Miranda Atchley's Blog, page 41

Top Ten Tuesday: My Spring TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Brokeand The Bookish.       The problem with my "to be read" list is that it NEVER ends. It seems as though I'm always finding a new book I'd like to read. And even as my TBR on Goodreads grows, I'm always finding new books at the library that distract me and demand to be read. And I haven't read even a fraction of the classics, which I hope to read as many of in my time. So yeah, there are a lot of books I want to read over the course of my lifetime, many of which probably haven't even been written yet. If we're being honest, I'll probably never get to read all of the books I want to, but that's simply the way the cookie crumbles. Sometimes it's almost overwhelming to think of all the books I plan to read someday. But then again, I kind of think that's a good thing; I'll never run out of things to read. Seriously, I never will.
Needless to say this list is only a drop in the bucket of all the books I want to read, but I'm hoping to get to these over the course of this spring. Chances are I probably won't get to them all this spring, but that's okay; they'll be there when I'm ready for them!


10: Lizzy and Jane by Katherine ReayI've read Dear Mr. Knightley and The Bronte Plot so far, so now I need to read Lizzy and Janeand I'll be all caught up for Katherine's fall release, A Portrait of Emily Price!


9: The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy CambronThe cover for this book is gorgeous and the synopsis sounds very interesting. It comes out at the tail end of spring, so I don't know that I'll actually get to it this spring, but it is definitely on my TBR.


8: The Voyage ofthe Dawn Treader by C.S. LewisI love The Chronicles of Narnia, but I haven't finished the series. I really want to and next in line is book 5, so hopefully I can get to it soon!


7: The Great Gatsbyby F. Scott FitzgeraldI'm an author so I need to read The Great Gatsby, right? I actually have this rented from the library, so we'll see if I can get to it this week.

6: The Inheritance by Louisa May AlcottAfter re-reading Little Women in February, I really want to read all of Louisa's novels and I think it will be interesting to read one of her romance novels.


5: The GuernseyLiterary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie BarrowsI've been wanting to read this book for a while. I really would like to get to it this spring because it sounds so interesting!

4: Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean WebsterI keep hearing really good things about this book. I loved When Patty Went To College and enjoyed Just Patty, so I'm very interested in reading Daddy-Long-Legsas well as all of Jean Webster's other books.


3: Before GreenGables by Budge WilsonAs a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables, I'm both very curious about this book as well as a little bit nervous. But I've heard fairly good things about it, and so I'm interested.


2: Emma by Jane AustenI've had a copy of Emmafor a few years and have just never gotten around to reading it. I'm pretty ashamed of myself for that. I now have two copies (a paperback as well as the one on my Kindle) and so I definitely want to get to it this year.


1: Jane Eyre by Charlotte BronteThis book has been on my TBR forever. No more excuses; it needs to be read this spring.
And there you have a fraction of my ever growing TBR. I hope you all enjoyed this list and I thank you for spending time with me today. And I'm curious; what are some of the books you're hoping to get to this spring?

