tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71067744526077532382024-02-20T02:16:01.722-08:00pseudocriticreviews and recommendations of books, movies, websites, cds, art and television programmes. opinions on media.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-25782900389679144102014-06-08T06:35:00.001-07:002014-06-08T06:35:14.343-07:00Good Doctor and Big ManI discovered these two Korean dramas by chance.<div>
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Good Doctor touches me because the protagonist who is an austistic medical student, finally gets to pass his medical exam after having been initially rejected by the medical board. It is a tale of perseverance and of acceptance, of shared passion to heal patients. He is accepted by the girl he loves, by the staff around him and as a younger brother by a senior doctor. Their love is innocently sweet due to his mental age, but it is in the simplicity coupled with sincerity that the love is more poignant. The newly found brotherhood with the senior doctor is also a happy moment to behold. </div>
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There are other moments that create an impact on me too. The senior doctor who usually looks serious, proposes to his longtime girlfriend and we see a lighter side of him then. All the staff wish for a small girl to get well after her operation develops complications, with the senior doctor being most vulnerable and turning to prayer in a Catholic chapel(there is a crucifix!). The director acknowledges the existence of another treatment after medical means, which is an allusion to prayer, really.</div>
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Big Man, which is currently showing, affects me in terms of how the victimized protagonist tries to protect the girl he loves, even though she was just about to tell the truth to save him from conviction. He admits to a crime he has not committed and pretends to hate her for that reason. He really does not want her to get involved with trying to save him, as he had overheard a tape clip in which her life is in danger. The pain and anguish he hides at having to hurt her, out of love for her, is something that always has an profound impact on me. </div>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-48899840810628698462014-06-08T06:19:00.004-07:002014-06-08T06:19:36.387-07:00A Valentine's Kiss by Lucie HartThis book is awesome. It made me feel head-over-heels and topsy-turvy as I read towards the end of its story. I wanted to run back to it each time my duties called me away, despite it being 400+ pages long..<br />
This is a book worth retaining in my own library.<br />
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Besides the beautiful beautiful language descriptions, the way Imogen and Archer revealed and confessed their feelings for each other, both verbally, technologically and physically, wasn't portrayed so bawdily and raunchily. In fact, it was sweetly seductive. I really loved it. There were semblances of raunchiness in one or two physically intimate encounters between Imogen and other men, but they were blown off by the sweet moments she shared with Archer.<br />
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The revelation to Imogen's quest gave me thrills to no end despite my prior inkling of the answer, notwithstanding the hints that Hart had injected in the course of the story.<br />
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The setting may be in France, where romance is always associated with it but I think it does little to distract the reader from the actual plot. In fact, it serves to only enhance it.<br />
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I cannot resist sharing some beautiful descriptive sentences from the book:<br />
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"She stiffened in surprise as she felt a man's hands gliding caressingly down her arms and covering her own hands, and almost immediately a soft, firm mouth closing over hers, a wild rush of blood to her face, her throat, her arms and every one of her fingers, her legs and her belly."<br />
"Imogen, it's me,' the person said in French, very low, while taking her hand in his."<br />
"Where are you?' 'Over here,' he whispered, finding and taking both her hands this time. He very gently pulled her into his arms where he held her in a light embrace.<br />
"She found herself instinctively laying her head on his shoulder. She was only aware of the feel of his shirt against her cheek."<br />
He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her until she fell into such an all-enveloping, liquid and languorous haze that her knees almost gave way. He pressed his mouth against her throat. When the desire to cry out became irresistible, she turned around in his embrace and nestled against him."<br />
He seized her hand, slipping his fingers between hers caressingly. He wrapped his arms around her and she closed her eyes."<br />
"He pulled her to him in order to kiss her cheek, very close to her mouth."<br />
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"Tea-rose pink, it makes your skin look a lovely shade of pale gold. I like your white tuxedo. You make me feel like we're all on a liner in the middle of the ocean."<br />
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"The bar, with its curved high ceiling and narrowish gallery shape punctuated by tall rounded pillars, was a vision of art deco splendour, saved from excessive solemnity by its cheerful Mediterrranean shades of cobalt blue and terracotta red. The hotel's dining room was an enclosed, nude-coloured, leather-upholstered box that resembled the interior of an expensive handbag, with the dramatic addition of sparkling crystal pebbles cascading from the ceiling."<br />
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"The sky beyond the orange trees had turned from a muted porcelain shade of almost-white to vibrant summery blue.<br />
"She heard a soft whimpering sound and turned to meet Monty's pleading eyes. She let him out and watched him put his nose to the ground, entranced by a new wealth of exotic smells. The hills stretched out in front of her eyes, carpeted with yellow-flowered gorse. She looked up at the sky, which was a pale shade of grey that seemed to promise rain. She gazed at the deep valley stretching out in front of her. In the far distance, the mountains looked like a painted film set, so vivid were their variegated shades of purple and blue."<br />
"She noticed a dramatic change in the weather. It was as though all the Riviera light had suddenly been sucked out of the atmosphere. The palm trees on the promenade looked bruised and exhausted against a leaden sky."<br />
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"The people retreated indoors, with the exception of the town's devoted dog owners who continued to parade their smartly mackintoshed and often booted charges."<br />
