The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)

I watched The Jane Austen Book Club as the last goal in the Everything Austen II challenge.

I honestly wasn't expecting much from it, but I ended up loving it. A movie centered around reading the books of Jane Austen? Yes, please. Plus, this film had an amazing cast.

I loved how the the storyline for the characters weren't that far off from the lives of the characters in Austen's novels. Also, how the books seemed to be helping them in their own lives, whether something inspires them, or whatever.

The film is made up of an eclectic group of characters, which makes the film more interesting. A stand out for me was Emily Brunt as Prudie. I'm already such a big fan of hers and I absolutely loved her in this. I also loved Hugh Dancy as Grigg and Kathy Baker as Bernadette.

I haven't read the book, so I had no idea what to expect from this. I'm not too into modern day-type films, but I found myself enjoying this. I found myself laughing at some points and just plain enjoying myself.

Pride and Prejudice (1980)

My first completed task for the Everything Austen II Challenge was watching the 1980 mini series of Pride and Prejudice. There's nothing like a good challenge to get you to finally watch something you've been meaning to for ages.

I've seen all the other adaptations: 1940, 1995, 2005 and although it's not technically Pride and Prejudice, Lost in Austen. I found this version, while dated, to be a very solid adequate, version.

It had all its common occurrences of an 1980s mini series: long awkward pauses and a lot of staring. The editing was a bit choppy in places, but I just accepted all this and found none of it bothered me in my enjoyment of watching.

One thing I didn't care for was Mary's character. This version just seemed to make her even more annoying than she originally was. It was sort of overdone showing how intelligent she was. And what was with Kitty coughing all the time? Was that in the book? I don't understand what that was all about.

On to the good stuff. I found Elizabeth Garvie's portrayal of Elizabeth refreshing. She was more ladylike that both Ehle's and Knightley's Lizzys. She was very headstrong and very forthcoming, but also sweet at times. David Rintoul's Darcy was most excellent. I had to remember that his version came before both Firth's and Macfayden's and that his take on Darcy's proudness and aloofness were entirely his own. He portrayed Darcy as a very hard man, a man who no one could seem to break his defenses, but as time went on his icy facade started to melt and we started to see him as his true self.

My favorite scene was Elizabeth and Darcy's first encounter at Pemberley. The surprise and awkwardness of the situation was very well done. I found both actors were very convincing in giving their respective characters the impression that their minds were racing a million miles an hour and were only hoping that what was coming out of their mouths was making sense.

Overall, a very good series. I recommend it to anyone who loves Pride and Prejudice and hasn't yet seen this. It follows very closely with the book and the acting is true to form.

Other than Garvie and Rintoul, stand out performances were given by Priscilla Morgan as Mrs. Bennet, Marsha Fitzalan as Caroline Bingley and Judy Parfitt as Lady Catherine de Bourgh. And a side note: it was rather refreshing to see a Jane that wasn't blonde.

And I'll end this post on a humorous note. While watching part three of the series, I noticed something moving around on the right side of the screen during one scene:

Whoops! Microphone in frame. Kind of brought me back to reality for a second, but I found it amusing.

Jane Eyre (2006)

As part of the All About the Brontës Challenge, I chose to re-watch the 2006 adaptation of Jane Eyre. I found this to be a good excuse, since I haven't watched it in a few years.

It was a great reminder of how much I loved it and reminds me that I really need to reread the novel, since I can't even remember the last time I did. Just too many books and too little time!

I was once again fascinated by Toby Stephens' portrayal of Edward Rochester. I had seen him in a few other things and am just astounded that it is the same person. Goes to show how brilliant an actor he is.

The series captured the great dark, Gothic look that the novel gave up. Everything about this series was perfect - from the locations to the costumes to the acting and casting. I have to remember not to let years go by in between viewings again.

None of this are profound thoughts, I know. I just wanted to get out how amazed I still am by this production and it is amongst my favorite period dramas.

The Young Victoria

If I may be allowed to gush for a moment.

