This book was wonderful. I loved reading about Mr. Knightley's feelings, and seeing how he gradually fell inMr. Knightley, forever favourite <3
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This book was wonderful. I loved reading about Mr. Knightley's feelings, and seeing how he gradually fell in love with Emma. In Jane Austen's original, it is said that he has "loved her ever since she was thirteen", but in Mr. Knightley's Diary, he takes a heck of a time to figure out that the reason why he enjoys his evenings at Hartfield above any other evenings, and that he likes to look at Emma more than at any other woman is because he loves her, but I rather enjoyed this new perspective on his feelings. His downright dislike for Frank Churchill was so funny. I mean, the man would do nothing more than, say, enter a room and fix his appearance, and Knightley would think "Just who does he think he is, tying his neckcloth like he owns the place!". We don't really get to see how Emma dislike Jane Fairfax the same way Knightley dislikes Churchill, but the general idea of that was there too and I find it humorous. Just get together my dears!, would think within their first evening together at Hartfield!
Mr. Woodhouse was the same as ever, (in fact, all the characters were pretty much the same as ever! That is what is so great about Amanda Grange's diaries - you don't feel as though you are reading a different story with the same character names, but you actually feel like you are reading Emma again, from the hero's point of view) worried sick that everyone would get sick, and pitying all the unfortunate ladies who got tied up in wedlock. I love the additional characters (Knightley's friend) and the idea of having a match made for Miss Bates too! She was always such a kind and caring woman, I was very happy that she would get HEA too :)
Je me souviens avoir bien aimé ce petit livre écrit sous forme de journal, d'une jeune fille Française pendant la Première guerre Mondiale. Elle écritJe me souviens avoir bien aimé ce petit livre écrit sous forme de journal, d'une jeune fille Française pendant la Première guerre Mondiale. Elle écrit pendant les quatres années de la guerre, alors que ses frères sont au front....more
As I had never actually read this one ( I think I read up to book 7), I picked it out today even though I realized that my love for this serie had endAs I had never actually read this one ( I think I read up to book 7), I picked it out today even though I realized that my love for this serie had ended when I picked up Princess in Love yesterday.
Mia is more annoying than ever. She is the most feather-brained, thoughtless, and idiotic heroine ever. If she could just take 5 minutes to breathe in and out and stop making a freaking dramatization out of every single thing that happened in her life, maybe she would attain her goal of self-realization. But no. Apparently being a princess isn't enough, she also has to be a queen. A drama queen.
And up until here I actually liked Michael, but in this one, I have to admit that I sided with Mia at the end (her freaking out on him at the end is the only forgivable thing she did- even though she acted out of selfishness and not out of principle); what an effin asshole.
Seriously I'm so pissed with these books, I won't even bother to read 9 & 10...it's just more likely to destroy entirely the good memories associated with reading these books when I was young.
I still love the movies, however!!! They are so different from the books, and well, it's with Anne Hathaway, so what's not to like?!...more
Alright. The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte. There is so much that I wanted to say about this book, but I can't even recall half of what I meant tAlright. The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte. There is so much that I wanted to say about this book, but I can't even recall half of what I meant to write. This was the book that I chanced to bring with me during my recent move trip, from Canada to the States. I must admit that it helped me a great deal, because I was feeling very stressed, but upon entering into the lives of the Brontë family, it made me momentarily forget my worries and anxieties. I owe Syrie James many hours of delight with this book.
Can I truly consider myself a Brontë fan?
Prior to starting this novel, the only work that I had ever read by a Brontë was Jane Eyre, which I loved, and the only thing I knew about the author was that she and Emily and Anne were sisters. I also knew of Wuthering Heights's existence, as well as The Tenant of Wildfell-Hall's, but that's it. I knew nothing about them.
Now after reading The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë, I feel as though I know a great deal more about them, and am thoroughly eager to read all their works and biographies. If Syrie James hoped to give the Brontë sisters more fans with her book, she definitely succeeded with me!
This novel was absolutely wonderful. Charlotte was an amazing heroine and Mr. Nicholls no doubt became my new obsession of the moment. Their love story was just beautiful. I felt a great deal of respect and awe for Mr. Nicholls towards the end, when it is revealed that he has been in love so long with Charlotte, and that he had had to wait almost 10 years before marrying her! First she hated him, then he learned that she was a famous author and felt unworthy to be with her, and then, just when she begins to warm up to the idea of being his wife, he is cruelly rejected by her friends and family! I felt incredibly bad for him, especially since his reward of finally getting Charlotte was so short-lived.
Although this book is incredibly sad (I've lost count of how many people pass away!!), it is very well-written, deeply intriguing and well worth reading. It gives an excellent insight of the hard life that women of lower classes led during the 19th century.
I enjoyed the fact that, although a little modernly written, James had her characters act true to the period. She did not include graphic details of marital life, to which I was immensely grateful for. I hate it so when contemporary authors include sex scenes in period novels! Of course I know people had intercourse back then too, but to write it in a novel was extremely out of place. Just think, Jane Eyre was considered a shocking novel at the time of its publication, because of the allusions to Mr. Rochester's past mistresses!
