dotcomleuven:

thegardenofdestiny:

This needs to be a chapter in the next Ice and Fire book.

Hodor.

Then in the next chapter it turns out that something vital has happened.

(via purplegobstopper)

isserleylovesbooks:

The adorable fafa-lala sent me this Ask recently. As I agree an Austen post is long overdue, here are my thoughts on all completed Austen novels, in chronological order. Pinpointing an actual “favourite” is pretty much impossible since I enjoy all of them for various reasons, so this is as close to a straight answer as I can get.

I’m leaving out the unfinished works and Juvenalia for now, but I might come back to them later.

Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility is what you might call my least favourite novel of Austen’s. I do re-read it sort of regularly, but it doesn’t have the same pull on me that all the others do.

I suppose it’s because the juxtaposition of Marianne (being the passionate sister) and Elinor (being the rational one) is too obvious for me. I tend to feel that if they were just a little more nuanced, I might like them both much more than I do now. Of course, that’s exactly what Austen means to illustrate.

It’s not that they are flat or too simple per se, but it’s just a tad too clear what the point is. I like characters who aren’t there to make a point, but rather, are alive and independent. I like to feel that characters would act a certain way because of who and what they are, not because it would be convenient to the plot or the agenda of the author. In S&S, I often get the feeling that Marianne and Elinor were conceived as a set, in order to demonstrate the author’s point about the relative importance of their dominant character traits. With most other characters that Austen so masterfully portrays, I feel as if they sprung to life one day and direct their own narrative. 

I do very much enjoy the other characters, though, and the story is certainly well-built and highly amusing. I’m absolutely not saying that I dislike the novel at all, just that of all six, it is my least favourite.

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is such an obvious and universal favourite, it seems hardly necessary to argue in favour of it.
Oh, alright, quickly then! There’s Lizzie, such a uniquely likeable heroine: so alive! so witty! There’s the way her romance with Darcy develops: not over whist, but in a series of verbal jousts. There’s the excellent mix between the sincere and the humorous. There’s the peerless Mr. Collins, one of my all-time favourite comic characters. The whole story is bursting with life: what’s not to love?

Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park never seems to receive its due share of adoration, but I have to say that personally, I’ve always rated it very highly. Fanny is not the sparkling, spirited heroine that Elizabeth is, but her sweet softness is equally likeable to me. Her backstory, too, is excellently established and makes her diffidence very relatable. 
What I like in Mansfield is the fact that the Crawfords, too, are quite likeable, especially by our standards. Edmund could likely have been happy with Mary, and Fanny with Henry - but where’s the fun in that? It’s not very Austenian. No, our principled heroine needs her principled hero.

Like all Austen novels, all of Mansfield Park’s characters are well-drawn, even the relatively minor ones. The aunts! Fanny’s father! You can immediately picture them with perfect accuracy.

Emma

I used to like Emma less than I do now - I guess I found it more difficult to identify with her snobbery - but the novel has really grown on me, and so has its heroine. I suppose the excellent BBC adaptation, starring Romola Garai, rather helped with this. 

It’s certainly a very lively story, with only a few tragic elements. Mostly, Emma makes me giggle intermittendly throughout. I really like Mr. Knightley and her relationship with him. They deserve eachother in the best possible way. I also very much enjoy my own frequent eye-rolling at Frank, who is honestly a bit of a child. 

Northanger Abbey

Northanger Abbey used to be on a shared last place with Sense and Sensibility. I used to think it too simplistic, too childish. However, having recently re-read it after a hiatus of two years, I’ve gained a new appreciation of it. I can’t believe that Henry Tilney previously escaped my notice as eligible Austen man, but I like him a lot now. Sarcastic, but not cynic, and always amused at other’s silliness: my kind of guy. 

I guess I just didn’t like Catherine Morland very much, the first few times I read it. Too young and naive for my liking - I’ve always felt that “unaffected” was kind of a weak best quality for any character to have. After all, Emma’s Harriet Smith was also quite unaffected. Cathy has grown on me now, though, and certainly does have a lot of other good qualities. Her naivité, she will likely outgrow, and by the end of our story, she’s already learned what good friends and good men are. That’s not bad for eighteen.

Persuasion

Persuasion has always been a special favourite of mine. Miss Anne and her angelic patience won me over from the start. But then, she’s never just patient. She always appears to be good-naturedly smiling at the folly of her entire acquaintance, including her preposterous family. 

One of the elements in the story that I particurly enjoy, is the minute dissection of various men’s actions and what they could mean. Who can’t identify with this? Anne is constantly wondering if his “speaking to her in such a soft tone” could possibly signify anything, and whether his leaving the concert in such haste spoke to his feelings with respect to her cousin, Mr. Elliot. 

In conclusion

All of Austen’s completed novels have the same excellent character portrayal, unifying world view and vivid humor. You honestly can’t go wrong with any of them. 

Who are you most like? I’d love to compile a post with your answers, so please feel free to send me an Ask with your thoughts on the Austen character you most identify with.

I talk about Austen over at the book blog. 
Review of The Handmaid’s Tale tonight, posts about Fforde and Fitzgerald to follow later this week, so stay tuned. Feedback always very welcome. 

(Source: teachingliteracy, via coolnerdyreader)

I’d do this. If I liked you.

(via crazylipgloss)

the-one-with-the-last-one:

Don’t blink. Blink and you’re dead. They are fast. Faster than you can believe. Don’t turn your back. Don’t look away. And don’t blink. Good Luck.  

So after most of season 6, Weeping Angels still freak me out more than the Silence.

(via riverthevampireslayer)

(Source: isserleylovesbooks)

Euron Greyjoy to Victarion Greyjoy, A Feast for Crows, 245.

OF COURSE HE HAS. Euron should watch some Doctor Who.

(via dotcomleuven)

Well, he would, wouldn’t he? Forget, that is.

emilianadarling:

Because instantly alienating a huge chunk of your demographic through offensive humour is the best way to sell soda pop. (x)

Are Hank and John unique? Because I hope not. But I don’t ever meet anyone IRL who is this awesome and thoughtful and insightful. So errr, hoping they aren’t genetic freaks. 

(via edwardspoonhands)

isserleylovesbooks:

Margaret Atwood - The Handmaid’s Tale

Re-read classic! Will likely feature in a text post soon ;) Any particular requests as to the angle of a review?

(Source: booksandothergeekery, via coolnerdyreader)