Austen in August at The Book Rat

Austen in August
at The Book Rat
schedule of event
~*~
FOR all Jane Austen fans and those mildly interested, check out The Book Rat's fifth annual Austen celebration this month!

You are sure to enjoy Jane Austen related guest posts, vlogs, giveaways, etc.

AND, make sure to visit Book Rat on August 21 to see what Jane Austen themed goodie I will be offering to participants.

~*~
This year's read-along for the event are listed below and details here.

Per The Book Rat: Questions for Northanger and little tidbits on Mr Darcy on Wednesdays throughout the month, with Twitter discussion happening on the last Wednesday, 8/27 at 8:30pm EST (hashtag #WednesdayYA).

I may give these a try despite my already booked up month of reading ;-)

Northanger Abbey
by Jane Austen
Amazon | Goodreads
Free downloads:
Guttenberg | Public Bookshelf | Books Should Be Free | Pemberley | audio: Librivox
While enjoying a six weeks' stay in fashionable Bath, the young and callow Catherine Morland is introduced to the delights of high society. Thanks to a new literary diet of the sensational and the macabre, Catherine travels to Northanger Abbey fully expecting to become embroiled in a Gothic adventure of intrigue and suspense and, once there, soon begins to form the most gruesome and improbable theories about the exploits of its occupants. An early work, but published posthumously, Northanger Abbey is a satire on the Gothic mode typified by the novels of Ann Radcliffe, as well as a witty comedy of manners in the style of Jane Austen's later novels and, ultimately, an enchanting love story.

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart
by Beth Pattillo
Amazon | Goodreads
Claire Prescott is a sensible woman who believes in facts and figures, not fairy tales. But when she agrees to present a paper to a summer symposium at Oxford on her ailing sister's behalf, Claire finds herself thrown into an adventure with a gaggle of Jane Austen-loving women all on the lookout for their Mr. Darcy. Claire isn't looking for Mr. Anyone. She's been dating Neil -- a nice if a bit negligent -- sports fanatic. But when a tall, dark and dashing stranger crosses her path, will the staid Claire suddenly discover her inner romantic heroine? Her chance meeting with a mysterious woman who claims to have an early version of Austen's Pride and Prejudice -- in which Lizzie ends up with someone other than Fitzwilliam Darcy -- leads to an astounding discovery about the venerated author's own struggle to find the right hero for Lizzie Bennett. Neil's unexpected arrival in Oxford complicates Claire's journey to finding her own romantic lead.

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart is the story of a woman who finds that love isn't logical and that a true hero can appear in the most unexpected of places.

~*~
Save the Date

* HEADS UP: I will be throwing a Pemberley Ball virtual book event in November. It will be my third one since 2011.

Visit Pemberley Balls held in the past 2009, 2010, 2011.

IF you are interested in participating with a guest post, giveaway, etc. feel free to contact me at vvb32 at yahoo.com by the end of October for more details.

AND/OR if you want to be sent a reminder a week before the event starts, let me know in comments along with your email address.

* image source: Austen ball

Fair Winds! Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

And so the last guest post for Talk Like A Pirate Day finds us with the infamous pirate book reviewer, the PiRat!

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by PiRat of Book Rat
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A review post excerpt...

The Iron Duke
by Meljean Brook

PiRat says: Oh, The Iron Duke. Where do I even begin? I guess first I should thank Velvet for being so amazeballs and sending this to me (thanks, V!). I overcame my loathing of "chestical" covers to read this due to its inclusion of steampunk zombies, and for all that it is flawed, I have to say I enjoyed (nearly) every minute of it.

Read the complete review here.

Review post created for Talk like a Pirate Day event by PiRat of Book Rat © 2011. All rights reserved.


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by PiRat of Book Rat
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fyi: Meljean Brook, author of Iron Duke, is available on Goodreads for a chat Q&A ask anything event, Sep 19-21 here

~*~
* Picnik was used for some graphics creations for this event.