-Miranda Atchley

Lately: Editing, Downton Abbey, and Northanger Abbey

Happy pi day everyone! I hate algebra, but I like pie, so I guess that kind of balances things out, right? Haha. I don't know why, but I love writing "lately" posts. They feel so casual and it's just me kind of rambling about the things I'm loving at the moment.
Reading: Northanger Abbey, The HobbitWe're fourteen days into the Northanger Abbey read along and it's been great so far! I'm so over the Thorpes, but I love Catherine and keep looking forward to when things finally fall into place with her and the Tilneys! And yes.... I'm still working on The Hobbit.  *Hides face in shame* I've been busy with read alongs and such and so I haven't spent a lot of time on this book. BUT, I'm determined to finish it.
Watching: Now that Downton Abbey is over, there really isn't a television show that I'm really involved in other than The Big Bang Theory. I'm sad to see one of my favorites go, but I'm really happy with the way it ended. I'm excited that the movie Brooklyn comes out tomorrow and am hoping our Redbox has it.
Listening: Same old same old. Eisley, The Like, Merriment, Showbread, The Honey Trees. I have been listening to a little more of the 90s music I have lately (I'm a pretty big fan of 90s grunge because that's what I grew up listening to. Bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Weezer, etc...) and I always like to listen to The Pogues on St. Patrick's Day. I kind of want to find some more new music to listen to so if any of you have some suggestions, let me know!
Other: Still editing A Castle in the Sky. We're getting so close; it's really just down to checking for spelling mistakes (because spell check doesn't catch everything), missing words and that all the facts are straight. I can't believe it but I have a post planned for every week day this month! Well, I don't all of my Favorite Word Friday posts planned because those are usually last minute. I had tried to plan as many as possible last month so I could have plenty of time to work on A Castle in the Sky and with the Northanger Abbey read along taking place, things have worked out smashingly. ;) (Okay, I've possibly been watching a little too much Downton Abbey lately, if there ever were such a thing. Seriously, the other day I said "Have we any Tums, Mum?" in an English accent and I'm from Arkansas so you know that wasn't natural.)
So that's my life lately. Hope you all enjoyed this post and have a great day. Enjoy a slice of your favorite pie and whatever makes you happy!
-Miranda Atchley

Favorite Word Friday #18 "Hope"

Hope
verb \ˈhōp\
:to cherish a desire with anticipation
Who doesn't love the word "hope?" We all need it. When you're at the end of your rope and someone says the word "hope" to you, you start to feel so much better. You can't but feel better when that word is uttered. There's nothing like hope. I'm pretty thankful for it.
Hope you all have a great weekend! See you Monday for more tales from a real writer's life.

-Miranda Atchley
(Definition take from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.)

Northanger Abbey Read Along Chapters 4-10

It's the second week of the Northanger Abbey read along! Today we're discussing chapters 4-10 and the discussion questions were written by Amber.
Discussion Questions:
1. Is Isabella a friend or a " frenemy "? Do you think there's the seed of a genuine friendship between her and Catherine, or is Isabella only loyal to her own ambitions?

I'm confused about Isabella, honestly. When she was first introduced, my sensors kind of went off and I thought she was going to be a jerk, but then she started being really friendly with Catherine, talking about books and boys with her. And Catherine seems to really like her. But now I'm wondering if that's all a facade. Like her brother, Isabella seems rather chatty and just gives off a disagreeable vibe. I do have a feeling she just wants to be nice to Catherine so she'll look better to James.
2. Let's talk about John Thorpe, whose presence is obviously a problem! How would you advise Catherine in her interactions with Mr. Thorpe?

John Thorpe is icky. I would definitely warn Catherine to be careful when she's with Mr. Thorpe and to not hang around him anymore than she has to! I love what the narrator says in chapter 10 about every girl knowing the feeling of trying to avoid a man they do not like because it's so true! Been there done that.
3. Do you agree with Mr. Tilney's comparisons between dancing and marriage? And do you consider dancing an important component of romance?
I agree more with Catherine. Especially in this day and age, marriage and dancing are such different things that they can't even be compared. I've never danced. I think once in the fifth grade I went to a Valentine's Day dance and may have danced with a teacher but I've never seriously danced with anyone. I really don't view it as an important part of romance, but I know things were so different in the Victorian era; there was always a dance or a ball or a cotillion going on. It was just a part of life, so it probably seemed more important back then.
Other Impressions:
I'm beginning to see more sides of Mr. Tileny and thinking of him more as a hero, especially that he sees John Thorpe for who he really is! (Hallelujah!) 
Favorite Quote:
"Friendship is certainly the finest balm for disappointed friendship."
I'm still enjoying Northanger Abbey and am looking forward to reading more and discussing more as the month goes by!

