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My Latest Fix: Podcasts

After trying to fill the hole in my life that I wrote about in my last blog post, I stumbled upon a new form of entertainment that I had never explored before. Podcasts. I had never been interested in the idea of podcasts, but I've recently had to spend much more time in the car, and since that unfortunately precludes Netflix watching, podcasts were next on my list. I had heard about the show The History Chicks  and decided that they would be a good first step into podcast listening. And what a great first step it has been! The two hosts are funny, entertaining, and do a wonderful job profiling important women in history. Granted, I am only 4 episodes in, but I would say that is enough time for me tell the research quality and passion of the two ladies creating this show. They've picked varying and interesting topics so far, ranging from Marie Antoinette to Laura Ingalls Wilder, Cinderella, and Abigail Adams. The only downfall that I can see right now is the sound...
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What to Watch Now?

Gentle readers, it feels like EVERYTHING enjoyable to watch on TV has ended this past week, and I am at a loss as to how to fill my time now. (Not really. I don't have time to fill, but I'm going to pretend like I do.) First, Season 2 of Victoria ended in a wonderfully beautiful Christmas final episode that made me wish for December all over again. If you haven't heard of Victoria, check out my last post about the series. Watch Season 1, then go start Season 2. You won't regret it until you reach the end of Season 2 and realize you have to wait until next January. Love me some Shib Sibs. Second, the Winter Olympics has ended, and my competitive and patriotic heart is suffering without my figure skating, skiing, hockey, and curling fix. I have to wait 4 YEARS until I watch ice dancing again? And Tessa and Scott will have retired! *Sob* My only small consolation now is the Little Women series that will be coming to PBS in May. But that means I have to wa...
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7 Reasons Why Victoria Is Worth Watching

I was lucky enough to have a day off of school this past week, and I spent most of it catching up on grading, but what made it bearable was getting to rewatch the first season of Victoria . I remember seeing promos for the show in 2016, and putting the season premiere on my calendar in January last year. A PBS production of Victoria's life would have to at least be of decent quality, and knowing my love for The Young Victoria , I had to at least try it. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the best TV show/period drama production I've seen in years. And that's saying something, because I watch a lot of period drama. Here are my reasons why, in no particular order: 1. The costumes. The 1830-1840s were a beautiful time in women's fashion, and they do a fabulous job showcasing it. Victoria's outfits alone would be a reason to watch this show. 2. Jenna Coleman. Not only is she spectacularly beautiful, but she is one of the best actresses I've ever s...
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A Reintroduction

Greetings gentle readers! The Ever Awkward Mr. Collin's Wave I've been a terrible blogger and exhibited Willoughby like behavior by vanishing from your presence. The past two years have been extremely eventful, including student teaching, graduation from college, the grown-up job of teaching, and now working toward my master's degree. I'm in need of a project again, and my Jane Austen/period costume drama love can no longer be contained; you can't discuss Pride and Prejudice with pre teens very well can you? (Trust me, I've tried.) Consider this a reintroduction to the blog and to me, we will be tackling all sorts of Jane Austen topics, and branching into new avenues as well, especially more period costume drama. First on my mind, due to its recent start in the US this past Sunday, and will probably be the topic of more than a few blog posts, is the second season of PBS's Masterpiece program, Victoria . I knew I was a goner when I first saw...
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I'm Back! Library Ramblings and Longbourn Book Review

I'm back gentle readers! After finishing the semester and starting a summer job, I've been a little busy and honestly, I'm enjoying the opportunity to be lazy again. It's been eight months since I haven't had to worry about how much homework I have for tomorrow. One of my first stops after summer began was the local library, one of my favorite places and home to many cherished memories. My mom took my siblings and I on weekly trips to the library when we were younger, and we were only limited by the amount of books we could carry. I stopped going to the library in high school, then rediscovered it again when I was a sophomore in college. Being a broke English major made the library the obvious place for me to get my insatiable fill of books without having to pay a dime. Whoever created the idea of a free public lending library, God bless you. So, in my latest excursion to the library, I found a copy of Jo Baker's  Longbourn , a  Pride and Preju...
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Austen Illustrations

One of my favorite nerdy Janeite things to do is to find illustrations of Jane Austen's novels, particularly ones from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. There is something so intriguing about seeing how someone else many years ago viewed a particular scene or character, yet we both read the same words on the page. I particularly love the illustrations by C.E. Brock and H.M. Brock, which were done during the 1890s and early 1900s. They were brothers who created most of the classic and beautiful illustrations. Seriously, look at the picture above. The colors and drawings are exquisite. If you want to learn more about the pair, check out this  site . Hugh Thomson is another artist who did classic Jane Austen illustrations at the time as well. This one just cracks me up. C.E. Brock totally captured Mr. Collins and his horrific proposal in this drawing. He's so tall, awkward, and pompous. Elizabeth is slanted away from him and desperately doing any...
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The Comic Relief

Probably my favorite movie quote ever. What is a Jane Austen novel without the secondary characters who say the most outrageous things and keep us laughing constantly? I have many favorite secondary characters in Jane Austen; in my opinion, they are often the ones who steal the show with their odd ways and awkward situations. Two men in particular have a special place in my heart for their nonsensical ways. The first is dear Mr. Woodhouse, Emma's father in Emma . He is such a kind and caring soul; he only wants what is best for his two beloved girls. However, that does mean that he goes over the top in trying to protect them from the world. He is also a hypochondriac and very irrational about health in general. My favorite Mr. Woodhouse quotes: "His own stomach could bear nothing rich, and he could never believe other people to be different from himself. What was unwholesome to him, he regarded as unfit for any body; and he had, therefore, earnestly tried to di...
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