~-~~-~ Talk like a Pirate schedule ~-~~-~

Jane in June 2011

Jane in June
hosted by Book Rat
June 2011
details
In celebration of the Book Rat's Jane in June event, I shall be posting a few more Jane Austen posts and noting them below.

vvb's Schedule of events:
details and links will be filled in after posted
per usual links are also on the sidebar

Captain Wentworth's Boating Party

Darcy Aliens and France

Meanwhile, enjoy this dance scene from Becoming Jane:



My characters shall have,
after a little trouble,
all that they desire.
-Jane Austen in Becoming Jane

Persuasion Bookmark Set

Persuasion
- a Jane Austen creation
by Masha from Antique Fashionista
signup to win this bookmark set at Book Rat

~*~
"A man does not recover from such a devotion
of the heart to such a woman!
He ought not; he does not."
- Jane Austen, Persuasion, Ch. 20

~*~

AND, go vote for Captain Wentworth at the Ultimate Swoon Off against Mr. Bingley at Book Rat!

~~~ captain wentworth's boating party schedule ~~~

PiRat's Booty

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by Book Rat
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Capt. PiRat: presents his booty! -- pirate loot, that is ;-)

Captain PiRat and I couldn't decide which pirate to capture for you this week, so we decided to let you in on something. You see, Captain P has recently come into possession of a treasure map that tells of a great many pirates' lost loot. Whether they've all sunk to the bottom of the sea, lost to Davy Jones Locker or they're reclining on a sandy beach somewhere, only time will tell. But for now, Captain PiRat and I are ready to sail off into the sunset in search of all this lovely loot.

We're hoping to fill our treasure chests near to bursting with...

READ more here.

Review post created for ...and a bottle o'rum event by Misty of Book Rat
© 2011. All rights reserved.

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by Book Rat
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~-~~-~ ...and a bottle o'rum schedule ~-~~-~

PiRat review: The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

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by Book Rat
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Who be the PiRat?

Every Friday throughout May, The Book Rat will be forcibly taken over by the PiRat, most dread rodent to appear on the high seas since Reepicheep.

Capt. PiRat will be sharing with us his take on some swashbuckling tales - because what's a rat to do in all that downtime when he's not marauding?

Read, of course...

(and drink rum. but that's a given.)

And now the first tale from the Capt. PiRat...

Review snippet of: The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

There are a lot of things I could say about the writing and the structure of the book, and the alternating viewpoints, and the interestingness of it all, but what I really want to talk about is this: I'm kind of amazed at how dark this book is.

Read the complete review.

Capt. PiRat Says:
Here be the story I was waitin' for. Emer is a pirate, sure enough; Jilly could learn sommat from her. Now where to get some o' that dust o' 100 dogs - I know a bitch or two could benefit from that...

~end

Review post created for ...and a bottle o'rum event by Misty of Book Rat
© 2011. All rights reserved.

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by Book Rat
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--~ Book Giveaway ~--
The Dust of 100 Dogs
by A.S. King
Avast, me hearties!

Win my gently read copy! -my review

Open to all.

Offer ends: May 29, 2011

TO DO:
READ and leave a comment at PiRat's review of this book.

COME BACK here to tell me you did the deed.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

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Contest has ended - winner is here

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~-~~-~ ...and a bottle o'rum schedule ~-~~-~

PiRat review: Steel by Carrie Vaughn

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by Book Rat
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Who be the PiRat?

Every Friday throughout May, The Book Rat will be forcibly taken over by the PiRat, most dread rodent to appear on the high seas since Reepicheep.

Capt. PiRat will be sharing with us his take on some swashbuckling tales - because what's a rat to do in all that downtime when he's not marauding?

Read, of course...

(and drink rum. but that's a given.)

And now the first tale from the Capt. PiRat...

Review snippet of: Steel by Carrie Vaughn

There are a lot of elements to Steel that seem as if its bound to be a win.
Fencing? ☑
Pirates? ☑
Time travel? ☑
A touch of romance? ☑
They’re all there. But I never really connected to Steel the way I would have liked.

I mean, it was enjoyable enough, but there were some things that held me back and created a bit of a disconnect.

