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#blog5daysAustenese

#blog5daysAustenese – Day Four

Having a day with few commitments before me, my plan is to spend my hours writing. In the formation of sentences, the reworking of ideas, the addition of punctuation and the correcting of grammar.  Not only for the continuation in this #blog5daysAustenese journey, but also in the creation of articles for work, both mine and my clients’.

I have often pondered, in my leisure hours, upon the many and varied writing stiles. This challenge, for example, was conceived with the idea that I had recently been so immersed in reading Austen‘s novels that, when I wrote (sometimes even when I spoke!) I found it difficult to refrain from her stile. My preference was to use vocabulary which, although still understandable, required effort to comprehend, being no longer in regular usage. I also found it fairly easy – and interesting! – to write in a stile that, for the most part, made liberal use of overly long sentences comprising significant numbers of embedded clauses. Verb usage at the beginning of the sentences quickly became an idea that, although foreign at first, became more familiar in practice, as was wont to happen.

Perversely, the difficulties presented themselves when moving away from blogging in Austen’s stile, in occasions when a modern tone in my writing was required. I was surprised – nay, shocked! – to discover that it was here, wherein the true nature of the challenge made itself felt. The difficulties with which I struggled to write in a modern stile were a sight to behold. Indeed, I was both astonished and confounded to ascertain within myself a penchant for the writing of long sentences, and the use of vocabulary quite different to mine own.

Hence my decision to pen my blog early today. If I am to achieve, successfully, the tasks before me, which of necessity require a modern stile of writing, the difficulties in the adoption of same that I have noticed, will need to be taken into account. So here ends the fourth of five entries written in the stile of Austen, and I look forward to penning my fifth and last, tomorrow. Til then, dear readers!

Point to note – although I found it rather difficult to continually spell the word ‘style’ with an ‘i’ rather than a ‘y’, it is consistent with Austen’s spelling during this period. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts Work

#blog5daysAustenese – Day Three

The dreaded parcel of educational books arrived yesterday morning, ending all my hopes for an uninterrupted day engaged in work. Time spent inspecting, naming, and covering was to be my unenviable and time-consuming morning duties. Little consolation lay in the fact that my book-covering efforts were being repeated the width and breadth of this great nation. Miss 6, the child for whom this book-covering process was centered around, was of some assistance when the decoration of same was called for, however her attention being ofttimes taken from her task by the variety of diverting activities of her younger siblings, her efforts proved to be rather a hindrance and an ineffectual aid.

Forced to remain indoors by the insistent rain, rather than take a turn about the garden, the children’s enthusiastic antics, when confined in the smallness of the house, were an added encumbrance. It is of no surprise, therefore, that my spirits were low and my thoughts were more maudlin than previously was my wont.

Indeed, my thoughts inevitably turned to the conundrum before me. The irony that lay in the circumstance being that, although I detest my annual chore that is the covering of my daughter’s school books, the chosen profession that I am currently studying for is that of Librarian. A profession, it can be reasonably assumed, owing to the large numbers of books a Librarian keeps custody over, which calls for the covering of a multitude of books, on a more regular basis than that of an annual chore.

Interesting, is it not? That one’s choice of profession often contains tasks for which we require payment, if we are to agree to endure said tasks with any degree of tolerance? It leads me to ponder what horrid tasks must my readers endure, and only because of the mostly-reasonable monetary compensation?

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Dear reader, if this is the first time you have visited, the above is the third post (of five) that attempts to recreate my day’s activities using the writing style of Jane Austen. There are currently four others also completing this challenge, and their efforts are published below:

@jobeaz, blogging at Macaronic

@Girlwithshoess, blogging at Justgirlwithshoes

@kalgrl, blogging at Feral Librarian Tales

@jzgarnett, blogging at Randomly Yours, Julia

 

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#blog5daysAustenese random scribblings

#blog5daysAustenese – Day Two

Having the unusual distinction of three family birthdays fall within a seven-day, I have then leisure to consider the import of ‘countdowns’. Counting the days that must be lived, prior to a forthcoming event, can be abundantly effectual. Not only have they the ability to elevate eagerness and enthusiasm prior to the big occasion, they also provide innumerable opportunities for the teaching of mathematical concepts to young receptive minds.

