Jane Austen Monday: Various and Sundry Sharing

No, I'm not starting a new blog series of Jane Austen Monday, though I would dearly love to.  I just wanted to share some links before this month ends.  January 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Austen's Pride &Prejudice.  As longtime readers will know here, Austen is probably my favorite author and I read and re-read her books regularly.  I have at least four shelves on two different bookcases full of multiple copies of her novels (including The Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen, a present from my husband several years back), biographies, graphic novel versions, retellings and so forth.

I discovered from getting the newsletter of the Jane Austen Centre that it was planning a live reading of P&P.  I can't seem to find the latest news on the read-a-thon (here is an earlier story about it), but I think it is a great idea, and I would enjoy getting to stream parts of it if they still do it.

Earlier this month my daughters and I hosted a Jane Austen tea party that was surprisingly fun for all ages.  We had lots of tea, some of my favorite scones. My cell phone photos snapped throughout the day did not turn out very well.  I'm sure that is shocking and never happens to you.  So I'm sharing images and video here from around the web.

We played the "Pride & Prejudice" board game, available from the game designer here.  Actually, the moms were busy visiting and laughing in the kitchen, so none of us got to play the game.  The teens and little girls played the game.  From what I can gather, it was quite a competitive event.  Very fun. (and yes, I would love to get A Christmas Carol game made by the same company, in case anyone is looking for present ideas for me for next Christmas).

On the subject of Jane Austen-inspired games, here is a link to a Jane Austen trivia game.  I may have to add this to my wish list for next year's party, though nothing can top the P&P board game, in my mind.

More details from the party:

Food and drink.  We had many kinds of tea, as well as hot chocolate.  But the tea was the biggest hit, even for the younger ones.

This mug, also a gift from my husband, reads, "There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort."  This was actually not used at the party, since I had out our "good" china teacups, and various other assorted proper teacups (with saucers).

I made my famous scones in two versions: plain cream scones, and cinnamon chip scones.  How I make my scones is a state secret. Actually, it's too complicated for me to share in a n online recipe.  If any of the party-goers would like to know how to make my scones, I would be glad to have you over for a personal tutorial.

My favorite find of the last year was a recipe for homemade cinnamon chip scones.  They absolutely make the scones!  Here the DIY recipe that I basically use--I don't think I changed anything.  (I am infamous for changing recipes a little here or there, which is what makes my scone recipe so unreliable read off the page).

I also made (and changed slightly) Pippa Middleton's Millionaire Shortbread (this is a link to Pippa's tumblr recipe for it; unfortunately, it's in British measures, but this is the recipe).  This is from her newish book, Celebrations, that I picked up off the new books shelf at our local library.  It's actually a really nicely done book--reminiscent of Martha Stewart books, but not quite as fussy.

When I was cutting the layered shortbread the night before the party, my husband and I sampled it, and we thought "meh."  I was sort of annoyed to have spent the time and butter for it, because as I said, plain shortbread would have been just fine.

Apparently a night's rest does wonders for the stuff, because it was the huge hit of the party and praised by everyone, and there were not even crumbs left over.  I tried some again when everyone was raving about how good it was, and I did like it better.

I also enlisted a friend who volunteered to come early to make cucumber sandwiches.  She had several teens on an assembly line, and they turned out two terrific versions of cucumber sandwiches.  I don't have a photo of them, unfortunately!

I had put on the invitation that promptly at 3 p.m., we would start a showing of the 1995 BBC version of Pride & Prejudice (the Colin Firth version).  I thought perhaps a few of the teens and moms not too busy would want to stay, but it was a busy weekend.  It turns out it was just the Picciones, so we opted to wait until everyone left shortly before 5 p.m. to start watching.  We only got through the first DVD of this (meaning the first 3 hours) that day, and still haven't watched the rest.  We really need to finish it before the month is out.

Now for one more book to relate specifically to Jane Austen in the modern culture.  Last year,  I received a review copy of The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After by Elizabeth Kantor.  Kantor argues compellingly how Jane Austen-manners (not dancing the right way or wearing Regency gowns, but rather guarding your emotions, learn about potential partners within the context of your family & friends, and so forth).  It's a pretty sensible guide, but definitely meant for college or post-college aged women. Worth a read!

Do you have an obsession for Jane Austen, like me?  What are you doing to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Pride & Prejudice?

Finally, here is one super sweet British video about the lure of Jane Austen and Bath.  Makes me want to go back right now.

First, What Are You Reading? Volume 23, July 2012

Updated:  I've added back in the link I made many moons ago, but haven't used in also many moons, since Bonnie was gracious enough to write her own here on her blog, Learning to be a Newlywed.

Here are my answers to the four questions I ask on the first of each month:
first, what are you reading?
what do you like best about it?
what do you like least?
what's next on your list to read?

As always, I hope you'll consider your current reads on your blog and/or sharing here in the comments or on Facebook.  Happy reading!

First, what are you reading?  

All the Money in the World: What the Happiest People Know About Getting and Spending by Laura Vanderkam.

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

What do you like best about them? 

Vanderkam is a kindred spirit; she’s one of those writers I read (surprisingly rare) who I wish I could go out for coffee with and just gab.  She seems like an interesting person who would make a good friend.  I really enjoy her writing style and her general take on things.

Last year, I read Vanderkam’s first book 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think and reviewed it in a prior “first, what are you reading?”    I liked that book pretty well, but I really  enjoyed All the Money in the World.