Read the complete review

Capt. PiRat Says:
Yar, there be swashbucklin' aplenty in Steel. But this Jill be a barmy lass if she think a little bit of frippering with an epeé prepare her for piratin'. That be playactin'.

Bein' a pirate means days o' hard working - and nights o' hard drinking. Little Jilly be plucky enough, but she's no Anne Bonny.

Review post created for ...and a bottle o'rum event by Misty of Book Rat
© 2011. All rights reserved.

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by Book Rat
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--~ Book Giveaway ~--
Steel
by Carrie Vaughn
signup to win this book

~-~~-~ ...and a bottle o'rum schedule ~-~~-~

PiRat review: The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook by Jason Heller

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by Book Rat
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Who be the PiRat?

Every Friday throughout May, The Book Rat will be forcibly taken over by the PiRat, most dread rodent to appear on the high seas since Reepicheep.

Capt. PiRat will be sharing with us his take on some swashbuckling tales - because what's a rat to do in all that downtime when he's not marauding?

Read, of course...

(and drink rum. but that's a given.)

And now the first tale from the Capt. PiRat...

Review snippet of: The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook by Jason Heller

This was a pretty fun book, mixing real pirate lore and superstition with elements from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, in a how-to style. There are the things every pirate should know, like how to climb rigging or properly insult someone ("feculent maggot" being my personal favorite, followed closely by "salty wench").

There are also the less expected tips on things like How to Disguise Your Gender* or How to Cope with Mermaids.

There are pictures and ...

Read the complete review.

Capt. PiRat Says:
Avast! Here be a strange log indeed. This "Jason Heller" be one scurvy dog, methinks, to whisper pirate secrets so.

Mayhap he didn't sign the articles, or mayhap he forgot dead men tell no tales...

Not to mention, the bilge-rat seems to 'ave left one very important piRATe off of his list o' the greatest pirates!

Don't be foolin' yerself that readin' o' this book'll make ye a pirate - Pirates be born, not made...

[But I do be wantin' t' take another look o'er the chapter on findin' the Fountain o' Youth, truth be told...]

~end

Review post created for ...and a bottle o'rum event by Misty of Book Rat
© 2011. All rights reserved.

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by Book Rat
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--~ Book Giveaway courtesy of publisher ~--
The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook
by Jason Heller
Avast, me hearties!

Win a copy of this book!

Open to all.

Offer ends: May 29, 2011

TO DO:
READ and leave a comment at PiRat's review of this book.

COME BACK here to tell me you did the deed.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

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Contest has ended - winner is here

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~-~~-~ ...and a bottle o'rum schedule ~-~~-~

Castle: Solar

Meanwhile, Lady Misty is in the Solar with Queen Maerie.

The Queen is admiring Lady Misty's latest creations of hand-made stationery and letter sets.

The Queen selects a new quill and decorated parchment to add to her writing desk.

How about you?

Are you in need of replenishing your writing supplies...

--~ Fairy Tales Stationery Giveaway ~--
Win one or t'other...

PRIZE: Fairy Tales themed: you pick!

Set of 8 cards and envelopes

OR

Set of 3 bookmarks

Open to all.

Offer ends: May 22, 2011

TO DO:
1. Visit the happenings at Fairy Tale Fortnight and leave a comment on at lease 3 non-giveaway posts.

2. Tell me where you commented - titles are good enough

3. Tell me which prize you would like.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

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Contest has ended - winner is here

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* The Solar was a room in the castle called the Lords and Ladies Chamber, or the Great Chamber. The Solar was intended for use as a bedroom and used by the lord and lady of the castle - it also afforded some privacy for the noble family of the castle. This type of chamber was originally a partitioned room which was added to the end of the Great Hall. The Lords and Ladies chamber were subsequently situated on an upper floor when it was called the solar. - per Parts of a Castle

* Lady Misty aka Book Rat

***~*~* Fairy Tales in Bruges (the sequel) schedule *~*~***

Town Crier: Fairy Tale Fortnight

