#Austen protects her women characters

[bethanydelleman]

The Three Possible Fates of Fallen Women

Jane Austen offers three possible fates for women who are entangled in sexual misconduct: To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as the happiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant farmhouse.

"Come upon the town" means fall into prostitution. Now let's forget for a second how horrible Meryton is being (Wouldn't it be better for gossip if she was ruined forever?) Jane Austen has actually explored all three fates that are mentioned around Lydia Wickham.

In Sense & Sensibility, Eliza Brandon, the divorced and disgraced love of Colonel Brandon, was found by him in a sponging house, probably dying of syphilis, after falling into a life of either prostitution or becoming several people's mistress. "I could not trace her beyond her first seducer, and there was every reason to fear that she had removed from him only to sink deeper in a life of sin."

Then, in Mansfield Park, Maria Rushworth, also disgraced and divorced, ends up in a distant farmhouse with Mrs. Norris, "It ended in Mrs. Norris’s resolving to quit Mansfield and devote herself to her unfortunate Maria, and in an establishment being formed for them in another country, remote and private, where, shut up together with little society, on one side no affection, on the other no judgment, it may be reasonably supposed that their tempers became their mutual punishment."

We often think that Lydia has the worst fate, but of the three she seems to have the best. Eliza Brandon and Maria Rushworth suffered far more. All three women were failed by their male guardians/fathers and we see the three possibilities, prostitute/mistress, banishment, or married to an unworthy man. Fortunately for Lydia, her sisters will keep her from anything worse.

[heyimdove]

More on why Persuasion is the real Jane Austen parallel to Aziracrow, and why Pride and Prejudice is not, because I can’t stop dwelling.

There’s a lot here so I’ll try to structure this in a way that makes sense. Wish me luck.

I’ve seen so many people equate Aziraphale to Lizzie and Crowley to Darcy, but these comparisons don’t make sense. Character-wise, they are far more like Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth, respectively.

We’ll start with Elizabeth Bennet, who I love with all my heart and is one of those characters I feel like I know (I’m delusional, it’s fine). Elizabeth is wonderfully intelligent, but she isn’t “accomplished” and isn’t a perfect specimen of Regency womanhood. Instead she’s sharp and headstrong. She wants to live how she wants and with someone she loves for a partner. She rejects a match that is, on paper, perfect and would solve all her family’s problems, because she won’t settle for unhappiness. You know who that doesn’t sound like?

Aziraphale, were he a Regency Era woman, would be considered very accomplished for the time; well-read, polite, even a music tutor. But he’s more unlike Elizabeth because he desires to “do what’s best for the family”. In other words, if Elizabeth Bennet was more like Aziraphale, she’d be married to Mr. Collins. She would’ve considered it her duty to marry him because it would protect her loved ones (see Aziraphale accepting the Metatron). For Aziraphale, his duty to protect trumps his personal desire.

So does that make Crowley our Lizzie? No, that doesn’t fit either, and not only because Aziraphale makes a terrible Darcy. Sure, Aziraphale’s status as an angel might be considered comparable to Darcy’s elevated status as a rich person, but Crowley has never hated Aziraphale, never even considered it, and wouldn’t hate him even after the rejection. Lizzie’s hatred is what spurs Darcy to grow. Darcy needed to be completely despised by her to decide to put in the work to be worthy of her.

Okay, so then is Crowley Darcy? Perhaps we could shoehorn that in somewhere because Darcy doesn’t seem good but actually is, or is considered grouchy, but it’s such a loose connection, it barely works-

-Especially when you consider how much better the two fit as the protagonists of Persuasion.

(And yes, shut up, I liked the Dakota Johnson one and I will be using the gifs.)

Where Pride and Prejudice is about two different people gradually seeing the value in the other, Persuasion is the story of two different people seeing the value in the other right from the start, but who then repeatedly make mistakes that keep them separate and in agony.

Aziraphale is *so* much like Anne. First, Anne is the only reasonable (read: likable) member of her high-born family, who believe people in other societal castes to not only be inferior, but disgusting.

Anne sees this is not true, and falls madly in love with the low-born Wentworth- only to be persuaded by outside input not to marry him. Station and familial duty play a part in this decision, and she regrets it for years. She is completely unable to move on.

Like Aziraphale, Anne is certainly more accomplished, for one thing, and she plays by the rules of women of her time and status. BUT her sense of mortality breaks often from that of her family. When she tries to impart her good morals upon them, they are dismissive and insulting, reacting as if Anne is the one who “doesn’t get it”.

She spends eight years with a family she barely belongs to, wondering why she ever thought the company of people like this was worth the loss of Wentworth.

For all of Anne’s kindness, she is a pushover. She’s rarely confident in herself. When she needs to speak up, or just have a direct conversation with Wentworth, she doesn’t. She can’t. She repeatedly makes Wentworth come to her.

Wentworth, meanwhile, is a far better match for Crowley than Darcy is. Wentworth will never be an aristocrat like the Elliots, but he carves out a life he considers valuable using new rules. Sound familiar?

Are Wentworth’s and Crowley’s morals obviously a bit different? Yes, of course. Crowley is a DEMON, after all. But Crowley conducts himself in such a way that he’s literally cast out of Heaven and removed from Hell- in other words, he’s twice been given “the rules” for how to act and has twice decided, nah, that’s not for me. Wentworth was given the rules for what he could have as a low-born man and became a wealthy, high-ranking naval officer. And Wentworth didn’t do that for love, either. He found the consideration of one’s wealth in determining whether they should be loved abhorrent. Wentworth did it for himself initially (bitterly too, maybe), just like Crowley saves the goats and the kids for himself.

And, of course, Crowley’s confession parallels Wentworth’s position in relation to Anne far more than Darcy’s position to Lizzie. Crowley says “if they (two apparent opposites) can do it, so can we,” because he knows he and Aziraphale love each other. At the start of Persuasion, Wentworth asks Anne to be his wife despite their differing societal rank because he knows they love each other. At the end of Persuasion, he asks again because he knows they have both been in agony, that they both love each other as much as they ever did.

Darcy, meanwhile, does not know if Lizzie loves him, but arrogantly believes she will accept on the basis that what he can offer her monetarily is better than what anyone else can, not knowing what she actually values. She demolishes him.

On that note, that’s really the only parallel between Aziracrow and Darcy/Lizzie, only Aziraphale is Darcy. Aziraphale believed Crowley would accept his offer because he believed Crowley would want to be an angel again. Crowley believed Aziraphale would accept his offer because he knew they loved each other.

These are all very different characters, but ultimately, I think we were gunning for Pride and Prejudice and wound up with Persuasion; the slowest, most agonizing burn with the most beautiful reunion. So we didn’t get “you have bewitched me, body and soul,” in S2. We got the events leading up to Persuasion, and will have S3 to watch them play out. Neil knows that Aziraphale and Crowley’s relationship is the most compelling part of the story, so I doubt they’ll be separated for long. But everything is so messy, isn’t it? So it makes sense to keep them, like Anne and Wentworth, in close proximity, in mutual, bitter, unspoken pining, but still not together. It will be absolutely delicious to watch. Isn’t that what we loved the most from S1?

Because we know they love each other. And whatever catalyzing event forces them to say it out loud will be all the better if every moment they don’t say it hurts. I don’t want a “you have bewitched me” moment, I want “I’m half agony, half hope.”

[dannnnnny666]

Day 4: Wander

Tw: Mention of character death, Unhealthy(?) coping mechanism

The Ghost Zone was incredibly vast. You could explore it for a thousand years and still find new places. It made sense why it was so big; almost every single person who had ever died, plus a few extra, called the Ghost Zone their home.

So Danny took it upon himself as a challenge to explore as much of the Ghost Zone. I mean, he has all the time in the world; why not use some of it to explore?

Through his travels, he visited everywhere. He attended a Women's Writers Convention, where he met Murasaki Shikibu, Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, Sappho, and more. He visited Mesopotamia and gave Gilgamesh a copy of the first volume of One Piece. He called Napoleon short. He played with Laika and asked her what she thinks of space. He met Hector of Troy, who talked about the reason he fights: to protect those he loves. He found Asgard and played a prank on Loki.

As he was traveling to the next location, where or whenever that might be, he saw a figure approach from behind him.

It was Vlad with the Infi-Map. He looks tired.

“Daniel-”

“Don’t,” he doesn’t want to have this conversation.

“I am not here to talk to you about them; I know you’re not ready for that. I just want you to know that my door is always open for you when you are,” Vlad said, as if in the time in which Danny had left he had managed to grow a heart. “And I know I am probably the last person you’d like to hear that from, and I get it, but I still want you to know that you will always have a place to come back to.”

“…Thank you, Vlad.”

“Don’t mention it.” Vlad smiled kindly in a way that could have been seen as genuine if Danny was feeling a little less pessimistic and left.

After Vlad left, Danny stayed there for a second, not moving, not breathing, not thinking, before he turned around and went to find something new to distract him.

[dusty-daydreams]

Hi! Fic Anon here.

After seeing so many opinions on Eloise I just want her to hide behind me while I defend and protect her 😭. Like they accuse her of being a pick me or "not a girl's girl" or having the "not like other girls".

And these are all Penelope's fans. Seeing that make me dislike her even more. I like Penelope but as an anti hero or villain, she could have been so interesting.

Eloise has valid reasons for not wanting to get married and even if she doesn't understand why other girls would want to get married but she still respects it (as far as I remember).

It has been a while since I have watched s 1 and 2 (and I haven't even gotten started on 3 due to prior commitments lol) but many people accuse her of being a bad friend to Penelope, was she really a bad friend as many accuse her to be?

