Anne of the Island // Book Review

"I wouldn't want to marry anybody who was wicked, but I think I'd like it if he could be wicked and wouldn't."

-Anne

"You don't know love when you see it. You've tricked something out with your imagination that you think is love, and you expect the real thing to look like that."

-Phil

"Words aren't made--they grow," said Anne." 

"I have a dream," he said slowly. "I persist in dreaming it, although it has often seemed to me that it could never come true. I dream of a home with a hearth fire in it, a cat and dog, the footsteps of friends-- and YOU!"

-Gilbert

Anne Shirley is off to Redmond College, leaving Marilla, Davy, Dora, Green Gables, the Island and her childhood behind. With her old friend Prissy Grant waiting in the bustling city of Kingsport and her frivolous, (but warm-hearted) new friend Philippa Gordon at her side, Anne tucks away her memories of rural Avonelea and discovers life on her own terms, filled with surprises. including a marriage proposal from the worst possible fellow imaginable, the sale of her very first story, and a tragedy that teaches her a painful lesson. But tears turn to laughter when Anne and her friends move into an old cottage and an ornery black cat (Joseph) steals her heart. Little does Anne know that handsome Gilbert Blythe wants to win her heart too. Suddenly Anne must decide whether she is ready for love, and if she even knows what love really is.

I first read this book several years ago, while working though the Anne Shirly series, (I only made it to book five. I really should order the rest from the library.) Anne Shirly is one of my favoritest heroines out of the hundreds and hundreds of books that I have read, mostly because she is fun, has a beautiful imagination, she's real, and she gets into the craziest situations and scrapes. And of course for the obvious reasion: she gets the absolutly amazing Gilbert Blythe. And of course she is all cute and doesn't think she can ever love him. *WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING ANNE SHIRLY HE IS THE MOST AMAZING GUY EVERY AND HE LOVES YOU GET IT TOGETHER.*  This book was completly  full of humor and sweeteness, and all around fun. You will find yourself laughing and crying with Anne as she struggles through trying to find herself. 

My rating * * * * * * * * * {nine out of ten stars}

What do you love most about Anne Shirley? 

xx

Forgotten Shots// September

          I finally found my extra memory card, after having lost it nearly a month ago. I  knew it was in my purse, and looked several times, but I am a little "find-it" challenged, and apparently it takes looking a bazillion (is that even a word?!) times looking for me to be able to find something. My mother would totally agree with that statement.

          These are all at least a month old, but are my favorites from September. Looking back at old pictures, even ones taken just a month ago, I am ecstatic to find some shots I had forgotten about, and it's almost like getting a present... from me. :)

xx,

f a l l // in the b a r n y a r d

this is quack-quack junior. and she is simply adorable; we let her free-range and she just wanders around eating bugs constantly.

Reading: Persuasion - Jane Austen; Through Gates of Splendor - Elisabeth Elliot.
Listening: this; this; and this;
Drinking: Gallons and gallons of tea and not quite so much coffee. :) Mostly Moroccan Mint Green Tea.
Loving: Fall colors; drinking outrages amounts of tea whilst reading amazing books; rainymood.com; my littlest brother's adorableness. 
Dreaming: Of travel; cities I want to see and explore.
Anticipating: The arrival of the skirt I ordered for my brother's wedding; Said brother's reaction to the package I just sent him. :) Being able to listen to Christmas music without driving my family nuts; 
craving: pumpkin spice latte; candy-canes; chocolate (i just need to run to the store.); vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce. 

how 'bout you?

xx,

Outfit post // fall beauty

I was particularly happy with the outfit I came up with yesterday, and managed to run outside and take a few photos. I still  haven't perfected looking comfortable in front of a camera, (especially when i have to run back and forth between it, setting the timer, etc. a bunch of times to take a picture. :)  Oh, and these earrings, they are my favortietest piece of jewelry. They're just so darn cute. :)

Skirt: Thrifted

Purple Tank: Gift

Black Halftee: Halftee 

Flip-flops: Fred Myers

Earrings: Etsy

Northanger Abbey // book review

Northanger Abbey

by Jane Austen

Seventeen-year-old Catherine Morland is a typical girl in Bath, England. She is obsessed with dress, dancing, and reading “horrid sensational novels.” Her trip to Bath is her first time away from home, and she is introduced to a whole new world. While there she meets the “sweetest creature,” and becomes “dear friends” with Isabelle Thorpe, and her family, intimate friends of her brother. She also meets Mr. Henry Tilney, and finds him to be the man of her dreams.

          But is Isabelle all sweetness as she seems? Will Catherine ever consider John Thorpe a suitor?

          The Tilney’s invite Catherine to visit them at their beautiful estate, Northanger Abbey. Catherine is delighted, especially because it means more time to spend with Henry. But the novels that she has filled her head with come back to haunt her in the dark Abbey and she begins to suspect secrets and crime behind every corner and shadow. When she begins to suspect General Tilney of his wife’s death, she feels it necessary to see the dead lady’s rooms.

          Her suspicions lead her on further into her fancies; until she finally embarrass herself greatly in front of Henry, and finds that they are completely ill-founded, and wrong.

          But then, a few weeks later, even though Henry was the only person who knew of her silly fancies, she is thrown out of the house with no respect and kindness, and no one but General Tilney understands the reason.

          What could she have done to offend the General? Can Henry forget about her foolish suspicions? Could he ever love her?

I began Northanger Abbey with the highest expectations. I had heard/read so many positive reviews, and have read most of Jane Austen’s other work, and I presumed that this book would be excellent. I wasn't disappointed with the quality of the story, well-developed characters, and a captivating story-line. I was surprised, however, with how different Northanger Abbey is from the rest of her books. Catherine Morland was a sweet, inexperienced, and loving girl, but quite different from, say, Elisabeth Bennett  or Emma Woodhouse. The first difference major difference I noticed was the fact that Catherine isn't perfect, witty and all charm, like the other girls. She is obsessed with dress, dancing and reading “horrid novels.” She has a very overactive imagination, which gets her into quite a bit of trouble, bringing her much embarrassment. Another difference I noticed was that Henry Tilney wasn't developed and portrayed as much as Darcy, etc. I felt that he could have been more involved in the story, and his character explained more fully. 

          Northanger Abbey had several interesting plot-twists, as well as interesting and ‘different’ characters. (John Thorpe? :) I fell utterly in love with Eleanor Tilney. She was a perfect sister, so sweet, kind and gentle, and I was thrilled with the way the story ended for her. My only wish, again, is that she had played a bigger part in the story, and that Ms. Austen had etched her character and details more fully.

          All in all, Northanger Abbey was a delightful, enjoyable, fresh and charming story, and one that I will be adding to my own library as soon as possible. :)

********* {9 out of 10 stars}

o c t o b e r

I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

Anne Shirley

'Tis October fifth, the leaves are just beginning to prepare for their brilliant display of colors and beauty, before dropping their leaves and resting until spring. I know I've said it before, and I know it's been said so many times by so many people that it is beginning to sound a bit cliche, but I love fall. I love the crisp weather, the beautiful colors, drinking tea and coffee and reading a book while it pours outside. The smell after it rains. We don't get rain very often, (only 8-10 in. per year) so I savor each moment I can smell the rain. I am quite content with fall, and not missing summer a bit! ;)

p.s. Isn't my little Bambi the cutest thing you ever saw? Personally I think his ears make him look like a dork, but besides that, he's so cute and soft and fat!! ;)