Jane Austin Books Made into Movies

Jane Austin (1775-1817) an English writer of contemporary novels is one of the most widely read writers in English literature today. Though classified as contemporary we may think of the stories as historical novels because much time has passed and she vividly portrays the social and cultural norms, laws and lives of the people in England during that time.

Several have been made into movies. The books offer great reading experiences and the movies enhance enjoyment of the stories even further. While some critics may say the movie strays from the text in a few instances, I find this criticism trivial as the movie script has to be written to fit the available resources of today and the action and script has to maintain a certain momentum to sustain the audience's interest.

My favorites are Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant) and Pride and Prejudice (a BBC MiniSeries with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy). Others include Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. Not only are the actors believable, the scenery is marvelous.

THESE EYES

These Eyes
by
Jamie Taylor

Windows open to a constant view
Sometimes green, gray or blue
The colors changing throughout the day
As your moods seem to stray
A reference to your passing thought
Looking for a memory that can’t quite be caught
The soul’s doorway to the living
A gift that is forever giving
Catching light and casting spells
Holding on to what one never tells
Sending words with a simple glance
Then drifting off into a blissful trance
These eyes are blessings that can make you cry
Or smile when closed forever for one last goodbye.

Copyrighted. Please do not copy.

The Writing Process

Writing a novel may be accompanied by feelings of enthusiasm and energy alternating with frustration and uncertainty. The energetic writer approaches the writing process when the story in its infancy is begging to be expressed outside the writer's head. Even proofreading and rewriting of segments keep the creative juices flowing. Frustration creeps in when the storyline throws a curve and seems to want to proceed in a different direction than originally intended. The writer then feels somewhat at a crossroads. Which way to go??? The roadmap is so imbedded in the creator's mind. She has to walk away from it, focus on something else a while.

How good it feels when the writer is once again inspired to pick up the manuscript and read again. Only then may the writing proceed with a fresh viewpoint and certainty. This time, hopefully, the story is more certain and stronger. This time the writer will be able to take it to completion.

Mama Mia, Can't Get It Out of My Mind

Perhaps you’ve seen the musical movie “Mama Mia.” If not I encourage you to get it. The thing is contagious! I’ve never really been a fan of the ABBA singers (My husband is an avid fan.) so I wasn’t really interested when my granddaughter rented it from Blockbusters for the two of us to have a night at the home-movies, popcorn in hand. What a surprise. The ABBA music is really the driving force throughout the music...or is the story the driving force? The writers did a fantastic job of fitting all those songs to the story…or did they write the story to fit the songs? Whatever which way, most of the actors did a great job singing and dancing and the story is clean and enjoyable. Even Pierce Brosnen’s singing grows on you after a few viewings. He said in an interview that he’d never sang in his life and his singing is proof enough. I had to buy the movie! Now my 3 and 5 year old grandchildren want me to play it every time they’re here. I even listen to it when I’m working. Got to get my mind back to the classics!

Suzanne Barclay, Author of Historical Romance

One of my favorite authors of Historical Romance novels is Suzanne Barclay. I have all thirteen of her books, all that she wrote before succumbing to cancer in 1998. Her stories deal with noble knights and their families and adventures; they are well written so that you feel transported into the medieval Europe.

Barclay's love of history shows in all of her books which are sufficiently researched to give the reader a vivid picture of the lives and customs of the people and of the place and time. Her descriptive writing makes it easy to see scenes in your mind's eye, yet they are not drawn out and tedious. The books span the 13th through 15th centuries in England, Scotland, Ireland and France. The stories occur in three series, The Sommerville Brothers (6), The Sutherland series (6), and last, Knights of the Black Rose (1) of which she wrote the first book and the series was finished by other authors. I can't really say which book is my favorite because they are such that I felt compelled to read the next of each saga, but the Sommerville's were my favorite family.

Why I like to write about books and movies

Today I started this new blog to put down my thoughts about the many genres and to express my impressions and knowledge about those with which I am familiar.   Books having an historical background are my favorites, whether fictional or non-fictional.  The European cultures and historical events during times of the knights and the wars between countries like France and England, the religious wars, the plagues and so many things in the past.  I often find that reading a book with a historical background brings that period to life as no history book ever did.  Many times I become so engrossed in it that I find myself doing research about that very time period, place and customs of the country where the story took place.  I hope this blog will open others to the world of entertainment and knowledge to be gained through reading.

GeeGee