In need of Christmas magic

Dear readers, Hope you're Ok or at least once again better than me lately...my mood swings a lot, one minute, I'm fine, the other well I'm not...I don't know whether it's the stress of the exam or essay I've to do (should be fine, just me sttessing as usual, once it has passed, I'll happy to have finished it and see all the work I've done)...or maybe the fact that in a few month, I'll have finish uni...which still terrifies me...thinking about it, I still want to push the subject away and just enjoy the few months to come...but I can't...I also have to think about what I'd like to do next as scary as it is for me...I try not to panic and tell myself it's quite normal but I can't help it, I worry..maybe the combination of the stress and the constant thinking (future, and others things) worries me...can't say I like it (smile discreet) I guess everything is part of life. And really looking foward to the christmas holidays to recharge the batteries and try not to apprehend too much the next semester...hoping everything will be fine. Fortuneately,Jane Austen is never too far away ( can't help it) and of course a warm cup of tea!as much as seeing many romantics comedy again and again such as When Harry met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle or You've got mail...still the best! :) or seeing a few 'old'black and white movies or in color, making me think that at the time at least they made movies for the pleasure of it, of seeing the actors or actresses having fun and enjoying themselves...as sometimes (not that the movies today aren't good, they still are I reassure you right away...I still take pleasure by seeing them as many times I can, don't worry) it's more the aspects of money that worries me sometimes, as it happens that a movie can only be made to make more money and the quality of it can be put in the background...but let's hope we'll have many great movies to come :) Er...I know it doesn't really add up with what I started to say but my mind has wondered off (smile), at least it has take my mind off things for a moment...:) just a thought! anyway, thank you again for being here as usual and sorry to bother you with all that, just help to write it, to put words on your feelings :) see you soon for another article, take care! xxx :) p.s= sorry in advance for any mistakes or mispelling!

December

Dear readers, First and as usual, how are you? And it's December already, everyone is starting to put the christmas tree and the decorations, looking foward to it already! :) And of course, a short article today-I'm a bit busy these days and a lot in my mind (sorry in advance if I make mistakes, mispell a word or simply forget one lol as it seems that I tend to do that a lot lately or in general^^hope you're still able to read me...:) Anyway, I was going to do a bookholic but as usual it takes times and for now I've to confess I'm sometimes a bit lazy...lol but also as you know I read quite a lot of books (which I love to do since I can read, I think, it has always been there for me, to feed my imagination and give me ideas for futures stories, to make laugh or cry, to make want to turn the next page or imagine how the character interact, lives their lives...when you see my room (rire) you'll probably think I'm crazy (rire) well, maybe not but I've quite a lot of books, especially since I've also started to read in English!!! hehhe :) so in the future I think I'll probably need a big (very big lol) library! :) I intend to, well I really hope so, because I can't live without books, I feel empty without them...I need to know that they're not too far away...don't really know why...just a feeling...:) On that note, I had planned to add a few things but I realized that I've already talked about it several times I think in previous articles. So, maybe no need to repeat myself and annoy you in the same tme (smile) :) it wou:d have been in relation to the fact that sometimes I can't stand;well I know the author does it on purpose or it's just what the character(s) has (have) to go through I suppose before realizing what is the right choice...it's sometimes a bit annoying and/or frustating...but hey...everyone is different. And everyone react differently after all, as long as they do the right choice, fine by me...:) just a bit frustrating (if I haven't said it already lol) :) you sometimes want to 'punch' him/her or simply 'kick' his/her ass (sorry if I'm rude^^) To conclude, good luck for everything (exams or essays or simply work), take care and see you soon for another article! :) xxxx

November : Very windy with a chance of flying! :)

