The Other Brontë

Agnes Grey

By Anne Brontë


We all know Charlotte's Jane Eyre and we know Emily's Wuthering Heights. But, have you read Anne's Agnes Grey? This was Anne's first novel, published in 1847. Like her sisters and many other women of the time, Agnes was a governess and this book draws heavily on her experiences. It explores many themes, the isolation of the governess from the rest of the family, the social stigma that accompanied a working woman and the treatment of women altogether.
It's a short sweet read, my version topped out at about 190 pages. I found it engaging though, the idea of being a governess sounds terrible not the least because of the children.
Agnes is governess to two families during the story. The first is the Bloomfield family whose children are rotten buggers. They run and scream, are violent to animals, and don't do as they're told. The parents are worse in both families because they will not allow their children to be disciplined and yet they blame Agnes when their children are rotten. 
The second family is the Murray family. There Agnes only has to deal with the two oldest girls, but even they are bad enough. Rosalie is a vain, selfish creature focused only on looks and wealth. Mathilda is a brutish girl, loud and obnoxious she cares only about horses and dogs. 
While working for the Murrays, Agnes meets Mr. Weston the curate. Mr. Weston is kind and a much better spiritual guide than the odious rector Mr. Hatfield who only brushes off the poor who come to him for guidance. Weston actually expresses an interest in Agnes's thoughts and ideas and she sees the goodness in him.
Without giving the ending away too much I can just say that Agnes does get to escape her dreadful students and have a happy ending.




Bonus Brontë

Shirley
By Charlotte Brontë 


Anyone who has read Jane Eyre or even Agnes Grey understands that it is not always a quick or easy read. But the story is enjoyable and anyone who likes the above mentioned titles will enjoy this.
Brontë extensively explores the idea of the role of women in society; the title character Shirley delivers several poignant monologues on the place of women. 


Brontë also explores the working man's role in society in the age of new machinery. In the Napoleonic times mill owners began to replace working men with machines that didn't need paying, this of course did not sit well with local men and many rebelled and assaulted the mills and their owners. This is an additional plot point with Robert Moore, the mill owner.


This is the story of the folks in Yorkshire; Caroline Helstone and Shirley Keeldar are the two main heroines. Caroline is soft and sweet and well-loved by almost everyone. Shirley is an independent heiress not afraid to speak her mind. The entire novel synthesizes the troubled times- economic and political unrest- with Caroline's love for Robert Moore and Shirley's love for a man who we do not meet until the 400 page range...in a 600 page novel.
I liked Caroline much better than Shirley; Shirley always meant well but I lost respect for her when speculation arose about a relationship between her and Robert.


It was a long read, sometimes slow, but I did enjoy it because I was rooting for Caroline the entire time. I loved Robert Moore, even if I was angry with him about a certain incident between Shirley and him, but all in all it was typically good Brontë.

Truly Awesome

True Grit

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Hailee Steinfeld

Rating: PG-13

Score: 3.75/4

3.75? Is that a real score? Maybe not, but I wanted to give it a 4 out of 4 but...

a) sometimes I couldn't understand what Jeff Bridges's character was saying

b) having never read the book or seen the 1969 version I didn't know what the ending was...I thought it was bum.

Fourteen year old Mattie is determined to hunt down and bring to justice the man who killed her father in cold blood. To do so she hires Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn, a U.S. Marshal who likes to drink and smoke. They are not the only ones looking for Tom Chaney, Texas Ranger LaBoeuf has been hunting Chaney and he joins in on the manhunt. 
Unfortunately LaBoeuf and Cogburn's constant squabbling greatly impede the three, then they run into Lucky Ned's gang of outlaws. It turns out that Chaney has joined up with Ned, they now have a double mission: find Ned's gang thereby finding Chaney. 

All the actors were brilliant in their roles, Hailee Steinfeld was brilliant as the tenacious Mattie. The PG-13 rating is not so much for language, but it is a Coen brothers film; one man gets his fingers cut off and Cogburn threatens to pull out LaBoeuf's tongue and rummages around in his bloody mouth. 

I thought the ending was disappointing because it seemed a bit abrupt but overall I highly enjoyed the movie. 

  

Especially Festive

There are so many good movies that center around Christmas; some are serious, some are comic, and all will have you wishing for a white Christmas. Here are some holiday movies that will be sure to fit into the season.

A Christmas Story

There is only one thing Ralphie wants for Christmas: a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and "a thing that tells time". Unfortunately no matter who Ralphie talks to, be it his mother, teacher and even Santa, they all say the same thing, "You'll shoot your eye out!" To top it all off Ralphie must also put up with his weenie kid brother Randy and the local bully Scott Farkus. The movie charmingly captures the nostalgia of a childhood Christmas.

