Weekly Wodehouse #16

So always look for the silver lining And try to find the sunny side of life.

~P.G.Wodehouse

Little Bird 2

I was visiting my grandparents today, and when I told my grandma about the litte bird who hit our window, she gave me a new assignment: what kind of bird is living in her back yard? All I know is that's very loud, nests in the grass, and opens its tail like a fan to make itself big and imposing. AND...I have more pictures! ;)

Sorry about the picture quality on some of these photos. My subjects wouldn't stay still long enough for me to photograph them! :P

Evil Abe

My mom has been trying to get rid of this creepy $5 bill all day, but I think it's funny; although, I feel bad for poor Abe Lincoln who got a bit of makeover :P

Is this Mr. Hyde: The Five Dollar Edition?

Just a Quick Note...

I just wanted to let all of you guys know that after tomorrow, I'm not going to be posting anything for the rest of the month. I'm going on vacation, and since I don't bring my computer with me, I won't have access to the Internet to update my blog and to comment on all of yours. It's a bit bittersweet for me; I'm very excited about going on vacation, but I'm going to miss reading your blogs and posting things on mine.

I will still post a Weekly Wodehouse quote tomorrow, but there won't be one next Sunday. I'll try to maybe post one right when I get back, or I might just skip the week entirely (I'm not sure).

I hope you guys all have an amazing two weeks until we see each other again!

~Emmy

Dracula: The Connoissuer's Guide

I just finished Dracula: The Connoisseur's Guide, but now I'm unsure of what to turn to next. I'm thinking about reading a little bit of Edgar Allan Poe while I wait for Dracula (the actual novel itself) to come in from the library. Just a few notes on THIS book...I would say that it was worth every bit of time I dedicated to it, and I would recommend it to anyone who has read and enjoyed Dracula. However, if you haven't read the original, I wouldn't suggest this book, since there would be far too many spoilers.

However, it's wonderful for anyone who has an interest in movies, theatre, history, Dracula, Bram Stoker, folklore, etc. (I happen to be interested in all of them :D)

Happy reading!

Little Bird

Today, we had a surprise "visitor" of sorts. A beautiful little bird flew into my front window and lay dazed on the porch. I probably watched that bird for about an hour, just to make sure that it was okay, hoping that it was just stunned and not seriously injured. Luckily, about an hour and a half was all it took before the poor thing stopped shaking and panting, pulled itself together, and started searching for bugs in the mulch in front of the porch. I think it's going to be okay :)

I've never seen this type of bird before, but its interesting that it would be the one to fly into our window, and not one of the gazillion robins or blue jays we have flying around. (And if anyone knows what this little beauty is, please tell me! I have no idea what kind of bird it could be.

(Oh, and don't worry about the red marks on its wings...since the markings are consistant on both sides, I'm convinced that its just the natural markings on the bird, like the yellow on the tail).

Bad Day

Strangely, this video makes me feel so much better... especially since this was what I wanted to do today... :s (Thanks to the Brother for showing me this vid today!)


Going to whip somebody's ass

Kevin MySpace Video

Gothic Shoes: A Devilish Fashion Statement

I was on www.ifshoescouldkill.com when I stumbled upon this lovely pair of Gothic shoes...

And, well these prompted me to search further for more Gothic themed shoes...and I found this devilish pair. They have horns and cloven hooves! :O


Of course, if this was me, I would opt for the Gothic shoes at the top. Besides giving the impression that you have hooves, I'm sure that these shoes would hurt like hell! (hehe, sorry about the terrible puns :P I'm an English major; I like wordplay...)

The End of Sherlock; the Rise of Dracula

No, no...this does not mean that Holmes failed in his task to overthrow Dracula in Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula, but it does mean that I finished the book, and the logical progression would be into Dracula itself. I'm actually sinking my teeth into Dracula: The Connoisseur's Guide by Leonard Wolf, which does not contain the original book, but is full of the same sort delicious and bloodcurdling facts that I so enjoyed in the copy of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that I was reading earlier. After this, I'll read Bram Stoker's novel. So far, this summer of Gothic novels is going better than I had expected. Not only am I reading some wonderful literature, but I'm also getting my fill of history. :3

Sherlock Holmes: The Early Years

Pfft! Yes, I know it was a bad joke, but I thought it was cute :P

Library Run

Today, I picked up a few anthologies of Gothic novels, one of which includes The Castle of Otranto, Frankenstein, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula, and The Turn of the Screw. The other one contains various short stories and novellas.

Thanks to Chess for recommending The Castle of Otranto and to Sarah for Dracula :3

Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula

Yes, you read that correctly. This is my current summer reading choice: Sherlock Holmes Vs. Dracula by John H. Watson, edited by Loren D. Estleman

It's actually surprisingly good. I've read various Sherlockain adaptations, and most of them leave you feeling a little cheated, or a little soured at the end. They just don't hold up to the original. Of course, I'm only on the third chapter, but this book has really impressed me so far. Hopefully, the excitement will continue.