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"By the end of a torturous week, the pain gnawing at her chest was searing, unbearable and when tears came, it was with a violence she had never before experienced, streaming from her eyes like a solid curtain, which, when it occasionally dried up, left her face aching and swollen. Mitch and Gene had been very kind, coming into her room at night to sit with her and hold her hand when they heard her sobbing in her sleep."<br />
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"The wedding cake design was a deep puff pastry love well filled with layers of vanilla custard and crunchy nougatine. This sat atop an ornate neo-classical white plinth encased in meringue, against the side of which a gold-coloured spun-sugar ladder was propped up. At the top of this, a barrel-chested, pink-faced marzipan figure, easily identifiable by his chef's whites and hat, stood clutching a sugar lobster in one hand and a bunch of marzipan flowers in the other, while gazing romantically across the well, where a glamorous marzipan figure, wearing a large white floppy straw hat and a fabulously expensive and beautifully cut black swimsuit, was perched on the pastry edge, dipping one foot in the custard."<br />
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"Brightly coloured fragments began to fit together in her mind like a mosaic, forming a picture. Suddenly, everything became very bright, as in an accelerated version of the dawn."<br />
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"He raised a hand to her face and his fingertips brushed her cheek, then caressed her hair. Their eyes met and Imegen smiled. He gathered her into his arms. It was all right, she thought, rubbing her face against his shoulder. 'Oh, my sweet girl,' he said. He took her hands. He pressed his forehead against hers. She lay in his arms in a state of absolute peace and contentment. She rubbed her cheek against his. He tightened his hold on her. She stroked his hair. Wordlessly, Imogen kissed his brows, the bridge of his nose, and he smiled. She caressed his face and he seriously looked into her eyes. He brought his mouth firmly down on hers."<br />
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"I had the strongest desire to give you something that would make you think of me."<br />
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"She sat, holding hands with Archer."<br />
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"She changed into a beautiful evening gown in midnight blue lace for the evening party."<br />
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"The people on table six really wanted to congratulate her. She had found a party consisting of her dearest friends, all cheering her on. It had been the most wonderful accolade. Christmas had been spent at Bunny's house, where Imogen, Archer and their friends had all hunkered down for a few days, playing cards, watching silly DVDs and getting ridiculously merry."<br />
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"In the greenish underwater atmosphere of the restaurant, which at this hour of a winter's afternoon made the most of the shimmering marine tiles, his hazel eyes looked translucent and golden. She touched his face and smiled."<br />
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"Through the restaurant's glass front, the harbour presented a scene of radiant winter serenity. Snowy palm trees glittered against a pale backdrop in which the sea and the sky merged into one. Archer turned away from the view to gaze at Imogen, at which point she smiled. Archer had his hand on her waist."<br />
<br />Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-14404198184944147222013-11-15T20:45:00.000-08:002013-11-15T20:45:30.253-08:00The Magic in A Winter FlameShe loved him so much it hurt sometimes. "I love him so much it hurts me."<br />
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Eve was very much in the mould of her aunt with her big bosom and the nipped-in waist of a fifties film starlet.<br />
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There was a gorgeous orange and cinnamon sorbet at Christmas.<br />
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We used to have a twelve-foot Christmas tree and every visitor had to bring a bauble for it.<br />
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There was a conical cabin selling soup and hot chocolate.<br />
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The buffet that awaited them was a feast to behold. The caterers had excelled themselves with tiny two-bite sandwiches: turkey and stuffing, pork and apple, Wensleydale and red onion chutney, prawn and curried mayonnaise. There were the diddiest little mince pies with a brandy butter swirl, caramel apple crumbles with custard, mini tubs of Christmas pudding ice cream. Latticed pies, pastries, miniature chocolate rum roulades were on the list too.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-24365296500095515142013-11-08T23:11:00.003-08:002013-11-08T23:11:57.757-08:00Ashley Madison - sadism!The tagline is 'Life is short, have an affair'. Ridiculous! How can there be satisfaction in destroying marriages and families, with a temporary fling? "Not that the website cares". Thank goodness, access to it has been blocked in Singapore.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-43565211278328717942013-11-06T16:30:00.002-08:002013-11-06T16:30:38.093-08:00My PrincessAnother Korean drama has enticed me! It is a fairy-tale drama about a diplomat who helps a princess to restore the Korean monarchy but ends up falling in love with her. A few factors render this drama appealing to me:<br />
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- soundtrack<br />
- chemistry between the lead actors<br />
- the male lead's good looks<br />
- romantic scenes and script portions<br />
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In contrast to the previous dramas I have watched, the fashion worn by the female lead does not really attract me and there is not much contemporary food/culture in this drama. Perhaps the distant and unrealistic plot is the cause. After all, it is about a princess and this word has already prejudiced my mindset against the fashion worn by her.<br />
<script>var vglnk = { api_url: '//api.viglink.com/api', key: 'a187ca0f52aa99eb8b5c172d5d93c05b' };</script><script async="" src="//cdn.viglink.com/api/vglnk.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-47186532601030142022013-10-15T00:38:00.000-07:002013-10-15T00:38:09.362-07:00A British Christmas with The Secret Shopper UnwrappedThe far wall had been wallpapered with a vintage print featuring boutique shop fronts. Another wall was lined with white-painted wooden shelving units, with primrose-coloured lever arch files, ready to be filled with mystery shopping reports.<br />
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I want to throw off my shoes and clothes and jump into the shower and then change into leggings and a fleece and lie on the sofa with my baked beans on toast watching EastEnders followed by Nigella Lawson telling me how to stuff my Christmas goose.<br />
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I want to dress her in my fleecy pyjamas and fatten her up with tea and buttered toast. I spot Jean scoffing away on a hog-roast roll with apple sauce.<br />
