Thursday Tea (May 5): Northanger Abbey

Posted by Anastasia on May 5, 2011 3 Responses »

May 052011

The book: Oh my god you guys. I get it now. I get why people are so obsessed with Jane Austen!

Before, I was all “oh Jane Austen whatever.” I had read half of Pride and Prejudice and wasn’t overly wowed, so I was under the assumption that Jane Austen’s books just weren’t for me. But I refused to give up entirely on JA! When the Classic Circuit announced a Dueling Author theme for the next circuit (Austen vs Dickens) I decided it was a good chance to read another JA book. One I’d like better, maybe?

And yes, I do like Northanger Abbey better. I like it better a LOT! I like it for the snark, mainly– I adore snark when it’s done well, and JA does snark particularly well. I also like it because while it’s snarky it’s doing it in a way that isn’t annoying. Instead of Catherine being an uber romantic heroine (which would have annoyed me), she’s basically the antithesis of that whole thing (although she does still have a pure heart). Romantic cliches, such as a sister misinterpreted as a lover, are cut off at the pass. Romantic rivals are no danger to anyone (at least in Catherine’s case) and historic abbeys are modern and brightly lit. And on top of all that is a very sweet romance story! (I love Mr Tilney so much I may explode.)

So basically I’m just in love with Jane Austen now. Also I’ve only just got to the part where they’re having dinner the first night in Northanger Abbey, so no spoilers please.

Also I totally want to read The Mysteries of Udolpho now.

The tea: ~~How can you think of tea at a time like this~~ My mom got hold of some pomegranate green tea so I’m having some of that. It’s a bit weird? I don’t normally like green tea and that might be why it tastes so strange, but it’s not bad. Just…weird.

Do they go together? I actually had to Google “history of tea England” because I wasn’t sure what kind of tea people were drinking back then. I think it actually was green tea! Green tea comes from China, England was getting its tea from China (called “China tea” i.e. green tea), so they must have been drinking green tea, right? But maybe not, because I can’t find a definitive date for when people started drinking black tea in England. I suppose they could have been drinking black tea back then instead– anyway, it’s tea, they drink tea, it goes. Sort of.

Classroom Takeover: Journalists Who Say “I”

Posted by Anastasia on May 4, 2011 15 Responses »

May 042011

Welcome to May’s installment of Classroom Takeover, a new monthly feature here at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog! Every month, a new blogger creates an ideal college class featuring a subject, author, or genre that they think doesn’t get enough attention in mainstream college classes.

Look! Look! It’s a takeover post by Kim of Sophisticated Dorkiness! She finally caved to my whining on Twitter and made a post! And look! Look at it! It’s amazing!

Kim is a Professional Journalist who Gets Paid and Everything, so she knows what she’s talking about when she’s talking about narrative nonfiction. If Kim had taught the sole journalism class I took in college, I know I’d have enjoyed it way more than I actually did. And I know Kim wouldn’t have made me buy a $90 book that’s both unreturnable and worth about $5 used just because she wrote it. Right, Kim? Right?

Journalists Who Say “I”

Intro

Right now, there is no place within college English or journalism departments to discuss the literary merits of narrative nonfiction (loosely described as nonfiction that uses the techniques of fiction to tell true stories). English departments mostly focus on analyzing fiction, while journalism departments generally discuss narrative nonfiction in terms of the journalistic elements — reporting, editing, or ethics. However, narrative nonfiction writers are producing interesting work that could be considered in the same ways we often think about fiction. Continue reading »

Monthly Review (April 2011)

Posted by Anastasia on May 2, 2011 4 Responses »

May 022011

Thinking Back

April was a so-so month. I’m not really disappointed with the amount of reading I did, nor am I’m really disappointed at how much I blogged, PLUS I did some awesome things like cohost the readathon and start a new cheap ebooks blog! But it just feels like I haven’t done much. I’m not sure why? Maybe April is just my doldrums or something. I have a really good feeling about May, though! Continue reading »

The Sunday Salon (May 1): Pre-BEA Post #1

Posted by Anastasia on May 1, 2011 11 Responses »

May 012011

The Sunday Salon (May 1)

This month I’m planning on doing at least a couple of post for BEA prep purposes. The closer the date the more nervous I get, and I’m hoping that by doing this posts I’ll both calm myself down and maybe help out a few other people as well. So!

Pre-BEA Post #1: What to bring to a hostel
You know hotels? (Of course you know hotels.) Well, hostel are like hotels except you share a room with strangers (unless you splurge for a private room, anyway), you share a bathroom with strangers and you share common/public spaces with strangers. It’s sort of like summer camp or a dorm, except way cheaper.

I’m staying at a hostel for BEA, along with Kim and Ash! I’ve never been to a hostel before (or been to summer camp or lived in a dorm) but I’ve been reading up a lot on what to expect and what to bring with me. Hostels, unlike hotels, normally don’t provide certain amenities, so you’ve got to be prepared. (See!)

What to bring to a hostel

1. All the normal stuff you’d bring with you to a hotel, plus:
2. Shoes for the shower (like flip-flops)
3. A towel, washcloth, etc.
4. Shampoo and soap
5. Passport (some hostels require it for you to check in)
6. Cash plus cards (in case they don’t accept one or the other)
7. Padlock(s), to lock stuff up
8. Sleep sheet, in case your hostel doesn’t provide sheets or you don’t want to rent a set. (They’ll provide pillows and blankets.)

Other handy things: travel alarm clock, sleep mask, ear plugs.

A sleep sheet is basically like a sleeping bag but made out of a top sheet. Do NOT bring a sleeping bag to a hostel. They won’t like it.

There! Now you know what to bring to a hostel. Don’t you feel more educated?

Books read this week:
39. The Tightwad Gazette – Amy Dacyczyn [rating: Buy it]*
40. The Explosionist – Jenny Davidson [rating: TBD]

Currently reading:
I’m about 40% into The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima, which I started reading because a) it looked interesting and b) CWC is going to be at BEA! I want to read a few more new-to-me authors between now and BEA, so I’ll have even MORE to be excited about when I go.