Have a nice day!

Hi Fic Anon!!!!!!

I don’t think she was that bad of a friend - I think she was a teenage girl who tend to be a bit self-absorbed. Besides if we are going to accuse Eloise of being a bad friend we have to do the same to Penelope, and that’s without evening taking her nasty alter ego into account because they are both equally self-absorbed in season 1 & 2. Eloise just talks at Penelope while Penelope doesn’t share anything with Eloise, their self-absorption presents differently so it’s easier for people to attack Eloise for being a bad friend. But as I said in my On Eloise’s Obsession with Whistledown post, the secrets Penelope kept from Eloise makes her a bad friend as well.

Like Eloise might talk primarily about herself and not ask after Penelope enough but Penelope has been known to abandon Eloise at events to spend time with other friends (e.g. the art gallery scene in season 1 that I made a bit more dramatic in my fic).

Eloise totally had extremely valid reasons for not wanting to marry, and the historical reality is that a lot of women of various means didn’t get married. Jane Austen didn’t marry, and she was impoverished gentry.

It is just that Eloise’s greatest crime is that she is a character that is anti-marriage in a romance show. A good chunk of the fans that are here for the fluffy fun are going to have their backs put up by a character who disdains the fluff they love so much.

But Eloise is not a pick me. Categorically. She is not interested in performing the hyperfeminity her society expects but she is absolutely not a pick me.

A pick me is a girl that pretend to like the things boys traditionally likes and disdains the tongs women traditionally like because she thinks that she will be more successful finding a boy to date that way.

Eloise is categorically uninterested in attracting a man. She is not interested in the limited feminine pursuits on offer, but unlike a modern woman who has a whole range of things she can do, Eloise’s movements and choices are hyper-restricted.

It is not being a pick me or not like other girls to be uninterested in music, drawing and decorative embroidery, the three main pursuits it was acceptable for a woman to have.

Further if you watch the show you will see that Eloise isn’t actually rude to other women. She is rude to Daphne, who is her sister so that’s a completely different relationship, and she is rude to Cressida because Cressida (as much as I love her now) is a bitch. But she isn’t rude to women.

She is loving and admiring of Penelope and her opinions, and she doesn’t really socialise with other women in season 1 and 2.

In season 3 part 1 she is actively trying to make friends, and while she isn’t interested in other women’s pursuits, she makes a witty comment, that all the other women find funny. And she treats Cressida like the grown intelligent woman she is, and is probably the first person to ever do so. Even the sister relationship we see this season is loving and respectful, Eloise wouldn’t make the choices Francesca is making but she respects the wisdom of her sister doing so and actively helps her to try and have the quiet functional season she dreams of.

No Eloise is rude to men. A man makes a sexist comment she leaves him on the dance floor. Theo assumes she is vapid, she insults his intelligence. A man makes a dumb comment about collecting books, she rolls her eyes and makes a passive aggressive remark.

How can she be a pick me pretending to disdain embroidery for a man’s interest, when she a) is genuinely uninterested in embroidery, b) tries to be polite when women discuss it and c) ISNT INTERESTED IN ATTRACTING A MAN!!!

Its just tiring Fic Anon, because all of these characters could be soooo rich, Eloise and Penelope and Cressida and Benedict and Colin - all of them, if the show and the fans treated them with respect and sincerity

But the show isn’t actually interested in making a good interesting show, they are interested in keeping people watching through simple but dramatic stories

Anyway, thank you for this message Fic Anon! I love when you message because I get to think about these things in detail

[naomisnews]

Probably should be the time I introduce you all to my Tavs, shouldn’t I?

Roll call!!

Abigail of Darnsford - Human Paladin

Oath of Vengeance, Abigail grew up on a farm with her parents before they were suddenly murdered by an evil Dark Lord. She defeated him to protect the realm, but as the Crown would rather see her under their thumb instead of a hero, she ran away and made her Oath.

Despite initially being closed off and focusing on the task at hand, her heart opened up more and more, especially to Gale of Waterdeep, falling in love with him unexpectedly.

She’s my first Tav and the first run I completed, so she’s extra special to me

Daiyana - Half-Elf Bard

College of Lore, Daiyana has a really tough background, considering the fact they are also a Bhaalspawn. As they’re my DND character, I’m gonna be very vague, but let’s say their upbringing was horrible, and they’re now on their World Tour away from their home of Fullova, entertaining the bars by day, and “entertaining” the brothels by night. Despite themselves, they ended up being drawn to Astarion, considering they had similar experiences in their lives, so they’re helping each other heal as well as introducing love to each other for the first time in so long.

Thalia Fairbairn - Halfling Ranger

Beast master, Thalia is my Lord of the Rings OC, born and raised in The Shire. She joined the Fellowship, and longed for adventure. Her mother tried to arrange her and Frodo together, but Thalia only sees him as her childhood best friend, and plus she is attracted to women. After the fall of Sauron, Thalia took up the mantle of Strider and became Ranger when Aragorn became King of Rohan.

Thalia finds it hard to trust in this new land of Faerûn, but opens up as a total mama bear for the rest of the companions, especially using her sewing skills to help repair armour and camp clothes. For Thalia, it was love at first flame when she met Karlach, amazed at seeing a fun tiefling on fire, and her loyalty to her girlfriend would follow her to the ends of Avernus if need be

Lizbet Moreland - Tiefling Monk

Way of the Open Hand, Lizbet’s inspired by Jane Austen novels, so she’s a huge romantic. With her other 4 sisters, Lizbet resides at the the Netherland Monastery with her parents, learning the way of the goddess Austeria, deity of relationships, marriage, and family. As per tradition, the women have to marry as they won’t be left with anything once her father passed, and Lizbet was arranged to marry Collinio, favourite apprentice to the High Priestess DeBourgh. On the wedding day, she had second thoughts and actually planned to leave when she was abducted by the Nautiloid.

On the journey, she becomes besotted at the entrance of a certain Blade of Frontiers, seeing his excitement and adventure, and pretty much swept off her feet by his charm and dance skills. Her monk training meant she’s calm and collected, looking to plan the strategies first, and is the best person to take advice from, as she’s wise and patient.

Ki’shravash - Githyanki Sorcerer

Storm Sorcery, Ki’sh grew up in Creche Yolik on the Astral Plane, and whilst she was trained in swords and melee to be a fierce warrior, her arcana prowess shone brighter, making her an outcast in the Creche. Whilst primed to be a future Kith’rak, she preferred to use spells, which made her the target of abuse and made to entertain the youths with her “magic tricks”, making her feel worthless and unable to ascend to Vlaakith’s favour.

As she continues her journey across Faerûn, she loses her faith in Vlaakith more and more, realising more to life on the Material Plane, especially with Gale and his research into the Crown of Karsus. Not only breaking out of her stern and cold life, finding love with the wizard in spite of herself, but also finding a possibility to overthrow Vlaakith with her kin sister, Lae’zel

I have more Tavs that are waiting in the wings, but I’m gonna try and finish more playthroughs before I make them. But hope you like - I’m showcasing their stories on my TikTok page. I’ll share the edits here as well, depending on the recent news.

Hope you like these beans!

[medusasbush]

read in march 2023

articles (ones behind a paywall are linked through webpage archive):

articles

Reverse boundaries How good are we at respecting when someone else says 'no'?

"Slow Pleasure" in a Fast World

Should People Be Allowed to Like Things? Are we discoursing ourselves to death?

The Divine Delusion of Gender: On "Energy" and the TikTokification of Spirituality

Spiritual misogyny is flourishing on TikTok

How ‘Poker Face’s’ Stop-Motion Animation Episode Was Brought to Life

Are there too many sex scenes in movies?

Man Says BetterHelp Referred Him to Conversion Therapy Supporter

Who's Afraid of Mark Rothko?

When Everything Becomes an Event

Meet the Lipsdick: A Dick Shaped Lipstick

How Do We Define the Female Gaze in 2018?

Do Words Mean Anything Anymore?

It’s Been Over Two Decades Since We’ve Had a Non-White Best Actress Winner. Will That Change in 2023?

I'm Coming Clean about Friend Envy & You Should Too

A Friend Doesn't Have to be "Toxic" to be Bad for You

Does Anyone Mend Clothes Anymore?

The Moral Case Against Equity Language

Inspiration Is Everywhere. Literally: The "We're Not Really Strangers"-ification of social media.

Men Are Lonely. But Women Are Being Attacked: Male Loneliness is Not Women's Problem to Solve

Romance isn't Just for Dating

What is Romantic Friendship?

The Case of the Missing Perpetrator: On Mysterious Pregnancies, the Passive Voice, and Disappearing Men

Dingus of the Week: Women’s History Month

Friends and mentees remember Judy Heumann, mother of the disability rights movement

The Language of Place

One of Walgreens biggest stockholders commissioned Fearless Girl

Fine I'll admit it. I Like Titanic.

A Plan Forms in Mexico: Help Americans Get Abortions

Can Nostalgia Be Sinister?

The Stay-At-Home Girlfriend Phenomenon

A Conversation With Stay-At-Home Girlfriend & Content Creator Kendel Kay

The Soft Boy Brigade: Was He “Written By a Woman” or Is He Just Wearing Nail Polish?

The Scientific Reason You Love Watching Reruns

Take Some Pills for Your Hysteria, Lady: America's Long History of Drugging Women Up

Everybody’s a Critic. So Stop Hating Critics.

