King Arthur Movie Tristan

movie title: Emma

release date: August 1996

genre: romantic comedy

rated: 4 out of 5




Emma Woodhouse lives comfortably with her father and thinks she has no need to marry. Instead she likes to play matchmaker with her friends and family. When Harriet Smith arrives in town, Emma makes decides she has to help Harriet make her way into polite society. She also takes it upon herself to find the perfect match for poor Harriet.






Emma has good intentions as a matchmaker, but she is a bit clueless.
After her matchmaking schemes begin to go wrong, she finally realizes that she herself is really in love. Mr. Knightly has been a lifelong friend and she holds him dear to her heart.





This movie version of Jane Austen's novel 'Emma' is my favorite one. It stays pretty true to the book and you can't help but laugh at the predicaments Emma gets herself into. I like the cast and it's a sweet film. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Emma and Jeremy Northam plays Mr. Knightly.

Ewan McGregor plays the charming Frank Churchill.

Dear Diary, Today I tried not to think about Mr. Knightly. I tried not to think about him when I discussed the menu with Cook... I tried not to think about him in the garden where I thrice plucked the petals off a daisy to acertain his feelings for Harriet. I don't think we should keep daisies in the garden, they really are a drab little flower. And I tried not to think about him when I went to bed, but something had to be done.

I rode through the rain! I'd - I'd ride through worse than that if I could just hear your voice telling me that I might, at least, have some chance to win you.

Quoted from the book:

"My dearest Emma," said he, "for dearest you will always be, whatever the event of this hour's conversation, my dearest, most beloved Emma—tell me at once. Say 'No,' if it is to be said."—She could really say nothing.—"You are silent," he cried, with great animation; "absolutely silent! at present I ask no more."



Emma was almost ready to sink under the agitation of this moment. The dread of being awakened from the happiest dream, was perhaps the most prominent feeling.



"I cannot make speeches, Emma:"—he soon resumed; and in a tone of such sincere, decided, intelligible tenderness as was tolerably convincing.—"If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. But you know what I am.—You hear nothing but truth from me.—I have blamed you, and lectured you, and you have borne it as no other woman in England would have borne it.—Bear with the truths I would tell you now, dearest Emma, as well as you have borne with them. The manner, perhaps, may have as little to recommend them. God knows, I have been a very indifferent lover.—But you understand me.—Yes, you see, you understand my feelings—and will return them if you can. At present, I ask only to hear, once to hear your voice."

If you are looking for a more modern version of Austen's 'Emma', check out the film Clueless.

Happy Sunday everyone. I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

I've been reading Mr. Darcy, Vampyre , and it's very good so far! I love the idea of it. It starts off with Elizabeth and Jane's double wedding to Darcy and Bingley. Now Lizzy is on her wedding tour with Darcy, who seems to be acting a bit odd. Hmmmmmm...I wonder why....


Before she knows it, Darcy takes her to a mysterious castle in the Alps to visit his uncle, The Count. There's plenty of things to keep Lizzy up at night, including creepy tapestries, gossiping servants and a few nightmares.




Special thanks to Danielle over at Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of this book :)



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On a non-reading related note, I took the kids to the zoo for a day trip this past week. I have a few photos to share.

I take them to this zoo every summer and our favorite part is always the Budgie enclosure where you can feed the birds.

























These two donkeys were just relaxing in the sun.











ewwwww....cockroaches!!!










We rode on the choo-choo train...it was hard for me to take better pics since I was at an odd angle. Here i'm trying to get a pic as we were riding.






All in all, we had a nice day. Even my son, the cranky teenager, had fun :)

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July! Enjoy your weekend everyone.

title: Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

author: Laurie Viera Rigler


genre: romance/chic lit

published: 2009

first line: A piercing sound, like a ship's horn but higher, shriller, shakes my frame.

pages: 289

rated: 4 out of 5

Laurie Viera Rigler’s debut novel, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, was a hit with fans and critics, and a BookSense and Los Angeles Times bestseller. Its open-to-interpretation ending left readers begging for more—and Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict delivers. While Confessions took twenty-first-century free spirit Courtney Stone into the social confines of Jane Austen’s era, Rude Awakenings tells the parallel story of Jane Mansfield, a gentleman’s daughter from Regency England who inexplicably awakens in Courtney’s overly wired and morally confused L.A. life.

In Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, Jane Mansfield who is from Regency England, wakes up in the body of Courtney Stone, current day in Los Angeles. At first Jane thinks she is dreaming, and wills herself to wake up.


Courtney's friends explain to Jane that she hit her head pretty hard while in a swimming pool and that her 'confusion' might just be a concussion. Her friends are also wondering why Courtney is now talking as if she just stepped out of a Jane Austen novel.


The last thing Jane remembers is riding her horse and bumping her head while taking a fall. While in Courtney's apartment, she finds copies of Jane Austen books as well as movie version of the novels. She begins to read the books and watch the films.

I do not know how I come to be in this time, in this place, in this body. But I do know that any place where there are six novels by the author of Pride & Prejudice must be a very special sort of heaven.

