Austenland: my quick take on the book

I've just added Austenland to my Movies Based on Books 2013 page. The movie based on Shannon Hale's eponymous novel now has an August 16th release date. I'm also re-posting the following updated quick take originally published last April 2012. 
I want one of those bags that Keri Russell is carrying in the poster!

Still no trailer that I can find-

Here's my original - slightly tweaked - post ...
Jane, are you rolling over in your grave - with mirth - at the love and respect your work continues to garner, so long after you went to that grave? Do you understand why the thoroughly modern millies and the rest of the women of the modern world still can't get enough of you and all your fab females but most especially Miss Elizabeth Bennett?

While it's been years since I last re-read Austen's classic I'm a huge P&P fan. Seeing that the upcoming Austenland film starring Keri Russell was based on a book and that book is a huge homage, I gave Shannon Hale's Austenland a go. This was such a delicious book! Why oh why did it take me so long to get to it?

From the publisher

Jane is a young New York woman who can never seem to find the right man—perhaps because of her secret obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. When a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-obsessed women, however, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined. Is this total immersion in a fake Austenland enough to make Jane kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

My quick take

Keri Russell and Ben McKenzie in Austenland

Funny, romantic, fabulous and perfect for all die-hard Pride and Prejudice fans. I read Austenland  last year knowing the film based on the book was "in post-production" and starring Keri (Felicity) Russell as the Jane Austen and Darcy obsessed Jane. While I'll no doubt get a kick out of the goings on - is the attractive gardener(Ben McKenzie/Flight of the Concords) garbed in period clothing an actor or the real thing? Or does the actor playing Darcy turn out to be Jane's destiny? - I'm equally keen to see the always hilarious Jennifer Coolidge as Miss Elizabeth Charming as well as Jane Seymour as bitchy, bossy Mrs. Wattlesbrook. 

About P+P, the mini-series. Since I hadn't seen the Pride and Prejudice television  series (I think I have been deferring to my husband's taste for too long!) with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, I had to watch that too. Oh he is perfect as the 'proud and arrogant' Darcy! I think I have fallen a little in love with him myself; there was a particular scene where he and Elizabeth speak volumes as they simply stare at each other, each seeking and seeing the love in each other's hearts as it plays out subtly on their faces. It reminded me of Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan in Drive. Sheer Poetry! A wonderful mini-series to have on hand for watching when husbands are out of town or Mr. Wonderful doesn't call. I can totally understand why Austenland's Jane hides it in the plant! And I'm looking forward to seeing Keri Russell as Jane - in her mid-thirties at least she is the right age. Agree?

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New trailer (video):The Company You Keep directed by Robert Redford

Thriller addicts: there's still plenty of time to read Neil Gordon's The Company You Keep before Robert Redford's screen adaptation hits theaters in L.A. and NYC on April 5th... and hopefully the rest of the country shortly after! I wrote a more detailed post  last month (January 16,2013) ... today I just want to share the new trailer.

I've been critical of Redford, who directs, for his own casting. The man's a great talent but I felt the 70 year old was too old to play father to a 12 year old, played by America's Got Talent winner, Jackie Evancho. Watching the trailer again, I'm getting more and more thrilled at the idea of the movie rather than getting caught up with whether he is or isn't too old to play the part. Redford doesn't have a lot of closeups in the trailer but there is one scene showing him then and now in side by side photos. That young Redford is the actor I had the hots for :), the older man he has become is more than a seasoned star; he's an influential environmental activist, important filmmaker, and founder of Sundance, one of the most influential festivals in the world of independent film making.
Shia LaBeouf, Susan Sarandon, Anna Kendrick, Terrence Howard, Chris Cooper, Sam Elliot, Julie Christie and Nick Nolte also star in The Company You Keep.

The Company You Keep Official Trailer 

I've been waffling about what to read next; I think I'll give Gordon's book a go.
What are you reading this weekend?

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Return to The Notebook

I just read that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively - who briefly dated Ryan Gosling - got married this weekend at Boone Plantation in South Carolina. I could care less except that the site was one of the backdrops for Allie and Noah in The Notebook. And therefore a great excuse for me to post this Notebook trailer. A reminder, if needed, as to why we love (okay, why I love) Ryan the Gosling vs Ryan the Reynolds.
And to remind you of this beloved screen adaptation of the book.

