Hmm…

Author: harmamae

  • How to Find the Next Fantasy Novel to Read

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    harmamae
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    I’ve blogged before about fantasy novels, and the trouble I’ve had to find more fantasy novels that I enjoy. Which was why I was so excited to see this chart of fantasy (and sci-fi) novels on Slate! It’s easy to follow the options – “Wizard and Barbarians?” “Looking for and Old-fashioned Trilogy?” and even “I’d…

  • A Thought from Oscar Wilde – On Real Life and Literature

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    harmamae
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    I hate vulgar realism in literature. The man who could call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one. It is the only thing he is fit for. – Oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde, I think we agree on something. If I wanted “real life,” what would I read a book for?

  • The Lost Art of Reading Dictionaries

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    harmamae
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    I admit I used to read dictionaries. Not for fun, but as a method of procrastination. You know in school, how they used to make you look up meanings of words and write them down on your worksheet? Well, the words that weren’t on the worksheet were far more interesting than the words that were.…

  • Debunking “A Thought From Jane Austen”?

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    harmamae
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    I may do this quote-thing weekly, for as long I can find interesting quotes. I plan to do my longer post tomorrow. Anyway, here it is: “You say the book is indecent. You say I am immodest. But Sir in the depiction of love, modesty is the fullness of truth; and decency frankness; and so…

  • The Pleasures of Re-Reading

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    harmamae
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    Or, Surprise! I Actually Like This Book Some novels can stand up to the pressures of being re-read over and over – Lord of the Rings, Howl’s Moving Castle, Pride and Prejudice – and get better and better each time I read them. To come back to them is like finding a comfortable old friend,…

  • A Thought from Lord Byron

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    harmamae
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    O nature’s noblest gift – my grey goose-quill! Slave of my thoughts, obedient to my will, Torn from thy parent bird to form a pen, That mighty instrument of little men! – Lord Byron How very delightful to hear your pen listens to your thoughts so well! Mine is hardly so obedient…

  • Thoughts of Mr. Knightley, A Missing Chapter From Emma

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    harmamae
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    And now for something completely different…     Author’s Note: I do not pretend I can write like Jane Austen. Aside from the fact she’s a genius at writing courtship novels, I could never write in that exact style of English, because the language’s changed since then. All the same, I’ve been obsessed with Emma…

  • The Trouble With Modern Romance

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    harmamae
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    The trouble with modern romance novels is that our culture sees no reason for two people who are in love not to be together. This significantly cuts down on the potential for conflict in the novel. In comparison, Jane Austen had it easy. I’m going to use Jane Austen as an example for a second,…

  • Blah Days

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    harmamae
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    Five Reasons Today is Blah, and, Is There Any Hope For the Future?  Yes, I get these too. Far too often, probably. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, after five and a half weeks of excitement in Brazil, that I’d have a blah day once in a while when I got home again. Still, blah…

  • Things You Might Not Have Known About Brazil

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    harmamae
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    One last post on Brazil, now that I’ve returned to North America (and experienced a touch of reverse-culture-shock). Here are a few things about Brazil that I found interesting: Brazilians like things very sweet: You may have been able to guess this one, since Brazil is known for growing lots of sugarcane. Still, I was…