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Freddie casts a contemptuous look at the much-loved penguin, lying abandoned in the corner of the room. I feel stung on poor Pingu's behalf.<br />
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Not what was in the shops but the wonderful promenade, with the pillars and the roofs to keep the rain off as you window-shopped, and the ironwork, intricate as a lace doily. Southport could only be a woman, fussy retired woman who smells of Yardley Lavender perfume, dignified but old before her time. The kind who will greet you after a long journey with tea made with loose leaves, and a home-made cake, served on matching crockery.<br />
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Try the sweet shop in the arcade.<br />
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The newspaper proclaims on the front, Feel-good Festive Special.<br />
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It's a million miles from the little girl who fell in love with Oxford Street and this very boulevard.<br />
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I look at the shoppers, wrapped up against the coastal breeze in Christmas reds and greens and purples, and I see the smiles on their faces as they are drawn towards the window displays, against all their sensible instincts. I see a small girl outside a toyshop, her eyes stretched wide at some unknown but utterly desirable doll or game, her mother pulling her away gently, but the girl's eyes stay fixed on the window for as long as possible before she disappears into the crowd.<br />
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Marylebone High Street at dusk is perhaps the closest thing I have ever seen to my romantic teenaged imaginings of England. Dickens could not have conjured up somewhere so picture perfect. There is enough ice in the air to make one feel wintry, but not enough to chill the bones. There are the stores, the prettiest of stores, selling the loveliest of inconsequential non-essentials. I covet everything: the lotions and potions in Space NK, the heavenly haberdashery and ribbons at V.V. Rouleaux, the huge glass jars of e-numbered delights in the window of the sweet shop, the hand-painted naif plates and teapots in Emma Bridgewater, the thousands of classic books in Daunt's, the jewel-coloured cashmere sweaters in Brora, the copper pans in Divertimenti....<br />
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There are the stalls, just for Christmas, with strings of fairy lights suspended from the canvas roofs. I stop by a stall selling biscuits and cakes, every single one snow white. Star-shaped meringues dusted with icing sugar. Cookies with big chunks of white chocolate melted into the dough. Marzipan hearts with a frosty sheen. I am seized by the desire to buy up half the stall. The hearts are perfect for Emily. The cookies will go down well with Nigel. Little Freddie will love the stars...oh, and perhaps those tiny snowmen, too. The woman wraps the pile in glorious shimmery cellophane, with cascades of ribbon.<br />
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I'm going to use cupcake cases as tealight holders - I tried it out and it looks gorgeous, the flames reflected in the gold and silver foil. I found a spare container of Johnson's powder so I can scatter it like snow across the living room. Then Will can tramp through it in his biggest boots, to 'prove' that Santa visited.<br />
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We pass through the ground floor, which is decked out as a Winter Wonderland, with lights that simulate soft falling snow, and assistants dressed as woodland animals offering free samples of reviving hot cider punch and butterscotch Florentines.<br />
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I have imagined fresh nuts and mince pies on the hour, plus soups and devils on horseback and smoked salmon and a fat, golden turkey with all the trimmings and rib-sticking Christmas pudding with pounds and pounds of freshly-made brandy butter....<br />
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I have to confess that I believe the Papists do the Christmas thing better than anyone else. The thrill of staying up past midnight was the big draw, and then gradually the magic of the ritual worked on me, until it seemed like the only way to begin Christmas.<br />
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I think of Christmas at Garnett's: the decorations and the music and the smells and....<br />
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Her delicate features are lost in a round face, like currants in fruit bread as the dough rises.<br />
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Enjoy the entire British Christmas experience. It's not just the lunch. There's the evening buffet, the midnight snack. Jill always invites the whole close to the Boxing Day Brunch. A sideboard groaning with cold turkey and defrosted supermarket desserts is the highlight of the social calendar.<br />
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I spoon the carrots into a built-in slot in a heated trolley. As they tumble in, the carrots coil around, coated in melted golden butter. The turkey meat is perfectly moist, and the stuffing curiously tasty. The chestnuts are crunchy, and the chipolata sausages wrapped in bacon taste deliciously savoury.<br />
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There is an adorable Victorian compendium of fairy tales, with full-colour plate illustrations. Not to mention and original photograph of our shop back in Edwardian times.<br />
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Mick and I are in the lounge, listening to a CD of Christmas hits sung by Bing Crosby. The display cabinet is full of Lladro porcelain figurines, the ones of grey-and-white-hued young girls holding kittens or reading books. I feel relaxed enough to let myself drift sleepwards....<br />
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Her storecupboard essentials would put Fortnum's Food Hall to shame. Decadence is in such a feast: dill-marinated salmon and chicken liver pate and caviar and tiny olives and even tinier capers and peppers stuffed with feta and mustard fruits and spiced truffles and cantucci biscuits and pomegranates split in half to reveal their crimson-jewelled seeds and white chocolate cookies and white meringues and.... Grazia returns with a tray heaped with a cooked turkey, a pack of pre-roasted chestnuts, a huge pack of cranberry and pistachio toffee, home-baked mince pies, cheeses, iced and unevenly cut star biscuits, pigs-in-blankets, and a big bottle of sunshine-yellow egg nog. We retire to the lounge and sink into the squishy sofas next to her roaring open fire. She has immaculate tastes and an unlimited budget.<br />
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We must recapture the Christmas spirit with stories. Think of memories to share of the best Christmas you have celebrated. A memory comes, that triggers another, and then another. Smells, tastes, sounds.<br />
