Tuesday 22 May 2012

New Ideas on which to blog

The one thing I really really miss is writing about novels, poetry and prose; analysing them and writing comment about them.  Does that make me sad?  well yes it does at least in the sense of sorry I don't get so much opportunity these days, if not in the sense of 'what a geek!'  So.... I have decided to analyse and critique various novels and things on this blog. 

My own favourites are the novels of the nineteenth century, but I have analysed a lot more besides with my various students over the years, but that is all.  I don't get the chance to write about them.  If anyone has any suggestions about what they would like to see, then please feel free to bring them up.  In the meantime, I will start re-reading my favourite books and let you have some literary criticism on them.  (Can one say that, oh well I suppose it's too late, as I already have!)

My first novel will be Sense and Sensibility, the lovely story of Elinor and her, slightly crazy, sister Marianne who both look for love, find it and treat it, and indeed, are treated by it, in very different ways.  Marianne who is wild and passionate is finally, and nearly fatally, tamed by a horrendous illness that sees her personality changed.  Her wild love for an unsuitable young man, who deceives her in the worst possible way, gives way to a far more sensible and mature love for an older man.  My question here is, is youth bad for love?  Do the characters have to experience wild and, blatant disregard for society, before they can sensibly settle into a married life which society finds acceptable?

Find out in my next blog when I will give my viewpoint on the whole matter of Austen's kind of love.

Pauline

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Not written a thing!

It's that time of year when the students are pulling me all ways, not literally you understand!  The last two weeks of cramming for the Os and A levels has started.  I'm indulging in lots of literary activity, but sadly it's not my own.  Still after this period is over, I should be in a position to continue the novel and take up with Barbara, Agnes and Euphame once more.

I have to say though it was lovely to be asked to help with an essay on Jane Eyre this morning and, similarly, to revisit Sense and Sensibility with an A level student last week.  It felt like a sort of 'coming home', how sad is that?   It really was going back to my comfort zone (odd given that before 2001, I would have run a mile from analysing and writing about any of this 'stuff').  It also made me realise just how much I had actually learned at university, particularly during my Master's degree.  See... not at all wasted!

Still the ideas for the continuing story of the witch trials are flying around my head.  This will be boosted by a trip to Edinburgh and Haddington in about two weeks, when I hope to complete the research and fill in some gaps.  (Note to self; when writing a historical novel, next time choose somewhere a little closer to home!)

There we are, watch this space for more updates on the trials.  I now have blogger on my iphone, if only I could get it to work!

Thursday 3 May 2012

recommended read

Further to my comments on 'The Gallows Curse' recently, I would like to recommend another stonking read to you.

I've not read a Martina Cole novel before, but when he left, my eldest nephew left a novel of hers on the shelf.  It's sat there looking at me for some time, and beckoning; yes I do believe that some books do beckon to one.  Well, it beckoned long enough and eventually I picked it up.   WOW!  amazing book, the story just feels so real, as though one is part of the nightmare.  The Grantley Ripper wreaks havoc in the sleepy town of Grantley, attacking, raping and murdering innocent women, who, in his warped mind, are all whores.

It's a fairly graphic book, but, and this really does not sound right, it was highly enjoyable.  Of course there is the inevitable, and highly unlikely, love story running through it, but this does not detract from the full horror of the 'Ripper's' reign of terror.

I'm going to try another Cole novel at some point in the future, so look back to see what I recommend next time.

For those of you wanting an update on the my own novel, well I have to confess that progress has been slow.  Unfortunately, I have to earn a living of sorts which restricts the amount of time I can actually spend writing to the degree that I've really not written very much recently.  Having several jobs is very time consuming and rather inconvenient.  Never mind the novel is still there, and I will work on it in depth as soon as I am able.

thanks for reading

Pauline

Writing Lines

Following a recent blog by my husband's cousin, who is currently writing  a play, I thought I would join in this interesting new way to blog one's work.

Go to page 77 of your novel, or work in progress, go to line seven then copy and paste the next seven lines into your blog.  ~Then tag seven new writers.  I don't know if this is cheating or not, but I'm using the same seven writers as cousin Lyndsey.  so here goes.


Agnes raised her head; her jaw jutting in defiance.  ‘My lord, I did not seek destruction of David Seton, it is he who seeks destruction of Mistress MacCalzean and of my lord Bothwell,’ for a moment her eyes lit up as she vented her venom for Seton.  Rising painfully from her seat she raised her voice as much as she could; she almost spat at Huntly, ‘it is he who seeks destruction of me,’ she hissed through gritted teeth then sank back down as though the effort had drained her of her last vestage of energy.  The people in the courtroom gasped collectively and the caterwauling recommenced.

hope you enjoy

The Uninspired Chronicles
The Write Transition
Tommy Scouse
Norfolk Novelist

Oh I think I've used more than seven, well I do words not figures, so please let me off!