“My library was dukedom large enough.”
– William Shakespeare, The Tempest
It’s Shakespeare’s birthday! Good day to read a play…
Tag: William Shakespeare
Blog Hop: Five Books to Grab
I’m joining in with the Book Blogger Hop again today, when bloggers discuss bookish topics!
This week’s question is: What are the top 5 books you would grab in an emergency?
I’m not entirely sure what this question means…I mean, the five books I would read during a personal crisis are not necessarily the same five books I would choose if I was only going to have access to five books for an extended period… But let’s assume the point here is, which five books would you choose if you could only have five books. Say, on an extended spaceflight to Mars. I like that better than the idea of being stuck on a desert island, where I’d need books about survival on a desert island!
So if I was on a long spaceflight and could only bring five books…
1) The Bible, although that’s so obvious it almost feels like cheating.
2) The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (unabridged), because I read so quickly, I’d need something that would last. Which is an argument in favor of the Bible too, apart from spiritual inspiration.
3) Susan Kay’s Phantom because, I mean, it’s Susan Kay’s Phantom and I just madly love it.
4) The Little White Bird by J. M. Barrie because it’s a wonderful, lovely, magical book. Plus, even a spaceflight to Mars would probably have its alarming and homesick moments, and this would make a perfect comfort read. George Davies, the boy who inspired David in the book, brought a copy with him to the trenches in World War I.
5) And finally, The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery, because I couldn’t possibly get by without any Montgomery, and this is my favorite of her novels. Though I’d be tempted to bring Volume I of her journals instead.
And if, as I know I surely would, I decided to toss a pair of shoes out of my luggage and squeeze in two more books…
6) The Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce–there is an omnibus edition, so it could be counted as one. Alanna is the most inspiring of heroines, and every so often, everyone needs to believe that they can do anything.
7) Something Terry Pratchett…possibly Night Watch. Because of course I’d need something funny too.
And then I’d probably have to discard some more clothes so that I could bring something by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and also If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland, and a spaceflight to Mars really would be a good moment to read some favorite Star Trek books, and so we begin to see why I have three enormous bookcases in my small apartment!
So if you had to grab five books, for a spaceflight to Mars or maybe if you were on a desert island, what would you snatch up?
Favorites Friday: Doctor Who Episodes
I have noticed myself having frequent conversations which involve the sentence, “Oh, you have to watch Doctor Who!” So I thought I’d do a blog post on that subject. I already did one review of the first couple of seasons of the current incarnation. For something a bit different, rather than giving you the sweeping commentary, I decided to zero in on some absolute favorite episodes–giving due attention to each Doctor and companion.
“The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances” – This two-parter is my favorite Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor) episode, possibly my absolute favorite of the series. Rose and the Doctor arrive in 1940s London during the Blitz, looking for a crashed alien spacecraft. They find a strange little boy in a gas mask stalking London’s street children, plaintively asking for his mummy. It sounds odd–it is SO creepy. This episode also introduces the delightful Captain Jack Harkness. The first time I saw this, I was absolutely riveted. It’s scary and suspenseful, woven through with wonderful bits of humor, and the last ten minutes are so feel-good that they make me incredibly happy–even when I re-watched it on a nine-hour plane flight.
“The Girl in the Fireplace” – I think this is my favorite Rose and David Tennant (Tenth Doctor) episode. They’re my favorite pairing so it’s hard to choose–but this one has the Doctor crashing through a mirror on the back of horse. That was the moment I decided David Tennant was an awesome Doctor. With regards to this pairing, due honorable mention given as well to the episode when Rose leaves. So unbelievably heart-breaking.
“The Shakespeare Code” – Unquestionably my favorite Martha episode. I mean–they visit Shakespeare! At the Globe! And there are witches, and a mystery involving Love’s Labor’s Won! Probably my favorite destination the TARDIS ever went to. It’s where I’d want to go (after Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, circa 1907. Then Shakespeare’s Globe).
“Turn Left,” “The Stolen Earth” and “Journey’s End” – Lots to love about the Donna and David Tennant episodes, but this multi-part set is fairly mind-blowing. I don’t feel like I really appreciated Donna until “Turn Left,” and then the last two episodes…there are Daleks, and everyone unites to fight them. We get to have so many amazing characters in an incredibly epic confrontation. Love it.
Honorable mention also to David Tennant’s last episode. I really think the writers did everything they could to NOT help me deal with him leaving. I’m still not over it. But on we go to Matt Smith…
“Vincent and the Doctor” – I have more mixed feelings about the seasons with the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith (something for another post), but I do madly love this episode. The Doctor and Amy visit Vincent Van Gogh. I’m pretty familiar with his paintings, and it is SO MUCH FUN to see iconic paintings scattered all over Van Gogh’s living room (he apologizes for the mess). There are little bits and pieces referencing his paintings all over the episode. It’s also a beautiful, moving story about the pains and the joys of life.
If anything–anything at all–in here is catching your attention…you have to watch Doctor Who! And if you already have, I’d love to hear about your favorite episodes.
Birthdays!
Today is rather exciting–not only is it Friday the Thirteenth, it’s my birthday. 🙂
I love keeping track of the birthdays of some of my favorite authors and celebrities, and celebrating if I can (which usually means reading or watching something relevant). Since it’s my birthday, I thought I’d share about some other birthdays.
January 18: Cary Grant, 1904 – My favorite actor, January 18th is the perfect opportunity to watch Bringing Up Baby or Arsenic and Old Lace.
January 19: Michael Crawford, 1942 – The original Phantom in London and on Broadway, I have enough of his CDs to spend an entire day listening to them.
March 17: Lawrence “Titus” Oates, 1880 – Titus went to the South Pole with Captain Scott, and is a major character in The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean. He also brings many people to this blog; his name is a frequent search term in WordPress’ stats.
April 23: William Shakespeare, 1564 – I once had a Shakespeare class which met on Shakespeare’s birthday. I brought cookies, even though I knew my professor wasn’t a Stratfordian.
June 9: Johnny Depp, 1963 – I have, erm, lots of movies on my shelf to choose from to celebrate Johnny’s birthday.
September 1: Edgar Rice Burroughs, 1875 – And I have even more books by Burroughs…
November 30: This one is interesting, because a remarkable number of my favorite people were born on this date – L. M. Montgomery (1874), Winston Churchill (also 1874!), Mark Twain (1835), William Bouguereau, my favorite painter (1825), and Mandy Patinkin (1952), who forever endeared himself to me as Inigo Montoya. It’s rather a busy day!
Do you celebrate the birthdays of anyone from history or literature? It’s fun–like putting extra holidays on the calendar!
Tales of the Marvelous 