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Wondrous Words Wednesday: The Eye of the Storm

I've got a couple of words for Wondrous Words Wednesday, the meme hosted by Kathy over at Bermuda Onion.  They come from the novel The Eye of the Storm, a book written by Australian Nobel Prize winner, Patrick White, back in 1973 and adapted for the screen last year. The film is only now being released in the states (September 7) and I'd like to read the book before I see the film.

Rampling plays Mrs Hunter, an aging and bedridden woman whose two grown children, Basil, (Geoffrey Rush) and Dorothy (Judy Davis) have returned to Australia from London and France respectively. I've only just begun and am finding it fascinating and challenging. White sometimes write sentences that go on and on curling inside themselves for what seems like pages. He uses stream of consciousness frequently and it isn't always clear just whose head he is inside. That being said I'm finding it really compelling.

Supping - "Mrs Hunter was supping her brandied coffee; soon she would grow muzzy and sleep."
Out of context, I would have thought the word meant having supper. What could be simpler? In fact dictionary.com defines the word as "to eat the evening meal, to have supper" but the context makes it clear that White can only mean supping =sipping.
So instead of 'eating', Mrs Hunter was sipping her brandied coffee.
Go figure!

Rentes - "Her folly had been to value the friendship of those who respect rentes." In the passage, Mrs Hunter has been a weatlthy woman and is bemoaning her dwindling assets; I wasn't entirely sure what White was saying but I assumed  rentes meant rent.  Again, my assumption was off.

Dictionary.com defines rentes this way : "revenue or income, or the instrument evidencing a right to such periodic receipts." Also called 'rentes sur l'é·tat'.  Merriam-Webster was a little clearer. "a government security (as in France) paying interest; also: the interest paid"

With the definition in mind, it seems like Mrs Hunter is realizing that she may have relied too much on her own investments for her economical security as well as acknowledging that she lives in a rarified world surrounded by friends who know little of work and the value of that work.

 

I've only read about 50 pages of the book; I have a feeling White's writing is going to have me reading and rereading passages several times. Hopefully I'll be able to finish the novel while it's still in the theaters here.

 

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Martin Scorses's Off Screen Drama: SILENCE

Will Martin Scorsese ever get around to adapting  Shusaku Endo's Silence? That's what frustrated fans of the book want to know and now the production company behind the adaptation is suing Scorsese for seemingly putting Silence on the backburner yet again. According to the Hollywood Reporter they've been trying to get the film made since 1990!
Last December when Scorsese was doing pr for HUGO, and with a whole slew of possible projects in his future, he had this to say on Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode’s Radio Five show:  “I’m hoping to do Endo’s book next, Silence… Not hoping, we’re literally pulling all the elements together at this point.”
Now the production company, Cecchi Gori Pictures, claims it entered into several agreements with Scorsese and invested $750,000 into the project but once again Scorsese has failed to act. On the flip side Scorsese and company paid a million plus dollars in order to delay the projects while he shot other films.


A Scorsese spokesperson had this to say
It is shocking to us that the lawyers for Cecchi Gori Pictures would file a suit pursuing such absurd claims considering the amicable working relationship existing between Martin Scorsese and the principals of Cecchi Gori Pictures.The claims asserted are completely contradicted by, inconsistent with, and contrary to the express terms of an agreement entered into by the parties last year.
The lawsuit filing on the eve of Mr. Scorsese starting another picture has all the earmarks of a media stunt.
Mr. Scorsese is confident that he will prevail in court should Cecchi Gori Pictures actually pursue this meritless action."

At some point Daniel Day-Lewis was signed on to play the Jesuit priest but at this point who knows!

Very briefly here's the story line from the Barnes and Noble site.
A novel of historical fiction, it is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to seventeenth century Japan, who endured persecution that followed the defeat of the Shimbara Rebellion

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Damon and Douglas go back to the 70's.

Well this should be fun! Check out these pictures from the biopic Behind the Candlelabra. It's the film version of Scott Thorsens' book about life with Liberace. Thorsen was Liberace's lover of about 5 years - from 1977 to 1982. Thorsen was 18 when they met and Liberace was 57. Clearly with Matt Damon playing Thorsen and Michael Douglas playing Liberace, the filmmakers are playing fast and loose with the facts. Facts a little more palatable than the almost 60 year old star taking up with a teenager!

The acclaimed Steven Soderberg is directing. That's not Soderberg, that's Zsa Zsa Gabor's hubby, Prince Fredric with Michael. Apparently they shot some scenes in Zsa Zsa's home.  In addition to Damon and Douglas, Rob Lowe, Debbie Reynolds, and Scott Bakula play roles.
The film is going to be shown on HBO first, THEN go to theatres. I just don't get current distribution models.

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The Dark Tower Goes Darker Still.

It's not a great day for Stephen King fans looking forward to the screen adaptation of The Dark Tower. The option was passed on by Universal and now Warner Brothers has passed on the project too.
Warner Brothers had been the projects best hope with a script from Akiva Goldsman prompting some interest from Russell Crowe to play the lead. Director/producer Ron Howard still has a shot  at getting the project made because now Imagine Entertainment, Howard's company, is finally free to shop the project around. 
According to Variety, the ambitious project ' - based on a 9volume series - would have encompassed three films and two TV series, the latter most likely being handled by HBO.
It seems clear that Warner Brothers just wasn't comfortable making such a gargantuam financial commitment that the array of films and television shows would require.

I haven't read the books. What about you? Are you disappointed that you wont get to see Russell Crowe as Roland Deschain?

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The GREAT EXPECTATIONS Trailer

We don't have a release date here in the states but the movie opens in late November in the UK and Ireland and on December 6 in Germany. In fact the international trailer comes complete with German subtitles. I've reread Dicken's classic in preparation for the latest film version and I really can't wait ... despite the fact that  Helena Bonham Carter looks too young as Miss Havisham (imho). Ralph Fiennes is the convict Magwitch, and Jeremy Irvine (War Horse ) as Pip. The films' director is Mike Newell who directed  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, He also helmed Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pushing Tin, Donnie Brasco, Mona Lisa Smiles and a ton more. He's been working since the 60's
The film is set to premiere at this September’s upcoming Toronto International Film Festival.

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Elle Fanning Dives into Olive's Ocean

The adorable Elle Fanning (sister of Dakota) has just signed on to play the part of Martha in the screen adaptation of Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes. Elle played Lily in We Bought A Zoo. She was very sweet as the young love interest for Colin Ford  - Matt Damon's son in the film.
The news reports about the film claim the book is Young Adult but on Amazon they cite it as a 5th-8th grade reader.
It sure sounds like its for younger readers based on its description at Barnes and Noble which I've included below. If you've read it and have a different point of view please let me know.

I 'll be interested to see how they make and market this one!

Sometimes life can change in an instant

"Martha Boyle and Olive Barstow could have been friends, but they weren't. Weeks after a tragic accident, all that is left are eerie connections between the two girls, former classmates who both kept the same secret without knowing it. Now, even while on vacation at the ocean, Martha can't stop thinking about Olive. Things only get more complicated when Martha begins to like Jimmy Manning, a neighbor boy she used to despise. What is going on? Can life for Martha be the same ever again?

A 2004 Newbery Honor Book"

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Sean Penn to direct film version of Crazy for the Storm

Have you read this book? It came out in 2009 and I picked it up last year at a friend's book swap party. It's not the kind of book I would normally pick up but it was the only one there that I hadn't already read. It sat on my bedside table for a bit but I finally forced myself to read it. Woah. Once I picked up Norman Ollestad's memoir, Crazy for the Storm, I couldn't put it down. And now, Warner Brothers has announced that Sean Penn is going to direct a film version. I wondered about it's cinematic possibilies as soon as I finished the book. The central story is that of a young champion skier, his father and father's girlfriend, whose small plane crashes into the San Gabriel Mountains here in Southern California during a winter storm in 1979. Ollestad's memoir delves into the boy's life, his heart and mind before and during the event. It's not just a gripping survival story; it's a deeply moving look at a broken family, especially the father and son's flawed relationship.

First and foremost, Penn is going to need an extraordinary young actor to play young Norm.  The boy is complex, difficult, resentful, full of love, hate, anger and that desire for approval that comes with the age. And the other key characters; his father, a selfish and demanding man who pushed, pushed and pushed his son.  His mother who is flailing in her own life as well as her raising their son. The couple is separated.                                                          This is from the Barnes and Noble site:                                                                       "Like many other sons of demanding fathers, young Norman Ollestad, Jr. idolized, feared, and resented the man who drove him towards excellence. Prodded along by the dad who called him "The Boy Wonder," Norm Jr. became a champion surfer and downhill skier. That partnership took a fatal turn in February 1979, when a Cessna carrying father and son crashed, killing the father and temporarily marooning the 11-year-old boy in a relentless blizzard. In Crazy for the Storm, Ollestad pays tribute to the man who taught him the gift of survival."

