Water for Elephants Movie News

I've been head-over-heels excited since rumors circulated a few years ago about Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants being turned into a movie. Well, I'm happy to say that it is definitely a reality. And after waiting for seemingly forrrrever... some big news came out.

Reese Witherspoon has signed on to play the role of beautiful circus-equestrian Marlena! I am ecstatic about that casting and can easily imagine Reese portraying Marlena. Although it's been over two years since I read the novel, I remember Marlena being described as petite and pretty with light-brown hair. While Reese's blonde hair is always gorgeous, I really hope she goes brunette for the movie. I like it when films are true to the novel when it comes to character depiction. Also, Sean Penn might be playing August. I'd be okay with that.

And here's what really blows my mind: Robert Pattinson might be playing the main character Jacob. I've only seen Pattinson in Twilight. The movie was good; he's not bad looking. But I'm really not into the whole vampire craze. I think this would be an excellent opportunity for Pattinson to branch out beyond the "Edward Cullen" persona. He isn't exactly what I had in mind for Jacob, but I do think he is a good actor and could pull it off. Look at him pre-Twilight: clean cut hair that doesn't stick out all over and health skin that looks like it has seen sunlight in the last millennia. I think this is the most gorgeous picture of him I've ever seen. Now throw on some Depression-era trousers and suspenders... and then I think we might have a promising, rather fetching, Jacob Jankowski.

Gah! I'm just so excited about this movie!

Amore.

Return to the Harem

(above image: a favourite in the harem by evser on deviantart.)

Okay, so I know that I said that I wouldn't be sticking my nose into another book until after finals... but I caved in! There are certain times of my day (i.e. riding the bus, waiting for class to start, sitting at the bus stop) that having a book on hand helps to pass the time. Since I'm already mostly moved out of the dorm, I sent most of my "to-be-read" books home with my parents. But alas! Harem by Dora Levy Mossanen was left behind. I took it from the near-empty bookshelf, tossed it in my backpack, and went off to class.

And so far I'm enamored with the book.

You'll recall that I recently read The Gilded Chamber, a novel of Queen Esther that for the most part took place in a harem. Now I'm returning to that glittering, luxurious prison of eunuchs, sultanas, opium, silken veils, and secrets. So far it is a much different take on the harm than The Gilded Chamber, but it also takes place in a slightly different setting and religious context. And plus there's still lots of novel left. It's also pretty fast-paced, so I may have another review up soonly.

But back to paper-writing and studying for finals. I'll be happily reading in the spare time that I can manage to muster!

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Books I'm Adding to the "To Read" List

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Becoming Jane Eyre by Sheila Kohler

Prima Donna by Megan Chance

Delilah by India Edghill

Eve by Elissa Elliot

Unmasqued by Colette Gale

The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent

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Ribbon Red

(above image: Red ribbon by OctoberCurse)

That red ribbon is awfully lovely, is it not? Young Mary Saunders would've agreed with you. Mary lived in 18th-Century London and truly would have done anything for such a beautiful piece of scarlet ribbon.

I'm currently about half-way through Emma Donoghue's Slammerkin. It's been a long time since I've read a piece of historical fiction that wasn't written in 1st-person---but I'm really enjoying this romp through old London with all its "cullies" and "cunnies". (Excuse my terrible language, but I've been hanging out in the wrong parts of London for a few weeks, thanks to Donoghue.)

The word slammerkin is defined as a loose dress or a loose woman... and the novel "Slammerkin" is about both. It is the story of Mary Saunder's lust for lovely attire, adventures in prostitution, and desire for liberty in one of history's most dreary times for women.

I'll let you know when I finish!

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Up Next: Queen Esther

(above image: "Queen Esther" oil on canvas by Edwin Long via indovic)

So... since I just finished "Pilate's Wife" by Antoinette May, it is time to pick up another historical fiction novel. The next book I'll be sticking my nose in shall be "The Gilded Chamber: A Novel of Queen Esther" by Rebecca Kohn.

A little bit about her: Esther was born as Hadassah. She was a Jewish prophet, wife of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), and queen of the Perisan Empire. She saved the Jews from oppression and is the namesake of the Biblical book Esther.