Dear readers, Hope you're Ok by this very windy(I can hear it blowing against my window), rainy and fresh november weather, which give envy to stay in bed with a cup of tea and a good book! :) I won't be too long, just a short article as it has been some time, not that I feel oblige to write (rire) in the contrary, it's always nice to share with you something such as movies I've seen or book I've recently read (I might do another bookholic soon, we'll see, as I begin to be busy) or just tell you how I feel or share my concerns or something that makes me laugh or smile...:) I hope you are enjoying it as much as I do...as sometimes I wonder how long I'm going to continue writing this blog...don't worry...just something that crosses my mind sometimes...I'll tell you when if one day I decide to stop but for now...it will keep running as usual...even if I don't write very often...:) Anyway, today, something that has been running in my mind...hum...maybe that has been in my mind lately would be better...no? lol bref, let's come to our sheep! :) (hum, an expression that seems to come back regularly!) euh...where was I? Ah, yes...I've been reading books (well, you know that already...lol^^) especially some that takes place in the 19th century, very witty and fun to read. You can see how they lived, how the society worked, what the 'rules' were, what the expections were...etc...it's fun in a way, and once more, they may have a easy life in the sense where they didn't have to rush as much as we do today, and maybe they didn't have all the pressure (or maybe the duke, earl and vicount had)they had a simplier life in sense...but let me tell you...I'm really glad to live in our society, in our world...we may have or course the global warming, economic crisis and everything...but I like it anyway, women can be more independent, we have at least more equality (not yet that but it's a start) between men and women..., women can work and do whatever they like, we can vote, we have train, plane, boat, bus and cars, we can travel either alone or with our family or close friends, even faster than before, we have electricity, tv, cinemas, computers, moblie phone, emails...many things to resume that enable us to have better condition of life, medecine has really improved and we can in general live longer! :) also, women are for once not considerate 'spinster' at the age of 24 or 25 (it makes me laugh, sorry but we are not that old whether we are in our twenties or thirties)!!! no need of a chaperone and so much of propriety or etiquette (that's drive me crazy lol)(well, maybe we need that a little^^) but in the end we have more freedom and no need to feel oblige to marry, we have our say!! women , and of course men or children, are more protected and have more rights! Moreover, women can study as well as men! :) I perfecty understand and respect their traditions, everyone century brings something different, every one has it own culture, and that's nice :) but I really glad to live in the 21st century! Well, I think that all for today...I just wanted to share that with you and of course you're entitled to have your own opinion on the sujbect! :) see you later for another article and looking foward to christmas already (smile) :) take care, xxxx

Thoughts-2

Dear readers, How are you today? :) At least I hope you're better than me these days, as my mood loves (rire) to play russian mountains...and the weather doesn't help much! My head is also full of thoughts going around...my nights aren't good...either my brain is very active and I can turn and turn until I finally fell asleep (brain will always be a mystery to me, you want to sleep but you can't because you think too much), or either I woke-up early...and I'm of course tired! Urgent...lol! I need a break...I need to recharge the batteries before exams, essays before Christmas and my dissertation (I enjoy doing it) to regurlarly do...I don't mind that...I got used to it, it just the stress and the worries that goes around around these periods...we all experience that...but can't help it! And morever, I realise that it's my last year at uni...it weird...I mean I'm aware of that, I know that...and a part of me, likes it as no more stress or deadline about essays or exams to do, it's another beginning, a new adventure...but another part of me is...well....terrified! What's waiting for me is scaring me! I can't help it! I feel like a fish lost in a big ocean! Or looking at a big mountain...and when my family or close friends ask me (as they of course want to know, which is normal, I don't mind) well, I still panic!!!It might be easy for some (when i see them, it seems so), but it's not for me... Not good, isn't it? I don't know, it's not the end of the world, and everyone goes its own pace after all, takes its time, but sometimes I feel lost and don't how people would react if I tell them 'oh, by the way...I'm terrified! I don't know what to do after uni'. Stupid, isn't it? Growing-up is nice and at least we can more things, more free to be independant...and everything...but to be truthful...all the responsabilities that goes with it, scares me...I'm trying not to but once again I can't help it, I just do! Maybe once I've figure it out...I'll be more relax but in waiting...not easy! I'm a bit shy and not going easily towards people...and most of the job today are a lot in relation with customers...it's not my forte...as I'm more a 'secret person', by that I mean..., I prefer to be behind the scene....if you see what I mean? Maybe also why I communicate more by writing (sometimes it's easier for me)... :) maybe it gets better when you get older...I don't know..everyone is different...:) anyway,thanks for listening to me as always and let's see where it goes...:)will let you know along, see you soon for another article, take care, xxx

