• Starting on a sad note: Polish poet and Nobel Laureate Wislawa Szymborska has passed away at age 88. Her poetry, which I counted among my very favorites, was appreciated for its simple words and playful construction with deeper currents of life underneath. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1996, and was referred to as the “Mozart of poetry” by the Nobel selection committee.
• And as awards season rolls on, the film version of Kathryn Stockett’s The Help won three Screen Actors Guild awards and received a handful of Oscar nominations as well. The cast took home the Best Acting Ensemble Award for their portrayal of the women in a Southern town, the rich white women and the black domestics they hired. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, who portrayed maids Abileen and Minny, respectively, were both nominated for acting Oscars, which will be awarded in late February.
• Classics be damned? In their analysis of the books available for World Book Night (occurring in April), Book Riot makes a bold case against reading the classics. Their primary argument is that modern readers want to read modern, contemporary literature – literature that reflects their lives – and most classic lit, while classic for a reason, is simply outdated and old-fashioned. I certainly agree with them, to a point. Modern, contemporary novels are much more accessible, especially to reluctant readers of all ages. But I think there’s still a case to be made for the timelessness of classic literature. Most modern love stories are simply rifts on Romeo and Juliet or Pride and Prejudice, after all. What say you, bookworms?
• So THAT’s how you get a job! Actor Donald Sutherland was apparently so passionate about playing President Snow in the upcoming adaptation of The Hunger Games that he wrote a long, thoughtful analysis of Snow and mailed it to director Gary Ross. Not only did Ross end up casting Sutherland, he also wrote – with author Suzanne Collins’ approval – two additional scenes for Sutherland’s Snow not found in the book. There are hints that the new scenes involve more face-to-face time between Snow and inadvertent rebel leader Katniss and while I’m generally wary of messing with a good book, I think these additions just might be awesome.
• Now that it’s February, March is only a bit away and with it, The Hunger Games movie. A new trailer for the highly anticipated film was released this week and it literally gave me chills. With more glimpses of Katniss in the arena, a thoroughly entertaining Stanley Tucci (j’adore!) and that infamous Mockingjay pin, the new trailer is making me even more anxious for March.
• How long until April again? A full-length trailer for the new season of A Game of Thrones on HBO was released and it’s a doozy. Besides whetting the appetite of pretty much every George R.R. Martin fan alive (whether they have HBO or not), it also broke several records. Since being released on Sunday, the video has been viewed more than 3 million times on YouTube, a record for any online HBO promotional piece. The new season starts April 1.
• And now for the fun stuff, thanks to Book Riot: first up, those clever folks imagine what Downton Abbey might be like if it were cast with characters from literature. Let me just say that I called it first – Violet’s resemblance to Jane Austen’s Catherine de Bourgh; ever wonder what literary men think on Friday date nights? Now you can find out, with a handy flowchart that will take you through their entire (messed-up) thought process; and lastly, any book or movie fan should check out The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, an animated short film nominated for an Oscar. It’s whimsical and fun, exactly like books themselves.

As always, happy reading.

Alas, in this twelfth installment of the Adventures of Lil’ Will and Miss Jane, the new year has not started out so well. Despite several resolutions and strict surveillance by the Librarian Next Door, Lil’ Will and Miss Jane have already developed an addiction: Downton Abbey. In their defense, this was really the Librarian Next Door’s obsession and addiction that became theirs simply due to close proximity. But nevertheless, Lil’ Will and Miss Jane are now hooked.

Lil’ Will finds himself undeniably fascinated with the war scenes in the new season. As a playwright, he often wrote plays about political power moves between monarchs, but the limitations of the stage meant that, a few sword fights aside (RIP Mercutio and Tybalt), most of the battles had to occur off-stage. (Lil’ Will feels, perhaps quite rightly, that Henry V’s St. Crispin’s Day speech would have been more effective if he had been able to actually show Henry and the English winning the battle against the French.) As such, Lil’ Will has developed a bit of a man-crush on Matthew and Thomas. It’s the uniform. It’s always the uniform.

For her part, Miss Jane is secretly quite fond of Violet, the Dowager Countess. Aside from her adoration of Maggie Smith (because, really, who DOESN’T love Maggie Smith?), Miss Jane suspects that Violet bears more than a passing resemblance to her formidable grand lady, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Both are quite intimidated by change and would much rather maintain their positions over the rest of their families. But, in truth, Violet does have a heart, while Lady Catherine seems all claws.

