Where Does The Book Page End and Your Life Begin?

To further my Jane Austen education/obsession, I recently viewed the Masterpiece Theater version of Northanger Abbey. The book/movie is about a girl named Catherine Morland, who has a very vivid and wild imagination. She loves to read gothic novels and gets so caught up in the stories, she begins to imagine her life as a novel. But, her imagination get hers in trouble with the leading man, Henry Tilney.

What got me thinking about this book/movie, was how Catherine always wished her life was like the books she was reading. The only reason she even goes to Northanger Abbey, besides to be with Henry Tilney, is because she read about it in a gothic novel and wanted to see if it really was haunted.

I really associated with the character of Catherine because sometimes I let my imagination get the best of me. I have always wished that my life was a novel (lately a Jane Austen novel), and sometimes I allow my mind to get carried away with ideas. The movie/book also made me see the repercussions for having the imagination I have, when Catherine also realizes too much of an imagination isn't always best. I just thought that the main character really hit close to home.

My question now is whether there's a movie/book/tv show character that is really like you? I gave my confession, what's yours?

Best.YouTube.Video.Ever.

Thomas Jefferson's best moments in the John Adams miniseries!! (Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!)

Man vs. Wild

Ahh, the fall. The leaves are beginning to change colors and fall off trees. The weather is getting colder and the world around us is changing. But, above all, the new season of Man vs. Wild is back on Discovery Channel!!

While the show is just great with it's explanations on how to survive if ever stranded in some remote part of the world, the real point I watch Man vs. Wild is Bear Grylls. Call me shallow for watching a show for it's host, but I do love me some Bear Grylls.

Bear Grylls is just an excellent host/person. He does all these crazy things just to show you how to survive in harsh terrains. Ok, in reality I don't watch the show just so Bear can teach me how to survive, no matter how enthusiastic he is, I watch the show because of how gorgeous I think Bear is. He is a dare devil/adventurer which brings out my love for adventure. He also does not look bad without his shirt on, which happens very often on the show. So I just wanted to celebrate how Man vs. Wild is back and how I can, once again, look at Bear Grylls and be happy!

Man vs. Wild airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Discovery Channel.

(Yes, this entire post was just in honor of the hotness that is Bear Grylls)

Ten Things I Love Right Now

I got this idea from my friends blog and I thought it was great. So here is my version of ten things I love right now.

1. Book: Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues by Linda Berdoll. Confession time, I haven't actually read the book yet. I will in about a week or two, but the story just seems so great. It's starts the day after Elizabeth and Darcy's wedding, but shows the couple, and the other characters in a new light.

2. TV Show: True Blood. I love the show, and I loved the books. Even the difference from the books to the show does not bother me, I think the show makes the story line even better. It is the only show I watch regularly on a weekly basis right now.

3. Movie: Lost in Austen. I don't know if you want to consider Lost in Austen a movie, since it was originally a TV mini-series, but I have only seen it on dvd, so it goes as my favorite movie right now. For the past 4 nights, and probably tonight, I have been watching just the scenes I love due to the 3 hour running time. Can't get enough of it.

4. Shoes: Steve Madden "Quinella". I just bought these shoes and I thought they were to die for. Can't wait to wear them out one night.

5. Place: Philadelphia. Being the history buff I am, lately I have been dying to go to Philadelphia. I want to see the place where our country was formed, where the congressional congress would meet, take a closer look at the crack on the liberty bell, and so on. I just think it would be a great next stop on my Revolutionary America tour.

6. Blog: Austenprose. Blog all about Jane Austen. Enough said.

7. Celebrity Style Crush: Kate Winslet. I personally think she looks gorgeous in anything, but I especially loved this grey Herve Leger dress she wore to the New York premiere of The Reader. Gorgeous.

8. Man of the Moment: Tom Mison. I have many, many men that I love. This was a particularly hard category for me. I could chose between a ton (Josh Groban, Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Alexander Skarsgard to name a few) but as of right now, it is Tom Mison who plays Mr. Bingley in Lost in Austen that makes the top of my list. The character of Mr. Bingley is just so endearing, kind, and wonderful. Most of the scenes I've been watching every night have him in them.

9. Clothes: A boyfriend cardigan and a plaid dress. I've just been dying for both.

Hotel Room Service ( I couldn't embed the music video, just click the link)

10. Music: There are two songs I've been listening to a lot now. One old, one new. The older song is "Untouched" by The Veronicas. I just discovered the song a couple days ago (yes, I know i'm late) and I've just been loving it. The new song is "Hotel Room Service" by Pitbull. It just makes me want to get up and dance. Great song for going out.

Just Because I Can....

(Elliot Cowan as Mr. Darcy in Lost in Austen)

Yup. I just did that. You're Welcome.

Reason #547,967 Why I Love Jane Austen...

Mansfield Park.

The story is about a girl named Fanny, who lives with her uncle, aunt, and 4 cousins. None of them treat her particularly well because she is much poorer than them. Well, everyone except Edmund.

(Fanny Price)

Edmund has really been the only person who is truly kind and genuine with Fanny, which in turn, makes her fall madly in love with him. The problem is, Edmund doesn't realize it. After a bunch of mishaps and misunderstandings and basically the entire movie, Edmund finally realizes his love for Fanny.

(Edmund Bertram)

I now leave you with the ending of the movie in which Edmund sees Fanny in a new light for the first time, and tries to express his feelings for her.

(Go to the 7:22 mark to see when Edmund finally falls in love and continue to watch the clip and the next clip)

I just love Jane Austen and how she is able to show true love within her stories and characters. I also love Edmund's reaction to the revelation. At first surprised, he then can't find the right way to tell Fanny, and finally he can't wait any longer to tell her his feelings. Just the way it is acted and portrayed made me love Edmund so much. It made me wish (for the 765th time), that I was around during Jane Austen's time and I could find a man such as Edmund.

Jonas Brothers Concert

Last night I went to the Jonas Brothers concert and it was amazing! Everything about it was great. The music, the band, the feel of the entire concert! I hope they go on tour next year just so I can see them again. Here are some pics of my experience last night (so much fun!!).

(The concert ticket)

(Kevin Jonas)

(Nick and Joe Jonas)

(Joe Jonas)

(Nick Jonas <3)

(Kevin Jonas)