Bookholic-Part 6

Dear readers, Hope you're all Ok, once again! :) It seems that I enjoy sharing articles with you theses days^^, enjoy lol, I'm kidding, it's always a pleasure! Just that in the weeks to come, I'll probably be busy between exams, essays and my dissertation to do, and won't have too much times to write but don't worry, I won't forget you! :) So, in waiting, I was thinking of doing a short bookholic again (like that I won't have too many books to share with you, not that I don't like it! Just that if I let too much times in between, well, it takes more times and/or I won't do a bookholic for some times! Anyway, just a few books I've recently read and wanted to share with you again! :) It's not a secret by now, you must have guess lol , I love books! Kindle or I-Pad can be useful as you don't have to take your books anymore. And it save some space, but let me tell you, there is nothing better than to turn the page of a book, to see the words floating before your eyes, to be able to make some notes or hilight something important, to take the book in your hands, feel it or smell it...I just love the feeling and that won't replace the fact that I love having a library around, where you puts all your favorite books and can't stop looking at them or re-read them a millions times, so much that the cover is a bit used by now but you don't care because it's proof that the book in questions has really lived...the feeling can't be replaced by the Kindle or I-pad or any different new device that will appear...I don't know what's for you but paper version of a book can't really be replaced! I know we live in the 21st century and everything is evolving...nevertheless I really hope books won't disapear too fast...after all if books have survived so many centuries...why can't it survive despite that? Maybe the book market can have both, don't you think? :) I really hope so! :) can't imagine a world without books!!! :) Sorry in advance, I've still some trouble to hiligth the title of the books I'm going to share with you...I also have some problems to put some pictures or put somes sentences en Italique...grr...(I'm not a specialist in computer^^) despite the fact that I could do it before...don't know what happened...anyway, will try to see that soon but for now, I've to get used to it...:) So...let's begin...shall we? :) the first book is "Who needs Mr Darcy?" -I'm aware I've mentionned in the previous bookholic but I've just wanted to give my opinion, will be quick-promise!^^ So, as you must already know, this time the author has chosen to follow the adventure of the silliest and stubborn young girl of England: Miss Lydia Bennett! It goes after her marriage with the infamous Wickham! Here, he's dead in the battlefield (but that doesn't seem to be the real reason) and she's widowed. but never fear, Lydia has a plan! She's still want to marry the richest man she can find!^^ She still doesn't have learn her lesson apparently! And you still want to 'knock out' with her fried pan^^and pray that her senses come back!Notheless, she's still determined! A fun book and the spirit of the Lydia's characters is loyally kept by Jean Burnett (the author). Though, I still prefer Elizabeth or Jane! (smile). But it's a good book! and you're quite surprise by Lydia's choice of man, in the end-the one she has fallen in love with...though maybe not...I'll let you guess why! :) The second book and third book are the books written by the same author- Sarah Morgan- simple love stories, nice and funny and you're sure tO have (rire) your happy ending! :) It's untitled: 'Once Upon a Christmas'- it follows two heroines- the first one Bryony is doctor and has a lovely little girl. It's christmas soon and her only wish this year is to have a dad! How can she make it happened in time? A lovely story, once again! :) Meanwhile, the second heroine, Helen, Bryony's best friends, has recently been through a bad break-up (her fiancé pratically left her at the altar! Not nice!!!) and doesn't look for love. But never fear...she finds love again, just like her best friends! Lovely story as well! :) The other book is: "Summer Kisses", Fiona's summer is simple and really wants to follow her one and only rule: NOT TO KISS Connor McNeil!(He may be gorgeous but she's the only hasn't snogged at school! Jenna's summer is also to find reasons not to fall in love with Dr Ryan McKinley. She has been divorced for a year, she has daughter to care for and he might break her heart...well, the reasons she has listed above are hard to flllow...:) a nice story to read! :) Another book: " The Vintage Teacup Club"!!! nice title isn't it? that and the lovely cover attracted my attention as well as the story! Vanessa Greene (it's her first book!) transports us in a lovely and touching story between three friends who meet while they're scouting in a antique fair and all falls in love with a vintage tea set! :) That's how their friendship began! Jenny can't wait to marry Dan after years of being together, they're finally ready to tie the knot-but suddenly after years of not hearing from her, Jenny hears from the woman that can risk her happiness... While, "Maggie has finally put