J. H. Authors

One Woman. Three Names. Many Books.

Musings

Changes

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So I went great guns in December, but nothing since. A major job change (thrilling, exciting, exhilarating, scary) has refocused much of my attention, but it occurs to me that isn’t good. The thing is, once one part of your life changes every part changes somewhat–either with the time you can devote to it, or the way you look at it.

My new job is in theater, and I will be spending some blogging time in another capacity on that. This blog will be focussed on other parts of my life–my writing, my attempts at adult onset athleticism, Jane Austen, the Boston Red Sox, television, food, ideas, etc. The other parts that add up to me.

I really want to develop the discipline to do this regularly. I have that discipline for a job, or when I am in a group but when it is just me, not so much.

Hopefully this discipline will spill over to the other neglected areas of my life–working out, training, writing, querying, reading Jane Austen, etc. Anyway, that’s the hope. So short posts about how that is going will be forthcoming.

Cozy Holiday Reading

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Last fall was so nuts that I didn’t read a single book. Or shall I say a single fiction book. But I made up a lot of ground during the holidays, and thought I would catch you up.

I read IF WALLS COULD TALK by Juliet Blackwell, THE DIVA COOKS A GOOSE by Krista Davis, HOLIDAY GRIND by Cleo Coyle and DEATH OF AN AMBITIOUS WOMAN by Barbara Ross. I am fans of the Diva series, and the Coffehouse series and these holiday themed books didn’t disappoint. IF WALLS COULD TALK promised to be a good series as well.

DEATH OF AN AMBITIOUS WOMAN is Barbara Ross’s first published novel. It is not a cozy, but more of a traditional mystery. And it is wonderful. I highly recommend it.

Now that I’ve rejoined the reading world I have started Rachel Brady’s DEAD LIFT. I will report back.

Happy reading!

 

 

Jane Austen January

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For some reason January is always my Jane Austen month. Perhaps it is the post holiday ennui, but I find myself driven to watch DVDs, and challenge myself to read the novels again. Last year was supposed to be my Jane Austen year, but the challenge got off track. This year I am going to try again. And I’m adding a layer.

Austenprose is a Jane Austen blog. (OK, I’ll admit it, I read a couple of Austen blogs and dream of going to Bath.) Since this is the 200th birthday of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, she has posted a S&S Challenge. I’m game,but in exploring the rules, etc. I found that there are several Jane Austen challenges for 2011. The Diary of an Eccentric blog lists several. So, at the end of this first week of January I am going to ponder my options. I will report back this weekend. Perhaps, like the Eccentric, I will chose a couple.

Any suggestions on this front? A SENSE AND SENSIBILITY challenge? The Jane Austen Mystery Challenge (I haven’t read this series, but may try one before I jump in). Or just a general Jane Challenge.

Considering I watched two versions of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and one of EMMA last weekend alone, nevermind the fact that the Colin Firth BluRay PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is on order…perhaps giving a name to my obsession will make it less…obsessive.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Challenge Conclusion

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I did not get to all the versions, and didn’t even discuss (save Patrick Stewart) stage versions. But I did cover a lot of ground.

Conclusions?

Despite rewatching and discovering this many versions, I still love the story.

There isn’t a formula for what works. But the versions that work best don’t shy away from the difficult parts, and they lay off the sentimentality.

The message is as relevant today as ever, if not more so.

And so, a Merry Christmas to all. God bless us, everyone.

Patrick Stewart in A CHRISTMAS CAROL

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I have blogged before about Patrick Stewart’s brilliant CHRISTMAS CAROL on stage, and the wonderful CD of his reading. In 1999 he played Scrooge in a full version on TNT. So in love with the stage version was I that I gave this version more than a passing grade, but I did not give it its due. This Christmas Carol challenge has given me a lot to think about. And I decided to end the challenge with this version. Because it is, in my estimation, practically perfect. (I don’t like the eyes of the Ghost of Christmas Future. They take away from the rest of him. That’s my only quibble with this version.)

I suspect that it excels for a number of reasons. This version is so faithful to Dickens, with all of the prerequisites I mentioned before in place. The cast is fabulous, and the production values are outstanding. You have a sense of the place and time–cold, dirty, difficult living in Victorian England.

And then there is Patrick Stewart. What an actor. He knows this role, and carries the subtext in his bones. The tragic look on his face as he watches his younger self lose Belle, knowing the consequences. And his pleading to “go after her” and “speak, why doesn’t he speak?” His fondness for Fezziwig, and appreciation for the lessons he offered, but Scrooge didn’t learn. The slow transformation of Scrooge that is visible throughout the show. I realize that filming makes this subtlety difficult, but Mr. Stewart does such a great job. I love that his transformation is because of the whole experience, and not just the fear of being dead and left alone. And I also love that his Scrooge isn’t over the top. He is a very normal man who has chosen the wrong path. George C. Scott had a similar portrayal in this way–he is not a caricature, but is rather a recognizable man. Which makes him more recognizable, and more scary.

If you ever have the opportunity to see Mr. Stewart do his CHRISTMAS CAROL on stage, run, do not walk. (If you ever have a chance to see him do any part on stage, do not hesitate. He is an amazing actor.) But don’t neglect this wonderful version of my favorite story.