There was a little wedding night scene, but it wasn't detailed enough (only what leads to the act is described, aka, the brushing of the hair) to make me uncomfortable, and though it made me blush, I thought that it was very beautiful.
My only complaint with this book was with all the mistakes in French. I did not mind that French sentences were woven throughout the story, but as a speaker of the language it was extremely annoying to encounter error upon error every time something was written in French. It's like if someone published a book in a foreign language and had English parts here and there, and instead of writing "you're" when it's supposed to be, would write "your" instead. How many of you would go nuts?! Right. It's annoying. If you're going to include another language in the book, it must be done properly or not at all.
But besides that minor annoyance, The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë was an incredible read and I am so looking forward to reading The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen!!!...more
For the last few days now, I have happily escaped into the world of Northanger Abbey; first reading the novel by Austen, then watching the 2007 movie For the last few days now, I have happily escaped into the world of Northanger Abbey; first reading the novel by Austen, then watching the 2007 movie adaptation a few times, and finally by reading Henry Tilney's Diary, just to get more of these characters, to lose myself in Regency Bath and the old Abbey, and of course, to see everything through Henry's eyes.
I have come to look upon Amanda Grange as some sort of Austen authority; if she wrote it in one of the diaries, it must have really happened like that off-stage in Jane Austen's novels. I love her take so much on the heroes' points of view that I don't find myself questioning anything she writes. If she says it happened like that for the hero, it did.
Admittedly, Henry Tilney's Diary was a little slow-paced, often included useless passages/dialogue including mainly big quoted paragraphs from A Sicilian Romance which didn't really add anything to the story, but aside from that it was very enjoyable, if you're like me and a devoted Henry Tilney fan who cannot get enough of him. It was wonderful to relive Northanger Abbey through Henry's perspective and to be there with him while he met Catherine, danced with her, teased her, conversed with her. I often wish Jane Austen had included her heroes' points-of-view in her novels, but as she didn't Grange's diaries come in really handy, and although you probably wouldn't ever catch any JA hero writing in a diary, the premise is fun, and the delivery is well done.
This cute and perfectly charming little book read very easily and made for a really relaxing, soothing read, which I strongly recommend to all JAFF fans out there.
"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."
One of my favourite quotes, typically Henry Tilney and perfect for blabbing out to your friends who "think reading is boring and/or a waste of time". ;)...more
And I am now officially hooked on Amanda Grange's Austen heroes diaries!!! Captain Wentworth's Diary was wonderful! I enjoyed reading the story througAnd I am now officially hooked on Amanda Grange's Austen heroes diaries!!! Captain Wentworth's Diary was wonderful! I enjoyed reading the story through his point of view so much, especially as he had always appeared to me as one of the most enigmatic and intriguing Austen heroes. Now after this lovely novel by Amanda Grange, I feel like I know Wentworth and I understand him much more. Grange remained true to the original Persuasion, but she also recounted Anne and Wentworth's first meetings, falling in love and broken first engagement. I enjoyed that part of the story excessively and it had me hooked for the rest!
The diary was very well done, and though I don't necessarily imagine the Austen heroes actually keeping a diary (it's more something that like, Catherine Morland would do, you know), I was surprised at how well it worked and helped to deliver a very straightforward point of view! The style of writing was simple and elegant, and the novel read very fast! I had a hard time to put it down.
What I really appreciated of Captain Wentworth's Diary, besides the beautiful love story, was the strong relationship that Frederick had with his brother Edward, which we don't really get to see in Persuasion. I loved the way Captain Wentworth would confide in him, and tell him everything about Anne. One could tell that Edward was very sympathetic and wanted what was best for his brother. Usually Austen explores that bond through sisterhood, so it was nice that one of her heroes had a similar bond with a brother.
Grange also managed to make me feel the same things I felt for each character when I read Persuasion: admiration, respect and compassion for Anne, disgust at Sir Walter and Miss Elliot, mockery at Mary, nothing special for the Musgroves girls (but of course compassion for Louisa when she injures herself!) and hardly-contained hatred and annoyance for Mr. Elliott. And of course vapours towards Wentworth! In fact, in all honesty, I preferred in this novel, because we were made aware of his true feelings and so we could understand the motives of his actions.
I strongly recommend it to Austen fans, especially to those who do not like to see the story modified. Thank you to all who recommend Amanda Grange and/or the Austen heroes diaries! I owe you many hours of pleasure! Special thanks to Maria for doing a buddy read of it with me (I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! It was so much fun!) and to Soph for sharing/listening to my comments about the book! :)...more
-Bingley said he wanted to rent an estate in the country. Pff! HJuly
-Tried to find Georgiana a house in London
-Went to a dinner
-Went to another dinner
-Bingley said he wanted to rent an estate in the country. Pff! He'll be leaving it in a few weeks!
