Sunday Nights With Miss Austen

For the past month and a half, I’ve been looking forward to Sunday nights. At 9pm on PBS, Masterpiece Theater presents The Complete Jane Austen . Last Sunday I watched the final installment of the wonderful BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. In addition to this feature, the collection includes five new adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels along with a biopic of her life.

I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about these stories that mesmerizes me. I am definitely entranced by the costumes, daily rituals, and lovely scenery. As I watch I reflect upon all of the progress women have made since that time period. I am relieved that getting married or becoming a governess are no longer the only options for a “respectable” woman. I’m also glad that one mistake can’t ruin one’s entire reputation.

Yet I am also struck by the things that have stayed the same. Beauty, youth and wealth are still prized more than other qualities in our society. Jane Austen’s characters often lack some of these prized qualities, and many modern women can empathize with their struggle to succeed in society.

However, Jane Austen’s stories are also uplifting. Often the poor, clever woman finds unexpected happiness or the woman who has made a mistake reinvents herself and is given a second chance. Repeatedly, Austen’s characters succeed against all odds.

My only criticism of the new PBS adaptations is that they are a little too short (my husband would probably argue otherwise). Two features remain to be shown: Emma (March 23rd) and Sense & Sensibility (March 30th & April 3rd). I hope others will look forward to them as much as I am.

-Amanda

Teen Tech Week

In celebration of Teen Tech Week, we have a number of things going on, everything is open to all teens, ages 12-18. Monday, March 3rd voting will begin for the Photoshop Contest (see below). You can vote right here on our polls or stop into the library to let us know which altered photo you liked best. Also on Monday and Wednesday, March 5th, from 3-5pm I will be in the YA Zone building a YA webpage. Please come in between those times to offer your opinions and suggestions on the design, layout and content of the page. On Tuesday, March 4th and Thursday, March 6th please check back here for a live chat. I would love to post your opinions, comments and recommendations on books, movies, music or whatever else you're into. On Friday we will announce the results of the voting for the Photoshop Contest. The winner will receive a gift certificate to the Brewer Bookstore. And on Saturday, March 8th we are holding a Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament! We will gather in the Paige Room at 3pm. The winner will receive a gift certificate to Gamer Craze! Registration is required so call, stop in or email me to sign up to compete.

Photoshop Contest:
Pick one of the photos below. Alter it in a cool way. Keep it appropriate. Post it as a comment or email it to me. During Teen Tech Week, vote for your favorite. The photo with the most votes will be the winner.





Enjoy!

- Krista

Francesca Lia Block

Quite honestly, Francesca Lia Block has a writing style the likes of which I've never seen in any novel. Her books are all pretty short, but with so much emotion packed inside of them. It's almost as if she started writing a poem and just kept going until she had a book. So far I have read Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, Missing Angel Juan and The Rose and the Beast. Every book was beautiful, that's really the only way to describe them. The Rose and the Beast, which I read most recently, was an interesting twist on a few of the classic fairytales like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Thumblina and Beauty and the Beast. What made it so fascinating was that Block offered a modern and darkened retelling of the stories we all know so well. I really think that the works of Francesca Lia Block are some of the only books that could never be turned into movies. There is just nothing in the real world that could do her words justice.

- Krista