Christmas Specials 2014

My thoughts on the Christmas Specials from our beloved British shows from this year: 

Beware, there are spoilers here!

Merry Christmas!

Dear friends,

I would like to wish all of you and your loved ones a happy and blessed Christmas and 

all the best for 2015, in real life and in blogging!

Christmas cards!

It's December, time to think about sending out Christmas Cards! At LiveJournal, where I also blog, we have the 'tradition' to send each other Christmas cards and I thought it would be nice to do this here on Blogger as well. Would you like to receive a Christmas or holiday card?

If you'd like one, you can leave your address in the comments. You can delete the comment right after you made it (for privacy reasons) as the comments are send to my email address.

Janeite tag!

Joanna from The Squirrel´s Diary tagged me a while (aka a month...) ago in the Janeite Tag. Thanks Joanna, I hope I´m still ´in time´ with my answers ;-)

The rules:
- Thank and link back to the person who tagged you.
- Tell us how you were introduced to Jane Austen and share one fun fact about your Janeite life (this fun fact can be anything from "I stayed up all night reading Emma" to "I visited Chawton and met Anna Chancellor.").
- Answer the tagger's questions.
- Write seven questions of your own.
- Tag as few as one or as many as seven other Janeites and let them know you've tagged them.

How I was introduced to Jane Austen:
I don't remember exactly when I heard about Jane Austen for the first time. I do know I watched Pride and Prejudice '95 on Dutch television when I was around 16 or so. I really loved it and we then also bought the VHS (!) of Sense and Sensibility '95. Sense and Sensibility was the first Austen I read, I read it for a book report for my English class in secondary school. It was also the first full-length novel I read in English! I remember having some nice discussions about the book with my English teacher and got a good grade ;-) I then tried to find all the other adaptations and slowly read the rest of Jane's works in the coming years.

8 Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts (3)

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows
book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. sharing
exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they've encountered during the week etc.)

1. I have a new phone, yay! After struggling with a slow, always full and often crashing Alcatel phone for ages, I now have a lovely, fast Samsung Galaxy Core on which I can download all the apps I want and still have lots of GBs of memory left! There's just one little downside to this: about half a year ago I was browsing through Etsy and came across some great, classic literature inspired phone cases. I then decided: when I get a new phone, I'm buying one of these cases. Unfortunately, these cases are only made for standard model phones like iPhones and Galaxy S. So now my great new phone is dressed in a boring black case, all I could find for this model (#firstworldproblems)

Television review: The Crimson Field

This year, the BBC commemorate the centenary of WWI with a host of special tv- and radio programs. After 37 Days (review), The Crimson Field is the second drama offering of the British. This 6-part series shows the life and work of staff and patients at a field hospital in France. We follow the stories of three VADs, voluntary nurses from (mostly) the middle- and upper classes of society. Though extra hands are desperately needed in the field hospital, the VADs are not welcomed with open arms by the professional nurses who think these women are ill-prepared and naïve. Kitty Trevelyan (Oona Chaplin) has come to France to flee a tragic home situation. Her opinionated and headstrong character soon brings her in conflict with the senior hospital staff. Flora Marshall (Alice St Clair) is a sweet young girl who brightens up the wards and has a steely determination to prove that she can be a good nurse despite her young age. Rosalie Berwick (Marianne Oldham) is seen as an 'old maid' in her home environment and comes to France to 'do some good'. But the constant challenges of the hospital frighten her and her social insecurity alienates her from the rest of the staff. Kitty, Flora and Rosalie have to work together under Matron Grace Carter (Hermione Norris) and assist physicians Thomas Gillan (Richard Rankin) and Miles Hesketh-Thorne (Alex Wyndham).

Book review: All right here

Ivy Darling can't have children and the silent resentment of her husband Nick is slowly driving them apart. When the three kids next door are left by their mother, Ivy opens her home and heart to them and suddenly, she and Nick are foster parent's to the only black children in the small town of Copper Cove. As the months pass, Ivy comes to love the children and considers them as part of the family. But Nick refuses to accept their unorthodox family as permanent. Do Nick and Ivy still have enought in common to make their marriage work?