Come back next month for more of The Adventures of Lil’ Will and Miss Jane!

* This post was inspired by Austenacious’ Jane Austen Action Figure posts. All the credit for the idea goes to them. The Lil’ Will and Miss Jane figures used in this post (and the pictures) are mine.

Prevarication (“pri-var-ih-cay-shun”)

Noun; from Dictionary.com:

1. The act of lying; a false or deliberate misstatement;
2. A false or evasive speech intended to mislead

“It’s my distinct impression that Sconce is virtually incapable of prevarication,” Olivia put in. (The Duke is Mine, Eloisa James)

A prevarication is, in its simplest form, a lie. The word has a long history, with Anglo-Norman, Middle French and Latin roots. The Latin stem word, praevaricari, means “to walk crookedly” or “to transgress.” It makes sense, then, that an older definition of prevarication referred to a deviation between right and wrong. When one lies, he or she is, in a sense, walking crookedly away from the truth. These days, a prevarication most typically refers to deceit or lies.

Your turn, bookworms – do you have a bad habit of engaging in prevarications? Do you trust book narrators who do?

[Photo Credit: Google Images]

First premiering on PBS in 1971 and produced by WGBH Boston, Masterpiece Theater (or simply Masterpiece) is one of public television’s greatest draws. With adaptations of classic works, original movies and miniseries and a who’s who list of acting alumni, Masterpiece is also one of the most honored television series in history, having won more than 30 Emmy Awards, 15 Peabody awards and 2 Academy Awards. Though it was originally one show, in 2008, Masterpiece was divided into three separate sections: Masterpiece Mystery, Masterpiece Contemporary, and my personal favorite Masterpiece Classic.

Traditionally, Masterpiece Classic airs in the winter and early spring months, from January to April. Classic is home to some of the best-known Masterpiece shows, including “Upstairs Downstairs,” “Brideshead Revisited,” and “Wives and Daughters.” Classic is the section that most often airs adaptations of classic works of literature and 2012 is no exception.

Following the conclusion of season two of Downton Abbey (airing now on Sundays), the 2012 season of Masterpiece Classic will see new versions of three classic novels:

• Two of Charles Dickens’ novels will be presented in the spring. The first, Great Expectations, will come to new life with Gillian Anderson (once a Masterpiece Classic presenter herself) taking on the role of Miss Havisham and Ray Winstone as Abel Magwitch.
• The second Dickens’ novel to air on Masterpiece Classic will be The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dickens’ final – and unfinished – novel. Matthew Rhys will star as John Jasper and Tamzin Merchant will play Rosa Bud.
• Lastly, Sebastian Faulk’s novel Birdsong about the life of one man before and after World War I, will be the third and final Masterpiece Classic show this year.

I certainly suggest that you also watch Downton Abbey as well, even if it wasn’t adapted from literature. A full schedule of all Masterpiece Classic performances as well as details about the shows themselves can be found on the Masterpiece website.

[Photo Credit: Google Images]