I recently viewed the most marvelous film The Young Victoria, which I utterly loved. I don't think I could recommend it enough. To period drama lovers; to history lovers; you will adore it.

Unlike my fellow historical fiction lovers, I am not crazy about royalty (shocker, I know), but even I loved this. It was a beautiful film with just the right amount of drama, romance and splendor. The costumes and scenery are not overdone and the acting is beyond brilliant.

Go see it, if you have not.

And I am currently listening to the score by Ilan Eshkeri. If you end up loving the film, get the soundtrack. The music is gorgeous.

Lady Audley's Secret (2000)

Based on the 1862 novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon this version aired on UK TV in 2000.

It has been months since I've read the book, so everything is not as fresh in my mind, but I did realize that there were some characters missing, which lent to scenes missing and some of the characters' relationships being different.

I didn't know what to make of Neve McIntosh as Lady Audley at first, but less than halfway through the movie, I thought, "She's got this." She made me feel sorry for Lady Audley, which I also did in the book. Robert Audley was a bit of a creeper, for a lack of a better word. I don't recall him being that way in the book. I remember him being a bit dull and just a tad dimwitted, but not creepy.

The mystery wasn't so well concealed, I thought, but this is coming from someone who knew what was going on. Also, you can't hide things as well in films. It just doesn't work.

This is one of those OK adaptations. At some points I went cross eyed, and at some points I thought it was great.

I do have to say, I did love the ending for this film more than the book. I liked how things went for her. I thought she was treated unfairly in the book.

The costumes were beautiful. And I loved some of the slow motioned shots to see them better. Lady Audley's dresses were just gorgeous.

Becoming Jane (2007)

I was actually dreading to watch this film. I thought, "Oh, boy, better get this over with!"

Surprise! Surprise! I liked it. I took it as a complete work of fiction, which it is, and to which I enjoyed it. Hathaway made a wonderful Jane and I'm no fan of McAvoy, but he was particularly adorable in this.

The film is about the romance between Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy, which could be strongly argued never happened. The name Lefroy was mentioned only twice in Jane's letters to her sister Cassandra. While there may have been some sort of relationship, my guess is it was nothing more than a crush.

Nevertheless, it makes for a great romantic period film! It had a great cast that along with Hathaway and McAvoy also included: Julie Waters, Maggie Smith and James Cromwell.

The scenery was breathtaking, the costumes were lovely and I just loved the scenes that showed Jane writing. I loved when she would pace the room figuring out her words or when she would take a pair of scissors and cut out words she didn't like.

I love me some Austen and I'm a stickler for fact, but I somehow managed to put all that aside and view this as a purely fictional film and surprisingly found myself enjoying it.

Affinity (2008) Film Adaptation

Affinity is the 2008 adaptation of the 1999 novel by Sarah Waters.

Affinity is my favorite of all Waters' novels and I just loved this film adaptation. It stars Anna Madeley - who you may have seen in the latest adaptations of Sense and Sensibility and Brideshead Revisted - as Margaret Prior and Zoe Tapper as Selina Dawes.

Set in 1870s, Prior, an unmarried woman of an upper class family in England, has lost her father and set outs to become a 'lady visitor' of the local women's prison to fill the time. One of the prisoners she meets there is Selina Dawes, a spiritualist, who was convicted of assault on a young lady during a spiritualist session gone wrong. Prior is instantly captivated by Dawes and sets her focus mostly on her.

The film stayed pretty close to the book. It added a character that wasn't present in the novel: Theophilus, who is trying to seek Margaret's hand in marriage.  The relationship between Margaret and Selina is reflected on screen as intensely as it does on the page. The transition was flawless. And the costumes, if I may be superficial for a moment, were absolutely gorgeous. I couldn't help but drool over the pretty, pretty dresses.

Affinity is a wonder Victorian costume drama. Anyone who loves the book won't be disappointed, and anyone who hasn't read the book will be blown away by the ending!

Beau Brummell: This Charming Man

The first of four period dramas I'm watching for the Period Drama challenge.

