Why You Should Read Jane Austen

Last week was the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death (16th December 1775 - 18th July 1817) and there have been so many film and tv adaptations made of her books but how many of them have you actually read? Did you read one or all of them years ago but not since?

How many times have you watched Pride and Prejudice? Mr Darcy is a literary icon yet I watched the 1995 adaptation with Colin Firth years before I read the book. I realised shortly before the 2005 film release that I had never read it and needed to asap. I loved it and the film adaptation too.  Who wouldn't want to marry Matthew Macfadyen or Keira Knightley and live happily ever after in a grand stately home in the countryside?

Raise your hand if you've seen and enjoyed the adaptations of Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park or Northanger Abbey, albeit years ago, but never read the books? (err that would be me!).  With so much interest in Jane Austen this year including a display in my local library that jogged my memory of this fact I've come to realise that I need to experience these stories the way they were meant to be enjoyed, through words and imagination not on screen.

Like William Shakespeare, Jane Austen was a big influence on the English language and there are many words and phrases that she was the first to use including :

Brace Yourself
Dinner Party
Door Bell
Dress a salad
Family Portrait
If I've told you once, I've told you 100 times
Nice Looking
Shut up

English is cool :)

Northanger Abbey was the first of Jane Austen's books to get a publishing deal (in 1803) but it was not actually published until after her death. I'm going to read her books in the published order, as follows :

Sense and Sensibility (1811)
Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Mansfield Park (1814)
Emma (1815)
Northanger Abbey (1818)
Persuasion (1818)
Lady Susan (1871)

Other than Pride and Prejudice, which I've rewatched x 10,  it's been years since I've watched an adaptation of one of her books so it's like I'm discovering the characters and stories for the first time.

Have you read all her books? When did you last read the book of a film adaptation and not just rewatched the movie? Has anyone read Lady Susan? Let me know in the comments if you plan to read the books too!

~ Katie aka Word Scribbler ~

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Blog Tour - Book Review - A Little Of Chantelle Rose by Cristina Hodgson

Book Review : A Little Of Chantelle Rose by Cristina Hodgson

About Christina Hodgson :

Cristina Hodgson, mother of two, born in Wimbledon, London, currently lives in southern Spain. Cristina had a long career in sport, reaching national and international level and still actively participates in Triathlon races and enjoys outdoor activities. In her spare time she also enjoys reading and writing. She won a sports scholarship to Boston College. After a period in Boston, she returned to the UK and graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Sports Science.

A LITTLE OF CHANTELLE ROSE is her debut novel and was be released in May 2017. Amazingly, it has nothing to do with running!

Book Blurb :

At the age of twenty-four, Chantelle Rose has all a city girl can expect: a tiny bed-sit in South London, a lousy poorly-paid job, a tyrannical boss, and quite a few exes added to an ever-growing list.

Desperate for change, she becomes an extra in a seedy crime film. When that leads to the opportunity of a lifetime – a role to play with a million dollars to win and seemingly nothing to lose – she accepts without thinking twice. After all, what could possibly go wrong? In any event, she´ll earn enough to buy her dream home, set up her own business and never worry about money again.

And what about love? Two men have won her heart: Robbie – sultry, silent, mysterious; and Lionel – Hollywood heart-throb, charm, wealth, adventure.

But who can she trust? Who is bent on scaring her away, and why?

There seems to be more at stake than just her heart. Will a million dollars be worth it?

My Review :

First of all, I really liked this book! The main character, Chantelle Rose, is a movie extra and one of my American friends is (shout out to @atlfilmxtra ) which made it fun to read. It's not a job that's in any books I've read before which made this different and worth a read. The story is a little far-fetched but that's what books are for right? It's a perfect escapism story to relax with. 

Chantelle Rose is living in a not so nice London flat with a low paid job she hates and desperate for money, which makes her relatable, then she gets a very lucky break and is flown off to California. She seems naive at the start of the book but endearing by the end. There are lots of colourful and complex characters, mistakes, and misunderstandings which keeps you reading. This isn't a straight forward girl meets boy and they live happily ever after novel. The (shock) ending is abrupt and teases possibility for a sequel. There's romance but also mystery and lots to keep you thinking and guessing.