8 Bookish and Not-So-Bookish thoughts (2)

                Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows

book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. sharing
exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they've encountered during the week etc.)

1.Next weekend, one of my best friends is getting married and so I needed some festive clothes. Now I really, really don't like clothes shopping and I haven't had to buy special/festive clothes for years, so I was dreading this a bit. Luckily, a sweet friend of mine went along and I bought a lovely dress. Mission accomplished, now I can just look forward to the wedding day!

2.It's been so warm here in The Netherlands the last weeks. I was walking around in summer clothes mid-September and even bought a icecream at a stall this very weekend! The next week looks to be a bit more autumn-like and I must say I don't mind at all, it's just time for cosy afternoons with hot chocolate and scarfs etc.

3. At my mother´s birthday party this weekend, I was talking with one of my uncle´s (from the in-law side). He told me about his family history and how his grandfather (his grandparents where Germans) had been fighting in the trenches in WWI and had been wounded there. It was so interesting to hear about this as I never before talked to someone who had a direct connection to WWI, being that The Netherlands was neutral during this war. 

4. I've been reading quite a lot about WWI recently, last month The War Horses by Simon Butler about the horses who were used in the (British) army in WWI and am currently reading a book about Dutch people who volunteered to fight with either the Allied or the German armies during this war. There is also an exhibition going on at a museum close to where I live about the Belgian refugees who came to The Netherlands in large numbers in 1914 which I hope to visit sometime soon.

5. I've been enjoying the return of Downton Abbey very much! It almost feels like returning to a group of well-known friends after a long absence! It's such fun seeing the Dowager at her scheming again and hearing Mrs. Hughes down-to-earth wisdom.SPOILER

I'm really glad to see Daisy developing herself, but I'm not to keen on the developments with Miss Bunting and Tom and also Mary and Tony Gillingham.

END SPOILER6. I went to see the new Woody Allen movie Magic in the Moonlight in the cinema last week which was okaish (I'm not a big fan of Woody Allen movies, but I just love this particular old-fashioned cinema and like to go there now and then, even if the movie is not super interesting). But the fun thing was, a few days later I was having a conversation with my boss about movies and we discovered he has also been to that movie AT THE SAME TIME AND PLACE! And we hadn't seen each other!

7. Work-wise, it's only a few weeks until I officially enter the last year of my PhD and with that, the last year of my contract at the University. I'm starting to stress a little bit about finishing up my research and writing my thesis, but on the other hand, I've learned in the past three years that you can't really rush research, it goes as fast as it goes. So I just keep doing my best and hoping it will be alright
:-S

That's about all I've got to talk about this time! I hope you're all having a nice weekend and enjoying autumn.

Book review: Jane Austen's first love

At 15 years of age, young Jane Austen has big dreams of seeing the world and writing great novels, but has hardly traveled beyond her own village. Then, her family is invited to celebrate the engagement of her eldest brother Edward and spent a month in Kent. Jane makes many new young acquaintances, among whom young heir Edward Taylor. She is fascinated by his adventure-loving character and even though Jane knows a match between them is unlikely, she starts to fall in love with Edward. When the young people decide to set up a play as the ending of their festive summer, Jane tries to play matchmaker for some of her new friends. But not all her efforts turn out as expected and both for others and herself, Jane must learn not to rely on first impressions.

Sword-fighting

Last week in my '8 Bookish or Not-So-Bookish Thoughts' post, I mentioned my sword-fighting classes had started again. In the comments I got a lot of questions about that hobby of mine, so I thought I'd make a post about it.

Sword-fighting classes? What do you do there exactly? 
So yes, I take sword-fighting classes or training. I started in January and I really enjoy it every week. Many people think I do fencing, but no, this is really different. The correct term is probably Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), a modern sport which recreates combat techniques from the Medieval and Early Modern Period. In the group where I train, we focus on late Medieval swordfighting techniques. While more 'official' HEMA schools often have 'winning matches' as a goal, my trainer is really focused on recreating techniques and fighting as 'pretty' as possible. We also don't do full contact fights, but check ourselves and point towards openings in the oponent's defense. 

