Sunday, June 3, 2007

Weekend Happenings

Not a very clever title but there it is.




We have had an enjoyable weekend here despite the rain and general gloomy weather. I have finally made the time to watch the most recent BBC/Masterpiece Theater production of Jane Eyre and I absolutely loved it. The actors playing the lead roles were so perfect in their parts and it was filmed so beautifully. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books and I think it lends itself so well to these dramatizations. I watched the second half last night. There was a storm outside and I had the door open and the lights off and it was quite the perfect mood for the film. I found my heart beating a little faster and a few tears in my eyes and thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

I finished a book this weekend, Missing by Mary Stanley. I found her novel Retreat in Half Price Books a few years ago, enjoyed it, and was never able to find any more of her books here. My recent discovery of bookcloseouts provided me with this and another of her novels. Missing is the story of a family with three daughters that appears quite perfect on the outside, while there is turmoil and secrets on the inside. One of the sisters goes missing, and the story takes off from there detailing the lives of the rest of the family after this occurrence. I enjoyed this book, it was absorbing, and Stanley writes well. She has an interesting way of writing something shocking or horrible in a very matter of fact way, that you read a line, and say to yourself 'wait- did it really say that?' I think Maeve Binchey has an interesting way of doing that as well. I will not say more about the plot, only that I appreciated the ending.

In other weekend news, today was one of those days that you feel you have offered every opportunity to your child only to have them complain and ask "what's next?". We spent the morning at a neighborhood festival which included a parade, followed by the afternoon spent seeing a play and doing crafts at the Flint International Children's Festival. We have reached the point in the day in which we say "entertain yourself now, please" and it is not coming easily. Back to work tomorrow.

5 comments:

Iliana said...

I've never heard of Mary Stanley but that book, Missing, sounds really interesting. I'll have to go check bookcloseouts :)

nutmeg said...

Look what happens when I'm away from the blogs for a couple of days - I suppose I could be accused of "yammering" away at a book festival! It beggars belief a little - I really only heard about Persephone through blogs - I have yet to read a negative comment about them on the blogs till now! What were they thinking! Thanks for a great post on the topic.

And as to Jane Eyre - having recently read the book I am "chomping at the bit" (good Aussie phrase there!) to see the mini series':-)

Tara said...

Bookgirl, they have that and another of hers, Revenge. I enjoy her writing, and I'm definitely glad I discovered her for myself.

Nutmeg, it was pretty shocking, particularly the letter in its original form. Jane Eyre, was so, so good. I'm sure you will love it.

Lesley said...

Jane Eyre is my favorite book and I loved this adaptation - I thought the actors playing Jane and Rochester were perfect. When it first aired, there were some rumblings of discontent among book bloggers, but for the life of me I can't remember why right now.

Tara said...

Lesley, hmm, you have me wondering what the grumbling was about.