handsome. He had a considerable independence besides two good livings — and he was not in the least addicted to locking up his daughters. Her mother was a woman of useful plain sense, with a good temper, and, what is more remarkable, with a good constitution. She had three sons before Catherine was born; and instead of dying in bringing the latter into the world, as anybody might expect, she still lived on — lived to have six children more — to see them growing up around her, and to enjoy excellent health herself."

Be sure to pop over at Heidi's blog Sharing the Journey for lots of other funny story openings.

A Random Compilation Of Summer Happenings

It is that time of year where I spend several days in denial over the summer ending. I really shouldn't be surprised by it anymore, as it happens every year, but somehow I always am.

                       

Then comes the nostalgia and looking back at the summer gone by, wondering if I achieved all I planned to do. That again leaves me half depressed that I didn't achieve more and feeling like the biggest sloth of all time. Luckily though, that only lasts until I actually start listing what I did and realise I didn't waste the summer completely.

Here's a a few of the things I have been doing this summer:


Watching:

Lots of period dramas, among others:

- Cranford
- Return to Cranford
- Lorna Doone
- North & South (rewatch, but counts anyway)
- The last 2 Horatio Hornblower movies
- Half of The Hollow Crown (More on that subject in a later post)

A list that leaves me quite proud of myself.

                                         

Apart from that I've watched a good amount of Gilmore Girls (only one season left until I have watched it all), and lately I've been quite hooked on thought provoking documentaries about nutrition and the food industry.


Reading:

Sadly not as much as I had planned.
I started out with reading a lot of YA fiction (easing myself into reading again), and I started reading Jane Eyre (which I love this far), and Cranford. Unfortunately life got in the way and I don't think I will finish any of them anytime soon.
But I tried, and that 's what counts.

                           

Drawing:

I actually got a lot of drawing done during my vacation.
This summer I drew some Disney and tried out the anime drawing style. I am completely in love with the latter at the moment, which I completely blame on the anime version of Les Miserables I have just watched. (It is awesome by the way: Les Mis made children friendly, with a lot of new characters and plot points and a gross disregard for the happenings in canon, though it still manages to squeeze in more of the plot line than any other adaption I have seen)
The characters were so lovely made that they just begged to be drawn.

This one is my favourite, it depicts young Cosette

Those awkward moments which make great stories:

It is funny when I look back on this summer, it is mostly made up of funny little happenings, most of which were exceedingly embarrassing when they happened, but which count as great stories today.

Like when the fire alarm went off early one morning at the hotel during my London vacation, and all the guests had to wander down in the court yard wearing sleeping clothes and whatever we had thrown over it. While that is an experience in itself, to make matters worse I had set my hair in pin curls the night before, so my hair was full of clips and a very askew head scarf. Never have half an hour felt that long!

Or what about the time I spent an entire day in full out war with a wasp, trying very hard to kill it and running for my life when it counterattacked. (I left the battle the victor at last)

Then there was the night I had another freak out when faced with a moth in my bedroom, and I refused to get out from under my blanket until my father had killed it.

And last but not least that vacation where I by coincidence got a super fancy hotel room with espresso maker and frotte bath robes - and it was at least 30 degrees outside and I couldn't even bear the thought of warm things.

Now, I don't usually have so many awkward moments in that short amount of time, but they surely made this summer memorable.

                           

But now it's over there is nothing to do but embrace the autumn, which is quite a beautiful season in itself, and look forward to nights with candle lights and hot cocoa.

                                               

What did you spend your summer doing?

Top 5 Period Drama Soundtracks

I love movie soundtracks.
And I love picking favourites too, so I thought it time for a delightful little top 5.

This is by no means a countdown to the all time favourite, for the positions shift almost daily depending on my mood, but one thing they have in common: they rise quite distinctly from the crowd of soundtracks to form a class of their own.

So without further ado...here they are:


Emma
                               

Apart from being a delightful series and one of my all time favourites, it is also filled to the brim with beautiful music. My absolute favourite number is The Last Dance (the music combined with the scene is simply perfection). But I can listen to it all  on repeat for hours and hours (and often do), for it is simply ideal as background music.



The Young Victoria
                                    

A truly wonderful movie filled with just as wonderful music. The music in here is quite varied in its moods; from grand and majestic to quiet and melancholic - it has it all. Picking favourites here is hard...there are so many. But if I have to choose one it must be Marriage Proposal, it contains the love theme that is just indescribably beautiful.



Sense and Sensibility
                                  

What I like the most about the music in this movie is the quiet feel of it. The orchestration is really beautiful and seems quite simple until you listen closely and suddenly discover just how many instruments are being played. I love to listen to this soundtrack just to relax, it is very soothing. My favourite of all the numbers is definitely My Father's Favourite. The simple piano voice is just so beautiful, and really underlines the mood of the song well.



