Monday 30 March 2015

Miranda's Musings

Darlings, there’s a crispness in the air at last... Such welcome relief from the heat we’ve been having down under! All the more reason to snuggle down in a chair with a tea (or wine) and read, read, read...

What did I love to love this month?

It’s all Jane Austen. How could we possibly not pay homage to this marvellous author? She is the source of all our Mr Darcy fantasies – and Mr Knightley and Captain Wentworth, and, and – well, you get the gist. The distinguished lady will shortly grace the British ten pound note, replacing Charles Darwin. All writers should be so lucky!

December 2015 marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of 'Emma', and the novel is still as fresh today as it was then.
I think Emma herself has the strongest character arc of all Jane Austen heroines: at the beginning of the book she is annoying and immature but oh, how she changes! I have to say, darlings, I stood on that infamous Box Hill last year (see pic), where Emma was so incredibly rude to poor Miss Bates, and I *immersed* myself in the scene. Especially where Mr Knightley tells her how badly she behaved. Such seething emotion, such tears, such drama! I think that was a real turning point in the book. What about you? Do you love 'Emma'?

What did I love to laugh at?

Not exactly laugh AT, but I did laugh along with the new Manga Classics version of 'Pride and Prejudice'. This was blissfully So! Much! Fun! to read! There are little bits in this version that (ahem) aren't in the original Jane Austen, but who cares? Not I. The overall story line and all the angst, drama, simmering tensions and divinely overblown and wonderfully drawn characters (with big, big, big eyes and long, long legs) are oh so very delicious. Mr Collins was particularly funny: he looked like a cowlick on a stick. And don't think the book is insubstantial because of the manga - it's 376 pages long! I loved the handy ‘how to read this book’ at the beginning – you read it like a traditional manga: backwards. My dears, the proposal scenes were to die for... And yes, there were a few sneaky (...romantic...) kisses. I’m sure Jane Austen would excuse them.

Do you enjoy manga? Which Jane Austen would you most like to read in manga?


And lastly, what did I love to learn this month?

The divine Suzi Love has written a series of books about Regency life, so in keeping with my Jane Austen theme, I romped through her lavishly illustrated 'Regency Overview: Book 1' from the Regency Life Series. Everything you want to know about the Regency period but didn’t know who to ask! I loved this titbit of gossip from a newspaper: ‘The fashionable Mrs Hog has taken No. 11 Manchester Place, where she will receive her numerous list of elegant friends, as soon as her little drawing-room has got the new paper.’ How very droll!


Suzi, oh my goodness, has generously offered three – yes, THREE – people the chance to win a complete set of her Regency Life e-series! This includes the above, plus 'Young Gentleman's Day', 'Older Gentleman's Day', 'Young Lady's Day' and 'Older Lady's Day'. Lucky, lucky you!

Leave a comment and you will be in the running for this fabulous set of books. Thanks so much, Suzi.

The three winners will be announced on next week's blog (with guest blogger, the lovely Suzi Love) so please check back then to see if you are among them.

Can’t wait to hear from you.

Everything Jane Austen! Hoorah!

Miranda xx



30 comments:

  1. I love Jane Austen. I first read P&P in year 10 and fell in love with the words and the whole world Jane had opened up for me. Emma has been a favourite of mine for a long time and I think for the same reasons you gave - she just grows so much. I have all of Suzi's Regency Life books and they are wonderful.

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    1. How wonderful, a fellow Jane Austen lover! My first JA was Mansfield Park in year 9 (vaguely recall, how time does fly...), and it opened up a whole new world! Immerse yourself in Emma celebrations this year, Cassandra!

      Miranda xx

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  2. Aahh, the wonderful Jane Austen. Time to reread some of her quintessential romances, I feel. Thanks for the reminder, Miranda. :)
    I'm fascinated by the idea of a Manga take on a classic like 'P and P'. Who thinks of these things??
    Love the sound of Suzi Love's Regency Life series. How generous of her to give away 3 copies! Thanks Suzi.

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    1. Oh, you must read some JA manga, Marilyn. Psst... I love picture books, and so combining beautiful JA with pictures = bliss, IMHO! The story is always captured so fabulously well. Do have a try?

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  3. I'll admit that I'm not a huge Jane Austen fan, but...I do enjoy her books. I've not read Emma but, Miranda, your description of it has me intrigued enough to download a copy onto my Kindle!

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    1. Oh, do, do, do! Some people find it hard to get into the rhythm of JA's language at first, but just let it flow and enjoy. This week was the week she finished writing the book, so it's all very timely to talk about Emma now. Let me know what you think?

      Miranda xx

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  4. You got me reminiscing. I discovered Regency romance at the tender age of 9. Georgette Heyer was my intro into this fascinating world and then I read Jane Austen's P and P. Mr Darcy...wow, here was Prince Charming of my fairytale toddler years all grown up and brooding. I've read other Jane Austen novels but of all hercheroes Mr Darcy is my fave.
    I haven't read mangas but now I'm intrigued.