• It’s been a week for nominations and winners. First up, the ALA Youth Media Awards (better known as the Newbery, the Caledcott and the Printz Awards, among many others) were announced on Monday. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos won the Newbery Award, while Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley won the Printz. I was particularly excited to see David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary as an Alex Award honoree (given to “adult” books with teen appeal) and the Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults went to Susan Cooper, best known for her Dark is Rising series.
• I’m even scaring myself. Though not usually a fan of mysteries, I did pay attention to this year’s Edgar nominees. The Edgars (so named for Edgar Allen Poe) are awarded by the Mystery Writers of America in honor of Poe’s birthday. Not being one to scare myself (most of the time), I’m unfamiliar with nearly all the nominees, but my recent foray into the mystery world – The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson – is one of the young adult nominees. So at least when I do read mysteries I have good taste. The Edgars winners will be announced in April.
• Don’t get tired of awards yet. The National Book Critics Circle has also recently announced its nominees for the NBCC Awards (’tis the season, it seems).One-third of the American literary world’s award trifecta, the NBCC Awards honor fiction, nonfiction, criticism, poetry and (auto)biography. I must really be out of the loop, because the only book on the list that I recognized (let alone was familiar with) was Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Marriage Plot. I guess this means I won’t get to sit at the NBCC “cool kids” table? Oh well, let me talk about something I do know…
• Oscar nominations! I am all over the pop culture. The Academy Award nominations were announced this week and, per usual, several of the films have literary antecedents.Aside from the obvious contenders in the Adapted Screenplay category, some of the other more well-known nominees are from the film versions of The Help, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The gorgeous adaptation of Jane Eyre (with Michael Fassbender, mmmmyesplease) received a nomination for costumes and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 received a few of the technical awards (even if it get get robbed in the Best Picture category). And if you have a chance, you should really watch one of the nominations for Best Animated Short Film, titled “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.” The title says it all.
• With less than two months to go before it hits the silver screen, Hunger Games excitement is starting to grow. Recently, Publishers Weekly did a Q & A with Amandla Stenberg, the young actress who will portray Rue in the movie. Stenberg may very well end up being the heart of the film (and the cause of many, many, many tears – damn you, Suzanne Collins!), but she’s clearly up for it. In the interview, she talks about her love of the books, how she set about winning the role and the input from Suzanne Collins that had her adjusting her perspective of one particular scene.

As always, happy reading!

“The sun is rising behind Downton Abbey, a great and splendid house in a great and splendid park. So secure does it appear that it seems as if the way of life it represents will last for another thousand years. It’s won’t.”

Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “most critically acclaimed television show” for 2011, Downton Abbey has taken the world by storm. The massively popular show was originally intended as a one-off miniseries; it did so remarkably well that the second season is now airing in the U.S. (having already aired in the U.K.) and a third season is in the works.

To complement the show, Jessica Fellowes (the niece of Downton scribe and executive producer Julian Fellowes) has written The World of Downton Abbey. Both a behind-the-scenes look at the show and its characters and a remarkably detailed exploration of British history at the beginning of the 20th century, The World of Downton Abbey is an impressively researched book every fan should have. Written with the cooperation of many members of the television show’s production crew, the book is both gorgeous, thanks to numerous photographs from the set, and well-written and engaging.

The book is divided into several chapters that delve deeper into the different aspects of life in England in the years leading up to and during the First World War. Chapters such as “Family Life,” “Society,” “Life in Service” and “House & Estate” provide a closer look at the day-to-day process of keeping a large country home like Downton functioning and thriving. Using the characters as examples, Jessica Fellowes explains how a young man like William or a young woman like Anna might get their start as a servant to a great family, while also outlining the history that brought American heiresses like Cora to England so they could marry into the aristocracy.

Other chapters (“Change” and “War”) focus on the vast and numerous changes that accompanied World War I. Here, the history is particularly important as it helps clarify the issues behind the storylines in the television show. The rise of socialism, the Irish troubles, and the general weakening of the power of the older generations all offer ample inspiration for the writers and the actors. Perhaps the most fascinating realization from The World of Downton Abbey was the realization that, in many ways, the world of Downton and the lives of its inhabitants act as a metaphor, mirroring our own rapidly changing world:

Life at the turn of the twentieth century was not so different from our own a hundred years later. Just as ongoing developments in technology influence the way we communicate, travel, life and work now, the Edwardians labored to adapt to the fast, furious arrival of abundant inventions. (pg. 72)

Throughout each chapter, there are sidebars filled with pictures and more details about specific characters or positions within the Downton world or a closer look at one aspect of the television show. Fellowes often includes notes about real people who inspired certain characters (for example, the real newspapers magnates who gave life to Sir Richard Carlisle) or insights about the skills and education a servant might need to perform their job. Additionally, the book is peppered with quotes from producers, actors, and the television show itself, offering an intimate glimpse of how this intricate and well-staged world comes together.

The World of Downton Abbey is as lavish as the Earl of Grantham’s drawing room and as practical as the maids’ uniforms. Brimming with information, details and histories, it is an indispensable companion to the enormously popular television show. It’s an absolute must-have for any Downton Abbey fan. 