Pride and Prejudice
                                

You can say what you want about the movie, but the music in it is some of the prettiest soundtracks of all  time. I love that much of it is solo piano (it does make it easier for me to play), it makes the contrast so much bigger when suddenly the whole orchestra joins in for the finale. My favourite is an example of just that: Liz On Top Of The World (which by the way is also a gorgeous scene).



The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
                              

When I first discovered this soundtrack on YouTube I didn't listen to anything else for days. I don't know exactly what it is that makes this music so special, but I really love the grand, epic and fairytale like sound of it. It is literally meant to transport you to another world, and it does just that. My favourite piece is Evacuating London. I love how it starts out quiet and sad and then transform into this big fully orchestrated piece that just set the mood for the movie.


So...it seems we have reached the end of this list.
Did we have any favourites in common?
What are some of your favourite soundtracks?

10 Favourite Screen Characters Tag

When looking for new ideas for blog posts, I suddenly remembered that Heidi had tagged me with The 10 Favourite Screen Characters Tag a long, long time ago.

Well, better late than never...

Just to make this a bit more challenging I am mentioning characters I solely know from the screen (Which means no book to movie adaptions where I have read the book)

So without further ado... here they are:



Rapunzel (Tangled)

I love her because she is adorable, artistic and awestruck by everything she meets and she has such a positive attitude despite her locked up life. Oh, and not to forget...she is surprisingly apt with a frying pan - gotta love a princess who can defend herself using kitchen utensils.




Ella (Cinderella)

I gotta say I'm just so in love with everything regarding this new Cinderella adaption. My favourite part of it was the way they managed the portrayal of Ella - very true to the original fairytale but without making her weak and passive. She is just so good and kind it almost radiates of her and the way she manages to hold onto that through all the distress she is put through is just admirable.

Anna (Frozen)

Don't worry, this post is not being completely taken over by Disney princesses, but I can't pick favourites without mentioning Anna. I mean, she is the first Disney princess who is awkward, clumsy and looks realistically in the morning - all traits that make me love her more. Besides that she is fiercely loyal towards her sister - even when she does nothing to deserve it - and is really selfless.




Peggy Carter (Captain America)

Well, here comes a completely different genre. Peggy Carter is, in my opinion, the ultimate feministic role model. She is tough, constantly proves her worth to her male colleagues and at the same time she is not at all afraid of being feminine. Another bonus is the series is set in the 40's so I use a lot of time swooning over her gorgeous outfits, hair-do's and make up.

William Buxton (Return to Cranford)

Considering he only played a supporting role, he completely stole the show for me. I mean, is it possible not to love William? He is sweet, kind, funny, honorable, stands up to his father to defend his fiancee and is not afraid to follow through, even when it means he has to work hard. (That he is played by Tom Hiddleston is only a bonus)



The Doctor (Doctor Who)

Again, I couldn't pick favourites without at least mentioning the main character of my favourite show ever! How do you describe the Doctor? Considering he has been played by 4 different actors, each with their own personality (and that is only the reboot), you can safely say that he is an extremly complexd and layered character. But he is always really entertaining and funny with many quotable lines, quite crazy and very deep at times.

Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Yay, a chance to  mention Rory again. (Don't think I have done so since my very first post years ago) You can't say the name Rory Gilmore without also saying books, so of course she will be one of my favourites. Who wouldn't love a teenager who prioritises reading over random socialising, who brings a book everywhere she goes and whose idea of a perfect saturday is browsing the book shop for hours? That and she really knows her popular culture. (I'm not even kidding. Everytime I actually understand a reference in that show I feel so clever)

Captain Hook (Once Upon A Time)

                                        

No list is complete without at least one pirate. If he happens to be roguishly handsome (his words, not mine), secretly have a heart of gold and have quite an extensive vocabulary you have most likely met Captain Hook. As this show is known for, they give quite a twist to what we thought we knew about the character, which in his case makes him one of my favourites in the entire series. 

Phoebe Buffay (Friends)

                                              

If it isn't clear by now, I tend to like the crazy ones. Phoebe is no exception. I love that she is wholly untraditional and proudly embraces her weirdness as completely normal for her. That and she has some great lines.

Abby Sciuto (NCIS)

                                               

Abby is a character full of contradictions. On one hand she dresses like a goth, on the other hand she is the most positive person in the series. She seems happy-go-lucky and sometimes acts like an overexcited child when introduced to new tech, but at the same time she is the best at what she does and produces results unimaginably quickly.  I also love how she is always bribed with Caf-Pow and the fact that she sees her team like her extended family and therefore is fiercely protective of them.




So...this is it. I gotta admit that is one of the most diverse list I've made in a long time.
Do you agree with my list?

As it is a tag, I should probably tag someone in return. So if you read this and feel an urge to make your own list consider yourself tagged.

Inkling Explorations and Railways

                        

Well, it is once again time for Inkling Explorations. This month has a gorgeous theme: a scene happening around a train or a train station.

I know the possibilities are endless, and I spent quite some time thinking on them. When I heard the theme I immediately thiught of North & South, Miss Potter and several other heartwarming goodbyes or reunions between lovers, but on further thought I remembered what my absolute favourite railway scene is.

It is from "Rilla of Ingleside", which in itself has quite its share of train station scenes, but the one that tuches me the most and bring me near tears everytime is this scene near the end of the book where Jem Blythe returns and is welcomed by his faithful dog, who has been waiting for him for four years:

"One spring day, when the daffodils were blowing on the Ingleside lawn, and the banks of the brook in Rainbow Valley were sweet with white and purple violets, the little, lazy afternoon accommodation train pulled into the Glen station. It was very seldom that passengers for the Glen came by that train, so nobody was there to meet it except the new station agent and a small black-and-yellow dog, who for four and a half years had met every train that had steamed into Glen St. Mary. Thousands of trains had Dog Monday met and never had the boy he waited and watched for returned. Yet still Dog Monday watched on with eyes that never quite lost hope. Perhaps his dog-heart failed him at times; he was growing old and rheumatic; when he walked back to his kennel after each train had gone his gait was very sober now--he never trotted but went slowly with a drooping head and a depressed tail that had quite lost its old saucy uplift.

One passenger stepped off the train--a tall fellow in a faded lieutenant's uniform, who walked with a barely perceptible limp. He had a bronzed face and there were some grey hairs in the ruddy curls that clustered around his forehead. The new station agent looked at him anxiously. He was used to seeing the khaki-clad figures come off the train, some met by a tumultuous crowd, others, who had sent no word of their coming, stepping off quietly like this one. But there was a certain distinction of bearing and features in this soldier that caught his attention and made him wonder a little more interestedly who he was.

A black-and-yellow streak shot past the station agent. Dog Monday stiff? Dog Monday rheumatic? Dog Monday old? Never believe it. Dog Monday was a young pup, gone clean mad with rejuvenating joy.

He flung himself against the tall soldier, with a bark that choked in his throat from sheer rapture. He flung himself on the ground and writhed in a frenzy of welcome. He tried to climb the soldier's khaki legs and slipped down and groveled in an ecstasy that seemed as if it must tear his little body in pieces. He licked his boots and when the lieutenant had, with laughter on his lips and tears in his eyes, succeeded in gathering the little creature up in his arms Dog Monday laid his head on the khaki shoulder and licked the sunburned neck, making queer sounds between barks and sobs.

The station agent had heard the story of Dog Monday. He knew now who the returned soldier was. Dog Monday's long vigil was ended. Jem Blythe had come home."

For more beautiful train related scenes or stories, don't forget to check out the link-up at Sharing the Journey.

The Big Vacation Post

You may have noticed I've been absent from the blogging world for quite some time now. The main reason is vacation - lots of it.

"So, where did you go?" you probably ask.

Well, I'm glad you're asking.

I went to LONDON! For a week! And me and my friend had a great many adventures.

Off course we did the obligatory things: spent a lot of time sightseeing and shopping and using the Underground (which in itself was quite entertaining because I just read Neverwhere).

                                           

But the highlight of the tour was when we went to the theatre and watched Phantom of the Opera!!! 

That was just brilliant!! Firstly the actors were fantastic! Georònimo Rauch, who played the Phantom was just amazing, and even though I couldn't help comparing him to my favourite Phantom (Ramin Karimloo) he certainly held up his own, and it was quite interesting to watch how he interpreted the character differently in some of the key scenes.

I wasn't so sure about Harriet Jones, who played Christine, in the first act, but after her stunning delievery of "Wishing you were somoehow here again", I promised myself never to think a bad thought of her portrayal again. 

I think the highlight of the entire play was that scene where Christine and the Phantom sails across the lake. Just imagine the stage full of smoke and lights, and on top of all it is happening 20 meters from where you sit! It was almost unbelievable.

(Sorry for my long rant - sometimes a little fangirling is neccesary)

On to other subjects - books! One day we found the largest bookstore I have ever seen. Just imagine 5 floors filled with books of all subjects, and a whole depatment just dedicated to classics. We spent some blissfull hours there.

Surely you can't go to London without visiting at least one park, so off course we did that too. My favourite was St. James Park, which had a big lake filled with all kinds of ducks and birds, some of which I have never seen outside my ornithology books. And it had squirrels too!

Another highlight of the tour was when we visited British Museum. The collection is so big that it is quite overwhelming for a history lover as myself.

To make it even more excited we had a guided tour with a Bible theme, so we spent a lot of time hearing of the old Assyria and Babylon, watching all those inscriptions and prisms that I have read so much about and hearing how the archaeology fitted with the Bible's story of events. Really exciting!

We did a great lot of other things that I honestly don't remember (too many adventures in a short time apparently affects the memory).

The rest of my vacation was a lot more laid back, and mostly spent in my family's summer house, but I will save that for another post.

Have you had any vacation this summer?

The Great Book Giveaway Bonanza

It is here at last! 

Hamlette is hosting a collection of book giveaways on her blog, and there are some fine titles to choose between this far.

So if you love books (and even better free books) check out the giveaways at all the blogs.