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    1. Mangas are fabuloso, Enisa! I first discovered them when I read a Valerie Parv manga, and it was wonderful. Maybe it was my childhood, sneakily reading comics when I should have been reading other things, but I love and adore the gorgeous illustrations. I'm always so excited about how the story comes through loud and clear. Maybe - just maybe - a picture tells a thousand words?

      And who can argue about Mr Darcy?! Oh, he is delish. But Mr Knightley in Emma really does give him a run for his money. ;)

      Miranda x

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  5. Oh, who doesn't love Emma! I think I've seen every single version of it including the modern versions and every single ones are just amazing. In truth, just like you said, what we like most about her is that she grows throughout the story and we can't help to feel sorry for her when she's scolded by Mr. Knightly and then blissfully happy when they end up together.
    I love mangas! They are an art in and of itself and I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of the one you mentioned and I adored it. So cute and funny! I think it'd be a great gift for anyone that would like to introduce friends to the genre that don't want to read the whole book, so far we keep in mind it's a lovely adaptation of the real thing. And being that Persuasion is my all-time favorite, I'd love to see it transform into a manga!
    JoannaM

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    1. Joanna, I think we must be twins, separated at birth. I agree with absolutely everything you say! And aren't you the lucky one, receiving an ARC of the P&P manga! Obviously I'm not in the know enough (le sigh).... and am green with envy... But joyously we both read it and loved it, yay! Yay, yay! I think manga is such fun, and I adore the art too. With a bit of luck, Persuasion might be next, yessss! I love Persuasion too, that gorgeous visit to Lyme Regis. Oh my, I feel faint with longing. Bring it on....

      Miranda

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    2. If only... we should start a petition to make Persuasion the next manga!

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  6. I love the Regency Era so I'm thrilled to share my Regency research here at Breathless in the Bush. What i love most is learning about the adventurous people, men and women, who invented things and conducted experiments on steam and engines and electrical machines.
    What about you? What do oyu love best about the Regency Era?

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    1. Hi Suzi, in Miranda's absence (she's taken off overseas, lucky lady) welcome to the breathless blog. Hmm. What do I love about the Regency era? Hmm... the sheer elegance of it. The manners, the social gatherings and of course the fashions.

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  7. Okay Suzi. You know about me and the Regency period. I'm not so into Manga but I live for those men and their hot air balloons and their peculiar sense of honour (don't pay tradesmen's bills but always pay your friends or debts of honour such as card losses etc.) I think The Older Lady's Day looks appropriate for me (cough).

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    1. Hi Vonnie, good luck with Suzi's giveaway. You sound like a real fan of the era!

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  8. More Regency era books!! I love the variations about P&P but I am pretty sure these are really good as well :)
    Pride and Prejudice in manga looks great!!!

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by Ana. I haven't checked out the Manga version of P&P yet but I must do that. It sounds intriguing!

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  9. Hi Suzie, I really like the way you have split your research into different books that makes it easier to absorb.

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    1. Good luck in the giveaway Laura, and thanks for dropping in.

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  10. Who doesn't love reading about Mr Darcy. The Regency era a time where I would gladly go back in time for. Well only for a little while.

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    1. Hi Annie, I join you in your 'appreciation' of Mr Darcy, but I'm not so sure I could give up all my modern comforts and travel back in time, even though I love the elegance of that period. That being said, the opportunity to meet a Mr Darcy-type IS very appealing. :)

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  11. Jane Austen is awesome! Suzi Love is a talented author bwhose books are a delight to read!!

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    1. Thanks for leaving a comment Beviann (on behalf of Miranda who is currently overseas)! I agree Suzi's books are great.

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  12. I didn't know that this Regency non-fiction book exists until now. Thanks for highlighting her books in your blog. I love Jane Austen's novels and it's interesting to study the nuances and etiquette of a by-gone era that was not talked about in detail in Austen's works.

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    1. Hi Luthien! Miranda is overseas at the moment but I know she'd welcome your "thanks''. Suzi's Regency Life e-series sounds like a great research tool for that period, doesn't it?

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  13. Haven't read any of your books, would love to win these books as an introduction to your books. Love finding new books and authors to catch my attention.

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  14. Thanks for stopping by Shamona. :) Good luck in the draw to win a set of Suzi's fabulous Regency Life series.

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  15. I'm an Emma fan as well.:) I love Mr. Knightley. Most of the authors on this blog are new to me so I'm excited to get to 'know' you ladies.

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    1. Hi Angelina! Great to have you visit and hope to see you here again. Wishing you luck in the draw for a set of Suzi's fab series.

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  16. Thank you so much for all commenting.
    Marilyn has drawn the three winners so could you please contact her at marilynforsyth@hotmail.com
    Luthien, Vonnie, and JoannaM...congratulations.
    When you contact Marilyn, could oyu let her know what sort of eReader you use, or which format you prefer eg Kindle mobi, ePub, PDF.
    And thanks so much to Breathless in the Bush for having me visit.

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