8 Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts (1)

           Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty

 much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. sharing exciting plans for the weekend, 

rants on things they've encountered during the week etc.)

For a while now I've been looking for a 'format' to talk a little bit more about real life stuff or just small observati ons and shout-outs that I'd like to make which don't fill a whole post. I think this weekly blogging event is just what I need for that! I hope to make posts like this more often (though perhaps not weekly...)

1. Tomorrow I'm going to visit a traditional country market. There are going to be demo's and workshops of old farming techniques, cooking and crafts, rare animal breeds and lots of stand with interesting traditional products. The weather promises to be good and it all takes place in an open-air museum. I'm really looking forward to it!

Book review: He knew he was right

The wealthy young Englishman Louis Trevelyan visits the British colony of the Mandarin Islands. Here he meets and falls in love with the governor's daughter Emily Rowley. Louis and Emily marry and settle in England together with Emily's sister Nora. Initially their marriage is happy and they have a baby boy. But when Emily is visited a few times by her older family friend, the single and rakish Colonel Osborne, Louis over-reacts and orders Emily not to see him again. Emily is shocked by her husband's lack of trust and soon their relationship deteriorates, leading even to a separation. Emily and Nora go and live with the family of Louis' university friend Hugh Stanbury. Hugh is in love with Nora, but because of his precarious living as a journalist, he dares not express his feelings. Meanwhile Nora is pursued by wealthy and titled Mr Glascock. Hugh's sweet and timid sister Dorothy is asked to come and live with her spinster aunt Miss Stanbury. Once there, aunt Stanbury tries to arrange a marriage between Dorothy and the local vicar Mr. Gibson, but Dorothy has more backbone than her aunt suspected!

Movie review: Love's Labour's Lost (2000)

Love Labour's Lost is one of Shakespeare's less well known comedies. In 2000, Kenneth Branagh, Shakespearean director and actor extraordinaire, adapted this play into a musical movie. In Love Labour's Lost the young King of Navarre and three of his close friends take an oath to devote themselves to study for three years and not see any women during this time. Their decision is soon made difficult when the Princess of France arrives with three lady's maids to talk to the King about a political matter. Though the ladies have to camp outside the court, the King and his companions do visit the Princess. Inevitably, the King falls in love with the Princess and his friends also are not wholly immune to the charms of the lady's maids!

A-Z bookish questions

A to Z Bookish Questions

Borrowed from Kara at Flowers of Quiet Happiness

Author you've read the most books from: I'm not sure, but I think it might be Lynn Austin. I read almost all of her books.

Best sequel ever: Well, maybe not the best (and I know many people will not agree with me), but certainly a remarkable one was Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley. Just because it gave us a chance to spend more time with Scarlett and Rhett and for them to have a happy (happier?) ending.

Currently reading: Slowly making my way through He knew he was right by Anthony Trollope and just about to start on Jane Austen's First Love by Syrie James

Drink of choice while reading: Tea all the time!

Book review: A heart's rebellion

Jessamine Barry, dutiful daughter of a country vicar, is tired of being 'the good girl'. After all, it has not earned her the heart of her longtime friend Rees Philips, who married a French woman, nonetheless! During her first London season, Jessamine decides to be a little more daring. She caught the eye of the friendly young vicar Lancelot Marfleet and although she finds him pleasant to talk though, she doesn't want to consider him a suitor. Instead, she befriends the fashionable crowd and especially the handsome Mr. St Leger. Then, things get out of hand for Jessamine. Who can she trust?

Trailers!

I've been seeing a number of pretty interesting trailers recently for, mostly, period movies. I thought I'd share them with you!