[Photo Credit: Goodreads]

Sagacious (“suh-gay-shuhs”)

Adjective; from Dictionary.com:

1. Having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd;
2. Wise, sage, clever, intelligent; sharp

“I am aware of that,” the dowager said, thawing a trifle. “I have met your mother on several occasions, and she always struck me as remarkably sagacious for one of her rank.” (The Duke is Mine, Eloisa James)

Sagacious was coined sometime during the early 1600′s, stemming from the French-rooted word “sagacity” which, in turn, comes from Latin words sagax (“of quick perception”) and sagire (“to perceive by/from the senses”). Originally, one who was sagacious was known for having a keen or acute senses, particularly the sense of smell. That meaning is nearly obsolete now and a person who is sagacious is someone who is especially perceptive and aware of the world around them, using their intelligence to their advantage.

Your turn, bookworms – do you consider yourself sagacious? Which literary character would you consider the most sagacious?

[Photo Credit: Google Images]

Darkness Falls is the second book in Cate Tiernan’s Immortal Beloved trilogy. It builds upon the solid foundation Tiernan set up in the first book and then delves deeper into the lives, histories and magical roots of the world she has created. There are more details about the lives of immortals, the magic they possess (for good or for evil) and the great possibilities and dangers that exist as a result. Tiernan still includes echoes of her Sweep series with the basics of immortal magic, but Nastasya and her friends are reside wholly within their own story.

Readers will be alternatively thrilled and shocked by the revelations about some characters, while also on edge as Nastasya struggles with new internal and external threats. While the pace of the novel does start a little slow, I appreciated having the time to fall back into this world. There’s not much “rehash” of information from the first book (which I also appreciated), but there’s also no rush to start the action. The story builds realistically and once the excitement and danger becomes obvious, I couldn’t read fast enough, turning pages furiously to find out what would happen next.

The best part of this book – and the series – is Nastasya. Even as a 400+ year old immortal, she’s still completely relatable. She’s sarcastic and snarky, but in Darkness Falls especially, she’s also vulnerable, filled with self-doubt and trying so valiantly to do the right thing. The Nastasya of this book is quite different from the Nastasya of the first book and I absolutely love that. Readers can clearly see how much she’s changed, how much she’s learned and how far she still has to go. Her witty asides to the reader made me feel as if I were listening to a friend confide in me and helped provide some moments of levity to balance the seriousness and heaviness of her story. And while those asides are Nastasya’s way of deflecting and covering up her real feelings, I still understood exactly how hard she was trying to be better and I loved her all the more because of it.

When I first finished, I was quite surprised with the choices Tiernan made. I had expected the conflict that occurs in the climax of Darkness Falls to come in the third and final book in the series. As such, I was left wondering where Tiernan could possibly take the story. But the more I think about it, the more I realize just how much I still don’t know. There are still so many unresolved questions (not the least of which is Reyn and his complicated past). Things that have only been hinted at in Darkness Falls could come back and I’m excited to see where Tiernan will take Nastasya next.

Cate Tiernan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, thanks in part to Darkness Falls and Nastasya. At times familiar and at times new and different, Tiernan has created a fascinating world of immortals and magic, a world in which our choices define who we are and where everyone – even those who are hundreds of years old – is still learning. 

[Photo Credit: Goodreads]