A League of Their Own Is The First Great Gay Movie-to-TV Reboot

The Bear: At Last, A Chicago Show For People Who Are Not From Chicago And Have Never Stepped Foot There

the science of giving pain

i bet she has a nice scream: in praise of X, the new novel by Davey Davis

the persistent desire: on erotic identification

leatherdyke gender technology

‘The Last of Us’ Finale: First-Person Shooter

The ‘Last of Us’ Finale Is Just as Ambiguous and Agonizing as the Game’s Indelible Ending

What Exactly Is the Point of ‘The Last of Us’?

Do We Need Another ‘Love Letter to Cinema’?

Everyone needs to grow up: Whether it’s people who mention their Hogwarts house on their Hinge profile or literal white supremacists, culture is awash with adult babies

Instagram Store Core: A Manifesto Against Avant-Basic Home Design

Who Gets Care and Who Gets to Die?

Shoppers say secondhand stores like Goodwill are getting too expensive as Gen Z makes thrifting cool

Where Does Discarded Clothing Go?

How ‘travel aesthetics’ are ruining travel for everyone

Why is everyone so obsessed with frontal lobe development?

the sinking pleasure of a bath

Love, Sex, and Disabled Women: we want to be sexy too.

“Nope” Perfectly Encapsulates My Disappointment with the Biden Administration

What really killed Jane Austen?

On (Not) Discovering Disability in the World of Jane Austen: Disabled characters are present in Austen’s novels, but largely invisible in her cinematic remakes

Nathan Lane: Robin Williams ‘Protected Me’ From Coming Out as Gay on ‘Oprah’ in 1996 Because ‘He Was a Saint’

'The Last of Us’ finale isn’t controversial, it’s correct

The Oscars are beyond repair. Let’s make something better.

The House That Mr. Mayer Built: Inside the Union-Busting Birth of the Academy Awards

‘A League of Their Own’ is based on the 1992 movie, but has an identity all its own

Black Southern food isn’t killing us:The ‘plate’ is not the real problem

In the history of hip-hop fashion, there’s no ignoring Lil’ Kim

The next first ladies of rap

books:

Wear, Repair, Repurpose: A Maker's Guide to Mending & Upcycling Clothes by Lily Fulop

[mommy-mystic]

✨️2023 Bookish Questions! 📚🌟

📚 27 BOOK TAG QUESTIONS! 📖

❤️‍🔥All-Time Favorites & 2023 Mid-Year Tag!❤️‍🔥

I’m so excited to have found these lovely bookish questions. This year I've been reading more than I've ever read before and I'm really enjoying how wide the world is seeming to open up with every book I crack open!

Some of these questions are evergreen and some of them are geared more towards the books you've read so far this year! Feel free to answer them HOWEVER you see fit! (I'll leave the questions in a comment on this post!) Hopefully, they help you to learn a little bit about me as a reader and inspire you to pick up a new book this year!

1. Hardback or Paperback 📖

Paperback! 100%. Paperback books are the most comfortable to hold and read, the easiest to borrow or lend to a friend, the lightest to carry around/travel with AND the cheapest! Plus, you can bend and crack your own paperback copies to hell and back and who is going to stop you? However, I will say that the handful of paperbacks I've borrowed from the library this year have just made me SO NERVOUS. I just feel like they're so delicate and that I can crack them as wide as I would do to my own copies bc I'm just afraid they'll like look worn when I return them? Lol. In that circumstance, sometimes borrowing a hardcover is best!

2. Favorite Book You've Read This Year? 📚

Wow, it's got to be a tie between The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood, Cackle by Rachel Harrison, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, AND of course, The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller.

3. Least Favorite Book You Read This Year? 😔

I reread the Twilight Saga this year - they help me cope, I guess? So I have got to say Eclipse and Breaking Dawn are so insanely whack. Why have I done this to myself so many times?

4. Love Triangles: Yes or No? 👎

No. I mean, why? I understand having some resentment or jealousy or self-consciousness between a character and their partner's ex but... as a plot device? No thanks!

5. The most recent book you just couldn’t finish? 😢

:( I couldn't finish Unnatural Magic by CM Waggoner. I'm a bit put off by the troll/human romance brewing right now and the character POV switching is not my cup of tea but I might still decide to pick it up at another time.

6. A book you’re currently reading? 📖

I'm currently reading The Weaver and The Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec! I just picked up this new release at a local bookstore in Edwards CO and it's already so exciting, magical, and just alluring! Set in 10th century Norway, I think - against the backdrop of these viking-raiders/communities and these 3 women trying to make lives for themselves/protect one another... I'm really intrigued.

7. The last book you recommended to someone? 👩‍🍼

I'm a mom so I like to recommend parenting books to my other mom friends! I've given away a copy of The Danish Way of Parenting and suggested Balanced and Barefoot to another friend! Someone recommended I read Bringing Up Bébé and I LOVED IT & it will now forever be among my new mom recommendations.

8. Oldest book you’ve read by publication date? ☠️

Surely, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Pride and Prejudice, then Persuasion by Jane Austen are some of the next oldest and then The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde would be among the most RECENT of the oldest published books I've read - that I can remember!

9. What is the newest book you’ve read by publication date? 🌟

The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood (published Jan 2023, read in May 2023) A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter (published Feb 2023, read in July 2023) and currently The Weaver & the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec (published July 2023, reading now in August 2023)!

10. Favorite author? 🩷

The writing of Silvia Moreno-Garcia has absolutely captivated me this year... I think I may end up picking up a 3rd book by her soon!

11. Buying books or borrowing books? 📚

I CANNOT afford to be buying many books! Lol. I have loved visiting my local libraries, listening to free audiobooks on the Libby app, and borrowing books from my family members! It rocks having your own copies sometimes (especially of kids books for my daughter), but truly, I don't love the clutter, the price tag, or feeling guilty about spending money on a book I didn't end up loving!

12. A book that you dislike that everyone else seems to love? 🫣

Everyone bought I'm Glad My Mom Died (even my husband) and no shade to anyone for their fascination with wanting to read it and learn more about the dark topics explored in that book, but I knew it wasn't for me. I've read tons of celebrity/comedian memoirs in the past and I am very turned off to them now! I may be hypersensitive to intense subject matter that's so realistic... However, I tend to find very niche books in this category interesting. I loved On Her Knees by Brenda Marie Davies, for instance! Not nearly as popular, but much more relatable and resonates more with me personally. I was prepared mentally/emotionally for this book and I felt really connected to the author instead of just voyeuristically consuming her deeply personal stories... if that makes sense!

13. Bookmarks or dog ears? 👀

Tell me why I never have enough bookmarks! I need to make more on my cricut! But usually bookmarks. Although I will dog-ear my personal paperback copies about 25% of the time!

14. A book you can always re-read? ❤️‍🔥

Pride & Prejudice!

15. Can you read while hearing music? 🎶

NO! I love silence ... a little white noise maybe! Quiet is hard to come by as a WFH toddler parent but when there is silence, you just RELISH in it! I think that's one of the reasons I took up reading this year, because it's such a quiet, soothing activity!

16. One or multiple POVs? 🤼‍♂️

I prefer a single POV! But I'm okay with 2 MAXIMUM, as long as the characters know each other from the first several chapters and aren't completely separate with dual storylines!

17. Do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days? 🪑

Multiple days! Absolutely! Maybe even a week or two. At most a month! (although it can take me a year to complete some nonfiction books bc I tend to read them in little doses!)

18. A book you’ve read because of the cover? 🫧

I'd bought The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood because of the cover! It honestly rocked! Same with Cackle by Rachel Harrison. ANOTHER ONE THAT ROCKED! I was in a very witchy mood this spring! It paid off!

19. Biggest disappointment? 🤮

😞 Small Town, Big Magic. Listened to this on audiobook. It was sold as this Gilmore Girls-esque witchy fantasy but the conflict was so weird to me! I was disconnected from the main character bc as a 30-something y.o. she had seriously never pursued ANY romantic interest at all prior to the story. I would have loved if it revolved more around her bookstore she ran but I discovered that books where the entire town is MAGICAL/a community of witches is not as my speed as maybe 2-3 characters encountering magic on the DL. I also felt this way about From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper, though that was one was written exceptionally well.

20. Biggest surprise? ✨️

I just finished the Midnight Library after shying away from it for the last couple of years. After reading some mixed/less-than-stellar reviews, I had no idea if it would be for me... after the first couple pages I'd thought the book was going to be too sad/traumatic for me to be okay with BUT I ENDED UP REALLY LOVING IT! I loved the concept, the philosophy intertwined in it, and the ending!

I also loved the audiobook for The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn! I had no idea how wonderful it would be! Historical fiction about Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the female Soviet sniper who killed 309 nazis in WW2. It was so riveting and just... amazing. 👏

21. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)? ✍️

Sara A Mueller - her debut with The Bone Orchard was mind-bending and incredible.

Also just read my first Taylor Jenkins-Reid novel - After I Do, & I ended up really loving it! I was really rooting for the main characters and which I wasn't expecting!

22. What is your newest fictional crush? 🌶

I was a little bit in love with the Fae Lord in The Thorns Remain.... especially as he is gaining these flickers of humanity throughout the story... I almost believed that the main character was going to take him up on his offer to join his fae world in exchange for the safe return of her friends. However, the ending was MUCH better than that! I just appreciated how alluring and powerful this character was portrayed as. If this WERE a romance, it would have been incredibly toxic, but as my own little fantasy crush? WHY NOT?! I'd love to read about more characters with this vibe.

23. What is your newest favorite character? ❤️‍🔥

Charm from The Bone Orchard. She was so strong, so powerful, and the way she was able to DIVIDE her personalities and memories among these scientifically lab-grown ladies in order to cope with her reality was insane. She was like a queen. A steampunk queen. Always rocking the sexiest Victorian gowns and brightly candy-colored hair. I'm obsessed with her!

