Happy Birthday, Jane

 

I love this illustrated picture of Jane Austen. It is so cute and shows the imaginative energy glowing from Jane. She was born on December 16, 1775. This is her 250th anniversary of her birth. 

My favorite Austen novel is Persuasion. I recently got this beautiful edition with golden edges on the paper. I reread Persuasion about two or three times a year. I'll probably read it again before the year ends. 

Thank you Jane for all your wonderful novels. Tell me my friends, what is your favorite Austen novel? Do you love Persuasion as much as I do? Please let me know in the comments or feel free to email your thoughts.

Wordless Wednesday: Persuasion

Found Poetry

Happy Wednesday, my friends. Last week was busy with finishing my taxes, getting Jake registered for Kindergarten and other family things to do which is why I missed a whole week here.

I am sharing one of my favorite ways of writing poetry. It is called found poetry. Basically, you piece together poetry from anywhere you like: books, movies, plays, lyrics, signs, prayers, etc. It is also a great exercise when you get stuck with your writing and need to prime the well.This found poem comes from one of my favorite books: Persuasion by Jane Austen. It is called I wish. Hope you all enjoy.




I wish (words by Jane Austen, word arrangement by Michelle Swan Graham)

I wish you be
Blessed with a second spring of youth and beauty
Be of Good Heart
Elegance, sweetness and beauty always
good companions in your life
Compliments from former foes
Let the sweets begin
Feel unshackled and free
Revel in joy,senseless joy
May you know overpowering happiness

Happy Birthday, Jane

I had a whole another idea for a post. Then
I found out earlier that today is Jane Austen's birthday.

How could I not show love to Jane. It is her 235th birthday.
Still looking good, Jane! Seriously, Jane Austen seems to
stay relevant even after two centuries. Amazing.

What is your favorite Jane Austen book? I know everyone
loves Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed it too. My favorite
is Persuasion. This novel appeals to my romantic soul.
I do feel a kinship with Anne Elliot, the heroine of the book.
I guess I know all about having a good heart and being put
upon my others.

Captain Frederick Wentworth melts my heart when he finally
realizes what a dunderhead he is about his feelings toward
Anne.

This has to be one of my favorite passages in Persuasion.
I feel one of my favorite letters in all of literature.
Here is part of the letter Captain Wentworth sends to Anne.

I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means
as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony,
half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings
are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart
even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years
and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman,
that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you.
Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been,
but never inconstant.

Now, if you haven't read Persuasion. Do yourself a favorite
and read it.

Happy Birthday, Jane. Thank you for all your wonderful characters
who live in the novels that we all hold so dear.

Thursday Fun.

It has been a busy week. For some reason
this summer, i feel like I'm doing so much.
I always have time for Swan of Dreamers and
all of you.

This goes out to all the Jane Austen fans.
My Anakin sent this to me, it's hilarious.
Welcome, to Jane Austen's Fight Club. Yes,
you read that right.

Enjoy and Happy Thursday.

Living in Jane's World

I finished my spending Spring with Jane goal on Friday with the completion of Mansfield Park. I've read S&S, P&P, Persuasion, Emma and now MP. (I had previously read Northanger Abbey last year.) I enjoyed Mansfield Park because it seemed to have more of the rhythm of Jane Austen that I felt Emma lacked. Fanny is a sweet girl but I wished she had some get up and go. Edmund, her cousin, who is her champion in the book is the first of Austen's leading men I didn't really swoon for. As for the loathsome Mrs. Norris, I shared Sir Thomas' happiness when she finally left Mansfield Park too! My favorite out of all the books is Persuasion. There are the short novels: Lady Susan, The Watsons and Sandition to read. They can wait for Autumn.

I've enjoyed living in Jane's world. Going to balls, having a coze, taking a turn in the room, being breathless as a certain someone walks into the room and hoping the post will bring a long awaited letter. I am glad to be back as a 21sth Century sistah. Now, my Summer is free to read other books. I have Jane Eyre to reread which I'm looking forward to. Besides that, I'm going to dive into whatever book catches my fancy. What are all of you reading this summer? Any book recommendations?

Have you spent time on your dream today?

This and That..

Did everyone enjoy the Simple Things list post? I loved it and I can't wait to do it again. I may even keep a running list of Simple things on my sidebar to do weekly.

I came on today and found I have 42 dreamers. Wow! A big welcome and hug to all who are new here. I hope you always leave here with a smile and a boost of sunshine. I do my best to be as real here as I am in my life. I celebrate the good and do honor the shadows of life. And if you have been lurking for a while, say hello! (I don't bite unless you have chocolate with you.) Much Love for all who come here regularly to share your thoughts, dreams and ideas with me.

Yesterday, I went to see a dress rehearsal with my friend Lady R. for the show Shafrika, The White Girl at the Vineyard Theatre down in Union Square. It is a joyous and wonderful show about a girl growing up in a multiracial family. It opens tonight and worth to see if your in New York.

I have only Mansfield Park left to read in my Spending Spring with Jane Austen. I finished Emma on Wednesday. I love the 1996 Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow. ( I do want to see the Kate Beckinsale version.) The book dragged to me. Just didn't have the Jane Austen sparkle. All who love Emma, my apologies. Like the saying goes: not everything is for everybody. My favorite character was Mr. Knightley. He was the voice of reason in the novel; I was always happy when he walked into a scene. Jeremy Northam, who I have loved since Emma, is a perfect swoonworthy Mr. Knightley. This is a perfect time for a clip.



Wasn't that sweet. Makes me all mushy inside. Yes, I am big romantic cream puff! So, I'll be starting Mansfield Park tomorrow. Let you all know what I think. If you want to read my thoughts on the other novels, just click on the Jane Austen posts.

Here's to fabulous and creative Friday for all.

Sweet Dreams.

Persuasion

I am half way through my Jane Austen reading campaign. I still have Emma and Mansfield Park yet to read. I have a feeling Persuasion will be my favorite. I do so love Anne Elliot, who makes the best of her life, with dignity and compassion for those around her. Her family, oh my. They are just the worst, I so bad wanted Anne to just tell them off. I know, this is not done in JA's world. When the dashing Captain Frederick Wentworth comes in, I held my breath too. I know a book has captured my heart when I feel like I’m the main character. I’m sure you all have that sensation before. That the book and your life is becoming one. The characters in the book fuse with people in your own life. When Anne finally realizes: “His feelings as to first, strong attachment, sentences begun which he could not finish, his half-averted eyes and more than half-expressive glance, all, resentment, avoidance, were no more and that they were succeeded, not merely, by friendship and regard, but by tenderness of the past. Yes, some share of the tenderness of the past! She could not contemplate the change as implying less. He must love her.” I was as happy for Anne as it was my own self. My cheeks brightened and my eyes came alive as hers. I finished Persuasion sad to see Anne, Captain Wentworth along with the happy Musgroves, Lady Russell and Mrs. Smith to go. As with all good books, they are only waiting for us to come again and dive into their world. I do encourage all of you who haven't read it, to do so. Here is part of my favorite passage from Captain Wentworth. I did watch the most recent 2008 PBS version of Persuasion which I enjoyed except when they had Anne running all over to find Captain Wentworth to answer his letter. I do want to watch the 1995 version. I'm currently immersed in the whimsical, magical and sometimes trippy world of Alice in Wonderland. I have seen the Disney and other versions but never read the actual book. I am enjoying it. I was inspired to actually read the story since I'm taking part in the 2nd annual Mad Tea Party being hosted by Vanessa. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go click on the link. Or the first button of the right sidebar. Once I'm finished with Alice, it's off to either Emma or Mansfield Park. Haven't decided which one yet. So this is quite a long post. Let me end it now, I must share I do adore the Chesire Cat. He is quite a character. Have a wonderful Wednesday. As always, Sweet Dreams to you all.

Spending Spring with Jane

Though the sun is playing peek-a-boo today, I'm still happy that Spring is officially here! This winter has been brutal for me literally and personally. Goodbye, Winter. Hello, SPRING!!!

Big hugs to all of you for your generous words on my video! The next one will be me reading poetry. Look for it next week. I will try my best to make it interesting and not a snooze fest.

Yesterday, I finished reading Sense and Sensibility which I enjoyed. It was so good. Can I tell you how much I loved Colonel Brandon!! He is my favorite man in the whole book. Edward is sweet and as for Willougby.. I have know a man or two like that in my lifetime. (Which I'm not sure is good or bad.) I must confess when I was younger I was like Marianne in the way I viewed love. I have matured quite nicely. I do adore the 1995 S&S starring Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. While I was reading, scenes from the movie rose up from my memory. Emma deserved the Oscar she won for best screenplay. Yes, Emma was considerably older than Elinor in the book. Still, I feel she captured Elinor's essence. I did miss the recent pbs version of S&S. I'm sure I'll be able to rent it soon. Now, I need advice. What is the next book by Jane Austen should I read? Is there any order to read them in?

Along with spending Spring with Jane, I'm also committing energy to my one woman show project. I've always wanted to do a one woman show since I saw Whoopi's show on HBO back in the day. I may have stumbled on a great idea to do one. I feel I'm mature enough to see it through it now. There is a never dull moment over here at Swanofdreamers! I always have creative ideas and projects that I'm working on in one form or another. I'm sure I'm not the only one like this.

Enjoy the first Friday of Spring wherever you are. As always, Sweet Dreams

PS. I do think it's interesting that Emma married Greg Wise(who played Willoughby in S&S) and they have a child together.