There's something for everyone, a glamorous film set, a yacht and a red carpet with a Hollywood hunk and a cozy country cottage with a cute charming guy. Books that are described as a 'romantic comedy' are usually more romance and less comedy but A Little Of Chantelle Rose is definitely a comedy with so many funny moments! This is a great book to relax with on holiday in the sun or a rainy British Sunday afternoon.

You can follow Cristina on Twitter @HodgsonCristina and GoodReads 

A Little Of Chantelle Rose is available on AmazonUK and AmazonUS

Giveaway : A Little of Chantelle Rose bookmarks and keyrings

 

~ Click here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway ~

* I received a copy of this book for an honest review by the awesome Neverland Blog Tours @NeverlandBT

~ Katie aka Word Scribbler ~

My Personal Goals And Plans For 2017 / 2018

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** Update . Due to my dad becoming terminally ill and sadly dying in March 2017 my blog was on hiatus for 6 months after this blog post and sporadic before this **

A new year. The time to re evaluate and to plan new adventures!

This time last year I was moving out of my London flat and about to go to Italy for 8 weeks :)

What were your goals last year and what are they this year?  'Travel more' is on my list every year!

There are some one off goals here and some than require major input and time and life changes. I have also set myself some business and financial goals (I am self employed) but I'm keeping these between myself and my notebook :)

Move into my own flat (again)

I've been living back in my hometown (Norwich) at my parents house and working part time. This year I want to take on more freelance work and be working full time, and therefore also have my own space to live and work. Maybe not the apartment in the photo just yet! But I'm working on it ;)

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Blog more

I re started this blog in October and managed only 3 blog posts in October and none since. Life has been really unpredictable (a close family member became seriously ill) and although I had the best intentions when I wrote this in October, my personal blog had to be put to one side again. I want to take my blogging more seriously and really get somewhere with this blog and incorporate it into my work a little. I'm aiming for a minimum of 1 blog post a week/52 blog posts this year. I'd love to collaborate with other bloggers, creative people, and possibly some brands.

Adopt a penguin

This is a random goal I know ha ha, but I LOVE penguins and would love to donate to a conservation charity and get updates about my penguin :)

One of the things on my bucket list is to see penguins in the wild but this will have to wait another few years!

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Finish the first draft of my debut novel

This has been on my 'New Year Goals' list for the last 2 years. My intention this year is that once I'm living in my own place again, I'll be more relaxed and have some free time to focus and write. I will mention my writing on this blog and on Twitter but more on my author Twitter which you can follow at @ktjarviswriter .

Write/ direct / produce a short film or music video

I went to Cannes in the South of France in 2014 during Cannes Film Festival week, and wrote first drafts of 2 short film scripts the year before as part of my degree. Visiting Cannes was such a life long dream come true and that trip continues to inspire me so much with my life goals. Since then my writing (novel and screen) has been put on hold but this year I intend to complete the scripts (maybe write some new ideas too!) and make at least 1 into a film that everyone can watch.

Go to a cat cafe

This is also something I've wanted to do for while. Years ago I used to have a cat and so did my parents, and currently neither of us do. As there's no way I can have a cat in the near future the next best thing, other than be a professional cat sitter, is to visit a cat cafe! I know there are a few in London and it will involve some forward planning when I know I'm in London for a few days.

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Buy a ring (or 2) from Pandora

I love Pandora's jewellery designs. This is more a reward I've promised myself when I reach one of my financial goals with my business but I'm including it here to motivate myself :)

Go to a Formula One Grand Prix

or go to a testing weekend, or just see a Formula One car on a track somewhere. I went to the Monaco Grand Prix practice day in 2014 and it was sooo good and I want to experience that again (several times a year for the rest of my life would be great!).

Go on a beach holiday

I want a real desert island, crystal clear water, white sand type of beach holiday. Mauritius or Seychelles or Madagascar. I've never gone to somewhere like this, most of my holidays as an adult have been city breaks, and this is a dream holiday and big goal for me this year. I aim to at least book this holiday before the end of 2017.

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What are your goals / plans for 2017 ? 

~ Katie ~