24. A book that made you cry? 😭

I was sobbing uncontrollably near the end of Beach Read by Emily Henry. (SPOILER: It was when she found the letters from her dad.) I didn't imagine a fun little summer romance would move me so much with that part of the plot. It hit me in the feels as a parent & a daughter myself, I think!

25. A book that made you happy? 🥰

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins-Reid ACTUALLY surprised me with its happy ending. It made me feel hopeful about marriage/long-term relationships and it's so hard to find stories that are honest about that! It is so easy to find books about failed marriages, and NEW love, right?! But what about those 10+ year-long relationships! I haven't been in one myself, but I aspire to it, and it was sweet to find a story that explored that!

26. What is the most beautiful book you've bought this year (or received)? 🌄

The most beautiful book this year, I actually borrowed from the library! It was Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel by James Markert! The cover was gorgeous, but it was also so vivid and beautiful with scenes depicting a past timeline in 1880s Italy and 1940s California coast. It was DREAMY.

27. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? 📚

By the end of this year, I would love to finish my current read The Weaver & The Witch Queen. (That will put me at 30 books for the year - meeting my Goodreads goal!) But ideally, I think I would also like to read Jane Eyre for the first time, reread Pride & Prejudice, purchase few books about motherhood/second babies (my new kid is due in November!), and I am finally emotionally ready to finished SELLOUT - the nonfiction about early 2000s rock bands my husband bought me in 2021.

THAT'S IT!

Thanks so much for bearing with my rambling little bookish blog. It has been such a wild/good year.

I'm really looking forward to doing one of these tags with my husband soon to kind of touch base about what we've both been reading/enjoying and YEAH! I hope to keep reading your book tags and bookish blogs as well!

These particular questions were inspired by DiniPandaReads and the classic #midyearbooktag! Thank you so much!

[bibliophileiz]

2023 in Books, Part 2

(posting a day late, oops)

This was a pretty great literary year for me. Even the books at the end of this list I enjoyed reading. I left out an anthology I read for class (Peach Pit is ... interesting) and a book of poetry written by someone I know, just because I don't know anything about poetry and don't want my personal feelings about the poet (she's great) to muddle it even further. I also already posted a separate list ranking the six children's/YA books I read. That still leaves thirty-one books to rank, though.

As usual, this is based entirely on personal preference/enjoyment and not necessarily on quality of writing or story. I reserve the right to change my mind about this ranking as soon as I post it because I am fickle like that. (Although I don't think I'm going to change my mind about my number 1 choice.) Here ya go.

31. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling Dates Read: Dec. 12-13 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: A witch accidentally curses her ex-boyfriend, and by extension her small magical Georgia town. She and her ex have to lift the curse without falling in love (which of course they do anyway). One-sentence review: (directly from my GR review) Cute and witchy, just the thing to get you through finals week.

30. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld Dates Read: April 28-May 7 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: A musician and comedy writer seem to hit it off when the musician guest stars on the comedy writer’s late-night show, only for the writer to blow it by assuming the musician is a shallow womanizer. A few years later, they rekindle their connection during pandemic lockdowns. One-sentence review: I liked the characters, but as usual Sittenfeld is more interested in commenting on whatever she saw on Twitter while she was writing this then she was on, like, writing a dramatic plot.

29. The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray Dates Read: Aug. 19-27 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: All of Jane Austen’s beloved couples (except the Tilneys), plus the Darcys’ son and the Tilneys’ daughter, attend a house party at the Knightleys’ where Mr. Wickham turns up and is immediately murdered. One-sentence review: This is what P.D. James’ Death Comes to Pemberley SHOULD have been.

28. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Dates Read: May 24-27 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: It’s the 1960s, and chemist Elizabeth Zott was kicked out of her Ph.D. program for reporting her supervisor for rape, and then loses her job after she becomes pregnant outside wedlock, and ends up starting her own STEM cooking show and some other stuff happens, look, I know you already read the reviews of this one. One-sentence review: It was fine, I just thought it was overrated.

27. The Paris Deception by Bryn Turnbull Dates Read: Aug. 23-Sept. 7 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: Two women immersed in the French art world in the 1930s and ‘40s defy their German occupiers by hiding, documenting, and sometimes copying “degenerate” art to keep it from the hands of high-ranking Nazi officials and sympathizers, or to keep it from being destroyed. One-sentence review:  The main characters were great and I really like the focus on protecting art and culture from extermination, but the constant time jumps drove me nuts.

26. Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid Dates Read: April 3-5 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: Less than two weeks into her marriage, a young woman is widowed and only meets her mother-in-law at the hospital. The two strangers find a way to navigate their grief together. One-sentence review: While the grief could be gut-wrenching due to Reid’s fantastic writing, the characters were nothing spectacular.

25. Hell’s Half-Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders, America’s First Serial Killer Family by Susan Jonusas Dates Read: Jan. 29-31 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: The Benders were a creepy family in late 19th Century Kansas who murdered people who stayed at their boarding house and then disappeared before they could be arrested. One-sentence review: I’m not super into true crime—it has to be historical for me to even start it--but I did like the look at life in the Midwest.

24. Galatea by Madeline Miller Dates Read: Jan. 6 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: Madeline Miller retells the Pygmalion myth in a way that doesn’t suck. One-sentence review: Miller smartly skips the gender misery by making this a short story and then delivers an extremely satisfying ending.

23. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite Dates Read: July 26 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: Korede and Ayoola are sisters who fall for the same man. Ayoola is hot and a serial killer, and Korede is getting pretty tired of covering for her. One-sentence review: Despite (or perhaps because) all the characters are awful, this book STAYS with you, and I feel like it would be a blast to talk about in a drunken book club. Note: I listened to the audiobook and want to give narrator Adepero Oduye a shout out.

22. The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec Dates Read: July 24-Aug. 17 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: Three friends in Medieval Scandinavia find themselves in the middle of a Game of Thrones-esque rivalry for the crown and a deadly battle between supernatural forces. One-sentence review: Good story and I liked the characters, but it moved too slowly sometimes.

21. The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan Dates Read: May 7-10 GoodReads Rating: Four stars (I was feeling more generous about Grace marrying Hugh than I am right now) Summary: A sewing circle in a small English village in the 1940s decide to pool their talents and resources to help English brides wear the perfect white gown to their weddings, clothing rations be damned. One-sentence review: Ryan excels at writing about women and civilians in wartime, and I would have ranked this so much higher if it hadn’t ended with the best character marrying the worst one.

20. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Dates Read: Jan. 31-Feb. 8 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: Aging actress Evelyn Hugo (who is not Elizabeth Taylor, by which I mean she absolutely is Elizabeth Taylor) invites a young journalist to write her life story. One-sentence review: The plot was engaging and thought-provoking, but I never could decide how I felt about Evelyn.

19. A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher Dates Read: Oct. 28-Nov. 1 GoodReads Rating: Three stars Summary: An archaeologist visits her mother at the family home in North Carolina only to find that her grandmother’s ghost is haunting it. But how do you banish a ghost once you learn it’s keeping something far worse at bay? One-sentence review: Of all the haunted house books I read this year, this one was the worst, and yet it was still great.

19. To Swoon and to Spar by Martha Waters (That’s right, I ranked a trashy Regency romance above both Romantic Comedy AND Lessons in Chemistry) Dates Read: May 17-24 GoodReads Rating: Four stars (Objectively, this was too many, but I also don’t care.) Summary: When Viscount Penvale’s uncle promises to sell him back the family estate for a steal if Penvale marries his uncle’s ward Jane, Penvale reluctantly agrees. He and Jane make an agreement to leave each other alone, but Penvale didn’t expect to fall in love with her. Nor did he expect his family house to be haunted. One-sentence review: The Regency Vows series just keeps getting better, honestly.

17. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson Dates Read: Aug. 31-Oct. 13 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: Humor writer Bill Bryson and his on-again-off-again friend Katz decide to hike the Appalachian Trail, and Bryson tells you all about its history and natural resources along the way. There are moose, but no (confirmed) bears. One-sentence review: This book got me really into nature and hiking again.

16. The Shining by Stephen King Dates Read: Dec. 1-4 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: I know you know what this book’s about. One-sentence review: Super tense, riveting look into the mind of a toxic, self-absorbed abuser who doesn’t need to be anywhere near blizzards, haunted houses, or children.

15. Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid Dates Read: July 12-23 GoodReads Rating: Five stars (Objectively, this book probably deserves that. Subjectively, I like Regency romances and journalists better than sports stars.) Summary: A retired tennis star full of rage and ambition makes a comeback to keep a younger player from breaking her record. One-sentence review: An absorbing, balanced take on the pressures women athletes face, plus a heart-warming father-daughter story, with some romance and female friendships to round it out.

14. Swamp Story by Dave Barry Dates Read: Dec. 30 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: There is actually too much going on to summarize this book, but suffice to say it involves a desperate single mom, her shirtless fame-hounding ex-boyfriend, a failed journalist with a drinking problem, and a lot of people in the Florida Everglades looking for a cryptid OR Confederate gold OR pythons. One-sentence review: Dave Barry writes about Florida like it’s a drunk, eccentric relative who everyone hangs around at the family reunion even though he smells bad, because he has the best stories.

13. Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas Dates Read: Oct. 15-28 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: During the Mexican-American War, a Wuthering Heights-esque couple learn their homeland is being stalked by vampires. One-sentence review: You root for the couple, you root for the Mexicans, you even root for the vampires once or twice, but you never root for the Texas Rangers. Note: The couple is Wuthering Heights-esque in the sense that he is poor, she is rich, they were childhood sweethearts, and then they were separated—not in the toxic incest way.

12. A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall Dates Read: July 12-23 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: A trans woman believed to be dead at the Battle of Waterloo reinvents herself and returns home to England, only to find that her best friend has been consumed by grief over her death. As she helps him heal—and he slowly falls for her—she battles with whether to tell him who she really is. One-sentence review: I'm a sucker for love stories in which the couple are torn asunder, believe they will never see each other again, and then are reunited unexpectedly. Note: This actually would have ranked a lot higher if all the main couple’s angst wasn’t basically resolved in the first half. The second half is fine but not as good.

11. The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Dates Read: Dec. 26 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: A young woman must choose between two potential “lovers” who come from the woods in this dark fairy tale novella. One-sentence review: Finally, a good werewolf book.

10. The Dark Queens: The Bloody Rivalry That Forged the Medieval World by Shelley Puhak Dates Read: April 4-14 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: Puhak writes about the feud between rival Merovingian queens Fredegund and Brunhild in sixth century western Europe. One-sentence review: It’s like Game of Thrones, but real, shorter, and with more women and less sexual assault.

9. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell Dates Read: Dec. 14-25 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: Vowell writes Lafayette’s biography, focusing on his and the larger French role in the American Revolution, all while musing on our country’s inability to agree on anything. One-sentence review: Vowell’s irreverent essay style is just the tone needed to tackle the oft-romanticized American Revolution.

8. The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas Dates Read: July 23-26 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: In the aftermath of the Mexican War for Independence, a young bride moves to her landed husband’s country estate, only to find that the house is super haunted and her new in-laws super racist. One-sentence review: Your standard haunted house story, except the ghost is colonialism.

7. Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune Dates Read: Oct. 29-31 GoodReads Rating: Five stars (was probably generous, but the ending had just made me cry, so) Summary: When workaholic Wallace dies, his spirit is sent to a teashop for transition to the afterlife. But after a few weeks of hanging around teashop owner and “ferryman” Hugo, his reaper, and the ghosts of Hugo’s dog and grandfather, Wallace realizes he doesn’t want to leave what he’s coming to think of as his family. One-sentence review: A lovely mixture of funny and sad, this book is a nuanced look at death and found family.

6. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Dates Read: Nov. 1-6 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: A debutante from Mexico City visits her cousin’s haunted house in the countryside where she’s pulled into a mystery surrounding her cousin’s eugenics-obsessed in-laws. One-sentence review: Noemi is a fantastic character, and the plot is engrossing, which is good because you will hate all the other characters.

5. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer Dates Read: Aug. 9-29 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: In 1996, Outside magazine sent Jon Krakauer to cover the burgeoning commercialization of Mount Everest. When Krakauer climbed the mountain himself, he and his team got caught in a freak snowstorm that resulted in what was then the worst disaster in the history of the mountain. One-sentence review: Apart from being a really tense and riveting account of a brutal natural disaster in an already brutal environment, Krakauer’s account of the 1996 storm on Everest raises questions about who should be on the world’s highest mountain and whether money and fame have blinded guides and climbers to the risks of tackling the summit.

4. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty Dates Read: Nov. 20-30 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: Amina al-Sirafi, a retired smuggler and single mom on the Arabian peninsula, has to get her old band crew back together for the promise of more money than they’ve ever dreamed of when wealthy grandmother hires Amina to rescue her kidnapped granddaughter. But things go awry when the crew learns the girl is with an evil crusader with plans to unleash dark magic and monsters on the world. Inspired by the rich mythology, religions, and history of the Middle East, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean. One-sentence review:  I have not had so much fun reading a fantasy novel since I was a kid reading Harry Potter and I can’t wait for the sequel.

3. Lone Women by Victor LaValle Dates Read: Oct. 5-12 GoodReads Rating: Four stars Summary: In the early 1900s, a woman burns her parents’ mangled bodies in their California farmhouse and flees to Montana with a secret locked in a heavy trunk. One-sentence review: Frankenstein meets Calamity Jane in this horror Western about race and female friendships.

2. We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian Dates Read: Oct. 28-Nov. 9 GoodReads Rating: Five stars Summary: Two men reporting for a progressive newspaper in 1950s New York fall in love. One-sentence review: I mean, it’s journalists in love in the 1950s, and one of them is investigating police corruption and the other covered a Civil Rights meeting in DC, so of course I loved this book.

1. The Correspondents: Six Women Writers on the Front Lines of World War II by Judith Mackrell Dates Read: Nov. 27-Dec. 26 (during finals and holidays with family—I don’t think I could have finished the book if it wasn’t so good) GoodReads Rating: Five stars Summary: Mackrell covers the WWII careers of six journalists—a correspondent in Berlin who ingratiated herself in the Nazi Party to tell America about Hitler’s plans for world domination; a photojournalist for Vogue who took pictures from the Blitz to Dachau; a young American whose coverage of both sides of the Spanish Civil War catapulted her to journalistic stardom; Martha Gellhorn whose fury at her husband (you’ve heard of him) compelled her to illegally stow away on board a hospital ship and cover the invasion of Normandy from Omaha Beach while helping wounded soldiers; a rogue freelancer who broke the story of the invasion of Poland and whose thrill-chasing career took her from there to Greece to North Africa and beyond; and Helen Kirkpatrick, who covered the liberation of Paris while Hemingway was getting plastered at the Ritz.

Review: There is too much to say about this book. Mackrell did an incredible job. These journalists’ triumphs and tragedies play out alongside the triumphs and tragedies of the world’s biggest conflict. Each woman had different motivations and goals, from thrill-seeking to career-making, from spite to idealism to simply a love of journalism and dogged search for the truth. While Sigrid Schultz’s Chicago editor applauded Hitler’s control of Germany, Sigrid warned his readers of Hitler’s ambition. When the world turned a blind eye to Hitler’s military build-up and annexation of half of Europe, Virginia Cowles and Helen Kirkpatrick wrote furiously against Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement. And while the rest of the world celebrated the end of the war in Europe, Lee Miller swept through Dachau taking pictures and refusing to ignore the human cost of fascism and war.

All of this was at great personal risk. The Nazis tapped Sigrid’s phone and searched her house until she was finally forced to flee to America in the early 1940s (where her editor promptly benched her for three and a half years). Virginia dodged bombs in Madrid, and Helen dodged bullets in Paris. And Lee Miller defiantly washed off the stink of Dachau in Hitler’s own bath, which was immortalized in a photo her equally defiant boyfriend took in the days after the Fuhrer’s death. Mackrell’s prose also gets into the nitty gritty of correspondent life, how the reporters all camped out in hotels and spent their days chasing stories and their nights drinking whiskey. She discusses the friendships and rivalries—Marth and Virginia became great friends in Spain and eventually wrote a play together satirizing the misogyny they faced during the war. And while the stars are the six I mentioned above, cameos include Mary Welch (Hemingway’s wife after Martha), Dorothy Thompson, Vogue editor Audrey Withers, and “Maggie the indestructible” who convinced an American commander to let her go on a bombing mission over North Africa, paving the way for other women correspondents on the front line after the US entered the war. Plus there are appearances from Picasso, both Randolph and Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, David Lloyd George, the Duke of Windsor after he abdicated, Hemingway of course, and half the Nazi high command. Mackrell uses the women’s own words to describe the bombing of Madrid, the mass evacuation from Paris, the refugee crises in Eastern Europe, and the Night of Long Knives in Germany. Every moment is riveting as Mackrell and the women she writes about pull you into Europe of the 1940s.

[cappymightwrite]

I am loving your fics and I realise how you write Jonsa and especially Jon's POV after parentage reveal. I wonder how would you explore a POV of either one of them before parentage reveal and especially Sansa because she always shields her emotions. You write so well and it put me to thought how Elinor would approach this.

Thank you! 💕💕

(Fics being referenced Beneath My Bones & Worth The Keeping)

Hmm, I been thinking a bit about that too lately😉 I do have an idea for a new fic I'm working on that would touch on that, though it's an au set in the Vale with Sansa still in the guise of Alayne Stone... So, not exactly how I think things would actually go down in canon, or rather, how I'd prefer them to go down. But hey, should be angsty😏

But canon-wise, in response to some asks, I've shared my thoughts about how it would make sense to me if Jon is a bit more aware of the blurring of regard from fond familial protectiveness into something more romantic than perhaps Sansa would be:

But as I said, I think the set up for there being a blurring between the platonic/familial and romantic is solid, but as Jon is the more "romantically" experienced of the two, I see him realising the true significance of that blurring a bit sooner. Both are adept at concealment, but I think it’s notable that we’ve seen Jon being continuously offered not quite romance, with two separate women [Ygritte and Val], in fact. But both are thwarted by circumstance and the character of the person involved. 

I still stand by that, but do think it's important to note, as you say, that Sansa is skilled at shielding her emotions... but so is Jon. That's why their POVs will be very interesting to read, especially the little bits of internal thought we get scattered throughout. But as I said, I can see Jon's internal thoughts being a little more guilt-ridden... a little more uncomfortable with what he's feeling for her, because:

I think Jon is more attuned [...] to what it is he desires romantically, because he’s been offered chances, but they’ve been ultimately lacking (whereas Sansa will not be). Sansa, on the other hand, has been presented with…not even chances at love, because they’ve been forced upon her and are all awful, or at the very least pretty subpar. I just think she’s had such an awful time of it that just Jon being a safe, trusted, loving presence will be a big deal for her, but she won’t necessarily cotton on to the romantic desire that will be simmering beneath that. But Jon will. 