The Family Man

Jack was at a crossroads in his life. While at the airport preparing to leave to study in London, Kate, Jack's girlfriend, begs him not to go. Jack tells her the best thing for both of them would be if he goes to London.
Several years later Jack is single and a wildly successful business man. He drives a Ferrari and dates beautiful women. On Christmas Eve he receives, and ignores, a call from an old girlfriend, Kate.  Then, Jack has a strange encounter with a man named Cash who asks him if he really is happy with his life.

On Christmas day Jack wakes up in a new life. Instead of getting on the plane for London he had chosen to stay with Kate instead. Instead of his Ferrari, penthouse, and riches Jack has a mini van, a house in the suburbs of New Jersey, and a job at a local tire store. But, he also has a close group of friends, two children, and of course there is Kate herself. Jack must learn that happiness comes not from money but from people and the choices made in life.
Similar to It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, this movie explores what life could have been like if one choice had been made differently.

   Scrooge

The traditional and sometimes cheesy story of A Christmas Story with Albert Finney as the title character. There are eleven musical pieces within the film, all cute and sweet. Alec Guinness makes his appearance as the ghost of Jacob Marley with dry wit and his ever present chains. The only change from the original story is Scrooge's trip to Hell where Marley expands further on the afterlife awaiting Scrooge should he fail to change his ways.

The Family Stone

Meredith is a successful executive; but she is also uptight and conservative. Her boyfriend, Everett Stone decides to take her home to meet the family and ask his mother Sybil for the heirloom ring so that he can propose to Meredith. Meredith also meets the rest of the chaotic Stone family, including Amy who takes an instant dislike to Meredith and contrives to make her stay difficult and awkward.
A fun film centered around the ruckus of a fun family at Christmas. Funny, touching, a little sad, and at times cute this movie will be sure to remind anyone of their own family dynamics around the holidays.

Home Alone

Of course, the movie that makes the holiday. The well-known story of what happens when you can't stand your family...and "...make them all disappear!"
Kevin has a huge family and he is often lost in the shuffle being the youngest and most helpless. It's Christmas and the family decides to take a trip to Paris. Unfortunately, they forget Kevin and he ends up home alone.
He proceeds to do what any kid left alone would do: everything! But, two burglars have targeted the house and once Kevin learns what they're up to, it's war!

The Great Ship

Titanic: The Long Night
By Diane Hoh

Usually a horror writer, Diane Hoh creates a splendid story revolving around the infamous sinking.

Elizabeth Farr is in first class with her parents on her way to New York, her parents have arranged for her to marry the rich Alan Reed. Elizabeth instead wants to go to college and become independent while avoiding marriage to Reed. Elizabeth is constantly arguing with her parents over her future. Then, Elizabeth meets Max Whittaker who is the son of a rich family. But, Max is  the black sheep of his family, after bucking his parents' rules he went to Paris. Max helps Elizabeth realize the best way to show her parents her reliability is not but shouting and having tantrums like a child.

Katie Hanrahan is in third-class with her childhood friends Paddie and Brian. Everyone thinks that Katie and Brian are a perfect match but Katie is really interested in Brian's more mischievous brother, Paddy. Paddy however much a troublemaker, does have a sense of honor and refuses to even consider Katie while he thinks that Brian loves her. While on board Katie becomes responsible for two children.

Both girls must find a way to survive when the ship begins to sink. Elizabeth must leave her father and Max on board and Katie must save the two children while looking for Paddy and Brian. Who will survive?

I loved this book! Its compelling to see Elizabeth grow up from a child focused on what she wants, to an adult developing her independence. Paddy is a delightful character with an unexpected sense of honor that runs deep. Despite the horrific event that is the focal point of the story, for the most part a happy ending is given...to almost everyone.

Just Watched...

It Happened One Night
Starring: Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Walter Connolly

Score: 4/4

This 1934 film could easily be called one of the most 'risquè' movies of the time... before the the MPAA began enforcing its production code that is.

Ellie Andrews is the stereotypical spoiled heiress who causes trouble for her loving father just because she can. Ellie marries "King" Westley, a fortune-hunter whom her father despises. Her father finds her and drags her away from her new husband before the marriage can be solidified. Ellie however escapes and runs away, determined to make it  back to her new husband in New York City.

Ellie meets Peter Warne at the bus station, Peter is a newspaper reporter looking for just the right story to revive his career. When he learns who Ellie is he proposes a deal:  she gives him her exclusive story and he will help her get back to New York City. If she doesn't accept than Peter will contact her father and let him know where his daughter is and collect the reward that has been put out. Low on funds and desperate for help, Ellie agrees to the arrangement.

What made this movie so controversial was the hitchhking scene. Peter can't stop a car no matter what kind of techinique he uses. Ellie however manages to stop one by pulling up her skirt and showing off her leg. The actress, Claudette Colbert, originally refused to do the part saying it was 'unladylike.' However, when director Frank Capra brought in a chorus girl to be her leg double Claudette reportedly agreed to do it, apparently if it was going to be in the
movie it would be Claudette's leg and no one else's.