-Miranda Atchley

Book of the Week #36 "Anne of Avonlea"

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
After completing high school, Anne Shirley is now ready to teach school herself as she awaits her college acceptance letter. She returns to her beloved home of Green Gables to teach school at the Avonlea schoolhouse where she'll have her hands full, especially when it comes to teaching the strong willed Anthony Pye. Now that she and Marilla are by themselves at Green Gables, that take in Marilla's niece and nephew, Dora and Davey. The two adore Anne, especially Davey. Times are changing, yet Anne is still the girl we all know and love.
I feel like this is where we really start to see how much Gilbert loves Anne. We saw it in Anne of Green Gables, but it really starts to show in Anne of Avonlea. I mean, he gave up a job so she could have it. If that doesn't say love, then I don't know what does. Anne is still Anne; she stills daydreams, her temper still flares at times and she still dreams of writing, but she's also beginning to mature. She's more forgiving of the kids when they sass her than she would have been five years ago and she's more understanding when people, especially Rachel Lynde, criticize her.
All in all, Anne of Avonlea is a lovely continuation of the Anne Shirley series.
I give this book a 4 out of 5.

I'd also like to say a happy belated birthday to our Anne girl! Her birthday was March 5. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I'm Not A Fan Of

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly series hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.
So today's topic is ten characters that either you like that no one else does, or characters you dislike that everyone else seems to love. For some reason, this post was so hard for me! I just could not come up with characters that fit these descriptions.  So that's why I only have six. May not be true to topic, but it's all I can come up with and better than nothing, I suppose.Keep in mind that I don't hate any of these characters. They're just not my cup of tea (and number is kind of complicated).
6: John Brooke, Little WomenI don't hate John Brooke, he just gets on my nerves sometimes, especially when he puts Meg down, though she does put him down some, too. Still, John is just not my favorite. I don't dislike him, I just don't love him the way others do.
5: Henry Talbot, Downton AbbeyI don't know why, but I'm just not a huge fan of Henry. Again, I don't hate, him, I just don't love him. I feel like I don't know him well enough to love him as Mary's husband and that could be due to the fact that I missed some of season 5.
4: Almanzo Wilder, Little House on the PrairieI'm just not a fan of Almanzo. Granted, I haven't made it that far into the book series, but I've seen every episode of the show multiple times (it was a childhood favorite) and he just seemed so dorky to me. Maybe he's better in the books? I hope so.
3: Lydia Bennet, Pride and Prejudice
I don't know if I'm alone in this, but Lydia always got on my nerves. She's too boy crazy for her own good and just seems spoiled.
2: Professor Bhaer, Little WomenThis is a sort of complicated answer for me. I love the idea of Jo and Laurie marrying one another. I think they fit together and could make a great couple. I also think that it would be interesting to see Jo remain single. But I like Professor Bhaer. I think he seems like a kind man and very smart. And maybe I just really wanted to respect Louisa May Alcott's decision. I think what I'm getting at is that I like the character of Professor Bhaer, maybe just not as Jo's husband, though I respect Louisa's decision. (Actually, my friend Amber has an interesting theory about Professor Bhaer that you can read in the comment section of this post.)
1: Logan Huntzberger, Gilmore Girls
I know I'm not alone on this, but it seems like a lot of people like Logan, and I'm like, "Why?!?" He was a jerk! He was pretty selfish and if he couldn't get his way he was mean and nasty, especially to Rory. Why would you want to be with someone like that? I was so relieved when Rory rejected his proposal. I so hope that she doesn't end up with him in the new episodes.
Thanks for stopping by today! Until next time....
-Miranda Atchley

Writing Playlist

This post isn't tailored toward one particular project, but rather showcases music that I generally gravitate toward while I'm writing.
I like to listen to calming music when I write, because let's face it; writing can be stressful. I also want something that isn't too distracting. I don't listen to much of the punk rock I listen at other times while writing, haha.