For the challenge, I have to watch two Regency set films. The other will be Becoming Jane, so I thought it would be nice for the other film to have nothing whatsoever to do with Jane Austen, and believe me, it was no easy task.

Based on the book Beau Brummell: The Ultimate Man of Style by Ian Kelly (who, coincidentally enough, has a small part in the film), it's a short period of time covered about the real man George Bryan Brummell.

The film is just under 80 minutes and covers the rise and fall of Brummell's friendship with The Prince of Wales and his relationship with Lord Byron. Ending with Brummell fleeing to France.

James Purefoy plays an absolutely fantastic Beau Brummell. I think smoldering would be the correct word to use here. I was equally struck with the other performances, such as Hugh Bonneville as the Prince of Wales and Matthew Rhys as Lord Byron.


The costumes are beautiful, which they would have to be, seeing as how the basis of the film is fashion and Brummell's influence on it.

Wonderful acting performances and splendid costumes makes this a good little regency period drama.

Official Site

Possession by A.S. Byatt + Film Adaptation

Now and then there are readings that make the hairs on our neck, the non-existent pelt, stand on end and tremble, when every word burns and shines hard and clear and infinite and exact, like stones of fire, like points of stars in the dark... -Possession, Pg. 512

For NaNoWriMo last November, I wrote a story about a man who moves into an old house. While renovating, he discovers old letters and journals from a time long ago. These documents provided leads into old, mysterious deaths and a disappearance of a family.

My point: I love stories like these. Huge secrets that leave small clues scattered into various places. Long-lost letters; famous poems. It's like a puzzle or maze. Turn the right corner and you will be rewarded beyond anything you could have comprehended.

Possession started out slow. The first hundred pages or so were basically a set-up for what was to come. Afterward, the story moved slow, but not in a boring way. It was like each beautiful secret was being slowly, graciously unveiled, as if hesitant to show us. We were met with poems and short stories, which some readers seem to skip, as if it hinders the flow of the story. These documents are the story. It gives us the thought that these two fictional poets were actually real. These writings give them life, breath, a voice. Why skip a part of a book? What's the rush?

If you're someone who easily gets impatient and just wants to 'get to the point', then do not waste your eyes here. If you can't sit and watch a beautiful story slowly unfold, Possession is not for you, and that is sad.

Example: For one chapter all there is is the correspondence between these two poets: Ash and LaMotte. It's over forty-five pages of letters. This was my favorite part. To see a relationship grow in words. The early letters starting out with civility moving slowly towards friendship and then slowly to love when we see sentiments like 'My dear' and 'Yours always'. It was gorgeous. It was exquisite. It makes me miss the beauty of letter writing. A great art form that has slowly died out.

My reaction when I was finished was me staring straight ahead, focusing on nothing, breathless and fighting back small tears. The last two chapters were hauntingly sad. I can't even form words to describe it.

The modern day story was good. It wasn't paper thin or unsatisfying, but of course, my mind was eager for the story of the past.

Read Possession if you're looking for a story that when you reach the end, you will be rewarded. You will feel that your journey was not in vain


I watched the 2002 film adaptation of Possession after finishing the book last night. I guess I expected at least a halfway decent adaptation, but I didn't get it. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but I felt the modern day story fell flat, while in the novel it was intriguing. I didn't feel that the Maud and Roland characters were that much developed throughout the film and I didn't feel as though there was any real chemistry between them.

And parts were choppy and felt hurried, which I felt was a travesty to the beauty of the story. I felt as if I didn't read the book, I would have been a bit confused, but I digress.

Let me get to the two things I loved about this adaption:

-Jeremy Northam and Jennifer Ehle as Ash and LaMotte. Their scenes together were absolutely indescribable. They were exquisite together and they were the only two actors in the film which I felt were perfectly cast. Now, there was definitely chemistry between them, no question.

-The beautiful score. The music captured the scenes and mood of the film inexplicably.

Would recommend watching this after you read the book, but it could, of course, stand alone.