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I get to the roundabout, where the Bush ends and Holland Park begins. I've walked the length of the Holland Road, and now I am in Kensington. I've been past the big houses where they leave the curtains open so you can admire their gigantic trees. Then I cross the Cromwell Road. Now I'm in Earl's Court, the bit where the Kiwis and the Aussies go if they don't like Shepherd's Bush.<br />
<br />Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-1067609458176489752013-10-14T19:36:00.000-07:002013-10-14T19:36:06.394-07:00Family by Ba JinWhen I first read this novel as a young girl, it was out of curiosity and I liked the plot. It stopped at that.<div>
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Picking up this same novel as an older adult gives me different views of it. I still like the plot but I can now appreciate the characters and their situations more. I can also detect the tragic flavour in the story, as the author didacticised.</div>
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Here are some excerpts:</div>
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"Mingfeng bowed her head shyly but she felt inexpressible joy in her heart. For the past two years, she had often longed to be alone with Juehui but now she was a little afraid. He loved Mingfeng and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He asked, " Don't you want to be with me?"</div>
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"Juexin wanted to find a chance to bare his soul to her but each time he met her, he couldn't say anything."</div>
Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-79584945351571613882013-09-27T19:05:00.001-07:002013-09-27T19:05:46.596-07:00Undercover BossI have watched dozens of episodes of this programme where a senior management staff member pretends to be a new job applicant for the lowest-ranked positions within the company. This is so that he can understand first-hand the backroom operations. At the end of his stint, he unveils his true professional identity, either offering solutions or rewards in the process.<br />
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It was on one of the recent episodes about a fast food drive-in company that I was truly struck with a what-if thought. What if a senior management staff of AXA Life came unannounced as a junior administrative assistant and I had to teach her my job? How would I be seen in his/her eyes? Well, I'd better hope the person does not come on one of my ultra-bad days! :PJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-84881714345659903882013-09-20T19:06:00.000-07:002013-09-20T19:06:27.106-07:00Lie To MeYet another Korean drama has created an impact on me! I first watched it midway through the series.<br />
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I think it is the tender love scenes that captivate me. Though there are long kisses in the drama, they are not lustful but radiate the feelings between the couple. The accompanying soundtracks make the scenes more emotionally charged, of course.<br />
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Another reason is that the male lead Kang Ji-hwan looks like my favourite Korean actor Park Shi Hoo and his chemistry with the female lead Yoon Eun-hye is spellbinding.<br />
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A third reason is the fashion style of Ki-joon's ex-fiance. I love her typically Korean dressing; so feminine and after my own heart. On another note, I think Ah-jung looks better with her hair cut off in the middle of the series, than with her originally longer hair at the first part of the series.<br />
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This series has taken over my heart for now and I still re-watch certain scenes, as well as replay certain soundtracks.<br />
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<br />Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-76734244562308220482013-07-06T19:35:00.000-07:002013-07-06T19:35:18.229-07:00"Secrets" from The Secret Shopper's Revenge that resonate with meNurturing the soul of an artist is both exhausting and addictive.<br />
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I did think for a little while....I was the only person who could get away with 'teasing' him.<br />
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All artists have moods...those monstrous sulks that he could maintain for weeks and weeks.<br />
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The whole store is designed to resemble a high street, complete with wooden benches and metal signposts that direct us to the Market Garden and the Cheese Ripening Room and the Granary Bakehouse and the Wine Merchant. And then there is a sign pointing into the air, to The Village Green. Picnic-style tables are arranged round the edge, and food stalls are scattered on the grass. The zone is designed like an old-fashioned pharmacy, with dark wooden cabinets and enormous glass jars full of knobbly ginger and gnarled twigs.<br />
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This season's floaty pink top covers my flat tummy completely. The boat neck dips nicely.<br />
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It is that kind of body fascism that makes women hate themselves.<br />
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Life is about taking risks but mad leaps in the dark are an awful lot easier to take when you have got someone at your side.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-67822919373283355372013-06-15T07:41:00.001-07:002013-06-15T07:43:33.045-07:00Impactful quotes from Mr Darcy's Decision <ol>
<li>There is a mystery to all things in life that love has touched.</li>
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Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-78822598765579093242012-09-11T00:09:00.000-07:002012-09-11T00:31:28.136-07:00A survey based on Austenesque Reviews<b>An ardent admirer's self-interview</b><br />
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The first Austenesque novel I ever read was: Edmund Bertram's Diary by Amanda Grange.<br />
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The most recent Austenesque novel I read was: Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris.<br />
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My favourite Jane Austen heroine is: Elizabeth Bennet.<br />
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My favourite Jane Austen hero is: Fitzwilliam Darcy.<br />
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My favourite original Austenesque character is: Robyn Love in A Weekend With Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly. <br />
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My favourite Pride and Prejudice variation is: Darcy's Voyage by Kara Louise.<br />
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My favourite Austenesque sequel is: A Match For Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward.<br />
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My favourite Austenesque modern adaptation is: Love, Lies and Lizzie by Rosie Rushton.<br />