-Went to another dinner
-Decided to surprise Georgie in Ramsgate, but oh my gosh, I was the one who got surprised! And a terrible surprise at that. Wickham is on my black list forever.
August
-I did nothing interesting in August, but still wrote many entries.
September
-So, Bingley was serious about this estate-in-the-country-thing, and I went with him to see Netherfield in Hertfordshire.
-The neighbourhood sucks and the neighbours are tedious.
October
-Went to the Meryton assembly and nearly died...OF BOREDOM!!
-I hate the country.
-Country folks are so...so...ARGH, so....I just can't even. I'm so above them, that I don't even know why I'm here!
-Bingley got a new flirt. Wow, didn't take him long.
-They almost made me dance with Elizabeth Bennet. *shudders* I'm so way too good for her.
November
-Went to another horribly tedious party. UGH. THESE PEOPLE ARE SO BELOW ME!
-That Lizzy Bennet is so smug. She's actually a little bit pretty though. Her eyes are quite fine. Actually, yeah, she's passably good-looking.
-Her performance on the pianoforte is good though, let's all admit it.
-She is intelligent.
-And witty.
-And...cute.
-I stared at her the whole time today.
-OH GOD SHE CAME TO NETHERFIELD!!!!
-ELIZABEEETHHHHHHHHH!!!!
-Bingley hosted a ball today and I DANCED WITH ELIZABETH!!!
-Wait. WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING??! I can't be with Elizabeth!! I can't admire her! Her mother is a harpy, her youngest sister is a slut AND SHE HAS AN UNCLE IN CHEAPSIDE!!
-Bingley, let's get out of here. NOW. Jane doesn't love you. Listen to me. WE NEED TO LEAVE.
December
-Pheewwwwww crisis averted. Now let's forget Elizabeth Bennet. Should be easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, because a man of my standing could never become allied to such a family as hers.
-Is Bingley still thinking about Jane? No, right? I mean, she was just his flirt. She didn't expect anything from him. Why should she? WE ARE SO MUCH ABOVE THEM!!
-Elizabeth.
-Elizabeth.
-Elizabeth.
January
-What is Elizabeth doing.
February
-Is Bingley still thinking about Jane? No, of course not. HE NEEDS TO FORGET HER, OKAY???
-I miss Elizabeth's fine eyes.
April
-ELIZABETH IS AT MY AUNT'S HOUSE!!!!!!!!
-I totally lied, I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN HER.
-OOOOOOHHHH she looked at me today.
-She must be SO happy to see me! ME! THE DARCY OF PEMBERLEY! Who wouldn't want me around?!
-She's probably expecting my proposal. Probably has been expecting it for a loooonnggggg time. I WILL DO IT TODAY. I wonder how she'll say yes.
-WWHHHAAAAAATTTTTT IN THE WORLD JUST HAPPENED????!!! SHE DARED TO REFUSE THE DARCY OF PEMBERLEY?! I don't get it. Her LOW connections. My AWESOMELY HIGH connections. Her STUPID family. My prestigious one. I LOVE HER AGAINST MY PRINCIPLES AND MY CHARACTER, AND EVEN TOLD HER AS MUCH, AND SHE REFUSES ME??!
***
OKAY, NO. I love Amanda Grange, and so far have enjoyed every book by her that I've read. I usually LOVE her take on Austen heroes. But THIS. WHAT WAS THIS???! Darcy was portrayed as the most pompous, vain, conceited being ever imagined. He was as bad as Mr. Collins! When he wasn't saying how much better he was than everyone else, he was either trying to convince himself that loving Elizabeth was a big no-no, or that Bingley and Jane could never happen. And when it wasn't that, it was listening to Caroline and not being annoyed by her, AND TELLING HIS COUSIN FITZWILLIAM THAT SHE WAS AN ADMIRABLE WOMAN HE SHOULD CONSIDER MARRYING. What on earth.
It could have been amusing had it not also been tediously filled with pointless dinners and walks around parks, and if I hadn't set out reading this with the intention of falling for Mr. Darcy in the first place. This book gave me such a disgust of Darcy that I'm tempted to take back all I just wrote about him in my review of P&P. NO MORE SWOONY. Do not talk to me of Darcy for now, or I shall say something I regret.
I mean, Caroline Bingley a woman worth marrying his cousin? Granted, Caroline was hilarious in this book with her snarky little comments, BUT DARCY IS SUPPOSED TO DISLIKE HER. He didn't even see until almost the end that she was trying to win him and his Pemberley! Not only was he super arrogant and a major d*ck-head, but he couldn't even see what was going on under his very nose half the time.
I'm sorry, but this book just did not work. It was boring, and Darcy was seen in a truly awful light. ...more
I remember being SO excited to read this one. It was unusual because the setting was different; instead of being Abby's house/her school, she was stayI remember being SO excited to read this one. It was unusual because the setting was different; instead of being Abby's house/her school, she was staying at her Grandma's with her cousin Cleo (or is it Chloe?). I remember really liking the banter and rivalry between the cousins, and all the adventures they had. It was a very fun book!...more