Sifting Through Sadness by Rising FawnEverlasting Songsby Rising Fawn
I think the best way to describe Rising Fawn's music is ethereal. It is so pretty. And Chauntelle's voice is simply beautiful. So lovely.


Sway by MerrimentThrough The Roughby Merriment
Merriment has a sort of coffee shop vibe that makes for easy listening. And like her sister Chauntelle, Christie has such a pretty voice, too.


Wake The Earthby The Honey Trees
Another beautiful voice. And more pretty music.



Takk... by Sigur Ros
Sigur Ros' music could also be described as ethereal. And it's very soothing so that makes it great to listen to while you're working.
So there is some of the music I like to listen to while I write. Very pretty, very calming. I hope you enjoyed this post, and if you have any music that you enjoy listening to while you're writing, let me know in the comments! I'd love to hear all about it.

-Miranda Atchley

Favorite Word Friday #17 "Incandescent"

Incandescent 
adjective  in·can·des·cent  \-sənt\
:white or glowing because of great heat:producing bright light when heated:very impressive, successful, or intelligent
Incandescent is such a pretty word. I just love the way it sounds. And it's meaning sounds so nice, too. Impressive. Glowing with light. That's lovely. I'd like to be incandescent.
"You may call me Mrs. Darcy when you are completely, and perfectly, and incandescently in love."
Happy Friday!

-Miranda Atchley
(Definition taken from the Merriam Webster online dictionary)

Favorite Word Friday #18 "Incandescent"

Incandescent 
adjective  in·can·des·cent  \-sənt\
:white or glowing because of great heat:producing bright light when heated:very impressive, successful, or intelligent
Incandescent is such a pretty word. I just love the way it sounds. And it's meaning sounds so nice, too. Impressive. Glowing with light. That's lovely. I'd like to be incandescent.
"You may call me Mrs. Darcy when you are completely, and perfectly, and incandescently in love."
Happy Friday!

-Miranda Atchley
(Definition taken from the Merriam Webster online dictionary)

Northanger Abbey Discussion Post #1 Chapters 1-3

Happy Thursday! Hope you're all having a good week. Today I'm checking in with my answers to the first round of discussion questions for the Northanger Abbey read along. We're covering the first three chapters. The questions listed below were written by Amber. Enjoy!
1. What do you find most endearing about Catherine's character? Do you consider her to be good heroine material?I think firstly the fact that she was described as being plain and awkward in her youth. I mean, there are very few people who couldn't relate to that. And I like that now she seems a bit witty; as she speaks with Henry for the first time she banters with him and doesn't play dumb. I really admire that especially in Victorian literature when it seemed like they really tried to dumb women down.


2. What are your first impressions of Mr. and Mrs. Allen? What sort of impact do they have on Catherine?Mrs. Allen seems to be a bit of a worry-wart and rather fussy. Especially during the dance when she keeps fretting over Catherine's not finding a dance partner (which admittedly is a rather funny thing to imagine- she almost sounds like Mrs. Bennet in this scene to me). I feel like so far we haven't seen a whole lot of Mr. Allen, though the few scenes we have seen he seems very paternal toward Catherine, which is sweet. I can see where Mrs. Allen could have a negative impact on Catherine, causing her to become more vain and self-conscious, but I hope that doesn't happen.

3. Has Mr. Tilney already stolen your heart, or are you still forming your opinion of his character? Which of his positive or negative qualities stand out to you most? Do you consider him to be good hero material?I'm still forming my opinion of Mr. Tilney. In a way, I like that he jokes around and keeps the mood light because I think humor is a good thing in both friendships and romances. Yet I also feel like he could get a tad annoying. Not too much, but he needs just a touch of seriousness to round him out. When we see those moments, I feel like he'll become a very good hero and will then steal my heart. ;)
So far I'm having fun with this read along. I can't believe we're already three days in! Time flies by so fast. Can't wait to read more of Northanger Abbey and become reacquainted with the endearing Catherine Morland and Henry Tilney.

-Miranda Atchley