her broken heart behind her and has a new florishing business and her own career- until she has to confront her own past" And "Alison seems to have it all, she has married her childhood sweetheart and has two lovely teenage daugthers. But as tensions mount, she is pushed to her breaking point" Don't worry, every heroine has her happy ending! A really good book, was happy to discover it! Can't wait for the next one! :) A nice friendship story ad well, making you realize that close friends can't be replaced! :) It's precious! :) The following book (I'm going to be quick for the last few books, I'm beginning to be hungry lol^^) is: "P.s= I'm Pregnant" by Heidi Rice. Two friends. If her landlady cat's hadn't been missing and if she hadn't gone in search of the cat, Daisy Dean wouldn't have been caught by her new neighbor Connor Brody in his garden, sneaking around at night in her underwear...But even if he isn't pleased with the intrusion, Connor has a business deal which is about to fall through just because the wife of a US investor fancies him...^^he invites her to follow him for 2 weeks in NYC...what can happened? A nice story! :) Meanwhile, as Daisy's friends, Juno has heard enough of Connor's brother and famous hollywood actor Mac Brody, who has also a shocking reputation. And when he turns up unexpectedly at a wedding, Juno's plan not to fall for him are put in danger...as she finds herself suddenly in front of every newspaper! and of course the only place to hide for a while is Mac's house in LA! :) Let you guess whar follows! A nice story as well! :) To finish this new bookholic (sorry again in advance if there is some words mispelled or missing or any other mistakes made, as I bet most articles are probably full^^ I normally try to re-read myself but somestimes it's hard and I can forget...so hope it's still readable...^^:), I've re-read "Thanks for the memories" by Cecelia Ahern (who you must know by now; and an author I quite love, she's always surprising you, transporting in worlds you can't imagine existed! You never know what to expect and it's quite good! :) Joyce Conway receives a blood transfusion while at hospital as she had sadly lost her baby :( and suddenly strange things are happening...she has knowledge of things she couldn't possibly imagine she had, speak fluently language she didn't know she could speak and dreams of a litte blond girl she has never dreamed of before...so what's happening and why has she all this memories? Around the same time, Justin Hitchcock has donated his blood...! :) I'll let you imagine and guess what's the connection! A really good story! If you like this author: you'll also like: 'if you could see me now', 'the time of my life (published last year), and the most recent one (that I've not read yet but has just come out: "One hundred names", can't wait to read it! Will tell you that in the next bookholic, I hope! And books where stories takes place in the 19th century with duke, earl and vicount..fun and easy to read! Here is a few title: " One dance with a duke", "Twice tempted by a rogue", " Three nights with a scoundrel" - a trilogy by Tessa Dare. Also, " Seducing the Heiress", "Never trust a rogue" and "Scandal of the year" (that i'm reading at the moment); another fun trilogy by Olivia Drake. Also, just to this time, really close this article before I faint from hungriness (lol), the last J.K Rowling (as must have heard) has come out.."the casual vacancy" following the events in small town, where everyone knows everyone- after Barry Fairbrother has suddenly passed aaway- we follow the reactions of the people who were friends with him and the one who didn't like him...I've begun to read it but to be truthful with you, it's a little hard and I'm taking my time to read it-reading other books in between; I know it's different from the Harry Potter and it's normal...but I'm sometimes a bit stuck, I hope to find the time to finish it...we'll see, keep you posted! :) let's see where it goes! and one last thoughts...what's the bid deal with the last book frenzie around the erotic fiction which has recently came out and everybody seems to talk about (even a movie might be made...) called Fifty shades of Grey (and two others books as part of a trilogy)? I don't really understand it...as I've noticed that similar books, just like this one have suddenly come out of nowhere surfing under the same wave...weird! :) lol critics seems to be also divided (as usual) between the fans and the others who doesn't like it...saying it's not really good nd it's not well-written...can't tell you much, as I don't think I'll read them, I'm not tempted at the moment...I was just curious about the big buzz it has created, and wanted to share it with you! :) So, this time I think I'm really going or else I'm really going to faint! ^^ lol I'm quite hungry as I must have told you many times by now...(sorry for the mistakes due to the fact that I'm having hard time to concentrate^^) :) Anyway, have a lovely week-end and see you soon for another article! take care, xxxx :) P.s= stupid question^^: can someone, tell me (if you know of course) what breeches are? can't seem to find a good translation. :) xxx