To refer back to a (half-joking) meta I did about Jon's "What do you know of my heart?" line in ADWD and the 1995 film adaptation of Sense and Sensiblity, I expect Jon to have this mentality:

The "heart does not concern" Jon [ADWD, Jon VI], or so he tries to convince himself. Instead, he tries to focus on his duty, just as Elinor does, and what is possible vs. impossible. And he keeps his silence on his true feelings. MARIANNE: Always resignation and acceptance! Always prudence and honour and duty! Elinor, where is your heart?

So, if I was writing Jon and all his repressed angsty feelings, I'd take a page from Austen and specifically Elinor Dashwood (my namesake!):

"[...] You do not suppose that I have ever felt much – For four months, [Sansa], I have had all this hanging on my mind, without being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature; knowing that it would make you [...] most unhappy whenever it were explained to you, yet unable to prepare you for it in the least [...] by endeavouring to appear indifferent where I have been most deeply interested [...] I have known myself to be divided from [you] for ever, without hearing one circumstance that could make me less desire the connection [...] And all this has been going on at a time, when, as you too well know, it has not been my only unhappiness – If you can think me capable of ever feeling – surely you may suppose that I have suffered now. The composure of mind with which I have brought myself at present to consider the matter, the consolation that I have been willing to admit, have been the effect of constant and painful exertion – they did not spring up of themselves – they did not occur to relieve my spirits at first – No, [Sansa] – Then, if I had not been bound to silence, perhaps nothing could have kept me entirely – not even what I owed to my dearest friends – from openly showing that I was very unhappy." – Sense & Sensibility, ch. 37

But enough about Jon, you asked about Sansa! As abovementioned, I think for Sansa there will be a lot of initial relief at finally being reunited with someone who represents safety, familiarity and home. I could see that profound happiness translating into a strong attachment to Jon — wishing to be near him, ostensibly because she feels unsafe around others, caring deeply for his good opinion, etc — and her being unconscious at first of how her regard for him is shifting... Then, as Jon realises his own feelings and tries to suppress them, this could result in some painful confusion from Sansa:

[Sansa] suddenly felt as if she could scarcely keep from crying - a minute ago he had been so near to her, and talking so pleasantly and confidentially; and now he almost seemed as if he had forgotten her existence. – Wives and Daughters, ch. 24

I've already mentioned one classic romantic novel, so why not another! Here I've swapped Molly Gibson (and her feelings for Roger Hamley) for Sansa. This passage is out of context, granted, and I could explain the context, but that's not really relevant to the point I'm trying to make. Reading it as is, as a girl struggling to understand how someone she cares for can be at one moment attentive and then indifferent, it'd be interesting to see this in Sansa's POV, imo.

Very recently, @agentrouka-blog recieved a similar question (perhaps also from you anon?) about how Jonsa might deal with their forbidden love... without knowing the other shares the same feelings. I always love anything Rouka has to say, so let's take a gander:

I don't think she would slip into absolute denial or some kind of self-loathing shame spiral, so much as she would transition into "lady in a song" mode after a brief moment of hesitation, and try to conduct herself in the image of Naerys: that is, to love fully but chastely and with an eye on duty. A sweet but sad song. She might even keep quiet about it, if she isn't sure of his feelings, but I don't doubt she would embrace her own feelings, good and bad. Unlike the songs, they would be a lot more intense, though, and her ability to be willful, as well.

I like this theory a lot and I think I sort of go that way in the second chapter of Beneath My Bones — the idea that once Sansa realises the true extent of her own feelings, the confusion having cleared, she'll fully commit to them, informed in part by her love of songs:

She gazed at him then, blinking through the tears and the snow. In that moment, she saw all his strength, his frailty, his intricacy, and his simplicity. His need for love, for acceptance, his deep desire to give and to receive. She saw his carefulness, his warmth, his patience, his passion. And she saw then, with startling, dazzling clarity, that he was truly all she could have ever hoped for, and what made him better was that he was real. Brave and gentle and strong.

I am interested in the period of time before this realisation though, which I'd like to see be drawn out a little, in contrast to Jon realising a bit sooner and all the angst that will cause him 😈 I don't think she'll be oblivious to her feelings, in fact I'd hope her feelings will jump off the page, she'll acknowledge them but just misunderstand them initially... because I think that would be fun to write and read.

I'd like to see Sansa be quite defensive and protective of Jon, a startling new feeling for her, to speak "the truth as she believed it," in terms of how she feels about him, "though not the real actual truth":

"Why, Molly!" said Cynthia, in her turn seeking to read Molly's face, "what's the matter with you? One might think you cared for him yourself." "I?" said Molly, all the blood rushing to her heart suddenly; then it returned, and she had courage to speak, and she spoke the truth as she believed it, though not the real actual truth. "I do care for him; I think you have won the love of a prince amongst men. Why, I am proud to remember that he has been to me as a brother, and I love him as a sister, and I love you doubly because he has honoured you with his love." – Wives and Daughters, ch. 34

Something like the above is what I'd like to see, because I love Sansa being a bit wilful and a bit defiant... especially when it comes to what and who she cares about. She's being very sincere... but there's also something a bit more too it, even if she doesn't fully see it yet. So, I'd expect to see some element of being shielded from her true feelings, but not necessarily because she feels any deep subconscious shame... that's too close to how things will go for Jon, I think.

I'd like to see some contrast between the two really, though the commonality between them being the depth of their feelings. I'd like to see Sansa hyping Jon up, hyping him up in her internal thoughts, connecting that praise to the associations she now has with him and safety, protection, the last known bit of home she has left etc, and not quite realising the implication of all that, and also, as I explored in BMB, because she's a bit distrustful of love... until she does realise the true extent of her feelings. And then when she does, depending on how close to the parentage reveal we are, she takes on this loving chastely from afar role (like Molly Gibson!), all the while Jon is going out of his goddamn mind 😅😈

That's just me though! Thanks for the ask 🌻

[its-chelisey-stuff]

Extraordinary Attorney Woo's final thoughts

Since I didn't post that much about it, you probably wouldn't be able to know this has become my favorite kdrama of the year and it's among my all-time faves now. But I truly loved everything about this drama, even the uncertain, angsty and messy parts.

At first, I was just gonna check it out for Kang Tae Oh (about time he got to be the male lead!) and Park Eun Bin without expecting much and well, the rest is history. Now we're getting part 2! And despite my reservations about second seasons in dramas, I know I'm gonna be there to watch as long as there's Park Eun Bin playing YoungWoo and Kang TaeOh playing her Junho. Drama Gods, don't fail me! Stars, align and make it happen!! Cause it must!

I loved that the most powerful people in the show were two intelligent, classy and educated women. I loved that YoungWoo's strongest gift was her brain but also, her will to want to become better and her strong desire to protect the weak and innocent. I loved the side characters: YoungWoo's loyal friends, Spring Sunshine (who defied stereotypes and lived up to her nickname), Attorney Jung (everyone should have a first job mentor like him) and even sketchy MinWoo who kinda redeemed himself (if he returns for S2 I'm not gonna let him go easily though, the writer needs to work more on him so that he fully deserves Spring Sunshine!).

And of course, I loved our male lead, Lee Junho, brought to life by Kang TaeOh. He wasn't perfect, but quite honestly didn't need to be to steal our hearts away. The man won us (and YoungWoo) just by being kind and honest and hot.

Now, because there was lots of talk about Jane Austen men and how she would've loved Junho and also, because it fits my situation, I gotta say, if I loved this drama less, I might'd been able to talk about it more.

Goodbye, Extraordinary Attorney Woo! Thank you for being wholesome and beautiful. We shall see you again in two years!

[bethanydelleman]

Lady Susan Readthrough: Character Analysis, Frederica Vernon

If Lady Susan is Lucy Steele, her daughter is Fanny Price. Frederica is quiet, submissive, and good, except when it comes to whom she will marry. Like Fanny, she stands strong against all opposition when given an offer by a man she despises (though Sir James is more Rushworth than Henry Crawford). She is shown to be intelligent and well-read, despite a haphazard education.

We don't know a lot about Frederica's own thoughts as she only writes once in her desperate plea for help to Reginald. However, both Catherine and Lady Susan agree that Frederica is artless and obvious in her love for Reginald, so she has either fooled both women or she is a true Austen heroine, who believes in love and not wealth. Her mother disdains her character, which is an excellent recomendation!

Frederica also fits nicely with Austen's "the Gothic hero is never the main character" thing. Eleanor Tilney, Jane Fairfax, Eliza Brandon, and maybe even Mary Crawford fit this trend. Though this novella is the only time that Austen makes the main character an antihero.

What is great about Frederica is that we see her adopted and then married into a really loving family. Catherine is almost immediately protective of her, Mr. Vernon seems like a kind father and man, and the children love her. While perhaps this is less realistic than what happens with Fanny, it feels like a more complete happy ending.

As for Frederica's husband, it's a little weird that he was engaged to her mother first, totally, but the fact that he tried to help her even while enthralled by Lady Susan speaks to his good character. I love when he writes, "She is a sweet girl, and deserves a better fate," because it shows that he recognizes her worth.

We are not told much about Frederica's father or childhood, though Lady Susan implies that her daughter takes after her father. It seems like the deceased Mr. Vernon had a drawn out illness, so Frederica might have spent a lot of time with him. Lady Susan we know left her daughter at home with servants to go enjoy London. Part of Lady Susan's dislike of her daughter probably comes from the similarity to her father.

To sum up, Frederica Vernon: Nothing like her mother!

[two-sapphics-reading]

Hello from Kate!

Hi there! I'm Kate, one half of two-sapphics-reading. I'm a playwright and novelist who writes about women and bisexuals (especially bisexual women) in all their various, wondrous, magical forms. I'm also an actress, daydreamer, voracious reader, introvert, klutz, dog-lover, and overuser of tape. Besides reading, I'm a big fan of Broadway musicals, Taylor Swift, the color yellow, sushi, plaid flannels, the bi pride flag, and coffee in all its forms. Speaking of coffee, the coffee cup is my symbol, so when you see posts marked with this ☕, that means I'm writing!

(Oh, and I have two adorable dogs. I love them with my whole heart, and you should too.)

(^ Penny and Scout!)

So who am I as a reader?

Favorite Genres: YA, Romance, Fantasy, Contemporary, Mystery, and Plays

Favorite Books: Anything by Becky Albertalli, The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, Nimona by ND Stevenson, Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher, Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzalez, One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, and Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.

What I Love to Re-Read (besides my favorites!): The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Favorite Themes & Tropes: Found family, time travel, writer characters, coffee shop and bookstore and theater settings, magic in the real world, friends to lovers, slow burn romances, mutual pining, well-written banter, dialogue dialogue dialogue, sunny/grumpy dynamics, golden retriever boys, fiercely-protective-I-would-kill-for-you girls, lovers in denial, retellings, heists and lovable criminals, witches and ghosts and other Halloween-y vibes.

What Gives Me the "Reading Ick:" The dog dying, insta-love, "I can change them," excusing toxic/abusive behavior, emotionally unavailable men, boring/self-absorbed protagonists, cheating, biphobia, excusing discrimination of any kind, pedantic/preachy writing, toxic masculinity, girls hating on girls for no reason.

Last Book I Read: Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni (bisexual Armenian rep!)

Currently Reading:

Astrid Parker Doesn't Fall by Ashley Herring Blake (a gift from Liv!)

Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry

Beach Read by Emily Henry

I'm the Girl by Courtney Summers

Reviews to come soon . . . Until then, drop a comment with what you're currently reading!

Talk soon! :)

(^ picture from @hellosunnycore's TOON ME! Piccrew)

[veronicaleighauthor]

Character Bios: Sheriff Claire Williams

I thought it’d be fun to post a character bio of the heroine of The Lady Sheriff Series – yes, the series I’m always rambling about. I hope to do a character bio of each of the series regular characters.

Name: Claire Marie Roberts Williams

Nicknames:  Doesn’t have one

Age: 32 at the start of the series

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Birthdate: September 4, 1900

Height: 5”2

Parents: Harrison Roberts and Millicent Banks

Children: None

Body type: Thin and small boned

Skin tone: Caucasian – pale

Hair color: Dark Brown

Physical details: Large dark brown eyes, wide smile.

Clothing style: Claire’s dresses are neat, conservative, and maybe a few years out of style – it’s the Great Depression. While she has a job and might be better off than many in this era, times are still hard. She’s more likely to remake an old piece of clothing than buy something new. I don’t imagine her wearing pants, her shoes are often dressy but she does have a pair of sturdy boots to change into if she comes upon a muddy crime scene. She often carries a purse – even when she’s off-duty, she carries her badge, handcuffs, and a pencil and notepad in the purse just in case a crime occurs.

Likes: Mysteries, being in a position of authority, going to church and living out her Christian faith.

Dislikes: Crimes involving children, deceit, trickery, guns, smoking, alcohol, profanity, hypocrisy, chauvinism, dirty politics

Allergies: Most in Indiana are allergic to pollen, dust, or animal dander. She probably suffers from similar allergies.

Special Skills: Solving mysteries and crimes

Languages known: English

Religion: Christian

Occupation: Homemaker, Sheriff of Ouabache

Quirks: Didn’t know how to drive until after her husband’s death, when on receiving the position of sheriff, she taught herself. During Claire’s first few cases, she neglects to bring her handcuffs with her, which makes arrests awkward. She then carries them in her purse. Also, she is uncomfortable with guns but does learn to shoot for the sake of her job and for her own protection. Her morality is often in line with that of the era, due to her devout Christian faith. However, she becomes more open-minded as the series progresses.

Flaws: She can be biased; she often lets her personal feelings interfere with her judgment; she is willing to show mercy to some suspects but not others – depending on the crime/mystery. Though it is contrary to her religious beliefs, she will lie/mislead suspects to unearth the truth, assuring herself it is for the greater good.

Favorite Book: “Pride and Prejudice,” by Jane Austen

Favorite Movie: Little Women (1933)

Favorite Songs: “All Of Me,” by Ruth Etting; “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms;” “Will/Can the Circle Be Unbroken?”

Personality: Originally, Claire is reserved, mild-mannered, shy, the obedient homemaker/housewife. But when she receives the position of sheriff, she comes out of her shell and is more confident and independent. She firmly believes the Lord wants her to serve Ouabache, that He has given her this opportunity, and she is blessed with the unique ability to solve mysteries and crimes.

Backstory: Born in 1900, Claire Marie Roberts lived a typical life of a girl/woman in the early 20th century. She was a devoted daughter, good student, and went to church regularly. Her first and only beau was Reginald Williams. She wrote to him when he served in the Great War and they married not long after he returned. Claire settled into being a homemaker and expected to have children, but never did. The stock market crash happened in 1929, life changed for everyone. When Reginald decided to campaign to be sheriff of Ouabache in 1931/1932, she supported him and was happy for him when he was elected. Her world was turned upside down a few months later when he was killed in the line of duty. To her astonishment, the commissioner approached her and through Widow’s Succession, he offered her the position of sheriff. With no other means of support, she accepted. The position was likely meant to be symbolic – but Claire had other ideas. She took her job seriously and found she had a knack for solving mysteries and crimes. This often ruffles feathers in a Good Ol’ Boy era, when women were expected to be at home, raising children. But she is convinced she is meant for this position “for such a time as this.”

Appears in: Every Lady Sheriff Story

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

📖Persuasion📖 Listen- and Read-Along, Chapter  Twenty-Four (💞Finis⚓)

Discussion of Chapter Twenty-Three Starts here.

Audio of Karen Savage’s LibriVox reading on YouTube, starting at Chapter 24 (~9 minutes at normal speed)

Moira Fogarty’s Reading at LibriVox (~11 minutes)

Synopsis:

A statement that of course Captain Wentworth and Anne were married, with little opposition beyond a lack of graciousness from Anne’s father and Elizabeth, and a summary of how the other principal characters responded:

Sir Walter eventually decided that Captain Wentworth was indeed good-enough  looking that it balanced out the fact that Anne came from a Titled family, and added their marriage into the Elliot family page of the Baronetage.

Lady Russell had to admit that she was wrong about both Captain Wentworth and Mister Elliot. But she cared more about Anne being happy than her being right, and she and Captain Wentworth soon reconciled.

Mary was pleased because her sister married a richer man than either of her husband’s sisters did, and though Anne’s marriage meant that Mary no longer had seniority between the two, at least she was still descended from a Baronet. She also gave herself full credit for getting the two of them together, since she was the one who insisted that Anne stay at Uppercross.

Mister Elliot, blind-sided by Anne’s engagement, and no longer able to use the role of Son-in-Law to Sir Walter, to keep an eye on Mrs. Clay, convinces Mrs. Clay to live under his protection in London.

Captain Wentworth, grateful to Mrs. Smith for her support of Anne, does what Mister Elliot should have done, and works all the legalities to get her inheritance from the West Indies, and Mrs. Smith becomes a wealthy woman, living in comfort.

Anne’s only regret is that she brought embarrassing in-laws into the marriage.

Quotes that stood out:

When any two young people take it into their heads to marry, they are pretty sure by perseverance to carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or ever so little likely to be necessary to each other’s ultimate comfort. This may be bad morality to conclude with, but I believe it to be truth

At the time Jane Austen was writing, there was a general moral panic about novels, and how reading them could ruin young women and girls (much like today’s moral panics about video games, or, in an everything-old-is-new-again way, fanfiction). Therefore, many novelists of the time would conclude their stories spelling out the proper moral lessons their readers should take away.

And Jane Austen is poking fun at that.

There was nothing less for Lady Russell to do, than to admit that she had been pretty completely wrong, and to take up a new set of opinions and of hopes.

[...]

But she was a very good woman, and if her second object was to be sensible and well-judging, her first was to see Anne happy. She loved Anne better than she loved her own abilities; and when the awkwardness of the beginning was over, found little hardship in attaching herself as a mother to the man who was securing the happiness of her other child.

D’aww! Just: *hearts*.

The disproportion in their fortune was nothing; it did not give [Anne] a moment’s regret; but to have no family to receive and estimate him properly, nothing of respectability, of harmony, of good will to offer in return for all the worth and all the prompt welcome which met her in his brothers and sisters, was a source of as lively pain as her mind could well be sensible of under circumstances of otherwise strong felicity.

This detail (if not the exact wording) has been living rent-free in my head since I first read it in 2007. It’s one of the things that make me think of this novel as more about Found Family than it is the hyper focus on the romance between two individuals.

None of the three TV adaptations end this way, but I would have loved to have seen a reprise of Christmas Festivities, like we saw at the beginning of Chapter 14, but this time with Everyone there, including the Harvilles, and Benwicks, and Hayters, and, of course, the Crofts and the whole Wentworth clan (Sir Walter and Elizabeth can stay in Bath, attending on Lady Dalrymple).