All the Money in the World explores the ways people spend money and how we can be more intentional about spending, saving and giving.  Every chapter offers very specific ideas and conversation starters.  Like 168 Hours, Vanderkam offers outside-the -box ideas for tackling the specifics.  For instance, she recommends people think of how life would change if you had all the money in the world, or at least all the money you needed.  Would you quit your job? Travel more? Give more to charity?  Then she challenges .  She also recommends people keep a

Vanderkam has a great chapter on dreaming big when it comes to charitable giving.  I hate when books about finance don’t stress this.  She points out that being intentional and thinking creatively about giving to charity can be great for both the charity and one's own happiness.

This marks the umpteenth time that I have read Pride & Prejudice.    It may seem wrong for me, who has so much new to read, to revisit this book, but it makes me happy, so there.

The ostensible reason for reading P&P again is that last month, my daughters and I saw an excellent theater production of “Pride & Prejudice" at the Lifeline Theater in Chicago. I wrote about that here. It was a terrific production, and I highly recommend if you live in the area and love Jane Austen, you consider going to it.  We loved it!  It’s been extended until July 8, with good reason.  I wrote more about that here in my “literary pilgrimage.”

So after we saw it, I was determined to again re-read the novel and see how “lesser” lines from the play compare.  The play was remarkably true to the book, except in the play at several points, the character Elizabeth Bennet talked directly to the audience.   It was utterly charming and funny, and I loved that touch about the play.

What do you like least about them?

Really, I liked just a bout everything about All the Money in the World, except I wish I had more time to discuss it in our family and talk over financial literacy, and in particular passing that on to our children.

Last month, I wrote about how I found Michael Hyatt’s Platform helpful, but not as applicable to a busy mom.  I find both of Vanderkam’s books really helpful right now in my life, with a mix of work and family.

What’s next on your list to read?

I wish I could start reading Sense & Sensibility to keep reading Jane Austen, but I really need to branch out next month.

I’ve started to read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien with our 9-year-old.  We are having a great time, and I hope to work through the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy after finishing The Hobbit.  I’m not sure if anyone in our family will be going to see the forthcoming Hobbit movie this winter, but at least we will have read the book ahead of time if we decide to see it.

So, what are you reading these days?  Any books you would like to share?

A Literary Pilgrimage--Jane Austen

My account of our literary pilgrimage to Minnesota to see Betsy-Tacy sights proved so popular that I resolved to try to post more about my favorite authors and places.  I'm not going to post photos of England and Jane Austen sights today, but I do want to let Midwest readers know about a great play adaptation of a Jane Austen novel, since in my mind it qualifies as a literary pilgrimage.

Some years back, I had discovered a great Jane Austen fan blog called Austenblog. Margaret Sullivan writes there are about Jane Austen books, movies, adaptations, and spin-off books.  If you are a die-hard Janeite like me, it's really a lot of fun to get updates on Austen-related things.

Last year, through Austenblog, I found out about an adaptation of Sense & Sensibility at Northlight Theatre in the Chicago suburbs.  My older daughter and I went up to see the play--wonderful--and so enjoyed our time up there.  I think because I got on Northlight's mailing list, I received a postcard this spring about Lifeline Theater's production of Pride & Prejudice.  I resolved to take some combination of our family to see it in the spring, but life was too busy, and we never made it.  Finally one day a few weeks back I noticed the postcard on the fridge and thought, "Oh, we wanted to see that!"  Fortunately, the play was extended through July.  I was able to get tickets for myself and my daughters, and now that we've seen it I know why.

The actors were charming, the story was true to life, and we had a very fun day seeing a 4 p.m. showing one Sunday recently.  I highly, highly recommend seeing the play if you get the chance.  It's still around for a few more weeks.

So I've already described two pilgrimages already (the trip to see the play versions of Sense & Sensibility, and Pride & Prejudice). In another post I will share with you some photos from England and Jane Austen sites.

But I would like to end this post, for those who have not  had enough about Jane Austen already (how is that even possible?).  Please take a moment to view these two short and wonderful videos....

The first is a utterly charming video by a New Zealand singer, Holly Christina, of her song, "Dear Jane Austen."

Ashamed true confession here: when I first watched the video, on Austenblog, I left a comment saying that the non-Regency dress worn by Holly was distracting to me.  But the song was super catchy, and the singer and the entire video could NOT be any more appealing.

Even more ashamed true confessions:  the very singer, Holly Christina, sent me a very kind e-mail afterward the comment (she had found me through the explaining that she lives in New Zealand, and it was nigh impossible to find the right sort of Regency dress, but she really loves Jane Austen and hoped that I liked the video despite that.  I so meant to e-mail her back apologizing and saying how much I dearly loved the video, but I only remember at strange times, like while I'm out running or  elsewhere and not near a computer.   I also wanted to offer the sewing service of my teenager daughter, who made herself a Regency dress from a Sensibility.com pattern, and I'm sure would love to travel to New Zealand and make one for Holly.  At least it's nice to imagine that she could!

In any case, I never sent Holly Christina a message back, and so this becomes my blog apology, for all the world to see.  Holly, your video is delightful, you are gracious, and I look forward to even more great music from you in the future.

Finally, here is another great video put together by Margaret Sullivan and some others as a Henry Tilney spoof of the Old Spice commercials.  Favorite line: "I'm asking you to dance, unlike some gentlemen who refuse to dance. I love to dance, and you are handsome enough to tempt me."  Also LOVE that Henry Tilney has a puppy: