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Go therefore they must to that knoll, and through that gate; but the gate was locked. |
Wednesday, June 9, 1999
One year ago: Wilde
Two years ago: Back to "Normal"
Tonight I curled up on my couch and watched some of that digital cable that I've been paying for and never using. TVLand is a channel that I've wanted, but my system hadn't been offering it until just recently. They were having a Prisoner marathon, which I peeked at for a few minutes, but it couldn't hold my interest tonight. I love that show, though! Patrick McGoohan just has the ultimate cool. The marathon was part of some retro spy thing that was promoting the new Austin Powers movie. Still to come: the Girl from UNCLE, the Man from UNCLE, and The Avengers!
I'd bought a video tape set for Mansfield Park back in March, but I'd only watched the first part, which was over two hours long. Tonight was a good night to see the second half, which begins with the wedding of Maria, one of the "evil stepsisters" (literally a cousin, in this story) to Mr. Rushworth.
Sylvestra Le Touzel, the actress who plays Fanny, is interesting. She really does a good job of playing a shy, awkward, but honest and resilient girl. Her expressions, body language and appearance all change most effectively as she matures and becomes more sure of herself. She's not TV-pretty, which is right for the character.
I think I liked the video more than the book, probably my least-favorite Austen novel. I've read it a few times, though. I recently was reading Imagining Characters, a book of literary discussion by A.S. Byatt and Ignes Sodre, which had a chapter on Mansfield Park that made me appreciate Fanny more. One does need some patience with her!
So now I want to go back to Pemberley.com ("Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley.com") and read all the MP discussions and material. I still really like that site!
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