To anyone who chooses to read this book, I cannot stress how important it is that you read the Forward and the Preface, because they disclose so much about the story. It's worth the extra ten minutes or so that it would take to review it.

The reviews say that this is supposed to be a treat for both Sherlockian and Dracula fans alike; I happen to be both :3

If you're interested in other adaptations from Sherlock Holmes, or book recommendations of any kind (adaptations, etc.) I'd be happy to supply them. Just type them in with your comments :D

Weekly Wodehouse #15

Why don't you get a haircut? You look like a chrysanthemum.

~P.G. Wodehouse

The Gothic

Every summer, I try to have some sort of theme for my reading habits. Not that I limit myself to one genre, but I try to really delve into a certain area of study, just as I would for a literature class at college. After reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which I'm sure you all know I loved, since I rambled about it for multiple blog posts, I've decided to make my theme Gothic Novels!

I'm working on creating a list of Gothics that I should read, but I need your help. The websites give me lists of books, but I don't have the all-important Book Reviews to back them up. If you've read a Gothic novel, tell me about it: was it good, bad, scary, stupid? I'd love to know what you think about this genre! There is a lot for me to choose from, but your comments might help me to narrow down my choices for the first couple of books.

Thanks guys! ;)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I found this picture at www.deviantart.com

Thank you so much to Nymphesque for this amazing piece!

The End of Jekyll and Hyde

I just finished The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde today, and I am thrilled with it! It was a wonderful book, a fulfilling experience, and a pleasure to read. In fact, I highly recommend it.

I know what a lot of you are thinking (because I know everything-- just kidding!) I already know how this story goes! I've seen the movie; I've heard the plot. I know what's going to happen! Well, yes and no. It's true that the story of Jekyll and his evil counterpart Hyde has become ingrained in our minds from so many sources, but even so, the story the book tells is very different from the movies:

First of all, there are almost no women. Dr. Jekyll does not love a pretty young woman of a good family, while Hyde frequents a prostitute. Jekyll is fifty and single. The only women Hyde encounters are a young girl whom he tramples on, and a grown woman whom he slaps.

Second, it is not the pure and simple Good Jekyll verses Evil Hyde. Jekyll is not the good half. He is the collaboration of the two halves. Hyde is always in Jekyll who calls himself a hypocrite. However, Jekyll is absent in Hyde, who has no good in him whatsoever.

Third, Jekyll and Hyde do not communicate to each other. In the musical Jekyll and Hyde (specifically in the song Confrontation), the two parts interact with each other. However, Jekyll refers to himself as Hyde several times in the last chapter of the book, saying that as Hyde, he felt powerful, young, and devious. But, the two parts do not actually talk, since both are aspects of Dr. Jekyll himself.

Finally, while Jekyll is becoming more and more of Hyde (who is a part of him), Hyde starts to become Jekyll, for as we find out, there are scenes when Hyde struggles to find the antidote to bring himself back to Jekyll, cries "like a woman or a lost soul," and eventually kills himself, crying out before he does, "Utterson...for God's sake, have mercy!" (Robert Louis Stevenson -- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde).

I was mesmerized by this little tome. It was a fascinating read that left me feeling fulfilled, like one who has just eaten a wonderful dinner. And yes, I did devour this book. (figuratively of course; paper does not appeal to my taste buds ;3)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Today was my Tuesday library run, and while there, I found a copy of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I even managed to snag an edition that is sure to be a total treat for a devoted bookworm/history buff such as myself; it's just bursting with annotations and notes about the book itself and the history of the time period, importance of names, etc. I've only read the introduction so far (twenty glorious pages) and I've learned so much about Stevenson, his life, his family, the creation of this book, and predecessors that might have inspired it's creation. This is the stuff that I love! The history, the little tidbits and facts...this is what makes a book so exciting! I'm going to have to check out this series for more annotated versions of the classics; they enrich the reading experience.

Speaking of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, there are a few videos I wanted to post along with this. The first two are from the musical Jekyll and Hyde (an amazing production) and the last one is from one of my favorite TV shows when I was little: Arthur. (Yes, I know I'm too old for that show, and I don't watch it anymore, but the song is very catchy and picking up the book reminded me of it).

Homemade Strawberry Pie...

Tastes AMAZING and is over way too fast. Two pieces are just not enough. :(

The Pierogi Festival

Today, my parents took the Brother and I to the Pierogi Festival. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect, but all in all, it was a fun time. Basically, it was an event sponsored by a parish in the area, and there was food, drinks, games, polka music and of course pierogi :P It was a fun way to get in touch with my Polish side :3

Before we left, we entered into the 50/50 raffle and a chance to win an iPod touch; and the Brother won this homemade strawberry pie at a game of chance.

Weekly Wodehouse #14

...he uttered a stricken woofle, like a bulldog who had been refused cake.

~P.G. Wodehouse

I Want A Butler

Yes, you read that right, dear readers: I want to have a butler. Actually, I've been thinking about this for several years now, starting right after I first was drawn into the world of P.G. Wodehouse. But, please don't believe this is because I'm too lazy to do my own cleaning (I just hate to clean) and its not because I'm so prideful that I believe I deserve one. No, actually, I just really want one. It would be so cool! I mean, who wouldn't want their own personal Jeeves?