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My favourite Austenesque cover is: Definitely Not Mr Darcy by Karen Doornebos.<br />
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One of my favourite Austenesque authors is: Kara Louise.<br />
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One of the Austenesque novels currently on my wishlist is: Pemberley Celebrations - The First Year by Kara Louise.<br />
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One of my favourite scenes from an Austenesque novel is: both Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy standing up to Lady Catherine in Darcy's Voyage.<br />
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The Austenesque character I would like as a best friend is: Elizabeth Bennet's maid assigned to her by Darcy in Only Mr Darcy Will Do by Kara Louise.<br />
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The Austenesque character I would not like as a best friend is: Lady Grace in Definitely Not Mr Darcy by Karen Doornebos.<br />
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The thing I love most about Austenesque novels is: the varied storylines.<br />
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If I could live in any Austenesque novel, I would choose: A Weekend With Mr Darcy by Victoria Connelly.<br />
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The Austenesque character I would like to trade places with is: Amanda Price in Lost In Austen. I know it is a film and not a novel, but I have always wished her time-travel adventure would happen to me.<br />
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The Austenesque character I would not like to trade places with is: Courtney who finds herself in Jane Mansfield's body and experiences leeching in Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-27028644318237254542012-09-10T22:47:00.003-07:002012-09-30T00:30:12.497-07:00Family's HonourI first heard of this Korean drama from a friend who felt I would like it. She mentioned that the Korean culture and food are part of it. Besides, the actor I like is in it. I was rather skeptical and took a long time to actually watch the episodes.<br />
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She was right. I do like it :) Again, certain aspects of it have made a strong impression on me.<br />
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I like the idea of the couple falling in love for real when they were only putting up a show to give her other suitor the wrong idea. They pretend to be a couple and do things that couples do. When the charade ends, they don't tell each other their true feelings and suffer in tearful silence. I love their restraint and silent tears when they try to forget each other. Of course, they get together in the end.<br />
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They have to overcome more obstacles before they have a happy married life. The guy's parents object to her at first because she is a widow and her two brothers are divorcees. The mother especially does not give her consent to their marriage. They decide to break up as a result and he decides to leave for America. They finally get his mother's consent due to his threat. They get into life-threatening situations and the girl exchanges his life for their relationship. All these result in more tears but his mother finally accepts the girl wholeheartedly, and they do get married. Again, their chemistry is a drawing factor too.<br />
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Their marriage is really fun and the ideal kind of marriage I would like to have. They banter and play with each other. The girl has to nurture the guy who suddenly becomes a crybaby. At the same time, she is there for him to run back to when things get difficult. So is he there for her. The good thing too is that they wait till after they are married, before they sleep together. Remaining chaste for one's future husband and modest behaviour, purity in marriage through simple wedding bands and post-marital sex, giving birth to help increase the country's dwindling population - all these are values I agree with.<br />
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The fashion does not make much of an impact on me but the court shoes in a kitten heel style are what I already like. It is the Korean traditional costume that attracts my attention. The colours and cutting of the hanbok seem so appealing and comfortable at the same time. I have fallen in love with Korean food too. As a result, I have borrowed books on it and plan to cook some dishes from them. I have eaten dishes like Blimbap and Kimchi. It is healthy with a lot of vegetables, as Korean food is known to be. Beef and pork are also part of Korean cuisine. I love the other side dishes like spinach and bean sprouts, and appetizers like Pumpkin Congee too.<br />
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I think this Korean drama is more worth watching than Prosecutor Princess, primarily for the storyline, the values advocated and the culture promoted.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-14277936019709030312012-08-19T05:07:00.001-07:002012-08-19T05:07:23.131-07:00Heaven Sword Dragon SabreThis period drama is based on a martial arts novel written by Louis Cha. Over the decades, it has been shown on television but each time acted by different casts. My favourite actor to portray Zhang Wuji, the hero, had always been Tony Liang Chao Wei who did so in 1986. Despite the many other actors to portray this character, no one had surpassed his portrayal, till Deng Chao in 2009.<br />
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The difference between these two portrayals is that the former portrayed the hero as an indecisive lover who smacked of innocence at the same time, while the latter portrayed the hero as a romantic lover. I guess the different eras also contributed to the ways the hero portrayed his love expressions. There was more boldness in his gestures when Deng Chao acted as the hero. He had more bodily contact with the actress who acted as his lover. With Tony Liang, the relationship was based more on tender smiles.<br />
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I stumbled upon the earlier version on a website and as I viewed the episodes, I realised that Tony Liang's portrayal did not appeal to me anymore. A new actor had taken over the throne of Zhang Wuji's portrayal in my mind.<br />
