Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Emma - Jane Austen

Not my favorite of the Austen books that I've read. Maybe b/c I watched the movie first, I already knew what was going to happen and I couldn't get Gwenyth Paltrow out of my head. I did like suspense with Knightley and Emma. And I liked how Emma kept getting herself into trouble, but she remained pretty stuck up till the end. I guess that was her character and what she was supposed to do, but it was annoying to me. Like the Shopaholic girl. She learns her lessons, but still, overall, goes back to being the same way she always had. Emma was okay with letting Harriet go b/c she wasn't really a close friend. She was a project. I think that's sad.

Reminded me of Shakespeare how everyone thought someone was in love with someone else.

As usual Austen writes AWESOME annoying characters. I just wanted to beat Mrs. Elton and Mrs. Bates to death so they would SHUT UP. Perfect. I'm going to rent this again just to see how these ladies played out in the movie. Fun!

As usual...my favorite quotes from the book.

Page 18. Describing Miss Bates. "And yet she was a happy woman, and a woman whom no one named without good-will. It was her own universal good-will and contented temper which worked such wonders. She loved every body, was interested in every body's merits; thought herself a most fortunate creature, and surrounded with blessings..."

Page 134. "She had taken up the idea, she supposed, and made everything bend to it." I liked this sentence showing that you can make something out of nothing if you convince yourself of an idea. Everything seems to fit that idea you've created in your head even if it's not true.

Page 206. "One cannot love a reserved person. Not till the reserve ceases toward oneself; and then the attraction may be the greater." This seemed to me like a be confident quote. I liked how it read. Negative..in a positive way.

Page 264 "I would much rather have been merry than wise." Ignorance is bliss. haha!

Page 289 "You have everybody dearest to you always at hand, I, probably never shall again; and therefore, till I have outlived all my affections, a post-office, I think, must always have power to draw me out, in worse weather than to-day." This makes me think of leaving my friends in Murfreesboro and how much I love mail!!

Page 492 "The fact was, as Emma could now acknowledge, that Harriet had always liked Robert Martin; and that his continuing to love her had been irresistible." This was interesting to me b/c it was his great love for her that kept her in love with him. Had he given up, she would have too, but since he asked again and cared so deeply, she loved him. I wonder how long or how much a relationship can depend on the great strength of one-sided love. How many people are in love just b/c that person adores them?

Monday, October 19, 2009

The Invention of Lying

This was pretty good. Glad I went but not all that I expected. I love the main character. It was alot more awkward than I thought, and it was like everyone had terrets (sp??). They told the truth, but even when people didn't ask. I think it would have been funnier if they worked that part in more subtley (is that a word?). I liked the messages, and the whole idea of choice vs. going with the group. The ending was sweet. Overall good movie.