>>>CLICK THE PICTURE TO SEE MORE!<<<This journal is about fun. It's about things that make me happy. Hard to blog when next to nothing makes you happy. I'm catching up on life, though, and trying to find happiness in the little things. It all comes down to the little things. And then small becomes big, and because I'm so passionate about my loves, it doesn't take much to put a smile on my face. A funny and engrossing book, a touching show, essential music. So here they are.
Before I forget, Claire has given In Training for a Heroine two awards. Thank you so much, Claire!
Before I forget, Claire has given In Training for a Heroine two awards. Thank you so much, Claire!
"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…”
I think I'm going to risk their wrath because I can't think of 5 blogs to give it to. Very original award, though!
The Mysteries of Udolpho was surprisingly engrossing. Having spent nine months analysing every single instance of humour in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion (for my masters dissertation), I thought the book was only a big cliché, something silly you read on the bus. Radcliffe wrote a powerful book which, in many ways, denounces the very genre to which it belongs. Emily St. Aubert, the heroine of the book, faints and has adventures in a castle. There's a villain, there's a proper suitor and a happy ending. Yet, even in the wildest moments, some sentences are food for thought:She blamed herself for suffering her romantic imagination to carry her so far beyond the bounds of probability, and determined to endeavour to check its rapid flights, lest they should sometimes extend into madness.
Sounds awfully like something Austen would have written. The abundant depictions one can find in Udolpho are overly sentimental and picturesque, and the ending is a joke, very didactic and anticlimatic. Still, I found the book to be much more serious (Radcliffe's description of certain characters' personality is intriguing) and exciting than I thought it would be. I couldn't wait to know what sort of adventure would come next. I think I will read The Monk by Matthew Lewis very soon, it was published in 1796, two years after Udolpho and 32 years after the publication of the first Gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole.
I've been watching several TV shows that are new to me. I have already talked about it here, but I've discovered Buffy, the Vampire Slayer this year. I've watched the first four seasons - the first one I struggled to finish but the next three are very impressive. I'm surprised to find the show has such a scope. It really deals with tons of things at the same time and the main character is a true heroine, I adore her. I've also been watching the spin-off, Angel. I didn't expect it to be so good, mainly because I thought it was going to be redundant. I couldn't have been further from the truth! The show is very different from Buffy - it's way darker and tackles even more issues. Again, the characters are extremely well-written- Angel, whose journey to redemption is quite fascinating to watch, and Cordelia who has evolved so much since Buffy. I'm very happy to be finally watching these shows after having avoided them all those years. I can now understand why Joss Whedon is so admired for his work. It's truly original.
I don't want to talk about Deadwood just yet, for some reason - I think it deserves its own post. The first season is magnificent. It goes places I never thought a TV show would explore and it's got you rooting for characters who are completely mad and live in what can be called an asylum. Great dialogs, too, some of the best.
I'm also addicted to Queer as Folk. I've only watched 8 episodes so far but I need my daily episode (at least) or my day isn't complete. What a fantastic show! Can't believe I'm such a latecomer to everything! The characters are so endearing, funny, touching. I want to step in and live with them. You all probably know the premise: the show focuses on a group of gay friends living in the 21st century (how heterocentric - has anyone ever described Friends as a show depicting the life of a group of heterosexual friends?). At first, I thought the direction was amateur, it felt like a soap. Once again, I was completely wrong. I read it was "basically porn" and have to differ: it's honest and has some of the best explicit sex scenes on TV but it's not porn in that you don't actually see anything. It's just very erotic. People seriously overestimate the network if they think Showtime would actually broadcast gay porn in primetime. Some of the best characters ever created, and it hurts to know they must have real-life counterparts, it hurts because I want to know these people - the characters are so real. One of them is an incredible role model - Debbie is the president of her local PFLAG chapter (her son Michael is gay), I have never seen such a wonderful character portrayed on TV. All she wants is everybody's happiness, she's incredibly welcoming and loving. I adore her with all my heart and you should watch the show for her alone. And for Brian Kinney, one of the sexiest characters ever, and Brian/Justin, who break my heart everyday. And Brian/Michael who are just painful to watch together. And for the direction. And for the sex. And for the love. And for the music. And for the smiles (did I mention how funny this show is?). And for the tears. I ♥ Queer as Folk.
Some music to finish! Music is life. How about some swing with Louis Jordan? If his playful (and saucy, see the following lyrics!) music doesn't make you want to dance and smile, I don't know what will. Have a glorious and fun week!
Every honey bee fills with jealousy
When they see you out with me
I don't blame them
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
When you're passin' by,
Flowers droop and sigh
I know the reason why
You're much sweeter
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
Well, don't buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You're my sugar
And it's oh so sweet when you stir it up
When I'm takin' sips
From your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips
You're confection
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
Well, don't buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You're my sugar
And it's oh so sweet when you stir it up
When I'm takin' sips
From your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips
You're confection
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
I've been watching several TV shows that are new to me. I have already talked about it here, but I've discovered Buffy, the Vampire Slayer this year. I've watched the first four seasons - the first one I struggled to finish but the next three are very impressive. I'm surprised to find the show has such a scope. It really deals with tons of things at the same time and the main character is a true heroine, I adore her. I've also been watching the spin-off, Angel. I didn't expect it to be so good, mainly because I thought it was going to be redundant. I couldn't have been further from the truth! The show is very different from Buffy - it's way darker and tackles even more issues. Again, the characters are extremely well-written- Angel, whose journey to redemption is quite fascinating to watch, and Cordelia who has evolved so much since Buffy. I'm very happy to be finally watching these shows after having avoided them all those years. I can now understand why Joss Whedon is so admired for his work. It's truly original.I don't want to talk about Deadwood just yet, for some reason - I think it deserves its own post. The first season is magnificent. It goes places I never thought a TV show would explore and it's got you rooting for characters who are completely mad and live in what can be called an asylum. Great dialogs, too, some of the best.
I'm also addicted to Queer as Folk. I've only watched 8 episodes so far but I need my daily episode (at least) or my day isn't complete. What a fantastic show! Can't believe I'm such a latecomer to everything! The characters are so endearing, funny, touching. I want to step in and live with them. You all probably know the premise: the show focuses on a group of gay friends living in the 21st century (how heterocentric - has anyone ever described Friends as a show depicting the life of a group of heterosexual friends?). At first, I thought the direction was amateur, it felt like a soap. Once again, I was completely wrong. I read it was "basically porn" and have to differ: it's honest and has some of the best explicit sex scenes on TV but it's not porn in that you don't actually see anything. It's just very erotic. People seriously overestimate the network if they think Showtime would actually broadcast gay porn in primetime. Some of the best characters ever created, and it hurts to know they must have real-life counterparts, it hurts because I want to know these people - the characters are so real. One of them is an incredible role model - Debbie is the president of her local PFLAG chapter (her son Michael is gay), I have never seen such a wonderful character portrayed on TV. All she wants is everybody's happiness, she's incredibly welcoming and loving. I adore her with all my heart and you should watch the show for her alone. And for Brian Kinney, one of the sexiest characters ever, and Brian/Justin, who break my heart everyday. And Brian/Michael who are just painful to watch together. And for the direction. And for the sex. And for the love. And for the music. And for the smiles (did I mention how funny this show is?). And for the tears. I ♥ Queer as Folk.
Some music to finish! Music is life. How about some swing with Louis Jordan? If his playful (and saucy, see the following lyrics!) music doesn't make you want to dance and smile, I don't know what will. Have a glorious and fun week!
When they see you out with me
I don't blame them
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
When you're passin' by,
Flowers droop and sigh
I know the reason why
You're much sweeter
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
Well, don't buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You're my sugar
And it's oh so sweet when you stir it up
When I'm takin' sips
From your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips
You're confection
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
Well, don't buy sugar
You just have to touch my cup
You're my sugar
And it's oh so sweet when you stir it up
When I'm takin' sips
From your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips
You're confection
Goodness knows
Honeysuckle rose