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Another form of comparison occurs pertaining to this drama too. The actresses portraying the four ladies in love with the hero also differ in terms of casts. I think the prettiest Xiao Zhao is the actress from the 2009 version, the prettiest Yin Li is the actress from the same version, the prettiest Zhao Min is the actress from the same version and the prettiest Zhou Zhiruo is the actress from the 1986 version. Therefore, it is apparent that I think the 2009 version is the best version of this drama.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-86828574035687560032012-08-17T04:05:00.000-07:002012-08-17T04:08:36.909-07:00The power of Prosecutor PrincessIt is a Korean drama, with Park Shi Hoo and Kim So Yeon in the lead roles. Seo In Woo, a boy whose father was framed for murder and subsequently died in prison, resolves to seek revenge on the man who caused his family so much pain. He works on the man's daughter Ma Hye Ri, who has just become a prosecutor, by getting close to her and attempting to gain her trust. His hope is that she will prosecute her own father. What he does not expect is that he ends up falling in love with her. She too, realises that she loves him, when she actually starts off liking her senior in the law firm she works in. However, her father objects to their relationship once he discovers who Seo is. Eventually, his love for her causes him to give up his plan of revenge and instead, they work together to prove her father's accidental killing of the victim and his father's innocence. The happy ending comes about when her father allows them to be together and they do become a couple.<br />
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The journey of Ma towards her niche as a prosecutor is inspiring for me. She is a rich and vain girl who likes to have fun in life, but has to eventually learn to work hard in her job. She learns how to be independent when she moves out to stay on her own. If she, a spoilt and pampered brat, can do it, so can I, as I prepare to embark on my new career path! <br />
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The love story of Seo and Ma is one after my own heart. They start off as friends and slowly become a couple, albeit his initial intention to use her. Due to strict Korean censorship, the love scenes stop at mouth-to-mouth kissing as the maximum. The hugging and holding, as well as the tender looks and touches they give each other appeal more to me. It is a purer and more innocent type of love than the sleazy sex scenes that are associated with love in other dramas. I hope to have this type of love story in my life too, though not with the utilitarianism involved. I get touched by the pained looks and expressions of tears each one shows away from the other, knowing that they love each other but can't show it. These actually make me cry too. The love scenes are made more intense by the carefully chosen tracks accompanying them, a feature of Korean dramas.<br />
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I really like the chemistry the leads share; they are really good in their craft. They know how to make their characters come alive such that it resonates with the viewers; their characters become so real. The love they portray as part of the script is so genuine that it seems as if they are a couple in reality. Park Shi Hoo has a knack for bringing out the best in his female leads, so that the love they portray in the drama is very real. He has the ability to put himself in the shoes of his character and accurately express the emotions felt in the various situations.<br />
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In fact, I am obsessed with this show! I have rewatched the scenes I like umpteen times and have even bought the DVD. I have also looked for the OST and saved its fanmade videos on Youtube. I have looked for the biographies on the lead actor and actress too. Youtube recommends other videos based on my history of seen videos, and I have access to Park Shi Hoo in other Korean dramas. I have also saved videos that show how the scenes were filmed and that are on the leads. However, it goes deeper than all these.<br />
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I have fallen in love with Korean food and fashion. I like the mild version of Korean Ramen and even bought a packet to try. I also tried a healthy version of Korean food, with lots of vegetables, Chicken Teriyaki, soup and rice with Green Sesame sauce. The sauce was yummy, and I loved the vegetables and chicken. However, I am not used to the taste of Kimchi, which is sour and spicy. I like to eat the BBQ meat from Seoul Garden too. It is the marinade which appeals to me. <br />
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Korean fashion has appealed to me tremendously since my mid-20s. At that time, I did not know that what I like has a name to it. It has elements of lace, pastel colours, flowers, pearls and bows/ribbons, but is elegant at the same time, contrary to the Lolita fashion of Japan which is ultra-sweet. I love certain outfits and accessories worn by Ma. As a result, I have a stronger liking for Korean fashion and have bought tops, accessories and shoes with this influence. My Pinterest board on Korean fashion has images based on her style too. I am also contemplating two hairstyles with this influence.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-56574852157540452092012-07-03T23:28:00.001-07:002012-07-03T23:28:30.920-07:00My Love for Jane Austen: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries<a href="http://forloveofausten.blogspot.com/2012/06/lizzie-bennet-diaries.html?spref=bl">My Love for Jane Austen: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries</a>: Have you heard of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries which debuted on the web a couple of months ago? I think you should check it out as it is a r...Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-88357179834797604332012-07-03T23:18:00.001-07:002012-07-03T23:18:05.986-07:00MY JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB: LET'S PLAY THE GAME! JANE AUSTEN'S ROGUES & ROMANC...<a href="http://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com/2012/06/lets-play-game-jane-austens-rogues.html?spref=bl">MY JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB: LET'S PLAY THE GAME! JANE AUSTEN'S ROGUES & ROMANC...</a>: You read about its forthcoming release here at My Jane Austen Book Club when they published a Press Pack in February. At first it was...Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-82428422697211462652012-07-03T22:55:00.001-07:002012-07-03T22:55:23.412-07:00Austenesque Reviews: Midnight in Austenland - Shannon Hale<a href="http://janeaustenreviews.blogspot.com/2012/06/midnight-in-austenland-shannon-hale.html?spref=bl">Austenesque Reviews: Midnight in Austenland - Shannon Hale</a>: Solving a Mystery or Playing a Romance – Which Would You Choose? Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Even a year after her divorce, Charl...Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-76953446997304575902012-05-28T09:47:00.003-07:002012-05-28T09:47:42.286-07:00Book club questions from Home for the Holidays1) Do you usually spend the holidays with your family or friends? What is your favourite holiday memory?<br />
Yes. Sitting down in front of the Christmas tree and opening presents, putting up the Christmas tree and then letting my mum give her approval of it.<br />
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2) Have you ever gone on a trip with a friend? Did you get along the whole time?<br />
Yep, more than once, and with different ones. Definitely!<br />