Two reviews from the back cover of the book:

"Queen Esther, savior of her people, becomes a living, breathing presence. . . .The Gilded Chamber is a world unto itself and one well worth entering." ~Margaret George, Author of Marie, Called Magdalene

"Rebecca Kohn takes us into places that the Old Testament never dreamed of . . . A triumph of historical imagination and a must-read for lovers--and lovers of Jewish history." ~Steven Pressfield, Author of The Gate of Fire

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I've Been Time-Traveling

(click on image for original source)

Where have I been, my dears?

Well, each night I've been shedding my ordinary clothes of the day and slipping into metal hoop skirts and rich silken gowns trimmed with gold and bordered with frothy lace. I've traveled from Austria by carriage to the neutral plot of land between Austria and France. I've dined with the French aristocrats with the smell of their powdered wigs hanging in the air. I witnessed the first meeting of the King, the Dauphin, and the Dauphine. And oh, Marie Antoinette is so pretty. Last night I ventured through gilded gates into the magnificence of Versailles.

So that is where I've been... with my nose nestled into Sena Jeter Naslund's "Abundance". I apologize for my absence, but this novel has truly captivated me. This is what historical fiction should be. I soooo much enjoy being transported back in time to such a romantic place... and through the eyes of such an intriguing young woman.

And furthermore, I just realized (sixty-nine pages into the novel) that "Abundance" is written in present tense. This is exciting to me because I myself prefer to write in first person, present tense. However, I hear so many people critic that pov paired with that tense. For me, writing in present tense feels more natural. I'm just glad to finally read a grand novel written in the present. I feel more like I'm there in the moment with the Dauphine.

So I bid you good night and hope that you're curled up in bed with a wondrous novel as well. I shall be returning to Versailles tonight.

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Let Them Eat Cake

My all-time favorite movie will always be "Gone with the Wind," but Sofia Coppola's "Marie Antoinette" comes in a close second as my favorite contemporary film. (Considering GWTW was made far before my time.) "Marie Antoinette" is one of those movies that I watch almost once a week. It has the most beautiful soundtrack, most gorgeous set, and most fabulous costumes of any movie I've ever seen. And I love that it tells a story of Marie Antoinette that opposes what we've been taught to believe. It shows her in a different light. She may have been extravagant, but there was another side to her. She was an extraordinary woman... here we are still talking about her centuries later.

Shortly after seeing and falling in love with the movie, I became enamored with everything Marie Antoinette. I decided I wanted to read some historical fiction based on her. But being the picky reader that I am, I wanted to make sure I would be reading the most beautiful novel. I settled on "Abundance" by Sena Jeter Naslund. At the time I had a whole list of owned books that I needed to read (Perfume, Water for Elephants, Girl with the Pearl Earring, some others) so I put "Abundance" on the back burner.

Until now. :)

"Like everyone, I am born naked.

I do not refer to my actual birth, mercifully hidden in the silk folds of memory, but to my birth as a citizen of France citoyenne, they would say. Having shed all my clothing, I stand in a room on an island in the middle of the Rhine River naked. My bare feet occupy for this moment a spot considered to be neutral between beloved Austria and France. The sky blue silk of my discarded skirt wreathes my ankles, and I fancy I am standing bare footed in a puddle of pretty water.

My chest is as flat as a shield, marked only by two pink rosebuds of nipples. I refuse to be afraid. In the months since I became fourteen, I've watched these pleasant rosebuds becomeing a bit plump and pinker. Now the fingers and hands of my attendants are stretching toward my neck to remove a smooth circlet of Austrian pearls.

I try to picture the French boy, whom I have never seen, extending large hands toward me, beckoning. What is he doing this very moment, deep in the heart of France? At fifteen, a year older than myself, he must be tall and strong. There must be other words than tall and strong to think of to describe him, to help me imagine and embody his reality."

Those are the first words of the book. I love it. I am already so captivated.

Someone wonderful joined PaperBackSwap, posted ten books, and entered me as their referrer. :) So I finally received a book credit good toward any book available on the site. And what do you think I did? I raced on over to my reminder list and ordered Abundance right away. I am soooo excited for this novel to arrive. I am so in need of a gripping, captivating, absolutely gorgeous novel to read.

To join PaperBackSwap, read my post or click on the icon in my right-hand menu.

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Through a Glass Darkly & And Only to Deceive; Royal Reviews

I love the Royal Reviews blog. I'm so excited because lately they have been focusing on Historical Fiction. (Yay!) Already they have reviewed several books that I find enticing, but two of them stand out among the rest.

Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen

&

And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

Click on the links above to read what the Royal Reviewers have to say.

I'm adding both novels to my "To Read List".

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