I'm excited that Penn is directing. Not because he directed Into the Wild, with Emile Hirsch. That story didn't contain any real action footage while this film must - from showing expert surfing, and skiing to the absolutely horrific plane crash. No, it's not the action elements that sell me on Penn. It's his intelligence and compassion; under his watch the film has the potential to be much more than an action adventure story of survival. It will be a gripping, heartwrenching saga. I only wish that he were acting in this one as well. He would be perfect for the part of the father!

WORTH READING! This is so much more than a story of survival.

Norman Ollestad studied writing at UCLA, grew up on the beaches of Topanga and Malibu and now lives in Venice. A real local boy. Check out his site for more info about Ollestad, and his book.

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Rob Reiner is your father, Leo and Jon Bernthal rises from The Walking Dead

It's been a long time since Rob Reiner worked as an actor. Some of y'all are old enough to remember him as Meat Head in the game-changing tv series, All in the Family (moi? I'm not sayin'). Lest your hearts be breaking for this failed actor, (in which case, you really must be young) Reiner went on to much bigger and better things as the director behind some mega successes - and that's both box office and critically. For example: The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, Stand By Me, When Harry Met Sally, This is Spinal Tap, Misery, The Bucket List, and The American President. All in all, a pretty amazing resume!

He's done a bit of acting along the way probably as a favor to an old friend or for something that really intrigued him. Certainly not for the money!

Is Martin Scoresese an old friend or does Reiner just relish the chance to play Leonardo DiCaprio's poppa in the upcoming The Wolf of Wall Street. That's the movie based on Jordan Belfort's memoir of the same name. Dicaprio plays Belfort natch.

Not so naturally for some of you, Jonah Hill has been on board for awhile, cast as one of Belfort's unsavory buddies. Scorsese is certainly doing some interesting casting as Hill, even with his MoneyBall nomination behind him, wouldn't be most peoples' first choice for this kind of part.

Margot Robbie - she was in the failed Pan Am - is in talks to play DiCaprio's wife.

And lucky Jon Bernthal who was stunningly killed off in The Walking Dead has just been cast as a drug dealing, money laundering baddie. I guess it's true what they say how when one door closes, another one opens.
Terence Winter (Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos and a bunch of crummy tv shows) wrote the script based on Belfort's book. Shooting begins in August in New York.

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Libba Bray to adapt The Diviners for Paramount

Popular young adult writer, Libba Bray, has just had her as yet unpublished book, The Diviners, snapped up by Paramount. Deadline reports that the book which will be published in September by Little Brown is the first of a four-part series. And that the studio hopes to launch a franchise. The story is set in the 1920s and "follows a group of young New Yorkers with mysterious powers who play a dramatic role in a battle of good vs. evil when a series of occult-based murders begin to terrify the city."
Hmmm. Does that sound familiar? Certainly sounds like it could have that X factor! Bray is going to write the script herself and will get an executive producer title.  If you're interested in learning more about Libba Bray and her books, check out her website at LibbaBray.com

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Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth on the set of The Railway Man

File this under: So Many Books, So Little Time!   Updated 5/7/2012: They've started filming this one and I'm pretty happy about the fact that Nicole Kidman has joined the production as Lomax wife. She replaces Rachel Weisz who had some sort of time confliction. Lomax is played by Colin Firth who looks amazing in this shot, doesn't he?  According to The Playlist, in addition to Jeremy Irvine who plays the young Eric Lomax, the wonderful Stellan Starsgaard - he played the bad guy in The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo is also onboard as a friend. who helps Lomax confront his wartime tormentor played by Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai).

Jeremy Irvine, who we'll be seeing soon in Steven Spielberg's War Horse, has just been cast to co-star alongside Colin Firth in The Railway Man. Jonathan Teplitzsky is directing the drama. Based on the memoir by Eric Lomax, the story is about his life during and after World War II working on Japan's Death Railway.  Japan forced prisoners of war to work on the railway, which connects Bangkok to what is now Yangon, Myanmar.

Lomax was a British officer during the war, and was tortured by the Japanese for being a spy. Later in life, Lomax sought to track down one of his torturers.