Saturday last witnessed the birth-day celebrations of my husband. Entering his 40th year was marked with his favourite diversions; fishing, napping, and dining with close friends. The following day, our middle child, often referred to as ‘Miss 3’, became ‘Miss 4’ and spent the day smiling profusely and announcing her successful acquisition of another year. And finally, our “Miss 6” will become our “Miss 7” this forthcoming Friday. Each of these days has been studiously counted-down-to by infant fingers excitedly marking off the days in our family almanac.

Twelve months ago, this blog witnessed my scribblings on this topic although it does not appear to me as though a year has passed. Reflecting on this perception, I see that it is entirely possible that the exercise of ‘counting down’ may be its intimate connection. By continuously focusing on future events, enjoying the moment may be superceded by the prospect of future happiness, thus rendering the present of lesser importance, possibly to such a degree that fewer memories are retained, thus rendering the passage of time to feel faster than in actuality.

My summation is that, should we seek to be wise, we should treat in an even-handed manner the conflicting desires of valuing and cherishing the moment and viewing the future with an excess of sensibility. Would you agree, gentle readers?

CC Image courtesy 4rank at http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcharlton/1799065990/lightbox/

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#blog5daysAustenese random scribblings

#blog5daysAustenese – Day One

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an educated person with a love of reading, an interest in the pursuit of learning, and a possession of both time and opportunity in the form of a blog, must be in want of a writing challenge. The exploration of their writing prowess then finds its culmination in the subsequent compositions, and the responses of readers by the means of comments below the blogs.

Inasmuch as today, being the 16th day in January, marks the commencement of such a challenge, it behooves me to welcome my friends into this five-day season of Austenese blogwriting. I warmly congratulate you on your courage, your bravery in the face of probable ridicule, and your willingness to see a challenge through to the end. Of your determination to attempt the composition of sentences, the structure of which is markedly different to our own, I heartily applaud.

Lovers of Jane Austen everywhere, I raise before you these participants, and commend their efforts to you. Your comments, as a consequence of reading, appreciating, and approving of their work, will inspire them to even greater achievements in this challenge, and therefore are greatly desired by all involved. As each participant will be composing their thoughts on their individual blogs, these links, should you click them, will lead you to the correct destinations:

@jobeaz, blogging at Macaronic

@Girlwithshoess, blogging at Justgirlwithshoes

@kalgrl, blogging at Feral Librarian Tales

@jzgarnett, blogging at Randomly Yours, Julia

And finally, a word to our detractors. Each name you see before you is not, as may be reasonably supposed, a lover of Austen’s writing. Indeed, at least one finds the work of Jane Austen to be so far from pleasant as to call it horrid. It can be assumed, therefore, that in this #blog5daysAusten challenge, you the readers have greatly the advantage of us in this respect, that you are able to comment profusely, whereas we the writers have only our works to recommend us. I would entreat you, therefore, to be gentle in your criticism, or rather, join us in the task ahead and proudly hold your own head high in the challenge. More participants are readily welcomed. Simply comment below your intention to join, with a link to your blog, and compose five posts in the style of Jane Austen. Having tweeted your publication of each post using the hashtag #blog5daysAusten, and following other participants writings, there is nothing left to do but to enjoy the journey!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Bad to the bone…

Of all Jane Austen’s novels, Lady Susan is the one I like the most. Her main character, the recently widowed Lady Susan, is far more Thackery’s Becky Sharp than Pride and Prejudice’s Jane Bennett, and she comes far closer to succeeding in her conquest of a man ‘determined to not like her’ than Henry Crawford did with Fanny Price in Mansfield Park, when the situations were reversed. It is also completely different in style, being almost completely written through letters.

This is the only Austen novel I have not seen a film version of. Which is fine, as I think a screen adaptation would ruin it.

And that wraps up my week of Austen summaries. Tomorrow marks the beginning of #blog5daysAusten. Should be rather interesting!

See you tomorrow, dear readers!

 

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Persuasion

I think it’s important to be a person of conviction. To know what you want, to know who you are, and to hold on to that. “This above all, to thine own self be true” etc etc etc.

That being said, I also think that to be unbending is a fault. To not take into account the whole concept of truth being relational- to not respect someone who is trying to sway you from your opinion by “speak[ing] the truth with gentleness” (to quote God rather than Shakespeare, as it were); to not be persuaded by a close friend when they are tactfully disagreeing with you – is also a sign of foolishness rather than wisdom.

Anne Elliott allowed herself to be persuaded from a strongly held opinion, in Austen’s “Persuasion“, and it formed the premise for the novel. Rather than marrying Frederick Wentworth, the man of her choice, she allowed herself to be convinced that she should reject his offer, and then spent the subsequent years in regret and anxiety, until, (as all good love stories do,) they were reunited and lived ‘happily ever after’. “Persuasion” is, in a way, the detailed story of Emma‘s Harriet Smith and Robert Martin.

Conviction. A good thing – but if we all had it, there would be fewer novels written, I suspect!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

On long and winding sentences…

Today’s Friday. The fifth day of this retrospection through Austen’s Completed Novels. Today it’s the turn of Northanger Abbey.

The families at the forefront of this work are the Tilneys, the Thorpes, and the Morlands. Well drawn, yet predictable, characters make this novel similar in nature to Emma, in my opinion – deep enough to be satisfying. On the other hand, it’s superficial enough that it doesn’t take up too much energy, mental, emotional, etc. Well, once you get into the ‘long and winding sentences’, that is.

Example: her last sentence in this novel. I love it!

“To begin perfect happiness at the respective ages of twenty-six and eighteen, is to do pretty well; and professing myself moreover convinced, that the General’s unjust interference, so far from being injurious to their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to it, by improving their knowledge of eachother, and adding strength to their attachment, I leave it to be settled by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience.”

Phew! How cool is THAT!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Emma. How wise you are.

Ummm… I think!

I quite like this one. It’s light-hearted. It’s cute. It’s a good way to spend a few hours of down-time. It’s superficial enough that you don’t expend much energy investing in the novel, but the characters and plotline are meaty enough to feel as though you’ve spent your time justifiably. Good enough reason, in my *book*!

Admittedly, it’s a little unrealistic (to me, at least!) that Mr Knightley falls for a girl sixteen years his junior – but then again, perhaps not. I’m not a guy, and I don’t live back then. (Lucky – I don’t think WordPress was around at the time!) And I smile each time I think about Emma considering herself ‘wise’ at the grand age of – what was it? Early 20’s or something?! Ha! (I’m 37 and still “invariably silly”!)

The recent film starring Gwyneth Paltrow was just as light-hearted as Austen’s novel. The Casting Director made some excellent choices – I particularly enjoyed Toni Collette, and no, I don’t think that it’s just because she’s an Aussie. I loved the addition of the ‘archery’ scene, which was probably rather unrealistic but made for good visual imagery. Plus it allowed for the addition of the line, “Try to not kill my dogs.” Which was a cutesy sort of line, aimed at getting a laugh, and perfect for use in the trailer. What I didn’t like so much was the emphasis on Emma’s thoughts when talking with Mrs Weston regarding her brother-in-law’s advice to Mr Knightley. Although it made for good trailer footage, “I love John!” “I hate John!”, I have to wonder if the reason for the emphasis on the scene was to GET that footage, specifically FOR the trailer. It did seem just a little forced…

All in all though, enjoyable. And that’s a wrap!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Five days to go!