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen ( new review)

Dear readers, As usual, hope you're all OK! :) Just a quick article today, I won't be too long! Lately, I re-read an article that I've written a little more than a year ago now. And I was quite suprised by the book's review that I made at the time. Not that it's not good, just that I should have re-read it before publishing it! It's not really good and there is something missing. Maybe when I written it, I didn't take enough time to do it but I'd like to do so now, as I've had more time (sorry for the repetition^^) to make a new one, hopefully a slightly better one. I hope it won't annoy you, I know I must have talked about Jane Austen a bit more than usual but in this third year of uni, I've to do a dissertation and the subject that I've choosen is of course about her!(love it) I quite like her-wait scratch that (lol)- I love Jane Austen, she is one my favorite author! :) can't get enough of her and the great book she has written! :) Anyway, I wanted to do a better review and it gave me another excuse (not that I need one lol) to write about her again! :) So, this article is new and improved version of Mansfield Park! :) We all know the story: 'Fanny Price is the daughter of a marine and his wife who married for love from a better background, she is adopted by Sir Thomas Bertram, a landowner, who married Mrs Price's more fortunate sister. Among Sir Thomas's children at Mansfield Park, the quiet and sickly Fanny grows close to Edmund, the younger son, but Edmund is attracted to the vivacious and worldly Mary Crawford. On various occasions, including an attempt to put a play in Sir Thomas's house during his absence in the West Indies, Mary Crawford and her brother Henry reveal themselves as bad influences: Henry, for example, is flirting with Maria Bertram, who is engaged to another man. After Maria marries, Henry proposes to Fanny; to the atonishment of both Sir Thomas and Edmund, she rejects him. She is proved right to do so when Henry later runs off(Men, je vous jure!^^) with Maria. Both Edmund and Sir Thomas realise the superior moral vision of the long-neglected Fanny, and Edmund, now a vicar, marries her.' (Source: "Jane Austen, by Robert P. Irvine, Routledge, 2005). I liked the story but to be truthful with you, you still can't believe Fanny marries Edmund. Not that I disagree (Jane Austen had her own vision when she wrote it, I respect it). Indeed, we can say that Henry Crawford is not a good man after everything he did (I agree that Fanny was right to reject him in the first place), he is not better than his sister. But if your read the book entirely, you can deduce, that in the end, he quite cares for Fanny, despite his many mistakes (I don't excuse him^^, just explaining). It's not a secret, Fanny has always had her eyes and heart set on Edmund, who only realise it, quite close to the end of the story, in the last few chapters. It's not gradually, it's seems really sudden! It can perfectly happen, I'm not saying that. Just the way, it does happen. As if one day, Edmund wakes-up and realises Fanny loves him. The story is still nice and it's still pleasure to read it. However, it's quite different than the other book she has written. It's a bit more serious, I'd say. It's what I felt while reading it and still feel today but you're of course free to think otherwise! :) I may prefer to have seen Fanny finally agreeing to marry Henry Crawford if he had proposed again(even though he's not really nice at first and would been quite hesitant as well) than Edmund but...hey...:) every one has his or her own vision! And it may doesn't help, that a few years back (2 years or so), I saw an HORRIBLE version of Mansfield Park! The book is very much better :) All of Jane Austen's book are really great, maybe this one, is just slightly different than the other, that's all! Hope you'll still enjoy reading it (smile discreet) Anyway, see you soon for another article, take care, xxx

