Reading Journal: Land of the Free!

It isn't often that I title any posts on this blog, other than to identify them as they relate to reading or writing, but this, I couldn't help.

This morning, I got an e-mail from MMM (which is, like, the most interactive blog on the planet) saying that their most recent giveaway winner hadn't responded with an address, and was the address from the last time this happened still good? 

Sure is!  I seriously am not sure what I'm going to do with 5 new more books.  I already need another bookshelf.  I'm pretty sure the tall one started to bow the last time I added books.  ....although....I did just clear out a shelf in one of my closets; I could probably move my journals there.  Then I could use the enclosed shelf they're on now for my antique collection, which might allow for some breathing room.  But probably not much.

I think I'm most excited about the 1945 edition of  Temples of the Most High by N.B Lundwall.  Not only do I love temples, but I've been pondering a lot about the history of temples since the Industrial Revolution.  And I love old books.  I seriously had to talk myself out of spending $20 on 2 sets of 5 books each circa ~1940s at the thrift store last night.  If they had been in better shape, I hadn't walked to the store, and I knew I had room for them, I would've bought them.

This afternoon, Kjerstin Gruys offered a copy of her book, Mirror, Mirror, Off the Wall for free.  Well, essentially free.  She's asking bloggers/recipients of the book to take the challenge to not look at their reflection for one day and blog about it the week of May 6th.  Which I'll do here.

Guess I'd better hurry up and finish Of Thee I Zing and The River at the Center of the World so I can move on to the next segment of the cycle.

Oh, and I know it's early, but I may have to drop out of Camp NaNo.  I'm just not feeling it, and not in that "I'm just not feeling it" way.  I mean, I'm thinking this is a challenge I'm not up for just quite yet.  I'm thinking I should stick to just November.

Reading Journal

I just finished "The Crucible."

I wish I had more to say about that.

 Next book will be "Of Thee I Zing,' ©2011

I joined a discussion group on goodreads to help me get back into talking about books rather than just of them. I'm hoping to also get some perspective to aid in writing "The Victorians," possibly with my roommate.

Writing Journal

Whoops, I did-it-a-gain....

I signed up for Camp NaNoWriMo.
Essentially the same thing, but in April instead of November.

This round, I'm aiming for a script (or series of scripts) drawing inspiration from Jane Austen and SNL's "The Californian's."
"Mr. Darcy!  What are yeeewww doing here?!"

Which means I'll be spending March doing research. 
Watching/reading Austen (as my recipe permits)
Watching The Californian's
Learning the geography of Austen's England.

As you can guess, I haven't touched "Family Lies" since I finished the draft.  Not true; I think I have once or twice.  I just don't think there was enough life in the plot.
Hopefully I can turn that around at Camp NaNo.

First up: deciding which scenes I want to rewrite, taken mostly from P&P and S&S. 
Elizabeth and Darcy's unexpected meeting at Pemberley
Lucy, Elinor, and Edward's first scene together.  (I may take some creative liberty and have the secret outed here.)

Reading Journal

Finished "Whitethorn Woods"
Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is straight up classic Binchy: ordinary characters in situations so contrived that you have to believe them. The back cover (of this edition) declares that the characters are "passionately opinionated men and women drawn into a timely conflict between the traditions of the past and the promises of the future." Personally, I'm inclined to disagree with that description. There are, indeed, passionately opinionated people, but the narrative follows mostly the lives of those in the book who are not. I found myself caring for the characters more than the resolution of what happens to St. Ann's Well.

The short story included in the paperback edition was so-so. It's been about a decade since I've read any of Binchy's short stories, so I can't make any comparisons there. It seemed as though she wanted or intended it to be a part of the novel, but couldn't find a way to make it fit.




View all my reviews

Started Arthur Miller's "The Crucible."  Seemed appropriate after having recently finished "The Scarlet Letter."

Reading Journal

I finished "Scarlet Letter."  It's been a while since I've read it, although I remembered most of the big plot points.  But, let's face it, there really isn't much plot to remember.  This is one of those books that's all about the narrative, and I liked it. 

So I started up the last Maeve Binchy book I picked up, "Whitehorn Woods."  Although I plan on reading while at the gym this evening, I'm currently not very far into it right now.  But, so far, it's been classic Binchy, which means it's spectacular.