Tuesday 4 ~ Spending Time ~ 5/25/2021

Head over to Tuesday's Place for the questions and to visit everyone's answers!

This week let's talk about spending time

1.Are you currently reading a book you'd like to tell us about? Maybe a TV program you can recommend to us?

I haven't picked up a book or my kindle in what seems like months.  Things have been so busy with wedding planning and babysitting Annalea!  I haven't been watching much TV either but I would recommend The Prodigal Son if you don't already watch it.  Amazingly captivating show!

2. Are you a Jane Austen fan? So many seem to be. If you are what is your favorite book and who is your favorite character.  If you aren't a fan, is there an author you especially like to read? Favorite character..etc?

I am a Jane Austen fan!  I think Pride & Prejudice would have to be my favorite Austen book as it was the first one I read as a young girl.  And like many, I swoon for Mr. Darcy :)

3.  How do you spend your time during the day?  Do you set apart time to read, watch TV, study?

After getting Laken off to school (which tomorrow is the last day of for this year), I watch Annalea my cousin's almost 3 month old until around 3pm.  Then it is time to make supper.  I try to set aside time to read my Bible Study and I'm joining a Summer Self-Improvement Challenge  and the 20 Books of Summer so I plan on trying to read SOMETHING this summer!  I just have to set aside the time to do it...

4. Have your beliefs changed in your life time? New religion.. new politics? Or are they the same as they were growing up? Do you spend time thinking over the important things of life to take stock in your life?

My beliefs are pretty much the same only deeper and more solidified.  Sometimes I think that I spend too much time thinking over things instead of just enjoying life.  I'm still searching for a happy medium.

Colletta

Book Review ~ The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 Blurb:

 

After years of following her best friend’s lead, Mary Davies finds a whimsical trip back to Austen’s Regency England paves the way towards a new future.

Mary Davies lives and works in Austin, Texas, as an industrial engineer. She has an orderly and productive life, a job and colleagues that she enjoys—particularly a certain adorable, intelligent, and hilarious consultant. But something is missing for Mary. When her estranged and emotionally fragile childhood friend Isabel Dwyer offers Mary a two-week stay in a gorgeous manor house in Bath, Mary reluctantly agrees to come along, in hopes that the holiday will shake up her quiet life in just the right ways. But Mary gets more than she bargained for when Isabel loses her memory and fully believes that she lives in Regency England. Mary becomes dependent on a household of strangers to take care of Isabel until she wakes up.

With Mary in charge and surrounded by new friends, Isabel rests and enjoys the leisure of a Regency lady. But life gets even more complicated when Mary makes the discovery that her life and Isabel’s have intersected in more ways that she knew, and she finds herself caught between who Isabel was, who she seems to be, and the man who stands between them. Outings are undertaken, misunderstandings play out, and dancing ensues as this triangle works out their lives and hearts among a company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation.      

My Thoughts:

 

 

 Katherine Reay is a new-to-me author.  I've seen her books floating around and even though I love Jane Austen and everything Austen-esque, I was reluctant to pick up one of the books to read.  I really don't know why.  I guess I didn't want to be disappointed.

 

I was crazy!

 

Not only was I not disappointed, I loved this book!

 

I loved the backstory between Mary and Isabel.  I loved Mary's scientific mind meeting the fictional world that Jane Austen penned.  I loved the "experience" of an Austen vacation.  I loved it all!  Especially the push and pull of the romance involved.

 

Mary's character was so quirky and fun!  At times she was full of courage and others she was confused and didn't know what in the world she was doing.  Like I said:  so much fun!

 

Isabel's character was one I loved to hate and I really didn't understand how forgiving Mary was of her actions.  Especially when it came to "TCG".  (You'll have to read it to find out! :)

 

I can honestly say that I didn't want this story to end.  I'll definitely be picking up more of Reay's novels in the future :)

 

 



Colletta

 

P.S.  I hope you can stop by my ETSY SHOP!

High Five for Friday ~ 2/21/14

Five things that made me smile this week :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1.  Valentine's Day!  I got a tool set and chocolates :)

2.  Valentine's Dinner at Church!  The youth group served us :)

3.  The girls have gotten over their sicknesses!  I'm a happy mama :)

4.  Our dishwasher is finally fixed!  Hallelujah :)

5.  Austenland the movie came out on DVD!  I snatched it up and watched it right away :)

What made you smile this week?

Book Review: "Austenland" by Shannon Hale 5/5!

 

*I received this book from www.paperbackswap.com .*

Title:  "Austenland"
Series:  Austenland Series Book 1

Author:  Shannon Hale

Publisher:  Bloomsbury

Publication Date:  5/27/2008

Pages:  208

Buy From Amazon:  HERE

Book Description (Goodreads):

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man—perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?


  My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I absolutely LOVED this book!  It was so fun, entertaining, amusing and sucked me in.  I read it almost all in one sitting until I got too tired to keep my eyes open.

This is one of my top fan fiction favorites.  Say that 10 times fast!


My Favorite Character:

Jane was my favorite character.   She was funny, snarky, witty, and her thoughts and actions were so "real".  She would be the kind of person I'd like to be friends with.

My Favorite Scene:

Without a doubt my favorite scene was when Mr. Nobley startles Jane in the dark while she is out "spying" on one of the "servants".

I literally about busted a gut laughing!  It was good thing that it was late at night, the kids were in bed and the hubby was at work or they would have thought I was crazy!


My Favorite Sentence/Paragraph:

"What are you doing?"

"Ya!" said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly.

It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide eyes.  Jane took several quick (but oh so casual) steps away from Martin's window.

"Um, did I just say 'Ya'?"

"You just said 'Ya,'" he confirmed.  "If I am not mistaken, it was a battle cry, warning that you were about to attack me."

"I, uh...."  She stopped to laugh.  "I wasn't aware until this precise and awkward moment that when startled in a strange place, my instincts would have me pretend to be ninja."

  Page 81

It Would Have Been Better If:

I really can't think of much that would have made this book better.  Although I enjoyed that it was a quick read, I also was sad to see it end.

Lucky for me, the second book "Midnight in Austenland" has been released.  I might have to break my no-buying ban and order it.

I Would Recommend This Book To:

Austen lovers, regency buffs, those into fashion and/or history, actors, artists, anyone who has ever day-dreamed of Mr. Darcy :)  sigh....


Rating

5/5

On to the next book,

Austen in August ~ Master Post

A one-month event focused hosted by "Roof Beam Reader" on all things Jane Austen, including her primary texts, any re-imaginings of her works, biographies, critical texts, etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For this event I would like to read a few Austen inspired books that I've had on my shelf for a few months.

They are:

1.  "Pemberley Ranch" by Jack Caldwell

2.  "Mr. Knightley's Diary" by Amanda Grange

3.  "Mr. Darcy's Diary" by Amanda Grange

I have a few others on my wishlist, that I might add if I get them before the end of August.

I've already read all of Jane Austen's works so I probably won't be re-reading any of those for this event.

You can still go join in on the JA fun!