Great Literature!

This is the book that I first remember "reading." Maybe it was because my mom read it to me so many times that I just THOUGHT I was reading.

She read me this book so many times, in fact, that I can still, nearly 40 years later, quote most of this book verbatim.

I was so excited to be walking down the aisle at Walmart and see a Little Golden Book display, featuring my very own first book! I'd love to read it to you (or quote it to you) sometime. Give me a call!

Book Review

I was pleasantly surprised last week to read an email from my co-worker recommending this book, which she had picked up at Deseret Book. I was happy because the author, Lisa Mangum, is an editor/proofer with whom I have worked. Because of the happy recommendation; because I wanted to support my friend Lisa; and because I'm a book slut, I decided to go buy this book. (I think it is listed at $19.95.) I finished reading it last night, and I am a fan!

For those who liked the "Twilight" books, I can guarantee that you will like this book: mysterious boy (who is NOT a vampire, by the way), fantasy mystery, a little romance. Good stuff. I will admit that I liked Twilight, but I frankly got really tired of the whiny main character. I liked this book much better.

And I'm not just saying that because I know the author. :)

Austen-mania

My favorite sport is reading. There is very little I would rather do. My doctor says this isn't necessarily a good thing, so I took up scuba diving, but that is a story for another day. :)

I am a huge fan of Jane Austen, and my favorite is--of course--Pride and Prejudice. Let me recommend to any of you ladies (because let's be honest--the men won't care) who may have missed it thus far the 6-hour miniseries of Pride and Prejudice produced by A & E. It stars Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, which might be reason enough to watch this film. He is an excellent, smouldering Mr. Darcy. Jennifer Ehle is also beautiful as Elizabeth Bennet.

I love the character of Elizabeth. I love that she is strong and fearless, despite knowing what limitations that may place on her in her male-dominated Victorian society.

A year or so ago I was in Deseret Book and I found a wonderful trilogy that I have been re-reading, just for the fun of it. The first book is "An Assembly Such As This;" the second is "Duty and Desire;" and the third is "These Three Remain." The author is Pamela Aidan. This is basically "Pride and Prejudice," only it's written from Darcy's viewpoint. Existing characters are there, of course, though many are more detailed than in Austen's original work. New characters are introduced. Darcy's activities are outlined, as well as how his feelings for Elizabeth developed. It is a lot of fun to read. Ms. Aiden has often used Austen's original dialog, and she has drawn extensively on the A&E series for her settings (in fairness, A&E is VERY true to Austen's work). Additionally, Ms. Aiden's use of vocabulary is wonderful, and she's very Austenian in her writing.

I've read several other Austen spin-offs, and none of them has captured my interest the way this trilogy has. Check it out and have some fun. (But read Pride and Prejudice first!)