Perhaps this is just me being the naive American with a passion for the British, but in all the books I've read and movies I've seen, the butler always has so much potential to be an awesome character! I think it would be amazing to be able to have someone like that in my household. (Of course, I would never be able to afford a butler; if I am a librarian, I'd have no use for a butler because I wouldn't be home much. If I was a writer for a living, I'd be living in a cardboard box on the side of the road because I doubt my writing would be good enough to support me. :P But, even so, I still would love to have a butler...

Emmy's Library Bag #1

The Brother and I have been biking up to the library twice a week, as well as checking out books at the other local library we attend (which is just too far away to bike to right now). But, since this is a book blog, and you all know that I want to be a librarian, I thought that I could keep you posted on what's in my Library Bag and what I'm checking out. Tell me what you guys think! For today, sadly there is not much to talk about. Black Adder was ready for us, so we rode our bikes up to the library to retrieve the nice, cleaned DVD. We re-watched the first episode, and enjoyed it much more without all the skipping :P

I'm currently reading A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, but am not far enough into it to make a fair judgement. Tonight, the Brother and I finish off the Ripping Yarns series! :D

100th Blog Post!

Okay, guys! So this is my 100th blog post! Thank you to everyone who has subscribed and commented over the course of these past few months; it means so much to me! Its funny; I never thought I would actually start a blog, and even when I did, I didn't expect it to last. I started off with two followers; and now I have 15! Thank you so much to all of you! A special thanks to all of my original followers:

*kiity.marie

*Gaby Ruchames

*Javmango

*Miles D

*Julia Rotter

And to all my NEW readers who have joined since the 50th posting:

*Chess

*Jem

*Joelle Anthony

*Steven Cain

*sarahkasper

*Sunday Soup

*The AmAzINg Mrs. B (Colleen)

*Tahir Muhammad

*Old Fool

*Mickey Brignac

And of course, to all my other readers:

*Casey
*Fabulea
*FloridaNaturePhotography.net
*The Soviet Chairman
*Suzy
*ames4eva

Thanks again, guys :) Have a wonderful day!

Still On My Mind...

I know that this post is going to produce groans of disappointment from Kiity, the Roomie, and prolly even Tom, but I just have to get this off my chest. I have not been able to stop thinking about Odysseus since I had that dream (Revisiting Odysseus). I just think about him all the time. When I go on my email, I see his name in the list of contacts, and I've realized how nice his name is. (Not "Odysseus," his real name). Just looking at it, it looks really nice. I don't know how else to describe it. But its a beautiful name. And honestly, I miss seeing his name on emails in my inbox. I miss the feeling of his ridiculously soft hands against mine. I miss the sound of his voice and the gorgeousness of his green eyes. I miss his odd sense of fashion and his espresso coffees. I miss quoting Monty Python and A Bit of Fry and Laurie.

I just really, really wish things hadn't gone down the way that they did. The problem is that Odysseus has a lot of inner demons that he needs to work through before he'll be ready for anyone to really form a relationship with him. Right now, I wish that he wouldn't constantly be in my mind's eye. I want to see him so badly; to talk to him, to just bask in his presence. I want to send him a little email in hopes that he'll respond; but I don't think that's a good idea, so I won't.

Why does the heart have to be so cruel?

Ripping Yarns

Last night, after a wonderful conversation with the Roomie (who I've missed very much), the Brother and I have started watching the BBC television series Ripping Yarns (staring Michael Palin; written by Michael Palin and Terry Jones). It's so funny! We were really enjoying it, but because of time constraints, we were only able to watch the first two episodes: Tomkinson's Schooldays and The Testing of Eric Olthwaite. If the rest of the series is as hilarious as these first two episodes, then I can guarantee that we are in for a treat!

For those of you who are not familiar with this series, Ripping Yarns is a spoof of the adventure stories read by Edwardian school boys. Each episode if of a different place and time period; and each story is deliciously funny :3

Library Run

The Brother and I rode our bikes up to the library again today. We were there to return Black Adder. No, we didn't finish it. In fact, we only managed to get through one episode, and even that was hard. No, no...we actually loved the show, but the issue was that the DVD was so scratched up that we couldn't actually watch too much of it without it freezing, skipping, or shutting off. So, riding to the library today, our mission was to return the DVD set and ask them to clean it off for us so that we could actually enjoy it (yes, they have a disk cleaner in the back :3).

While there, we decided to look around so that our week would not be completely without some good old British Comedy. Here's what we brought back:

*The Complete Ripping Yarns

*Mr. Bean: The Whole Bean

*Mr. Bean's Holiday (Movie)

*The Rocky Horror Picture Show (This last one is just for me ;) hehe)

We'll be heading out again on Friday to drop off some books and DVDs. Hopefully, our Black Adder set will be waiting for us when we do.