The imitation game: This reminds me quite strongly of Enigma, one of my favourite WWII movies. On the one hand, why make another movie about the Bletchley codebreakers? On the other hand, it's a fascinating subject and this one seems to be based more on true historical events. Besides, it stars the-one-and-only Benedict Cumberbatch and also Matthew Goode (one of my personal favourites!), Allen Leech and Keira Knightley. 

Trip to Toronto and Ottawa

It's been some time since I posted, I have been on holiday and after that, recovering from my holiday ;-)
As you might expect from me, first things first: my holiday pictures!!

This year, I went outside of Europe for the first time! I went to Canada, first four days to a scientific conference in Guelph, followed by a holiday in Toronto and Ottawa.

Middlemarch watch-along: giveaway winner

We have a winner! The Middlemarch watch-along giveaway was won by:

Karalynn aka msantimacassar on Livejournal

Karalynn, congratulations with winning My life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead. I hope you enjoy reading it, I know I did!

For all the other people who entered: thanks for your participation and... better luck next time!

Middlemarch watch-along: wrap-up and GIVEAWAY!

At the beginning of this Middlemarch watch-along I promised you a giveaway when we finished and here it is! But first a little wrap-up: I had a lot of fun with this watch-along. It was really nice to rewatch this great BBC series together with you. I really got renewed appreciation for the story and the adaption. Thanks everyone who commented with opinions and wise words! I hope you enjoyed the watch-along as well. Maybe it inspired you to go read the book Middlemarch or try out some other works or adaptations by George Eliot.

The watch-along inspired me to do another one: in September I plan to host a Far from the Madding Crowd watch-along. I hope you'll all join in and watch this wonderful Thomas Hardy adaptation with me!

On to the giveaway: I'm giving away a copy of the wonderful book (and isn't the cover pretty?) My life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead.

' Rebecca Mead was a young woman in an English coastal town when she first read George Eliot's Middlemarch, regarded by many as the greatest English novel. After gaining admission to Oxford, and moving to the United States to become a journalist, through several love affairs, then marriage and family, Mead read and reread Middlemarch. The novel, which Virginia Woolf famously described as "one of the few English novels written for grown-up people," offered Mead something that modern life and literature did not. In this wise and revealing work of biography, reporting, and memoir, Rebecca Mead leads us into the life that the book made for her, as well as the many lives the novel has led since it was written. Employing a structure that deftly mirrors that of the novel, My Life in Middlemarch takes the themes of Eliot's masterpiece--the complexity of love, the meaning of marriage, the foundations of morality, and the drama of aspiration and failure--and brings them into our world. Offering both a fascinating reading of Eliot's biography and an exploration of the way aspects of Mead's life uncannily echo that of Eliot herself, My Life in Middlemarch is for every ardent lover of literature who cares about why we read books, and how they read us.'  Amazon

I can definitely recommend this book: it's wise and funny and every book lover will recognize much in it. Besides, you will learn about the live of George Eliot, many other Victorian authors and a lot about Victorian society in general.

The rules for the giveaway are as follows:
- The giveaway is open worldwide
- The winner can choose between a paper or an ebook version of My life in Middlemarch
- Please leave a current email address to the Rafflecopter widget so I can reach you when you win!
- If the winner does not respond to my email within a week, I will draw a new winner

The giveaway will be open from Saturday, July 5 until Friday, July 11 (GMT+1)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Middlemarch watch-along: episode 7 (the end!)

We're nearing the end of our time in Middlemarch...
And Lydgate seems to be nearing the end of his wits as he fights once again with Rosie about their dire financial situation. Rosie has written to Tertius' rich uncle, but the letter they get back is less than friendly... To blow off steam, Lydgate goes to the pub where he gets quite drunk and is dangerously close to loosing a large sum of money. Luckily Fred, who seems to have matured quite a lot since the last episode, is able to steer Lydgate away from danger.

Have some roles been reversed or what?

Middlemarch watch-along: episode 6

Here we are at the one-to-last episode of Middlemarch!

