Update on life

This is just a short update to let you all know I am not dead.

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post, but as usual life gets in the way, so I thought I would just give you a short update on life and on my projects for this blog.

The reason for my long absence is that I am currently taking an English course that demands that I actually write essays! I haven't done that in several years!
So they have been taking up all of my writing capacity of late, and will probably continue to do so for a month or two.

I have started on my Back to the Classics Challenge, and managed to read "The Great Gatsby" - something that threw me into a post reading depression. Not as dramatic as it sounds.
It only means that I haven't been able to read anything since, because I don't feel emotionally ready to engage in a new story, which in itself is quite depressing for I have such a long "to read" list.

I have a lot of upcoming posts planned, which only makes it more frustrating that I don't have the time to write them.
I am planning on doing a theme on Jane Austen adaptions, both a post comparing the different adaptions, and a "Jane Austen meets Bollywood", where I'll be reviewing the modern adaptions Bollywood have made on some of Austen's novels.

I also intend to go pick my "classic musicals" series back up - I just have to watch some more of the old musicals. (Suggestions are welcome)

Apart from that I have been nominated to several blogger awards, and I plan on having answers to the questions up soon.

So that was a bit of my blog plans for this spring. Are there any of the posts you would like me to write as the first? Just let me know in a comment.

Literary quote of week 11

"The bar is in full swing and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside until the air is alive with chatter and laughter and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other's names."

F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby

When I read this sentence in the book, I just had t stop and reread it a few times, for I think it perfectly captures the spirit of the whole book (and the whole time period) in just a few words.

 

Reading and history

Have you ever thought of how much history you learn simply by reading classic literature?

Well, until recently I hadn't really considered it. But just think of it.

I love history and I'll admit I found my history teaching lacking at points and oddly repetitive at other points, but let's not dwell on that.
My point is that all my knowledge of several time periods and historic events I have solely from the fiction I  read that takes place in that time.

Let me take an example.. French history was something I didn't learn a thing about in school, so I depended completely on books set in France, to help me learn anything. And here is what they taught me:

The Hunchback of Notre Dame taught me of medieval Paris, and Louis the XI.

The three Musketeers taught me of Louis the 13. and the 15. century France.

A Tale of two Cities and The Scarlet Pimpernel taught me about the French Revolution.

Desiree taught me about the Napoleonic times.

Les Miserables taught me of the restoration, and that there has been more than one revolution in France (it would have taught me even more, if I had read the unabridged version, but sadly I couldn't get my hands on one)

That was just one example, and I'm sure I could go on for long if I listed all the books I've read through the years.
So thanks to all those authors who unwittingly taught me all what school didn't.

Literary quote of week 10

"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."

Jane Austen - Northanger Abbey

Last week was the ending - this week it's the beginning. Just because I like to do things backwards.

  

Period Drama Fashion Week Tag

 

So many blog parties to attend - so little time...

Yes, I found another blog party that i simply had to participate in. It is hosted at For the Beauty of the Earth and is just an extravaganza of gorgeous period gowns.

Well, here are the questions for the tag:

1. Tell us five random things about yourself.

1. My movie collection consists mainly of period dramas and musicals.
2. If I hear a good song/instrumental piece in a movie, I just have to find the sheet music and play it myself.
3. My favourite colour is red.
4. I love hairstyle tutorials but rarely have the patience to try them on.
5. I am a BBC fangirl. 


2. What are some of your favourite dresses from period dramas? Pick three.

This dress from Emma 

 

The coronation gown from The Young Victoria

This dress from State Fair

3. How would you describe your own style?

Casual and simple with a bit of inspiration from the 50s.


4. List (up to) five of your favourite period drama wardrobes.

Emma Woodhouse in Emma 2009
Queen Victoria in The Young Victoria


5. What are some of your favourite fashion eras?

Regency, Victorian, Edwardian and the 1950s


6. What are five things that make you happy?

1. Playing the piano
2. Walking in the nature
3. Being crazy with my friends
4. Spring flowers
5. Drawing


7. Do you like to wear hats?

I like the idea of wearing a hat, and I wish it was something we all did today, but I don't actually wear hats - I feel it would attract too much attention.


8. Do you have a favourite fictional character who has the same name as you?

No.


9. What is one of the ugliest dresses you've ever seen in a period drama?

That must be this one:

It's not that the dress in itself is ugly, it is just too much pink and frill at one place.


10. What is the most-worn colour in your wardrobe?

Black - not that I like the colour very much, but it's practical and goes with everything colourful.


11. What are your sentiments on the subject of tea?

Tea is a luxury I would find it hard to live without. I especially love peppermint, chamomile, green tea and all kinds of mixed herbs tea.


12. Do historical inaccuracies bother you?

That depends...if it is a minor inaccuracy I probably won't mind. But faults in social manners and etiquette - especially in the Regency period, will be mercilessly pointed out, and will annoy me immensely.


13. What are some of your favourite eras of men's fashions?

I don't have any definite preferences, but I like everything older than the 50's, in particular the 19th century.


14. Have you ever read any books on historical fashion?

Maybe for a school assignment long ago. But I have read several websites on the topic.


15. If you could pick just three fictional characters to have over for tea, who would you invite? 

I would invite Anne Shirley, Elizabeth Bennet and Jo March. 
The conversation would be anything but boring.

   

Literary quote of the week

"I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience."

- Jane Austen - Northanger Abbey

I just watched Northanger Abbey the other day, and was reminded of this great quote. It is by far my favourite ending sentence ever.

Cure for writer's block

I recently decided to take up writing again, after a pause of several years due to school and work.
But almost immediately I was faced with every writer's biggest fear: the writer's block.

I tell you it's a terrible thing, just wanting to write so much it nearly hurts, but being unable to form any idea or even worse, having so many ideas but just being unable to get it down on paper.

Then I thought, maybe I should wait with the big novel potential ideas I always get, and just write something to get back into the routine, and that's where oneword.com came in.

I discovered it by chance, but it is a brilliant website solely designed to help people with writer's block.

The concept is simple: it shows you a random word and then you have 1 minute to write about it.

So simple and yet so effective.
I found it was surprisingly easy to write when I didn't have to think about quality or anything - just writing something random, and when the minute is up you can submit your entry and see what others have written from the same word.

It actually often happens that when I've just finished writing the entry I suddenly get ideas to continue, and more often than not, I end up writing entire short stories just inspired by that simple word.

So I can warmly recommend that site to anyone else out there with writer's block. It has helped me exceedingly.

What do you do when you have writer's block?
I'm always interested in hearing other approaches to the subject, so if anyone has a great trick leave a comment and tell me about it.