The script was co-written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and Andy Paterson, who is also producing via his Archer Street Productions with Chris Brown of Pictures in Paradise and Bill Curbishley.

Lionsgate has the U.K. rights and is handling international sales. Liongate U.K.'s Zygi Kamasa will executive produce.

Jeremy Irvine is clearly an up and comer! He's currently in production on director Mike Newell's Great Expectations, in which he will star as Pip opposite Ralph Fiennes and Helen Bonham Carter. He has completed Now is Good, opposite Dakota Fanning, Paddy Considine and Olivia Williams. In Dreamworks' War Horse, which will be released in December, Irvine plays Albert, whose beloved horse is sold to the cavalry during World War I. Though too young to enlist, Albert heads to the battlefields to save his equine friend. The film is based on the Tony Award-winning play.

In The Railway Man, Irvine will play a young Colin Firth. I don't know Irvine's work yet, but on a purely physical level it looks like they got the casting right. Score one for Hollywood!

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A River Runs Through It movie based on the book: Read It...Rent It



Medea Creek, Oak Park, CA

This is a picture of the creek that runs through my very suburban neighborhood. It's beautiful in the springtime - I took this picture about a month ago but as the spring rains stop and summer advances and the temperature rises the water slowly starts to disappear. I walk our beagle Charlie around this creek every day; I love to see the families of ducks. He's so used to them now he doesn't even bark. We are moving back to the city in a couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to living across from a world class art museum and near great shops and restaurants but I will surely miss our quiet morning walks.

It's not exactly "A River Runs Through It" and you can't fish in it but there is a magic for me in living near the soothing sounds of the water. In the meantime, "A River Runs Through It" is a book and movie pairing I highly recommend. Because really, can you ever get enough of Brad Pitt??

I'm posting this picture as part of Alyce's Saturday Snapshot meme. If you want to participate visit AtHomeWithBooks.net. It's fun to see what photos other bloggers have taken when they're not busy reading or blogging!  

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The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: About the Book

There are so many things I loved about this book; not the least of which is the historical aspect. I really appreciated the version I read on my Nook because it had the extra feature of being able to click on links for further reading without leaving the book.  It's just so fascinating - and horrifying - to learn how World War II impacted the tiny island of Guernsey. Imagine living on this tiny island in the English channel and being able to see the the Germans as they invaded France! And worse, being occupied by the Germans for the duration of the war.  The British decided not to bother defending the island; they decided it was unimportant militarily and gave it up without a fight. Which meant troops of Germans everywhere, curfews and very strict rationing. The threat of being shipped off to concentration and or work camps was never far away. For their own safety, many of the island's children were evacuated to the English countryside where they had to live with complete strangers, while their parents remained on Guernsey, missing them desperately.

What an amazing setting for this book of letters to and from a celebrated author, Juliet Ashton, and the members of the Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, a group initiallly formed in an effort to fool the Germans into thinking its members had been discussing books rather than roasting a verbotin pig!
I was constantly asking people if one, they knew where Guernsey was and two, did they know that this tiny British island had been occupied by the Germans for five years during World War II? That when they first arrived the Germans would walk four and five abreast down the streets like they owned the place?  The very idea makes me shiver!
Reading the letters was a little distracting at first; I found myself having to go back and read the salutation to know who was writing to Juliet. Trying to form a mental picture of the person wasn't so easy until Juliet finally went to Guernsey herself. Thank God! At that point everything jelled and I really began to feel deeply for each and every character. I was jealous that Juliet got to go and visit the island and experience this wonderful motley crew for herself! I found the love story aspect predictable - deliciously so! The writers followed the recipe and ended up with a beautiful little souffle and I enjoyed every mouthful ... much more than I would have enjoyed potato peel pie I am sure!
The cast of characters in this novel based on historical fact is compelling from its major to minor characters. And knowing it will be a film makes them even more exciting to contemplate.

Juliet, the writer, is vivacious, independent-minded, bright, warmhearted and curious about the islanders and their experience. At this point, she's the only one cast. Branagh has selected Kate Winslet to play the role.Sidney, her longtime friend and publisher, adores  her. Is there something more than friendship there? If we are doing famous actors here, I think Hugh Grant would be perfect.

SPOILER ALERT  SPOILER ALERT   SPOILER ALERT   SPOILER ALERT   SPOILER ALERT   SPOILER ALERT  SPOILER ALERT    

Dawsey Adams, is the strong silent and irrisistable type. Frankly we know almost from page 1 that he and Juliet will end up together but for me it didn't make the journey there any less wonderful. I am banking on Colin Firth.