Last episode, we left Lydgate and Rosie in a very unhappy place and it doesn't get any better this episode. Lydgate tries to explain to Rosie they will have to live less luxurious, but Rosamund doesn't want to listen to him or help him. Meanwhile, she's visited by Ladislaw (who apparently is still hanging around Middlemarch). She airily talks about Casoubon's will and Dorothea's situation, without realizing Ladislaw knew nothing about this part of his relative's will. Ladislaw is mortified and when he meets Dorothea by accident, he tells her he will leave Middlemarch and never come back, because she is forbidden to him.

You're telling me whát?!

Book review: The other side of the bridge

Ava Lancet has lost her baby and her job and is not sure her marriage can ever be repaired again. Then she hears she has inherited a house in a small Greek village which belonged to her grandmother. On an impulse, Ava moves to Greece to live in the house. The house is severely dilapidated and Ava starts to doubt her decision. But she is warmly welcomed into the village and slowly builds something of a life for herself there, including the handsome widower Andreas Lethikos. When an old woman mistakes Ava for her grandmother, she dives into stories from Greece in WWII to discover her grandmother Sophia's remarkable story.

Middlemarch watch-along: episode 5

When putting in the second dvd of my Middlemarch box to watch this episode I discovered that my series dóes have 7 episodes and not 6 as I thought. Well, that solves the problem of the different episode beginnings and ends between my version and the version of some of you commenters. So, just so you know, there will be two more watch-along posts coming!

Now, back to Middlemarch, where Mr. Brooke is trying to get votes for his election as local MP. He doesn't succeed so well however and is even bombarded with eggs. I felt quite sorry for him, after all, he's not a bad guy. Just incompetent.... Brooke seems to realize this himself as well and withdraws from the election and decides to live abroad for a while. He also sells his newspaper. This is bad news for Ladislaw, who works there as an editor and now has to go look for a new job.

I wonder what is taking the pizza-delivery guy so long

Season finales 2014

The series I regularly follow have all finished for this year and I wanted to give my quick thought about the following season finales: Grey's Anatomy, Once Upon a Time, Elementary and The Good Wife
Be warned, there are spoilers about the last episodes of the mentioned seasons under the cut!

And now it's time for some summer viewing! I have already started with some short period drama series I didn't get to watch when they aired, but I also want to try something new contemporary. I'm thinking of trying out either Arrow or Revolution. Have any of you watched one of these series and what did you think about it? Or should I watch something else entirely?


Grey's Anatomy season 10

Trip to Brussels

Two weeks ago, I went for a short trip to the Belgian capital of Brussels. Even though it's quite close to home (less than 3 hours by train), it was still very different (language, architecture, culture etc), so I really felt like I was away from everyday life and I totally enjoyed it!

Middlemarch watch-along: episode 4

This was a very Dorothea and Casoubon-heavy episode of Middlemarch.

The animosity between Ladislaw and Casoubon increases when Ladislaw accepts a job at Mr.Brooke's newspaper. Casoubon thinks a job as a newspaper editor will reflect badly on his status and tells Ladislaw he is not to visit them anymore, without telling Dorothea about it. Dorothea does not find out until she meets Ladislaw at her uncle's home. Ladislaw sees right through Dorothea's pretend happiness. 

Oh dear, those 1830's hairstyles....

Middlemarch watch-along: episode 3

Oh dear, almost two weeks have passed since I posted my previous Middlemarch episode recap. That was not what I'd planned! But there was a conference for work and then a busy weekend with lots of family visits and suddenly it's Wednesday again....

A lot has happened in Middlemarch as well since the last time. Dorothea and Casoubon have returned from their honeymoon and are welcomed home by Celia and Mr. Brooke. Celia has some exciting news, she and Sir James are engaged! Now I know a trip to Rome usually took longer in the 19th century than it would today, but still, that was one fast engagement! Seems to run in the family.

Well, that was fast!