Third novel in my Penguin tome, Mansfield Park. As previously mentioned, my least favourite. It’s just so SLOW! And heroine Fanny is just *so* perfect. Perhaps it’s my modern perspective, perhaps its the way I feel as though I can never measure up? But I find her almost nauseating in her *correctness*. I can understand Edmund’s attraction to Mary Crawford – in spite of her immoral opinions, her liveliness and willingness to speak her mind rather than perpetually wait for her opinion to be sought, gives her a far more interesting personality.

I find it interesting that, according to the blurb on the DVD (cover shown below) – but not substantiated by any source I could find! – apparently it was Jane Austen‘s favourite. I wonder if this is because Fanny’s character, personality or opinions, may have been similar to her own. Or possibly it’s because it is the novel that deals with themes so deeply. Or could it be that in the final chapter – commonly called the epilogue – we hear the voice of Austen herself , the author, the scripter of the tale, rather than simply the narrator of it?

The 1999 film starring Frances O’Connor as Fanny reinforces this view of the insipid heroine. Those who aren’t familiar with the novel may be surprised that the none-too-subtle sexual allegations against Sir Thomas Bertram are absolutely nowhere to be found in Austen’s pages. Nor is there a ‘box of birds’. Nor does Fanny relent and say “Yes” to Henry Crawford whilst back with her family in Portsmouth. And the film also cut one of Austen’s main characters – Fanny’s older brother, William. The ‘theatre’ section of the plot was also treated with less significance than the earlier (1983) BBC version. Considering I don’t particularly like the novel, overall this was quite a satisfactory adaptation of it, in my humble opinion.

On a lighter note, apparently Austen’s writing is rather a favourite with J.K.Rowling. Argus Filch‘s cat, Mrs. Norris, was named after the character in Mansfield Park . Ha!

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#blog5daysAustenese Random thoughts

Six days til #blog5daysAustenese

So I started this ‘countdown week’, yesterday, with a list of the (very game!) participants in the #blog5daysAustenese challenge, and my take on Jane Austen’s writing, finishing with my thoughts on Sense and Sensibility – the novel, as it related to the latest film version starring Emma Thompson. Hugh Grant, Kate Winslett etc etc. So day two in the countdown means a move to the second book (from front to back in my Penguin tome, I mean, not actually second in chronological order of her writing!) – Pride and Prejudice.

I love this book. And I really don’t care much for recent TV / mini-series adaptations. Reason being – they’re created SO well, that it only takes one little scene to completely ruin the entirety. In the 1996 (yes, it really was THAT long ago!) BBC production with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth (seriously – has he aged at ALL since then?!) the offending scene was the one depicting Lizzy’s deepest mortification. Being discovered by Mr Darcy whilst touring Pemberley. In my humble opinion, the novel portrays her as being thoroughly humiliated by this discovery. But the BBC’s decision to have Colin Firth take a dip in the lake on the way to his house completely destroyed this, by placing him in almost as embarrassing a position as her.  In my mind, this decision utterly ruined the series for me, and it was only recently that I could watch this scene without cringing at the thought of what they had done.

Equally cringe-worthy was Darcy’s speech at the conclusion of Universal Picture’s 2006 version, starring Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen, Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench, etc etc. I mean – seriously??!!! I canNOT for the life of me imagine such a character, as upright and correct as he, to say, “If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you – you have bewitched me, body and soul. I love, I love, love you, and never wish to be parted from you, from this day on.” HUH??!!!!! You have absolutely GOT to be kidding!!!! MAJOR cringe!!!

Other than that scene, the Universal Picture’s scriptwriter had written a very clever script, with excellent segues and clever choice of absent characters. But it is also this point – the cringeworthy script choices – that we’ll be attempting to *better* next week, when we, also, write in super-long sentences.

Join us… if you dare!?? LOL