The town crier rings his bell and walks through the streets today with a special announcement...

Hear Ye
Hear Ye
Come Ye
One And All

Fairy Tale Fortnight
April 17-30
at Book Rat

begins today!

authors will be there
to tell tales to delight

fairy tales of old
fairy tales of new

fairy tales in books
fairy tales in film

giveaways will be made
(including one from me-vvb)

~*~
Fairy Tale Fortnight schedule

Today's giveaway: Anahita's Woven Riddle by Meghan Nuttall Sayres

Pre-festivities include:

Game: Fairy Tale Fortnight Fill-in

Challenge: Once Upon a Time

Video project: Fairy Tale Fortnight

Giveaway:
Crazy Jack by Donna Jo Napoli
and
The Great God Pan by Donna Jo Napoli
- ends April 18


***~*~* Fairy Tales in Bruges (the sequel) schedule *~*~***

keyhole: PiRat

Alice could hear the distant call of a sea bird on the other side of the door.

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by Book Rat
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She leaned closer to the ornate - if rusty - keyhole on the old oak door, smelling salt and sand as her nose inched nearer.


She edged her eye closer to the keyhole.


On the other side of the door lay a vast ocean, the booming and crashing waves making the little oak door tremble in its frame. Through the salty spray, Alice saw a very dread thing: the much-feared PiRat, Captain Rattail himself.


She could only imagine what treasures he carried with him aboard the bouncing ship...

~end

Alice keyhole post created for Alice in WhoLand event by Book Rat
© 2011. All rights reserved.

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by Book Rat
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Should Alice open this door?

The door is un-locked (hint, hint)!

Methinks, YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

You may win yourself a nifty treat!

click here to visit Book Rat

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Contest has ended - winners are here

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~^o^~ Alice in WhoLand schedule ~^o^~

Winter Getaway: postcard from Book Rat

well, i'll be
a postcard
fer me!
~*~

TO: vivi
FR: Book Rat

Winter Wonderland starts TODAY and lasts through the 30th!

It will be a weekend full of wintery books, winter warm-ups, reviews, previews, and maybe a giveaway or two... ;p

Visit Book Rat here - Winter Wonderland schedule

~*~
* image source mailbox

~~* Winter Getaway schedule *~~

Misty's Trinkets

~~!~~!~~!~~ La Marquessa Misté's corner ~~!~~!~~!~~

Misté, La Marquessa is in the guest bedroom with her trousseau open. She has brought special trinkets for two lucky guests...

Regency Ladies Survival Stationery

AND

Antique Fashionista's Bookmarks

signup for Misté's trinkets giveway here
-offer ends November 21, 2010

~~- Pemberley Ball schedule -~~

Jane in June

Jane in June
hosted by Misty at Book Rat
Jane in June - Welcome
Jane Dance Card (schedule)
Jane shared links (from fellow bloggers)
I'm starting out the day to let you know that it's all about JANE AUSTEN this month at the Book Rat. Make sure and head over there daily for guest posts, interviews and giveaways - all to do about JANE!

I'll have some Jane everyday as well -- except during SteamPink week, June 4-12.

And, of course, you don't want to miss my virtual dinner party at Mansfield Park, June 24-27.



My Jane entries:

movie: Pride and Prejudice (1980)

movie: Bride and Prejudice (2004)

movie: Emma (1972)

Aisha based on Emma (2010)

movie: Sense and Sensibility (1981)

From Prada to Nada - based on S&S (2011)

movie: Mansfield Park

movie: Northanger Abbey

movie: Persuasion

&&& ~ misc jane stuff ~ &&&

Mansfield Park Murder Mystery virtual dinner

Persuasion monster mashup

First Impressions dress - giveaway for First Impressions by Alexa Adams at Book Rat -ends June 30, 2010

Intimations dress - giveaway for Intimations by Jane Greensmith at Book Rat -ends June 21, 2010

Northanger Abbey monster mashup

Save the date: Pemberley Ball, November 18-20, 2010

~*~

auspicate?

necrosis?

perturbation?
To help with Jane Austen readings why not pick up a copy of this?

Jane Austen Dictionary
by Pauline E. Kelly
Description from the amazon:
When Jane Austen died in 1817, her legacy included six of the world's most beloved and enduring novels, yet much of the language that punctuates her work may puzzle some of today's readers. This delightful book not only provides definitions for words that have become obsolete, but it also explains how commonly recognizable words were used in very different ways. In addition, it provides an interesting look into the world of Regency England where Jane Austen's novels took place. Charmingly illustrated, and full of quotes, it is a must-have book for the casual reader, as well as the serious student of Ms. Austen, that is sure to be enjoyed and referred to innumberable times.