Middlemarch watch-along: episode 2

A little note before we start the second episode recap of the Middlemarch watch-along. Hamlette let me know that her first episode was longer than mine (75 vs 60 min), but that she had 6 episodes in total, similar to me. So it looks like there are content differences between my 'European' version and Hamlette's 'American' version. Is this the case for anyone else?
I will keep doing the episode recaps according to my dvd, but please let me know in the comments if you think I'm missing any scenes that you do have, I'm very curious where the differences are!

On to the episode! Where the previous episode was about getting to know all the characters, in this episode we are introduced to some of the main themes of Middlemarch: progress vs stagnation, old vs new.

Wait, if you don't know anything about art, then why did you praise MY work?

Televison review: 37 days

This year, it is 100 years ago since the Great War started. All around the world, this fact will be remembered this and the coming years. The BBC partakes in this centenary with the production of new television and radio programs about WWI, both documentaries and dramas (you can find an overview of all the programs here). First among the dramas produced by the BBC was the three-part series 37 days, which tells about the prelude to the War.

Middlemarch watch-along: episode 1

Here we are, the first episode 'recap' of the Middlemarch watch-along. I hope you all enjoyed starting this period drama. I sure did! Even though it's a rewatch for me, the previous time I watched it was over 5 years ago, so I've forgotten a lot of the details.

In this first episode we meet the wide cast of characters whose lives we will follow. What arrested my attention was how we are thrown right in the middle of the lives of these people. No introductions, no voice-over, we get to know them as the story goes along. And quite a lot already happens in this first episode!

First, we meet dr Tertius Lydgate (Douglas Hodge), a young and ambitious physician who arrives new in Middlemarch and who hopes to do revolutionary work there. The building of a new hospital is in an advanced stage of planning and dr Lydgate discovers he will be a member of the board and will have to make some difficult decisions. 

What was dr Lydgate actually doing in these scenes?

Upcoming: Middlemarch watch-along

Recently, I was reminded of the wonderful George Eliot novel Middlemarch twice. First, I read the book My life in Middlemarch by Rebecca Mead, a wonderful exploration by Mead about her favourite novel. Then, Miss Laurie from Old-Fashioned Charm posted a review about the 1994 adaptation of Middlemarch. 

So, I couldn't deny it anymore, I really needed to either rewatch or reread Middlemarch! I chose a rewatch and I thought I'd share it with you all, with a watch-along. 

How's it going to work? I will watch one episode every week and post my thoughts about it here. I'll also try and come up with some discussion questions. And, at the end of the watch-along, there will be a give-away!!

I hope you'll join in and watch or rewatch Middlemarch with me! I plan to post my first episode 'review' at the end of this week. I made two buttons for this, my very first blog event. I would love it if you could post them on your own blog.

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Book review: The fall and rise of Lucy Charlton

Lucy Charlton dreams of being a lawyer and working alongside her father. Not an easy feat for a women in 1920. But with her place at Durham University, she's at least on her way. Lucy travels home to Newcastle for her sister's wedding, but that very night something happens which uproots her whole life. Soon, she finds herself without a home and without people to fall back on. Lucy finds a place to live in Durham with two kindly old sisters and befriends WWI veteran Joe Hardy. And when she finds a job in a lawyers office, she might be on the road to fulfill her dream after all.

Impressions of Glorious 39, Spies of Warsaw and George and the dragon

  

Glorious 39 (2009)

Adaptation of: no adaptation
Length: 129 min

Summary: In the tense last summer before World War II, the adopted daughter of a high class British family discovers a family secret which could not only endanger her, but the entire nation.

New Femnista & Book review: I shall be near to you

Earlier this week, the new issue of Femnista came out. The theme this time is A Nation at War, with articles mainly about the Civil War and some other war-related stories. For this issue, I wrote an article about the women who fought in the Civil War disguised as men, inspired by a wonderful book I recently read: I shall be near to you by Erin Lindsay McCabe.

Happy reading and also: check out the topics of the upcoming Femnista issues here and think about if you might want to contribute something. Femnista is always looking for new authors!

 

Sunflower Blogger award!