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3) Has anyone close to you ever lose his or her job? How did that feel? How did you help them deal with it?<br />
Yes. It felt unfair. I practised empathy. <br />
<br />Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-13483916696594511112012-03-21T08:10:00.001-07:002012-03-21T08:10:37.643-07:00JA character quiz<p align="center"><a href="http://www.strangegirl.com/emma/quiz.php" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.strangegirl.com/emma/quizlizzy.jpg" alt="I am Elizabeth Bennet!" height="300" width="200" /><br /> <br /><br />Take the Jane Austen Character Quiz here!</a></p>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-76434806054702261642012-02-14T06:42:00.001-08:002012-02-14T06:44:56.504-08:00<div style="background-color:#ccc; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11px; max-width:420px; width:420px; padding:0px; margin:0px;" align="center"><table style="font-size:11px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="left"><table style="font-size:11px;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="center"><div style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border:3px solid #bbb; background:#fff; margin:0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="98%"><tbody><tr><td><strong style="font-size:14px;"><a href="http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/user.php?login=siokhian@hotmail.com" title="Siokhian@hotmail.com Profile">Joanna</a>'s Result:</strong> <strong>Jane Bennet</strong></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px dotted #ccc; padding:3px;" valign="top" width="90%" align="left"><span style="font-weight:bold"> on quiz: <a href="http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=which-jane-austen-secondary-heroine-are-you" target="_blank" title="Which Jane Austen Secondary Heroine Are You?" style="color: #23a6c7;">Which Jane Austen Secondary Heroine Are You?</a></span></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:1px dotted #ccc; padding:8px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" valign="top" width="90%" align="justify"><div style="font-size:11px;" align="justify"><br /><img style="width:120px; height:auto;" _cke_saved_src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhr17yxCrH1qchde8o1_500.png" alt="" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhr17yxCrH1qchde8o1_500.png" /><br /><br /><br /><br />You are Jane Bennet of <em>Pride and Prejudice</em>! Sweet, loving and compassionate almost to a fault, you have great difficulty in seeing anything but the best in people. You are quite five times as pretty as any of your sisters and most definitely your mother's favorite. You want to marry for love and not money, but somehow you manage to catch the eye of the richest bachelor in the neighborhood. How on earth did that happen? :)</div></td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom:none; padding:5px;" valign="top" align="center"><table style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="3" width="98%"><tbody><tr><td valign="middle" align="center"><a style="background:url('http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/images/icon-qs-home.png') left center no-repeat; padding:3px 0px 3px 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:11px;" href="http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/" title="ProProfs Quiz Maker Home" target="_blank">Quiz Maker</a></td><td colspan="2" valign="middle" align="center"><a style="background:url('http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/images/icon-qs-again.png') left center no-repeat; padding:3px 0px 3px 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:11px;" href="http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=which-jane-austen-secondary-heroine-are-you" title="Take This Quiz" target="_blank">Take this quiz & get your result</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="font-size:10px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#000;"><a href="http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=which-jane-austen-secondary-heroine-are-you" target="_blank" title="Which Jane Austen Secondary Heroine Are You?">Which Jane Austen Secondary Heroine Are You?</a> » <a href="http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/" title="Create A Quiz @ProProfs" target="_blank">Create A Quiz @ProProfs</a></div>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-21287927126602626652012-01-26T22:17:00.000-08:002012-01-26T22:17:57.981-08:00Pride and Prejudice Bookshelf<a href="http://austenauthors.net/pride-and-prejudice-bookshelf">Pride and Prejudice Bookshelf</a>Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-5912016403864474142011-09-13T08:24:00.001-07:002011-09-13T18:53:57.477-07:00Worlds to fantasise aboutAfter having read Pies and Prejudice, I am caught up in imagining my own book club. Every activity can be based on a particular book we choose. For example, in the book, the members mention having dressed up as their favourite character from Little Women. Perhaps my book club can be based on Austenesque novels and it can have activities like an outing which the characters embark on or a ball they go to :) What fun will it be when December comes and the book club can hold a Regency Christmas celebration! When it comes to the modern retellings, these activities will be in accordance with the era the books are set in :) Imagine putting on a P&P play like how it was done in Acting Up!<br /><br />I am also enthusiastic about the idea of participating in life swaps. Jane Green has already written about it but somehow the portrayal of it in this book seems more appealing to me. An American family swaps their house with another from England for a period of time. I would love to do this with someone from Bath, England so that I can explore Bath. I am very sure my partner would gush about Singapore, where I am from, after having spent some time living here :)<br /><br />The book poses questions for book clubs and I would like to answer of them here.<br />What did you know about JA before you read this book? Are you interested in reading her books?<br />Answer: I knew about some of her novels, her movie adaptations and the spin-offs from her novels. Yes, though only some of them. I would want to read Pride and Prejudice.<br />Have you ever lived outside of the United States? Where would you want to live?<br />Answer: Yes, I live in Singapore. I would want to live in England.<br />Have you ever had a friend move away? How did you stay in touch?<br />Answer: Yes. I used ICQ chat and snail mail.<br /><br />Have you ever felt bullied? How did you handle it?<br />Answer: Yes. I tried to endure their taunting for as long as I could before bursting out with a remark aimed at them and then walking away in a huff.<br />How would you feel if your family swapped houses with someone else?<br />Answer: I would feel excited but would also miss my house and be anxious about living in a new house.<br />Have you ever tried out for something you really wanted? Did you make it?<br />Answer: Yes to both questions. I wanted to sing as part of the choir for a Catholic musical and I was selected for it after the audition :)<br />Do you have a blog? Have you ever thought about starting a blog? What would it be about?