Beverly Farr's Blog, page 5
January 20, 2016
Spinster Power
My favorite romance heroine is an ornery spinster, aged 27 to 40. Someone smart who doesn’t put up with nonsense. Amelia Peabody of Crocodile on the Sandbank is the ideal heroine. She’s a Victorian spinster who has just inherited a fortune and plans to go to Egypt. She barges through life, poking people with her umbrella and telling them all what to do until she meets the unmovable object: a very masculine archaeologist named Emerson. Sparks and incredibly fun dialogue result. The romance is funny and sexy while being very clean.
After Crocodile, Elizabeth Peters has gone on to pen nineteen Amelia Peabody tales. I’ve read some of them and they are all fun, but the first is the best because it’s the one where we get to meet Amelia Peabody. I like to think that I would be as brave and bossy if I were in her shoes.
At least I’ve got the bossy part down.
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January 18, 2016
Fewer F-words, Please
Everywhere I look, there seems to be f-words or f-bombs. It used to be that an f-word would automatically make a movie rated R, but now, it’s okay in PG-13, as long as it is only said a few times (Thinking of The Martian now, which apparently got away with a few more by having the character merely mouth the word silently.)
And sometime in the past five years, it looks like WTH has been replaced with WTF. How did this happen?
Now, I am not a person who uses many swearwords, although a few damns and hells may slip out now and then. I was raised by a sweet, conservative giant of a man who didn’t swear. Instead of a “Damn” or “Hell”, my father would actually say “Swearwords!” in an angry tone, which was his way of making it into a joke. It usually made other people laugh and would lighten the moment.
The problem with the f-word for me is that the word demeans sex, which ideally should be joyous/happy/thrilling/satisfying/fun (take your pick). Also, since sex has the capacity to create life, I think it should be given respect. Not that there shouldn’t be ugly words for ugly things, but when an f-word is used just to make a strong point or to show anger, it makes me sad for the state of humanity.
I don’t see why it is necessary as an adjective, anyway. If someone is referring to an effing person, an effing situation or an effing thing, aren’t there more clear adjectives available?
An irritating boss. A frustrating vacation. A stupid toaster.
That reminds me. In my efforts to raise civilized children, I emphasized not swearing or using unkind labels for people. When they were young, one of them thought “stupid” was the s-word.
I understand that a younger generation wants to be bold, daring and edgy. They want to shock their elders and show how hip they are. Using the f-word seems to be the trendy “look at me, I’m an adult now” language. Since it’s all over the internet, in music and movies and used in high school hallways, I don’t think many of them realize how offensive the language is, or maybe they just don’t give a damn. Oops.
Granted, many people still feel that an “F you” is worse than an “effing noun,” but for me the anger and the hint of violence is still there. I don’t like it. I don’t think it’s funny or clever. And every time I hear it or read it, it is like a slap in my face.
I’m all in favor of freedom of speech, so I won’t say it can’t be used, I just wish it wasn’t used so often. So although I am only one voice in this sea of social media, I make this request for a kinder world: Fewer f-words, please.
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January 15, 2016
Something for Everyone: The Sound of Music 1965
Date Night Movie Suggestion:
Romance, cute kids, great music, beautiful scenery and Nazis. The Sound of Music really has something for everyone and other than being a very long movie, it makes a great Date Night movie. The problem with breaking it up into two nights, though, is that most of the fun stuff happens in the first half. (SPOILER: I really hate it when Rolf turns out to be a jerk)
I grew up dancing around the living room, listening to the soundtrack LP, so I can sing all the songs by myself. And now, thanks to the wonders of the VCR, I think my kids know most of it, also.
First of all, Julie Andrews is a marvel. She has such a lovely voice and is a joy to watch. And Christopher Plummer is so engaging as the grumpy Captain that I still have a soft spot for him, no matter what film he has been in later. And the side characters each have their significant, interesting moments. Eleanor Parker as the Baroness is so coolly beautiful and intelligent. As much as I don’t want her to end up with Captain Von Trapp, I would like her to have a happily ever after as well.
I saw this movie at Radio City Music Hall as a child, and then my family tended to watch it yearly on TV when it aired. I remember one year, when we were watching the part when the Nazis were looking for the Von Trapps and the Captain told the children to be quiet so they wouldn’t be discovered. My mother looked at us kids and said, “We’d all be dead.” Yikes.
Some of my favorite sweet moments? Kids hanging from the trees wearing play clothes made from the drapes. Also, I love the Climb Every Mountain song. What a wonderful combination of music and lyrics. Don’t we all need to climb mountains? The Sound of Music inspires me to go forth with strength and faith.
FYI, I watched the live version with Carrie Underwood and enjoyed that as well. Both these films are available on Amazon.
Related blog posts:
How do you solve a problem like Beverly
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January 13, 2016
Live Like You Are Dying
It’s no secret that we’re all dying, but most of us don’t have any idea when it will happen. For all we know, we’ve got a brain aneurysm waiting to rupture or some driver is going to plow into us on the way to work. But chances are, we’ve got some time left, so what are we going to do with it? Cue Tim McGraw.
In The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Valancy is a downtrodden spinster, living with her irritating relatives when she gets the news that she has less than a year to live. This motivates her to take control of her life and to do what she thinks is right, regardless of what others think. In the course of the book, she finds true love. I love this story and I’ve come back to it several times because the story is empowering. Personality-wise, I’m nothing like Valancy, and fortunately my quirky family is wonderful, but I think the questions the book raises are worth answering.
About six months ago, I was in a car accident, which totalled my car and messed up my back and neck. I’m much better now, but I had to rest a lot and it gave me time to think – what if the accident had been worse? What if I had died? Or what if I had been permanently disabled? I hope that like Valancy, I’ve started living the life I want to live. I do know I appreciate my health more, and I’m trying to take better care of myself. And I’ve strengthened my efforts to love my family. Interestingly, there’s even been some studies about the benefits of thinking this way.
So what would you do differently if you had only one year to live?
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October 2, 2015
Mood Music for a WIP
September 30, 2015
Accepting the Inevitable
September 29, 2015
I’m moving my blog
July 10, 2015
Darcy Again
February 23, 2015
DARCY UNMASKED is now available
Here it is, my first Pride and Prejudice Variation. ��It is now available on Amazon and should be on iTunes and Barnes and Noble within a week. Darcy Unmasked: ��When Fitzwilliam Darcy visits his friend at Netherfield Park, he does not expect to meet an old enemy or to fall…
December 21, 2014
Mrs. Bennet by any other name