• Maybe you’ve heard of this SOPA / PIPA thing? Well, during Wikipedia’s protest earlier this week, the hashtag “Facts Without Wikipedia” popped up on Twitter. After all, without Wikipedia, how on earth are we supposed to know stuff?! Most were deliberately funny and tongue-in-cheek. Some of my favorites include the revelation that the Oxford English Dictionary is, in fact a murder mystery story (the zebra did it!) and that Astrid Lindgren is suing the authors of the PIPA bill for ripping off her signature character’s name.
• It’s a serious lack of women. Novelist Jennifer Weiner recently wrote a blog that analyzed the coverage the New York Times gave authors of both genders and, no surprise, women came up short. Of the fiction reviews she looked at, nearly 60% – more than half – were for books written by men. And when it came to authors who were reviewed more than once, ten were men and a lonely one was a women. It almost makes you think that the New York Times doesn’t like fiction written by women. Hmmm…
• Let’s get ready to rumble! The 2012 Tournament of Books brackets were released this week and Book Riot has already starting speculating on which book will claim the top prize. The bracket includes some of the best-loved books of 2011, including Eugenides’ The Marriage Plot and Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder. Much like the March Madness college basketball tournament – only much cooler – the Tournament of Books pits novels against each other in a fight to the finish.
• Why read the book when you can see the movie? Publisher’s Weekly has a top ten list of the most anticipated book-to-film adaptations coming in 2012. Of course, The Hunger Games is on the list (but only at number 3!), along side a Keira Knightley-starring version of Anna Karenina, the first film of The Hobbit adaptation (!!!!), and the much-hyped film version of The Great Gatsby, starring Leonard DiCaprio (remember when he used to be cute?). All the films have varying release dates over the next 11 months. (And I was kidding about not reading the books. OF COURSE you should read the books first. Obviously.)
• Since we’re on the subject of movie adaptations, here is this week’s obligatory photo from the highly anticipated upcoming Hunger Games movie. It gives a great sneak peek at the outfit that will propel Katniss to “Girl Who was on Fire” status and, of course, it has Cinna, who is pure awesome. (There’s also that guy playing Peeta. Whatever.)
• I’m not sure I imagined it being so….swirly. Bookshelves of Doom re-posted a fan-made imagined map of The Hunger Games’ Panem, the country that replaces the United States in Suzanne Collins’ creation. Collins gives few clues as to where each district is located, though Katniss and Peeta’s District 12 is clearly in the modern-day mid-Atlantic, East Coast, Appalachian region. If the map were real, I would apparently live in the wilderness. So, yay for not being under President Snow’s thumb?
• Alike and equal are not the same. 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Madeleine L’Engle’s amazingly fantastic childhood classic, A Wrinkle in Time. The publishers are planning a bunch of blog-based celebrations and the ladies of Forever Young Adult reminisced about the first time they read the book. If you were ever a fan of Meg Murray and Charles Wallace, if you ever wanted to really know what a tesseract was, and if you know that love conquers all, you’ll read their ode to one of the greatest books ever (and no, that’s not hyperbole).

As always, happy reading!

With Mr. Darcy’s Diary, Amanda Grange tackles the mystery that is Fitzwilliam as she explores his thoughts, feelings and emotions during his rocky courtship with Lizzie. There have been (and, no doubt, will continue to be) many novels written from Darcy’s perspective, ruminating on his point of view during his ill-fated proposal and Lizzie’s first visit to Pemberley, but I feel like Grange really captured Darcy’s “voice.” Grange’s interpretation of his mannerisms and behaviors seemed to mirror Austen’s original Darcy quite closely. In Pride and Prejudice, Darcy is aloof, proud and reticent. We’re meant to think he’s a snob. Grange looks behind Darcy’s public persona and gives him fears, doubts and uncertainties to go along with his sense of arrogance. It makes him seem much more complex.

Mr. Darcy’s Diary fills in much of the backstory concerning Georgiana and Mr. Wickham and provides readers with the chance to see Elizabeth from Darcy’s perspective. We watch as his struggles with his feelings and then struggles to accept the truth of his actions after his disastrous first proposal. Grange even includes a lot of Austen’s original dialogue during some of the more important scenes. The proposal, for example, comes alive because of the inclusion of Austen’s sharp wit and excoriating retorts. I liked the Grange took the trouble to stay close to the original novel and retain the language. It added a sense of authenticity to the book as well as a sense of comfort.

My one complaint, which kept me from loving this book as much as I had hoped to, was the feeling that Grange’s Darcy didn’t quite demonstrate a complete change of heart. After Lizzie’s refusal of his proposal, it takes him a while to finally admit that he might have been wrong. And though he does acknowledge some of his faults, he still holds on to others. This might make him more human, but it also disappointed me a bit. I’ve always imagined a Darcy who was truly contrite, as opposed to one who was merely willing to push aside his dislike of someone for Lizzie’s sake.

Still, for any self-respecting Austen fan, Amanda Grange’s Mr. Darcy’s Diary is a quick, easy, and enjoyable book to read. I quite like the idea of Darcy keeping a diary; it seems like exactly the sort of thing that he would do. And seeing Austen’s world and its events from his perspective is a lot of fun. Mr. Darcy’s Diary isn’t perfect, but neither is Darcy and I already like him just as he is.

[Photo Credit: Goodreads]