<br />Answer: Yes to the first two questions. Different aspects of life, as evidenced by my various blogs under the prefix Pseudo.<br />Have you ever done something anonymously? If so, why?<br />Answer: Yes. I felt the gift was more important than the giver.<br /><br />Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone or something that you didn't want to?<br />Answer: Yes.<br />Do you like to bake? What is the best thing you make?<br />Answer: Yes! Cornflake Bites.<br />Is there anyone in your life who resembles a character from literature?<br />Answer: Yep. One of my close friends seems like a Mr Darcy.<br />Have you ever upset someone unintentionally? Is there anyone that you think would make a great character in a book?<br />Answer: Yes to the first question. It was through my words.<br />Is there any famous person, alive or dead, whose hometown you would like to visit? Why?<br />Answer: Of course! Jane Austen, which I am crazy over.<br />Has anyone close to you passed away? How did you get through it?<br />Answer: Yes, my mum. My Catholic faith and my close friends helped a lot.<br />If you could give any present to anyone you wanted, what would it be? Why?<br />Answer: Financial help. The person needs it.Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-5009602735505346622011-09-13T08:05:00.000-07:002011-09-13T08:46:27.387-07:00New blogs discoveredLooking at the earlier quizzes I posted, you can see that I am an Austen fanatic. This adds to my love for any kind of quizzes. I got wind of them from two blogs. Austenesque Reviews is the main one and Austen Authors introduced me to other gems shared by the former.<br /><br />The former was discovered through the Goodreads application on Facebook. It had been promoting its Austenesque Extravaganza event running for the whole month of August. Being absolutely crazy over JA, I immediately indicated my attendance for the event. I have no regrets doing that and hope it can be held again and again. Just like the latter, it brought me into new friendships with authors specialising in Austenesque literature, allowed me to immerse myself in the contests, drove me wild with new books about to fly off the bookshelves and gave me the chance to share my favourite books with other participants.<br /><br />The latter entered my world through Facebook too. It recently celebrated its first anniversary, at which I was a delighted guest. The contests at this celebration were more challenging though. Alas, the celebration lasted for only a week although it did fill the void which the end of Austenesque Extravaganza had left in me.<br /><br />An exciting activity which I signed up for is the Dear Jane penpal programme initiated by Indie Jane, a blog I discovered on Austenesque Reviews. Austen fanatics will be matched with each other, depending on whether they prefer being done so on a domestic or foreign nature. I chose the latter. They will post handwritten letters to each other for 6 months. <br /><br />I have always loved the idea of writing letters and cards to my friends. It conveys more love and is more personal, in my opinion. I get the opportunity to paste stickers and imprint patterns on them too. I cannot wait to find out who my penpal is and I hope to continue writing even after the 6-month period has ended, as long as my penpal is in agreement too. Who knows, I may even find a special someone through this, much like the female protaganists in A Weekend With Mr Darcy! I do not believe that there are no male fans of Austen out there :PJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7106774452607753238.post-15758804447510983212011-09-10T20:26:00.001-07:002011-09-10T20:26:08.705-07:00<br> <table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" width="300" style="border: 1px solid #000 !important; margin: 6px 0 !important"> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="padding: 4px !important; background: #fff !important; text-align: center !important"> <strong><a href="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/2v0uivH/Which-Austen-are-you-most-like"><u><font face="Arial" size="4" color="#000000" style="font-size: 15px !important; font-weight: 700 !important; color: #000 !important; text-decoration: underline !important">Which Austen are you most like?</font></u></a> </strong> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" style="border-top: 1px solid #000 !important; padding: 4px !important; background: #eee !important; text-align: center !important"> <strong><font face="Arial" size="5" color="#ff9b20" style="font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 700 !important; color: #ff9b20 !important">Jane Eyre - Jane Eyre</font></strong> <div style="margin: 6px auto !important; text-align: center !important"> <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/2v0uivH/Which-Austen-are-you-most-like"><img src="http://mgsrvr.com/c96e767815af192d30f67dfd60ad4ad5.jpeg" alt="Jane Eyre - Jane Eyre quiz" border="0" width="102" height="102"> </a> </div> <font face="Arial" size="2" color="#000000"> <span style="color: #000 !important">You are Jane Eyre. You may not think that you are loved, or you doubt it when you are, but you realize that sooner or later, one person in the world does care for you. You may be labeled as not the prettiest girl in the nieghborhood...but when the occation requires it, you bring up the beauty a few notches. Although you're not the complete beauty, your personality makes up for any shortcomings times 10. Many hold to your endearing charm that keeps things going bright.</span> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="border-top: 1px solid #000 !important; padding: 4px !important; background: #fff !important; text-align: right !important"> <font face="Arial" size="1" color="#000000" style="font-size: 10px !important; color: #000 !important"> <a href="http://www.snapapp.com/capabilities/facebook-quizzes"><u><font face="Arial" size="1" color="#000000" style="font-size: 10px !important; color: #000 !important; text-decoration: underline !important">Facebook quizzes</font></u></a>, <a href="http://www.snapapp.com/capabilities/make-a-quiz-app"><u><font face="Arial" size="1" color="#000000" style="font-size: 10px !important; color: #000 !important; text-decoration: underline !important">quiz apps</font></u></a> & <a href="http://www.quibblo.com/blog-quizzes-surveys"><u><font face="Arial" size="1" color="#000000" style="font-size: 10px !important; color: #000 !important; text-decoration: underline !important">blog quizzes</font></u></a> by <img src="http://static.quibblo.com/static/images/badge/logo.gif" align="middle" border="0" alt="Quibblo" style="vertical-align: middle !important; margin-left: 5px !important; border: none !important"/> </font> </td> </tr> </table> <img src="http://pxl.pmsrvr.com/posting_stats?d=www.quibblo.com&m=badge&c=099a15b46fdad4fdd6413272b3f310894bc6f594&q=2v0uivH" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="position:absolute;top:-3000px;left:-3000px;">Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08431930592804614742noreply@blogger.com0