Everything Austen 2

Posted on June 16, 2010 by janicu

Everything Austen Challenge

I didn’t do so well with last year’s Everything Austen Challenge (I somehow forgot it was only 6 months long, so I managed 5 Austen-related books and movies not 6, although I did watch more Austen movies than I had posted about). I am trying again!!

Here are the details: “The Everything Austen Challenge will run for six months (July 1, 2010 – January 1, 2011)! All you need to do is pick out six Austen-themed things you want to finish to complete the challenge. You have until Thursday, July 15th 2010 to officially sign up.” More over at Stephanie’s Written Word

The books/movies I’m thinking about reading/watching:
1. Such a Girl by Karen Siplin (modern day Persuasion)
2. L ove, Lies and Lizzie (Jane Austen in the 21st Century) by Rosie Rushton
3. Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler (had this on my list last year but didn’t get to it)
4. Jane Austen in Boca by Paula Marantz Cohen
5. Becoming Jane movie
6. TBD BBC Jane Austen miniseries – (I’ve watched them all but rewatch them periodically. Of course)

These choices are subject to change

Possible alternatives are books I didn’t get into last year:

By a Lady by Amanda Elyot
Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Beth Pattilo

24-Hour Read-a-Thon

Posted on October 21, 2009 by janicu

After a lot of peer pressure from this woman, I finally succumbed and joined Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-A-Thon which is this Saturday. I’ll be posting updates throughout the day as I read, but only on the livejournal blog (I’ll probably just keep updating the same entry). This is my list of possible reads:

Cast In Silence by Michelle Sagara
Huntress by Caitlin Kittredge, Marjorie M. Liu, Christine Warren, and Jenna Maclaine
The Sookie Stackhouse books 2 onwards (I need to read them for another challenge)
Nightschool Vol. 1 (manga) by Svetlana Chmakova
Maximum Ride, Vol. 1 (manga) by James Patterson and NaRae Lee
Umm.. *eyes giant TBR*.. let’s see how it goes. I doubt I’ll read more than 2 books really.

Persuasion (1995)

Posted on July 17, 2009 by janicu

Persuasion: Captain Wentworth

Persuasion: Anne Elliot

I haven’t had a chance to mention it earlier, but I watched Persuasion, so one down, 5 to go in my Everything Austen Challenge. This is the 1995 version with Ciarán Hinds and Amanda Root . Liked this version just as much as ever. I like this about equally to the 2007 version with Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones, but for slightly different reasons. Um. I don’t usually review movies here, so just saying I watched it (for the eighth time or something) suffices I hope?!

Here’s a couple of things I found on youtube that are related. The Masterpiece Theatre trailer for this movie, which I thought made more sense than the Sony Classics trailer is for those who haven’t seen this Persuasion yet, and a fan video which hits all the highlights of the romance is for those who have:

July Book Blowout Challenge results

Posted on August 1, 2008 by janicu

OK so I finally joined a book challenge which was to read a much as I could in July. My goal was 7 books. I think I did well considering the whole wedding madness! Books read this month:

1) Frederica by Georgette Heyer

2) Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake

3) I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd have to Kill you/Cross My Heart And Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

4) Seraphs by Faith Hunter

5) Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre

6) Hotter Than Hell anthology edited by Kilm Harrison (still need to review this)

7) Dream Quest anthology edited by Linnea Sinclair and J.C. Wilder (also need to review)

8) Easy Connections by Liz Berry (again - need to review. This one left me a bit speechless).

Right now I started Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs (I'm happy so far and savoring it).

Not bad!! I can't decide if I was just more focused with time management this time, or if I was escaping the wedding plans, or if actually, it wasn't so bad with the wedding this month since we got the major things out of the way. I'll let you know how I feel once the family descends upon me.

Thank you everyone who signed up for the giveaway, passed along the information and sent well wishes. I really like hearing other people's wedding stories and advice too. Giveaway is of course still going on, so if you haven't entered, please do here (vox) or here (livejournal).

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July Book Blowout Challenge

Posted on July 2, 2008 by janicu

july 2008

So, I've been lazy with following the weekly geeks but week 9's one was participating in a challenge, and it just so happens there's a challenge I wanted to join. The July Book Blowout challenge was just to read more books in july: "The rules are simple – read as many books as you can between July 1 and 31 – and then by August 7 post a list of all of the books you read on your blog. Reviews are not required to take part."

So far this year I've read only 34 books. I think around this time last year I was at around 60. In June I read 7 books which was pretty good compared to the piddly 3 I read in May. So for July my goal is to read at least 7. Maybe this isn't such a good idea since it is the month before my wedding, but falalala, let's try.

By the way, my favorite book of June was Wicked Game by Jeri Smith Ready. I recommend it.

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