Mrs Smith’s enjoyments were not spoiled by this improvement of income, with some improvement of health, and the acquisition of such friends to be often with, for her cheerfulness and mental alacrity did not fail her; and while these prime supplies of good remained, she might have bid defiance even to greater accessions of worldly prosperity. She might have been absolutely rich and perfectly healthy, and yet be happy.

Again, Miss Jane Austen cannot depart without satirizing the common (Christian) moralizing of the day: that poverty and illness are morally good, and Earthly fortune corrupts the soul.

I think that’s the thing that most modern adaptations of Jane Austen miss: She was a Satirist. And she was writing Satires (that had romantic themes).

[wordsbywomen]

Empowering Voices: Jane Austen's Impact on Women in Literature

Jane Austen's Hidden Pen: Navigating Anonymity in a Male-Dominated Literary World

In the realm of literary giants, Jane Austen's name shines brightly as a symbol of unparalleled storytelling. Yet, what sets her apart is not only her literary prowess but the remarkable circumstances in which she wrote. Jane Austen published her novels anonymously during her lifetime, a practice common among female writers in the early 19th century.

In the first edition of "Pride and Prejudice," her most renowned work, her authorship was attributed merely to "a lady." This intriguing aspect of Austen's career underscores the challenges women writers faced in an era when their voices were often marginalized.

Austen's decision to conceal her identity was a strategic move in navigating the societal norms of her time, protecting her work from biases and prejudices. While her novels enjoyed some success, widespread recognition eluded her. It was only after her death that her true identity was revealed.

This article explores Austen's world, shedding light on her brilliance and the struggles faced by female authors in a male-dominated literary landscape.

We delve into how her anonymity was both a tactical choice and an act of defiance, offering insights into the broader challenges confronted by women who dared to share their perspectives and narratives. Join us in uncovering the hidden truths of Austen's life, a testament to the resilience of female authors who dared to let their words speak for themselves in a world that often sought to silence them.

Rediscovering Jane Austen's Anonymity: Unveiling a Literary Mystery

The revelation of Jane Austen's anonymous publications is a testament to the dedicated efforts of literary scholars and historians. In the years following her death, researchers meticulously pieced together the puzzle of Austen's concealed identity, shedding light on her remarkable career.

One of the crucial pieces of evidence was a letter written by Jane Austen's sister, Cassandra, which hinted at Jane's role as an author. This letter, dated 1813, made reference to Jane's "success in novel writing" and her desire to keep her identity hidden. Cassandra's letter provided a valuable glimpse into Austen's intentions and the secrecy that shrouded her work.

Moreover, the discovery of personal letters and documents belonging to Jane Austen and her family in the 19th and 20th centuries offered further insights. These documents included family records and letters exchanged between Jane and her publishers. They played a pivotal role in establishing Austen's authorship and the challenges she faced as a woman writer.

These discoveries and revelations not only unveiled Jane Austen's hidden identity but also highlighted the larger narrative of women writers navigating a society that often dismissed their contributions. As we continue to explore Austen's journey, we'll delve deeper into the societal challenges she and other women authors faced during her time.

Jane Austen's Enduring Influence: Inspiring Contemporary Women Authors

Jane Austen's legacy extends far beyond her own era, as her works continue to inspire contemporary women authors to pursue their literary dreams. Her novels, characterized by their wit, social commentary, and complex characters, serve as timeless templates for those seeking to explore the human condition through the written word.

Several contemporary authors have openly acknowledged Jane Austen's profound impact on their own writing journeys. For example, such celebrated authors as Helen Fielding, the creator of Bridget Jones's Diary, have been inspired by Austen's keen social observations and her ability to create heroines based on the realities of women's lives. Fielding's modern adaptation of the Austen-esque romantic comedy demonstrates how Austen's themes of love, relationships, and societal pressures continue to resonate with readers today.

Furthermore, novelists such as Curtis Sittenfeld have taken a more direct approach to Austen's legacy by reimagining her timeless tales in contemporary settings. Sittenfeld's "Eligible" is a modern retelling of "Pride and Prejudice," transporting Austen's characters and themes into the 21st century. This novel, among others like it, showcases how Austen's enduring narratives can be seamlessly integrated into today's world while retaining their universal appeal.

Through the lens of contemporary women authors, we witness the enduring influence of Jane Austen's novels, which have transcended time and societal constraints. As we explore Austen's continued impact on literature and the creative journeys of these contemporary writers, we gain insight into how her legacy continues to shape and empower female authors in the present day.

[booksandwords]

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen

Read time: 3 Days Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Quote: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. Never was this truth more plain than during the recent attack at Netherfield Park, in which a household of eighteen was slaughtered and consumed by a horde of the living dead. — Elizabeth Bennet (these are the first lines obvs)

I wanted to read this after reading The Last Chance Library in which it plays a role in protagonist Jane and Alan's relationship. To start with I want to add some disclaimers, three things that my impact my reading and review of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. I have read Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice but not for about 15 years. Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice is one of my favourite go-to zone out films. Before reading this I'd never seen Burr Steers's Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. Before starting the review proper I want to add something from the afterword by Dr Allen Grove

"For some fans of Jane Austen, the mere existence of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies is a travesty. Why would anyone add gratuitous scenes of violence, carnage, and cannibalism to one of the greatest novels of Western civilization? Somewhere in the nave of Winchester Cathedral, we imagine that Austen's corpse, though presumably dead, must be rolling. Or perhaps not. It's hard to speculate what Austen might think of Pride & Prejudice & Zombies because zombies themselves didn't become popular in literature until the twentieth century. Even Victor Frankenstein' monster, a proto-zombie with no taste for brains, didn't make his appearance until the year after Austen's death in 1817."

For some reason, this feels important to me. Zombies aren't necessarily beyond Austen's thinking but zombies, as we know them, are after her time.

Elizabeth Bennet ends up feeling a little bit like an author avatar, I'm not sure entirely why. She is one of the best of her kind, especially among women, her fighting style matches Jane Austen's Elizabeth so very well. I think combining being her father's favourite, kickass fighting, her whole attitude and the respect she receives in her skill just feels like something Austen would want to be in escapism. But as Grove said so much of this was before her time. That said Mr Darcy just feels the same. He's a competent and deadly fighter, protective of those closest to him. But still not great with the communication or general people skills, as is only right. On the other characters, Jane is brilliantly competent. Just the idea of the five sisters having a specific move they have to clear a room was a great choice to me. Her fighting skill gives her and Bingley's relationship a whole other dimension. She has something over him, he has money, she can defend them if need be. There is an interesting take on Lydia. I like her ending. Wickam gets the ending that suits his character. Without going into spoilers Kitty and Mary have lovely endings. Kitty shows her growth, Mary gets to come out of her shell and her behaviour becomes that of Hearfortshire's last protector. Charlotte and Mr. Collins, well that whole story just feels like it goes so much darker than the original.

Some dot points...

"I have great pleasure in thinking you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your income." (Mr. Bennet) — I'm so happy one of my favourite lines in literature remains untouched. I adore this line so much.

"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It was too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." (Mr. Darcy) — How do I always forget that is fandom favourite line is Pride & Prejudice?

"What a power it was! But how to wield it? Of all the weapons she had commanded, Elizabeth knew the least of love; and of all the weapons in the world, love was the most dangerous."(Elizabeth Bennet) — This is just a stunning a truthful quote. I'm unsure if it's Austen or Grahame-Smith but I really appreciate it so it needs to be here

The edition I'm reading has illustrations by Roberto Parada. These illustrations are wonderful. They add something to the book. They are period-appropriate almost plate style. The choices of scenes to illustrate was good. Some are key, some just illustrate well.

There are ingenious adaptations to architecture, internal design and landscaping. Especially Pemberly, it is absolutely stunning. Mirroring the Kyoto architecture and internals that Darcy loves so much. Even Longhorn has its own well-used dojo for the Bennet girls. Rosings Park is interesting in its own right but I will avoid the spoilers.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh is possibly one of the best characters in the way she is altered. She is somehow made even more unlikeable. She is made even more ruthless.

The first question someone may have coming into this is... how? Quite simply nearly all the traditional female occupations (the pianoforte, sewing) are replaced by the deadly arts (staged fights, crafting or sharpening weapons). When the ladies go walking there is always the chance of walking into zombies, though they are less common in winter when the ground freezes. It really is just Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice with Zombies added. I do mean added. They influence peoples daily lives therefore the motives for their pivotal actions and key events in the novel. This lore is integrated near seamlessly.

I like the way this all comes together. There are so many lovely passages blending Austen's original text and Grahame-Smith's additions. Some are fun, some not so much. For example, Darcy's reason for separating Bingly and Jane was one I should have seen coming but didn't. (It's another great choice). Changes like this create an entirely different feeling novel. It really is well worth a read, even if you have already seen Burr Steers's film.

After the day after finishing this, I did watch the film. It is a decent film. It is worth noting that it is only "based on" this book. Whereas this has lore woven throughout, the film feels more like a standard zombie au. Kinda like credit was given to Seth Grahame-Smith because it was a lawsuit waiting to happen otherwise. Both have their pros and cons. Overall Burr Steers's film is definitely more palatable to modern audiences, while Grahame-Smith's book holds truer to Austen's ideals. That said there is a brilliant line in the film that totally empowers Elizabeth "It gave me hope." "For what?" "That your feelings towards me may have changed? However one word from you now will silence me on the subject forever. You are the love of my life Elizabeth Bennet. So I ask you now...half in anguish...half in hope... Will you do me the great, great honor, of taking me for your husband?" What I really appreciate is the last line your husband not my wife. He's not claiming her.