Jane is in shock to see so many differences in society. Besides television, cell phones, internet, cars and radio, Jane is stunned to see ladies unchaperoned, working and exposing so much skin.
As the story goes on, Jane is getting flashbacks of Courtney's life. She realizes she has alot to figure out and wants to help Courtney set things straight. One thing Jane does find out is that both she and Courtney were unlucky in love at the time they switched bodies.

With the help of her friend Deepa, Jane winds up going to a fortune teller who does seem to be other wordly and has some answers to Jane's questions.

As Jane is trying to adjust to current day L.A., she is also wondering how and if she can ever get back to her former life.



I had been eagerly awaiting this book. Having read and really enjoyed Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and seeing what happened to Courtney while she lived in Jane's body, I was very curious to see what happens with Jane while she inhabits Courtney's body. Laurie does answer some of the questions, and she leaves the ending a bit open. I wonder will there be a third book?


If you're in the mood for a fun, light read, pick up a copy of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, you won't regret it! First of course, you have to read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict . These books are the perfect read for Jane Austen fans. The way Laurie writes, you can tell she is a true lover of Austen's work. I like how she refers to Jane Austen novels throughout both books.









See the book trailer:





About the author:




When not indulging herself in re-readings of Jane Austen’s six novels, Laurie Viera Rigler is a freelance book editor who teaches writing workshops, including classes in storytelling technique at Vroman’s, Southern California's oldest and largest independent bookstore.

visit Laurie's website:

http://www.janeaustenaddict.com/



I want to say 'Thank you very much!' to Laurie Viera Rigler for being so sweet as to send me a copy of Rude Awakenings. Since reading her first book, i've contacted her through email a few times and she is a sweetheart. Not only has she stopped by my blog for an interview and book giveaway, she has also taken the time out to personally email me and thank me for mentioning her at my blog.
It's always nice to know that the author behind the books is a kind person and makes time for thier readers.

Heart, we will forget him!

You an I, tonight!

You may forget the warmth he gave,

I will forget the light.



When you have done, pray tell me

That I my thoughts may dim;

Haste! lest while you're lagging.

I may remember him!


-Emily Dickinson

Teaser Tuesdays asks:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

I do not know how I come to be in this time, in this place, in this body. But I do know that any place where there are six novels by the author of Pride & Prejudice must be a very special sort of heaven.

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

title: Something Beyond Greatness

authors: Judy Rodgers & Gayatri Naraine

pages: 122

published: 2009


genre: non fiction/self help

rated: 4 out of 5

In their worldwide search for extraordinary figures who fit the criteria for 'something beyond greatness,' authors Judy Rogers and Gayatri Naraine humbly discovered that the quality of greatness is not the exclusive province of those recognized publicly for their deeds. While all of us acknowledge that this noble characteristic is shared by people such as Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther King Jr., what Rogers and Naraine found is that this life-affirming quality very often rests in the ordinary.

In Something Beyond Greatness authors Judy Rodgers & Gayatri Naraine write about great people who have changed the world for the better. Their inspiration for this book was an Indian spiritual leader named Dadi Janki. They began searching for people who dedicated thier lives to serving others.

They simply feel that they were in the right place at the right time: the moment appeared, they had the opportunity to be of service to another, and they took it. In thier heart of hearts they believe that they only did what anyone would have done.

The authors then go on to speak with Humberto Maturana, who is a professor of Biology in the University of Chile in Santiago and an author, as well as Dadi Janki.


I found this book to be interesting and insightful. It was a quick read and I finished it in one sitting. Several passages stood out. This is one of my favorites:

Greatness is present when we mutually care for one another, when we listen to one another in mutual respect, and when we are open to mutual understanding. Greatness is naturally present, because love is the foundation of human coexistence.

This amazing quote comes from Dadi Janki:

Silence is the language of the soul. In deep silence I turn my attention from me, the soul, to God, the being of light who is my eternal parent, and I become lost in remembrance. In this space of deep, silent remembrance, I forge a relationship, and I experience God's love.

About the authors:


Judy Rodgers is a writer and communication consultant who has worked extensively with thought leaders. She has held a range of executive positions in large media companies such as CBS Video, CBS-Fox Video, and New World Entertainment. She has worked with opinion leaders such as Tom Peters, Peter Senge and David Cooperrider. She is also founding director of Images and Voices of Hope, an international dialogue initiative with media, journalism and the arts that seeks to strengthen the role of media as a constructive force in society.



Gayatri Naraine has been the Brahma Kumaris’ (BK’s) representative to the United Nations since 1980. In that capacity, her role was to connect what the UN was doing on a global scale in the social and humanitarian fields of development with what the BK’s were doing in those same areas using their expertise in spiritual growth of people on a personal scale. Gayatri was pivotal in the development of the Living Values Education program and worked closely with UNICEF and UNESCO in its implementation. She has also contributed to ILO’s (International Labor Organization) Agenda on Decent Work in their consultation with non-governmental organizations.




Special thanks to TLC Book Tours

www.tlcbooktours.com