Chawton & Jane Austen

Dear readers, Hope you’re all OK and that everything is going well for you! As you might as well guess (see title), last Thursday, with my university, we all went (for me, it was the second time), to Chawton! I couldn’t stop smiling, despite the pouring rain but then again, it wouldn’t Great Britain without rain (rire)! :) And anyway, I think it add something to scenery (even though the sun would have been welcome!:) So, let’s come back to our sheep! Last time, I went there was two years ago and it hasn’t changed much! :) Still the same lovely village lost in the Hampshire, not too far from Winchester and also from my university. It was around the time where I had to choose which university I’d choose. And I took the opportunity to visit with a dear friend (whom I miss very much and thought about her, when I was there!) to visit Jane Austen’s house, where she has lived, just before going back to Winchester, to be near her doctor, as she was ill. I must have mentioned in a previous article (I think) but it was a long time ago…anyway, you might find it hidden (lol) in the archives somewhere!:) It’s a lovely house and you can easily imagine one my favorite author walking around the house or the garden, reading a book, entertaining guests or simply working on her fabulous novels!:) If one day you’ve the chance, don’t hesitate one second to go there, it is a lovely place to visit and maybe stop by the Cassandra’s tea room! (I haven’t had the chance yet but its sounds lovely nonetheless!) So, this time, we had the chance to visit the Chawton House Library! What’s it? Well, this lovely place (further down the road from Jane’s Austen’s house), which has opened in 2003 (nearly ten years ago now!) is the ‘home of Early English Women’s writing’ as they call it! Just a bit of history before giving you my impressions: ‘Amongst the many owners to have made their mark is Jane Austen’s brother, Edward, who became the heir of the childless Knight family relations and inherited the estate in 1809. He settled his mother and sisters, Jane and Cassandra, in a cottage in the village (now Jane Austen’s museum) where Jane began the most prolific period of her writing career. The estate remained owned by the Knight family until the 1990’s when it was acquired on long lease by the newly-formed registered charity, Chawton House Library. After meticulous restoration work, it opened to the public in 2003 for the benefit of visitors of all ages.’ Source from the leaflet I took there.:) If you want to know more, don’t hesitate to go on the website: www.chawtonhouse.org Now, as I mentioned above, this place respire le calme et la tranquilité! Lost in this lovely town, you feel at peace and happy to there at the same time as nearly two centuries ago, Jane Austen and probably many others, have walked the same ground as we did!:) All around is the lovely british countryside, you could even see some sheeps and horses, in the field, next to the House Library, and of course with the rain, the estate was even more charming , as you could see the nature…how could I say it? (smile)…hum…hum…let’s say with the rain, the nature seemed quite awake and the colors were standing quite well, if you see what I mean? :)There are also some lovely cottages around! You can’t stop but falling in love with the place! It’s impossible not to! And now after this beautiful scenery, I’d like to talk to you about the inside of the House Library as charming as the outside! Full of history, you feel already at home! A lot of portraits (mostly women) or old maps, nice furniture (chairs, tables), alcoves around, a lot different doors and impressive stairs, lovely tapestries as well and a really lovely kitchen, kept as it was!  And the library, of course, where they keep the old books with much care (you can just look or if you need to consult them, you have to ask first!)In a word (or many), a fantastic place to visit or to work! You can stay many hours, wondering how people before us where living here, every day! :) So, to conclude, a place worth to visit! For the anecdote or just as simple information, it’s possible to hire the place for receptions or weddings! Not kidding! (Smile discreet), a good idea, don’t you think? ;) And to finish, a quotation from Jane Austen: 'When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not a excellent library’ Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen (1775-1817) I agree with her on that one(rire), I can’t imagine my future flat or home, without a lot of books either! :) Have a lovely Sunday and see you soon for another article! (Maybe another Bookholic or something else, I’ll see! :)Take care, xxx