This movie was funny and cute, without being slow or sticky in details. Of course it was a typical ending but Ellie pulls it off with style. The very end will make you smile with its references to "the walls of Jericho".

Spotlight on an Author

Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen is well-known for her brilliant insight into the mind of the teenage girl. If you are one and have ever had a problem chances are Dessen has covered it in one of her novels. All of my girl friends had read at least one of her books and raved about it so I read one too. I went to my local bookstore and picked up Just Listen. I loved it. I've only read it about three times in the couple of years I've had it but it's got so much going on that I don't feel like I need to re-read it over and over again for it to really mean something to me. 

Just Listen

 Annabel only seems to have it all. She is a model for a local department store, her two beautiful older sisters are models, and their mother is utterly supportive, and in some cases more passionate about, Annabel's modeling career. But Annabel feels like she has nothing.

She had a huge fight with her former best friend Sophie over Sophie's on-again off-again boyfriend, now Sophie spends her time torturing Annabel and spreading rumors about her at school. 

Annabel's older sister is discovered to be anorexic because she was striving to be the perfect model, so she leaves New York to live at home.

Annabel also doesn't have the passion for walking the catwalk that her mother does, it may not be what she wants to do, but how can she break out of the mold?

Then, she meets Owen Armstrong, an oddball and former delinquent obsessed with music; he may be just what Annabel needs to overcome the turmoil inside herself. Their friendship gives her the strength to confront the issues over what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends. 

The Truth About Forever

Macy is only sixteen when she experiences a most devastating loss: the sudden death of her beloved father. This sets up her summer as one of the worst in history. Besides grieving she must deal with SAT prep, her terribly mind-numbing job at the library, and to top it all off her boyfriend will be out of town. 

This all changes when Macy helps her mother at an open house event. Macy meets the wacky catering staff of Wish Catering. Before long she is swept up into their energetic and close-knit circle of people. There she meets Wes, the artistic and good looking guy who understands what Macy is going through.

But Macy still has many obstacles to overcome: her mother's disapproval of the tattooed Wes, her jerk of a boyfriend Jason, and of course the anger, grief, and guilt that comes with a death of a close family member. 

Sarah Dessen's characters all have an obstacle that is keeping them from moving forward, some internal struggle that is obsessed over. As any teenage girl will understand, sometimes the most difficult challenges faced are the ones created by ourselves. 

Classically Frightening

Dracula

By Bram Stoker

We have all seen the cheesy spoofs of vampires, the sexual representation of blood-sucking, and of course the Twilight series picture of a vampire. But what was the beginning?

While Dracula was the first highly popular published novel on vampires, the myths of frightening creatures that will drain the blood out of living creatures have abounded for centuries.

Through his journal entries we find Jonathon Harker traveling to Trannsylvania to visit a client, the mysterious Count Dracula. Jonathon is a lawyer in charge of the purchase of London property for the Count. On his journey he will encounter strange folk and occurrences and multiple warnings to turn back. Being a rational Englishman he does not heed the warnings but does find himself becoming more and more frightened as he finally arrives at Castle Dracula.

Dracula himself is an enigma. He does not seem to eat, sleep at night, and Jonathon himself discovers the Count has no reflection in a mirror. After some searching Jonathon finds the Count supposedly sleeping in a box of dirt, with fresh blood trickling down his chin! He also discovers he is a prisoner in the castle until such time as the Count sees fit to release him...if at all.

There the story cuts away to Mina's journal, she is Jonathon's fiance and is eagerly waiting his return to England. In the meantime she is staying with her friend Lucy in the seaside town of Whitby. Through Mina and Lucy's diary entries we discover that strange things are being to happen to Lucy at night, she is sleepwalking and seems to be growing weaker. 

Dr.Seward is a paramour of Lucy's and the head of a lunatic asylum. When he witnesses Lucy's illness he sends for his old mentor and friend, the Dutch Dr. Van Helsing. 

Van Helsing's diagnosis is more frightening than Seward could imagine; Lucy is being drained by a vampire! 

The entire story is told through a series of journal entries, telegrams, and letters. This gives insight to many characters and depth to the goal of hunting down and destroying the terrible Dracula. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the book! My version was an even 400 pages and easily read. An interesting aspect is that the real edge-of-your-seat climactic tension doesn't occur until the last fifteen pages, the previous pages are a magnificent build up. The characters are enjoyable, my favorite was Mina because of her sweet clarity and overall goodness. I would also recommend picking a version with an introduction to analyze the story. My version's intro was by Brooke Allen and she gives thought provoking insight as to why certain characters are more affected by Dracula than others, what role women play in the story, and why Dracula is such a memorable character. If you don't already know the story then read the analysis after the story.

Enjoy!