Quotations Weblog

I bought Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron a LONG time ago. I had consumed all the Jane Austen novels and was desperate for some more. I bought the first three books in this series and never read them. The idea of Jane Austen solving murder mysteries was just too much for me to believe. After reading all the Jane Austen spin-offs over the years, however, my standards have gone WAY down.

Instead of a cheap knock-off, this book stands wonderfully on its own and lets me enjoy even more of Jane’s world, however imaginary it may be.

Jane finds herself willing to leave the comfort of her family home in Bath after the embarrassing refusal of marriage from Harris Bigg-Wither. She visits her dear friend, Isobel, who has lately married the Earl of Scargrave. While there, however, the Earl falls sick and dies. His death, though shocking and sudden, is deemed natural by all but Jane. Sadly, her instincts are proven to be true and her friend finds herself embroiled in scandal.

The book is written as if it were penned by Jane herself, so I found it quite quotable. Here are the gems I gleaned:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am excited to read the others! Here is the complete list of the novels in order:

1. Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor

2. Jane and the Man of the Cloth

3. Jane and the Wandering Eye

4. Jane and the Genius of the Place

5. Jane and the Stillroom Maid

6. Jane and the Prisoner of Wool House

7. Jane and the Ghosts of Netley

8. Jane and His Lordship’s Legacy

9. Jane and the Barque of Frailty

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer is finally available. It is the fourth book in the Twilight Saga. I reviewed the first book in the series here:

• Quotations Weblog » Archive » Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Of course, I haven’t consumed Breaking Dawn yet. To be honest, I was unwilling to brave the crowds and I plan on picking one up after the fervor has died away a bit. Ms. Meyer can weave a wonderful tale and never ceases to please, so I’m sure this book will be as much of a romp through morality tales about chastity thinly veiled as vampiric Goth as the other three have been.

Unshelved has recommended The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.

• Unshelved comic strip - The Art of Racing in the Rain

It’s the story of Denny Swift, race car driver, told from the point of view of his dog, Enzo. The Amazon review is here:

Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver.

Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn’t simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life’s ordeals.

On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through: the sacrifices Denny has made to succeed professionally; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny’s wife; the three-year battle over their daughter, Zoë, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain custody. In the end, despite what he sees as his own limitations, Enzo comes through heroically to preserve the Swift family, holding in his heart the dream that Denny will become a racing champion with Zoë at his side. Having learned what it takes to be a compassionate and successful person, the wise canine can barely wait until his next lifetime, when he is sure he will return as a man.

A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.

How could I resist it? It was a huge box of costume drama from the BBC and A&E. I HAD to buy it, but the name… The Romance Collection? Really? Couldn’t you find a better name than that?

Sure, Pride and Prejudice and Emma would be considered romance, but the rest, I’m not so sure about. Jane Eyre falls into the Gothic horror category. Victoria and Albert is more of a story about political intrigue. Ivanhoe? The Scarlet Pimpernel?

Seriously, if Tom Jones is considered a romance, then there is something drastically wrong with my brain. The story is more a morality play than a romance, isn’t it?

I haven’t watched Lorna Doone yet, but a young man whose family is murdered during a civil war isn’t really the kind of guy who can just brush that off and fall into a romance. Is he?

I’m not complaining. I’m happy with the thirty luscious hours of period piece drama, but I really wouldn’t have called it The Romance Collection.

I never got into Sex And The City when it was showing on HBO. With the movie release this month, I thought that I would give the television series a try. I downloaded the first season of Sex And The City on iTunes and thought that I would give a few episodes a watch.

Two weeks and hours of nearly obsessive watching later, I have decided that this series was one of the most intelligent shows on television. Sure, there are the gratuitous f-bombs and sex scenes that just scream, “We’re on HBO!” If you can wade through the sex talk, there is a gutsy story of four women in New York. Like the proverbial hooker with a heart of gold, Sex And The City has a lot to offer the thinking mind.

Here are my favorite quotes:

From the pre-9-11 shots of New York and the World Trade Center to the picturesque image of Paris, this series is so enjoyable that I think I will have to go back and watch it again at a much slower rate. If you thought that Sex And The City wasn’t for you because it was all about sex, then give this show a try. EVERY time you start feeling like the show is going over the edge, there is a character who complains about it going over the edge and voicing your outrage. It’s witty and it never takes itself too seriously. Enjoy!