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Dark Dreams Come True
Once upon a time, back in April of 2009, a book was published wherein zombies ...
“Capricious” excerpt
Lady Catherine sipped her tea taking little notice of the hushed fretting Mrs. Jenkinson poured over Anne’s poor eating habits at breakfast. Her mind was occupied with a far more pressing matter. Mr. Dawlish’s sudden quitting of the parsonage marked the third such quitting since its original occupant Mr. Eddleton had retired to live with […]
Poetic Depths
This month we’re going to lighten things up and go deep into the depths with two poetic selections. Both are narrative poems telling a story. The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti Each of the selections has been hyperlinked to its entry at the Poetry Foundation for those of you who may […]
Undine and the Underworld
Considered one of most beautiful of fairytales, Undine is the story of an enchanting water spirit who leaves the underworld in order to obtain a soul. We first meet Undine as a rambunctious child, drenched from head to toe. She appears suddenly (and eerily) as a sort of “substitute daughter” to a poor fisherman and […]
Destination Sanditon
In the final year of her life, Jane Austen began writing the story we now call Sanditon. However, at the time she had given it the working title of The Brothers and she was not writing under the impression that it was going to be her last unfinished work. She completed only twelve chapters. The story begins with […]
What of Emma Watson?
In reading the unfinished manuscript of The Watsons I’m left wondering about Emma Watson. She promised to be one of my favorite Austen women with her balance of understanding and manner, and her sense of propriety. She demonstrates hints of earnest frankness and sincerity in a family that boasted more “family discord–from the immediate endurance of hard-hearted prosperity, […]
The Naming of a Creature
I missed the theater run and waited patiently. I watched other movies and read other books. I let it seemingly fade from my mind, but always I was waiting. Finally, streaming via Netflix I, Frankenstein. When I had first heard of the movie I asked many questions about the creature and his story. Would it adhere […]
DJABC 2015 Reading List
HAPPY NEW YEAR! A new year, a new reading list! This year we are planning to mix it up and stray into our darker interests. We’ll be reading some novels, novellas, poetry, and even writing some flash fiction. While we continue to adore Jane Austen we will be exploring other authors who may or may […]
The Gift of Discernment
Sometimes you know. You just know. Instinctively and naturally, you avoid certain people. It’s usually because of something they’ve done; some past act that makes you uncomfortable or something they’ve said (perhaps even in jest). Whatever the case, something just doesn’t sit quite right with you. They show up and instinctively an internal sensor goes […]
How To Books by Austen Characters
Jane Austen has given us many memorable characters and the countless plays, TV series, movies, prequels, sequels, mash-ups, and spin-offs have added to their presence in our minds. These characters have become sex symbols, comic relief, and scandalous gossip fodder. But what if the characters where authors? What books would they write? Here are some […]
Peculiar Language
While reading Hollow City this month — with all its peculiar language — I could not help but think of J. R. R. Tolkien’s work for several reasons: the battle between good and evil (obviously), the talking animals, the invisibility of particular characters, and the fictitious — yet somehow acceptable – language. For instance: ymbryne: […]
A Bloody Tall Tale
To Henry Sturges: Vampire at Large, I have recently read Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith, in which documented your significant role in helping to train one of America’s greatest presidents to survive and slay vampires. I found it a compelling tale, a wonderful mix of verifiable facts and the before untold involvement of vampires in […]