Elizabeth, the heroic woman we only hear stories of is simply epic. The bravery of her actions - from her choice of romantic partner to how she stands up for what she knows is right truly is the stuff legends are made of. She is sent to Ravensbrook for her crimes. Hmm. Strong and important part. Cate Blanchett?

Kit, Elizabeth's daughter, adorable, stubborn and precocious. The society is basically raising her, hoping for Elizabeths' return to the island. They need a Brit version of the cute little girl in We Bought A Zoo.

Mark Reynolds is rich, powerful, handsome and smoothly confident. he's the American publisher who begins wooing Juliet professionally but soon starts to court her personally. Juliet is torn in terms of her feelings as well as what she wants to do with her life. In London, life with Mark is non-stop glamour. He wants her on his arm, sharing that life and is less than understanding about her interest in these people and the book she wants to write about them. Aaron Eckhardt?

Amelia Maughery is a central figure, an older woman and the semi matriarch of the group. Judi Dench?
Minorcharacters include Christian (Juliet's handsome German love interest and Kit's father), Sophie (Sidney's sister and Juliet's best friend), Isola (the slightly batty villager is the comic relief who is always discovering something new - from brewing up herbs to learning about phrenology- what do you think of Toni Collette?  )
Eben and Eli  (grandfather and his grandson who was sent to England- his mother Jane died giving birth and was Elizabeth's best friend) Tom Wilkerson
Remy, the French woman Elizabeth befriends while imprisoned. ???

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Savages trailer, Blake Looks Lively

This is the trailer for the Oliver Stone film Savages, based on the book by Don Winslow.
Definitely not my kind of book, a maybe for the movie. It looks pretty intense, lots of violence, plenty of sex. I'm just not that interested in the story of a couple of out of control pot dealers getting it on with the same girl and going up against the Mexican drug cartel.

Blake Lively is the girl at the center of the threesome, the BFF's share the pot biz and the girl. Besides being best known for her relationship with Leonardo DeCaprio, Lively is also known for her role on Gossip Girl on tv and Bridget in The Sister of the Traveling Pants movies, not a whole lot more. She was in last summer's Green Lantern flop but we can't hold that against her.

Taylor Kitsch who played dark and irrisistable Tim on Friday Night Lights and British actor Aaron Johnson - he was John Lennon in Nowhere Boy- play the partners in crime, Chon and Ben. They both seem like interesting young actors I would like to see more of. Just not sure this is the vehicle I want to see more of them in.

Selma Hayak looks ridiculous as some sort of mob boss in a Cleopatra wig; I feel like I haven't seen her in anything solid in forever which leaves me wondering what happened to the woman who was Frida Kahlo? It definitely has an intriguing cast, which includes Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Emile Hirsch and Benicio del Toro.
And it is OLIVER STONE, the man who gave us Nixon, Born on the Fourth of July and Salvador. Then again, it's OLIVER STONE, the man who gave us Natural Born Killers. No, not my kind of flick.
It comes out July 6. Who knows; I may change my mind.

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Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Kathy at Bermuda Onions Weblog where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading.

Wow! Another week gone by already. Participating in a couple of weekly memes really makes one aware of the passage of time. Kind of like laundry it's "didn't we just do this?"  Except Wondrous Words Wednesday is a whole lot more fun than Laundry Monday! Especially since I'm content with a Wondrous Word of the Week - as opposed to three. Yes, I'm rationalizing my laziness!

This weeks "wondrous" word comes from Austenland by Shannon Hale. It's not a difficult word, and somewhere in the recesses of my mind I'm sure I already knew it and have seen it used. Nonetheless I think it's one of those underused words that needs more airtime.

nettle

In Austenland, Mr Nobley (the Mr. Darcy character) tells Jane "You are very good at nettling me, Miss Erstwhile"   I knew from the context that the word must mean something along the lines of annoy; I like that it's derived from the 'stinging' nettle plant. And I love that 'vex' is used as part of the definition. When was the last time you used vex in a sentence?

1. Any of numerous plants of the genus Urtica, having toothed leaves, unisexual apetalous flowers, and stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact.

2. Any of various hairy, stinging, or prickly plants.  tr.v. net·tled, net·tling, net·tles

1. To sting with or as if with a nettle.

2. To irritate; vex.

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