Book 21 - Juliet

Juliet, a novel, Anne Fortier.  Wow.  This book was amazing.  It was a page turning without a doubt, so much intrigue.  I didn't know what was coming next!  I especially enjoyed reading this after having read the original Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare.  I already own this book, and found it immensely enjoyable.  However, mild language was to be found throughout the entire book, and one of the characters was to be found a bit crude, or perhaps crass.  A few scenes were uncomfortable, but they were neither long nor full of much detail.  It was correctly labeled adult, and isn't for younger audiences.  The entirety of the plot is thoroughly amazing, and one I would like to read again.

Book 19 - A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare.  This play was hysterical.  Part of that may have been due to the fact that we saw the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company perform it prior to reading the book, but even so, the feel of this play was so light it was an easy read and enjoyable too. 

Book 16 - The Juliet Club

The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper was such a cute book!  After reading Romeo and Juliet I wanted to try  reading a few books in which the play was part of the plot.  Definitely enjoyed this was; a simple yet pretty read!  Set in modern day Verona :)

Book 14 - Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare.  This is my favorite Shakespeare play so far.  The language and poetic flow was beautiful.  The ending, well . . .  what could be more glorious?  Not exactly, dear Marianne -.-  It was sad, but mostly, it just made me rather angry.  There were so many other ways they could have survived.  Why be so hasty to die?  It also had my least favorite "comic relief" character: Mercutio.  Oh. My.  The notes and footers weren't rated, but if they were...let's just say everything Mercutio says isn't quite clean.  Shakespeare tends to be bawdy, but this was a bit much.  Thankfully he didn't have as much stage time as Romeo.  When either Romeo or Juliet were speaking, it was beautiful and lovely; the gorgeous language was astounding, and that is what made this play my favorite to read.

Book 11 - The Tempest

My 11th book so far this year is yet another work of Shakespeare: The Tempest.  Our class used The Annotated Shakespeare version again. 

This play was shorter than some of Shakespeare's other plays.  This was one of the first plays we have read yet where we really see just how much love at first sight played a role in the plays.  After all, they couldn't be too long, lol.  But it is still interesting how different it is from what we normally see in movies or read in books.  

I enjoyed this play a lot.  It wasn't my favorite play, but definitely still enjoyable. :)

Skyeler

Regency Ball (the theater)

When the first interlude from dancing came, the doors to a magnificent theater were opened.  Beautiful windows and pillars and staircases were to be found, and we found ourselves traveling up staircase after staircase to  see what lay ahead.  There we found that it truly was a theater, not just pretty scenery outside of it.  We ran through flights of staircases to be scene as we are below.

A grand stage!

To be . . . or not to be

Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?

Jenn took the younger girls down to the stage between photo shoots ^_^

Skyeler

Book 7 - Hamlet

My seventh book of the year - Hamlet by William Shakespeare.  This has, probably, been my favorite Shakespeare I have read so far (which includes Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew, and Henry V)  Some of this reason may be the fact that we watched the movie with David Tennant staring as Hamlet, so throughout the play I had his voice running through my head :P  Also, Hamlet has many soliloquies (parts of the play where he talks to himself/the audience) so for this character I could see what he was thinking, which frequently doesn't happen in Shakespeare's plays.  

I used The Annotated Shakespeare to read this play, which, like Folgers, has notes to help you with words you don't know, phrases that don't make sense, or definitions that have changed over time.  These were quite useful, as always, but I found myself looking at them less over the course of this play.  I am finally getting used to the flow of Shakespeare's words!  This was definitely enjoyable!

Skyeler

Knitting during Hamlet

I spent the afternoon watching Hamlet (staring David Tennant!) and knitting ^_^  I was making this little hat, which turned out to be the perfect size for Aly's American Girl doll... and apparently Rory!  Doesn't he look so adorable in this hat?  We know everybody loves a Fuzzy Snuggle ;)

This version of Hamlet was amazing!  The first movie of this play I have seen, and my favorite of the Shakespeare movies we have seen so far.  

The movie was also relatively clean.  There was one short but crude scene, perhaps not appropriate for younger audiences.  Also a part or two that might need moderated for some guys (depending on your standards.)  Other than that, the movie was amazing.  The language was not a problem, as it was all Shakespeare's words.  David Tennant's interpretation of some of Hamlet's lines was beyond genius.  Though  his hair needed messed up in the beginning of the movie, I have no complaints of him in this role! 

To be, or not to be...

His emotion was amazing.  

He also manged to pull of the madness of Hamlet with humor and kept the audience captivated!  Though I did seem to expect him to pull out a sonic screwdriver... (too much Doctor Who!)

All the other actors were amazing also.  I was just a bit focused on this amazing actor who played the doctor XD  It was well worth the three + hours we spent watching this!  We managed to consume quite a few Oreos, Twizzlers, and (I at least) had a lot of popcorn :D  This would definitely be a movie I will watch again.  I am finding Shakespeare to be so very enjoyable!

Skyeler

Shakespeare Quiz

Which Shakespeare Heroine Are you?   My mother sent me this quiz earlier this month.  I enjoyed it, and found my result not only humorous but even mostly accurate :P  I am:  Helena (from A Midsummer Night's Dream): You are thoughtful, sensitive, elegant, and beautiful, although you might not realize it. You have the soul of an artist and you like the space around you to be pretty as well. Sometimes you get a little sad and woeful, but remember you have friends who love you, and that some guys aren't worth getting depressed about. You're looking for a romantic soulmate to sweep you off your feet, and you're sure to find one…just don't be afraid to look in some unusual places!

Seeing as how we are doing Shakespeare this year, I was excited that there was a fun quiz to take (even though I didn't recognize all of the actors and things of course.)  Anybody else care to find their result? XD

Skyeler

Book 3 - Henry V

Henry V, by Shakespeare.  My third book finished this year :)  This is not my favorite Shakespeare play that I have read, but it has been enjoyable.  I read the Folger Shakespeare Library version, which has side notes on strange words, complicated phrases, and puns that I just wouldn't have gotten without help.  In this play, it also gave us French translations, for Princess Katharine, who spoke French for most of her dialog!  As pretty as it sounds, I was very grateful for this translation, as I wouldn't have known what they were saying without it (believe it or not, I don't speak french.)

Skyeler

Random Blog Post

I have neglected my blog of late.  My apologies, thou nonexistent readers. ;)  However, in my defense, I have been ill!  I assure you, this common cold has been rather miserable.  I have missed nigh a week of, well, everything: church, school, getting out of the house, and now the Ren Fest :(  My friends had decided to go again today, but, alas, I was unwell and decided it would not be wise to attempt so long a day in the allergy fraught outdoors.  Peradventure I shall make it to church tomorrow.  It is too hard to say as of now.

Another note of little interest to you.  I have finished Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.  And quite enjoyed it!  Shakespeare has such...flow.  It is beautiful!  If a bit hard to understand at times...but the side notes help me with the vocabulary of the time ^_^  I have completed my project, which is a "digital scrapbook page" of Hero.  The quotes have come from Claudio...or, if you prefer to give the author credit instead of his character, the quotes are from Shakespeare himself XD  Here is my project ^_^

Er, Shakespeare may also be to blame for my partial turn of speech.  I do hope thou shalt forgive me if such becomes aggravating.  Up next in the works of William Shakespeare is Macbeth! Which, I do believe, I will be reading over Halloween O.o  That has the potential to be eerie ;)

Also, I look forward to (hopefully) having some senior pictures taken this month!  I am excited about this, for some reason or other *grin*  

Now I shall post and depart.  Fare thee well.

Skyeler