I was nominated for the Sunflower Blogger award by Hamlette from Hamlette's Soliloquy. I'm so grateful for the nomination, but also feel a little bit awkward, because I haven't been blogging as much as I would like the last few months... Hopefully this award will be a good impulse!

The rules:

1. Share 11 facts about yourself
2. Answer questions set by your Nomination Blogger
3. Nominate 11 bloggers
4. Set questions for the nominated bloggers

Here are my 11 facts:

1. My favourite tea is Twining's Lady Grey

Movie review(s): On a clear day/The Way

There are two types of movies we love. The ones we already expected to love from the moment we first heard of them: adaptations of our favourite books, sequels to other great movies, our favourite genre etc. And then there are the ones you once saw a trailer of and thought: 'Maybe, let's put it on my 'to-watch' list.' And when you finally do watch them, they totally surprise you with their wonderfulness!

Recently, I watched two movies of this last category which I would like to share with you: On a clear day and The way

Book review: The secret of happy ever after

By far the most books I read nowadays are either from authors I've read works from before or have been recommended by friends or in the blogosphere. Just wandering around in the library and picking up random books which 'look good' is a rare occurrence. Still, a few weeks back I had some time on my hands and found myself 'wandering' once more, which is when I picked up The secret of happy ever after by Lucy Dillon. It proved to be a very good random pick!

Why I'm done with BBC's Sherlock

With the recent airing of Sherlock's third series on the BBC and now it's run on USA television, my Blogger and LJ reading lists are filled with posts about this show. All of them positive, raving reviews and recaps, stating how the show is better than ever and how wonderful the characters are.

I can't write such a post. Yes, I did watch series 3 of Sherlock and I did enjoy the previous series (never was on my top favourite list of tv-series though). Yes, I do think Sherlock is made extremely well storywise and with regard to cinematography. And yes, I do think the acting is phenomenal. Still, series 3 has made me realize I don't really like Sherlock anymore and I most likely will not spend time on any further series*.

Might contain slight SPOILERS for series 3!

Television review: Death comes to Pemberley

Everytime an Austen novel is adapted or another program related to 'dear Jane' is being made, all over the world Austen fans let themselves be heard with two distinct responses: joy over 'a new Austen' and trepidation because 'will it do the book/Jane justice'. Last summer the BBC announced it was going to adapt the Pride and Prejudice sequel Death comes to Pemberley by well-known British crime writer P.D. James. The responses from Janeites where mainly trepidation in this case: will this be true to the spirit of P&P? Will the actors be good enough to portray the beloved characters?

Reading challenges 2014

You guys have 'infected' me... I'm going to submit to some reading challenges for the first time this year!



The goal of the Mount TBR Reading Challenge, hosted by My Reader's Block is to read as many books as possible which you already owned before 2014. As I currently have 16 physical unread books and 13 unread books on my Kindle, I hope to make a good dent in this numbers with the Mount TBR Challenge. My goal is somewhere between Mount Blanc (24 books) and Mt. Vancouver (36)!

End of the year - Movie, book, tv masterlist

It's becoming a bit of a tradition (you can call something a tradition when you're doing it for the fourth time right?) to post a fandom picspam/masterlist of everything I watched and read at the end of the year (or the beginning of the next...) In the lists I've linked to reviews and posts I wrote about various movies, books and tv-shows (links are to my LiveJournal. I didn't feel like changing all the links after I'd posted this at LJ...). If you're interested in anything which I haven't reviewed, don't hesitate to ask!

End of the year - Book survey

There it is again, the wonderful End of Year Book Survey hosted by The Perpetual Page Turner. The survey without which a year of reading is not complete ;-) Hope you enjoy reading my answers and I'm looking forward to reading all your end-of-year lists!

Best in books 2013

1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)
Sigh, let's tackle the most difficult question first. I'll make it a top 5, in no particular order
1. Her mother's hope by Francine Rivers
2. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
3. Promise me this by Cathy Gohlke
4. Crusade in jeans by Thea Beckman
5. Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris