On Past And Future Reading Projects

I'm always trying to get more reading done and nothing motivates like a reading challenge, right?

At least, that's what I'm telling myself year after year when I sign up to yet another reading challenge that I fully intend to complete, but deep down know I wont.

Last year's project was The 12 Months Classics Challenge.
The mission: read 12 classics in a year. A quite simple and easy goal to accomplish.

So did I finish it?

Need you even ask? Of course I didn't!

Then was it a failure? Not at all!

Though I didn't get through all 12 books I read 6 of them - books I wouldn't have read if not for the challenge. And I discovered 2 new instant favourites, so last year was by no means wasted on the literary front.

Let me briefly tell you my thoughts on the books I read:

January- A classic you've always wanted to read
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 
I fell completely in love with this book right from the start. I'd wanted to read it for more than 10 years but the timing never seemed right (and because I knew I would love it, I needed to be in the right mood before starting it).
It was brilliantly written. And just the vocabulary used impressed me (I had to look so many words up in the dictionary). And off course Jane!! I loved Jane. She is such a wonderful character.
Mr Rochester on the other hand, I wasn't very impressed with. It wasn't until the end of the book I started liking him. But what an ending! And What a book.
In case you haven't guessed it, this was an instant new favourite.

                                                 

February- A classic you've always dreaded reading
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

I thought I would have to drag myself through this play with sheer will power, but I must say I liked it a great deal more than expected. Rationally the plot makes little sense and I generally dislike mushy romances and love at first sight, but the plot just sucked me in and all the speeches were so sweet that I just bought it all for a little while. And that ending was so tragic, even though I knew it was coming. So all in all, I actually liked it and wouldn't mind reading it again someday in the far future.

                                         

March- A classic you've been recommended
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Everyone in the blogging world was gushing about this book so I decided to read it, and boy am I glad I did. Never have I felt so instantly drawn to a character as I did to Valancey and her sad life. And it's been a long time since I enjoyed a book more than this one. I may even like it better than the Anne-books, because it's just so thoroughly sweet and delightful and it makes you all happy and gooey inside. Another instant favourite!

                                    

April- A classic you've seen the movie/miniseries/TV show of
The Code Of The Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse
The one word to describe this book is hilarious! Wodehouse's books have the ability to make me shriek with laughter all the way through and this was no exception. If you' enjoyed the TV show, I can promise you taht you will enjoy the book even more!

                                        
May- An American classic
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stove
To tell you the truth, I never really got into this book. The characters were good the plot was good but the narrator was really obnoxious. And when I had to return the book to the library I realised that with only 70 pages left of the book I didn't really care what happened to everyone. So I technically never finished it, but I am still counting it as read.

                                     

June- A British classic
The Hound Of The Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
A truly classic Sherlock Holmes story that I had somehow never read or watched so it was with bated breath I read this book. I love Sherlock Holmes so naturally I loved this book as well, and can now say that I've read all 3 Sherlock Holmes novellas.


There! That's brief reviews on all the classics I read last year.

I actually promised myself to not start any new reading projects this year and instead focus on rereading my favourite books. That soon turned into dubbing this the year of non-fiction, but let's see which of the projects I stick with;)

And as fate will have it, I had no sooner given myself the above mentioned promise before I stumbled upon Heidi's Adventure of Reading Challenge 2017. And as I cannot resist a good challenge I just have to be a part of it. This year I will be wise and do like Heidi herself: start at the Explorer level that is 3-5 books, and then take it from there.

                                      

I do not yet know what I will be reading, but I will make a page dedicated to this project and add books as I think of them (in case anyone is interested in my progress)

Do you have any reading projects for 2017?

A Very Random Post

Greetings all!!
It is I, once again peeking out from my hibernation. *waves*

                             

I would apologise profusely for my long absence but that would indicate it won't happen again, and we all know it will!

December was crazy! My work was moving to a new location which meant a week of packing and a week of unpacking while at the same time doing my regular job. So I was swamped!
And then came Christmas which always means extra work. (For as I work at a rehabilitation home someone has to feed the residents, even in the holidays)

                     

Then after December 28th I had no more extra work and was looking forward to a well deserved vacation, so of course I have been sick ever since!! (I feel very sorry for myself at the moment)

But on a cheerier note let me tell you about this fantastic thing I  just discovered that has taken up most of my spare time recently.

It's called Hamilton!! A hip-hop and rap musical about the founding fathers.
Yes, I realise it's a crazy concept but Pinterest has been sending me quotes and pictures from the play as recommended pins for months now, so I thought: let me see, or rather hear, what all the fuss is about.

                   

I listened to Act 1 and found it not that bad. Then I listened to the whole album and was left with a lot of feels that could only be remedied by listening to it once more.

No one was more surprised by my sudden love for it than me - I mean hip-hop and rap are some of the only music genres that I decidedly dislike, but I guess all rules have exceptions...

Listening to the musical on repeat for a week left me with a lot of random knowledge of the American Revolution (something I have never been taught in school). This left me hungry for more, and somehow that ended with me starting to watch a 13 hour documentary about it. (Not how I imagined spending my days off)

                              

And as my interest for that time period is still growing I find myself looking for movies/books taking place during the American Revolution. Can you recommend any?

I know this random post doesn't make up for a month's absence but I was really itching to write something...anything, And I missed the blogging world:)

                

So tell me, how has winter treated you this far?

For The Love Of Words

I love words!

                      

I love how you can string them together and create new ideas or sayings of profound wisdom.

I love that by combining 25 letters over and over you can create everything said and thought under the sun.

                     

I love how the same words can have way different meanings to different people.

I love how some words are just beautiful to look at or to pronounce.

                    

I love how foreign languages have wonderful new word pictures that suddenly makes me find my own language lacking.

I love how you sometimes simply cannot translate a saying and get the full meaning.

I love how words carefully chosen can make my day.

I love how those same words may be kept and treasured forever in my memory.

I love how written words can make you feel every emotion from the greatest elation to the deepest despair.

                

I love how my thoughts flow and translate onto the paper as I write.

I love when I try to express an idea that words cannot truly encompass and yet people know what I mean.

I love how looking at a page with lines and lines of words soothes my mind.

I love how reading those words can take me anywhere - around the world or into completely new worlds.

                    

I love how words can change the way I think and the way I see the world.

                                   
 
Yes, words is a powerful thing. With them you can build up or tear down, reveal wisdom or stupidity.
Use them wisely, but never forget to use them!

Pinterest Finds

Hello again!
I haven't really any inspiration for something very clever today and I am also working on some time consuming upcoming posts (not that they're very long, I'm just a real slow writer at the moment).
So instead here are some funny and very relatable pictures I've recently found on Pinterest.

How can anyone just have one favourite?

                     

Me every day at the moment;)

                       

                   

My actual vacation kit this summer

                               

My mom can testify taht no 2 is me every movie night

                                                 


                      

Till the next time!

Period Drama Tag

Once again I must apologise for my long absence. The reason is the season (wow, I'm a poet today). At this time of year I identify a lot with bears as I too feel an urge to go into hibernation for the winter.

Hamlette tagged me with a period drama tag, and that was just the enticement I needed to get out from my blogging hibernation, at least for long enough to write this post;)


1. What's your favorite Period Drama movie? 

The Young Victoria, no doubt! That is  such a sweet and beautiful movie with brilliant actors!
                      


2. What's your favorite Period Drama series? 

Emma (2009)! I love every minute of it!

                     


3. Which Period Drama do you dislike the most?

I really didn't like the 1986 version of Northanger Abbey. It was just disturbing and all wrong.

4. Anne of Green Gables or Little Dorrit? 

Anne, of course! (I haven't actually watched Little Dorrit, but even if I had my answer would remain the same)

                       


5. Your favorite Period Drama dresses? 

Now, this ones a little harder... The list is very long, but I shall try to confine myself to a few:)

Emma (2009)

Agent Carter

The Young Victoria

Cinderella

6. Who's your favorite Period Drama character? (Okay, pick at least five) 

1. Elizabeth Bennet - do I really need an explanation?

                             

2. Peggy Carter - she is just perfection - independent, strong and with a wardrobe to die for.
                                   

3. Henry Tilney - he is sweet and funny and perfect in every way.

                    

4. Anne Shirley - imaginative, dreamy and my fictional bosom friend

                            

(I know the question said to pick 5, but my brain short circuited and I simply can not think of a fifth one)

7. If you could join a royal ball, which dress would you wear? (Pick a Period Drama dress) 

This was so hard! But in the end I went with this dreamy Cinderella dress (from an adaption of Cinderella no less).
                           


8. What's your favorite Jane Austen movie? 

As we're talking strictly of movies, I'm gonna go with Sense & Sensibility (1995). I've always loved how subtly they're incorporating all the humour. And the casting was brilliant!

                     

9. Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife? 

I don't particularly care for Downton Abbey and I haven't watched Call The Midwife, so I'll say neither.


10. Sybil Crawley, Jenny Lee, Emma Woodhouse or Marian of Knighton?

I don't know Sybil Crawley and Jenny Lee, and I like the 2 remaining almost equally. But for the sake of choosing one (and because I recently watched Emma) I'll go with Emma Woodhouse.

                     

11. Which couples of a Period Drama do you like the most? (Pick at least four) 

Margaret & Mr Thornton - what can I say to express the perfection that is this couple? I think what I like the most about them is that as they grow to really know each other love grows as well.
                                   

Anne & Gilbert - no 2 persons were ever as destined for another as Anne and Gilbert. And though it took Anne a while to realise that, Gilbert were always there for her.

                       

Emma & Mr Knightley - what I particularly like about Emma and Mr Knightley is that they've known each other forever and thus have a deep understanding and respect for each other. And then they realise they are in love, and I just can't properly articulate how much I love them as a couple.

                            

Queen Victoria & Albert - another couple where the key words are patience and longing. Their whole courtship was so sweet and innocent. And the length of it made it  all the more fulfilling when they finally got married.

                      


12. And last, which Period Drama villain do you like the most?

The villains I like are usually the ones who are kind of in a grey area, but if I should pick one who is definitely a villain it must be Sir Guy of Gisborne from BBC's Robin Hood. 
                               
This was fun!
Nothing beats reminiscing about period dramas:)

A Hollywood Celebration Link-Up

This has been a truly enjoyable week!
And I am so happy to see how many of you have joined in on the celebration!

There has been so many lovely reviews to read and I have discovered so many movies I had never heard about prior to this week. So I would consider the celebration a complete success.
Now I just have to find the time to watch all the movies;)

As promised here is a link up of all the movies there's been reviewed this week:

National Velvet (1944) by MovieCritic
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (1954) by Livia Rachelle
State Fair (1945) by Rose
Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962) by Cordy
The Reluctant Debutante (1958) by Rilla Blythe
A Friendly Persuasion (1956) by Livia Rachelle
An Affair To Remember (1957) by The Elf
The Thin Man (1934) by Rose
The Night Of The Hunter (1955) and Cape Fear (1962) by Quiggy
Destry Rides Again (1939) by Hamlette
To Catch A Thief (1955) by Rose
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) by Meredith
An American In Paris (1951) by MovieCritic
It's A Wonderful Life (1946) by Meredith

Furthermore Hamlette also created a fun game for the week. You can check it out here

I want to send a big thank you to all those of you who participated in this celebration either by writing a review or commenting. You made the week unforgettable!