Spy, Wizards, Wolves, and Austen!

Stuffed from several Thanksgiving meals, I come bearing good news!

January 12th marks the release of Lauren Willig's sixth installment in the 'Pink' series, The Betrayal of the Blood Lily!  The much anticipated (not just by me, I'm sure) novel takes us to India where the recently, albeit less than willingly, married Penelope will no doubt find all sorts of trouble to amuse herself with.  I adore Pen and cannot wait to see what she stirs up in Willig's realm of flowery spies!!!  Head over to her website for a glimpse at the first chapter.  I will even provide the link! http://www.laurenwillig.com/books/bloodlily.html#excerpt


In other news, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is out on DVD December 8th! I hear there is footage included in the special features that will give us a glimpse of the next movie!!!
Also, New Moon is finally out and was wonderful, expect a full review from either me or Letty in the near future!

And... Chuck is coming back earlier than March! Tune in January 10th on NBC for a two hour premiere! Yes, you heard me two glorious hours of TV's most underrated comedy and beloved spy couple, Charah (that's the trendy couple name of Chuck + Sarah for all those not in the know). It promises to be a spectacular event and I for one cannot wait!!!


So, until next time, get excited for Blood Lily, Potter, and Chuck! And in the mean time, I recommend watching The Jane Austen Book Club, which will undoubtedly have its own post in the very near future if it doesn't already. In the words of Bernadette (from the movie) "All Jane Austen, all the time. It's the perfect anecdote." (to what?) "To life!"
...Hen

Hello Again...

Nice to see you all, it has been awhile.  So real life often gets in the way of things I actually want to be doing which is where I place the blame for our poor, neglected blog.  I have nothing really to review today but I just thought I would mention a few of the most recent pop cultural wonders that have been luring me away from things like studying and academia.

Let's begin with Spring Awakening.  It's no surprise that I adore Lea Michele but up until recently I was not quite up to date with how amazing she actually is.  Unfortunately I cannot claim to have seen the phenomenon that is Spring Awakening on stage with the original Broadway cast, I can't actually claim to have seen it performed on stage at all.  No, sadly my enjoyment had to come from mostly poor (and I'm fairly certain illegally obtained) videos that some kind soul posted on YouTube.  Beggars cannot however be choosers and so I eagerly watched every one of the 15 or so parts.  While unconventional and maybe a little awkward to watch at times, I really can say I have never seen anything like it.  Everything about is wonderful, from the story to the characters to the amazing music that pulls it all together.  Along with furthering my adoration of Lea Michele, I now harbor similar love for Jonathan Groff and John Gallagher Jr, along with the rest of the cast, really.  I immediately went and purchased the soundtrack (on CD because I feel like it's a dying form and I hope to single handedly save it) and have listened to it nearly on repeat with the Wicked soundtrack thrown in for good measure.

Which leads me to my next distraction: Wicked.  The magic that is the previously untold story of the witches of Oz has thoroughly enchanted me.  I have decided that I must move to the North East as soon as I possibly can, because the access that I have to the wonder of Broadway is severely limited by the necessity of a several hour plane ride.  That being said, I again had to resort to blurry videos of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel to get my Wicked fix and understand the love my roommates harbored and were lucky enough to experience in person.  I know I am a little behind the curve here but I can now wholeheartedly join the "I Love Wicked" fan club, I'll even wear the t-shirt.  I was enamored by Ms. Chenoweth on Glee and now fully understand the awe some people have when they talk about "the Cheno".  That voice, her acting chops, and comedic timing make her the stuff of Broadway legends in my humble opinion.  Obviously I am no expert but I simply can't stop watching her sing "Popular", "Thank Goodness", or "What is this Feeling".  Add Idina Menzel's brilliance to the mix and "For Good" brings tears to my eyes.  Both women are absolutely awe inspiring and deserve a shiny plaque somewhere declaring it so.  Ok I'm done with the syrupy rant, I promise.  I now have to see "Wicked" as soon as I can, be it on Broadway or West End.

Whether or not you're rolling your eyes at my overly one sided and biased review of sorts, I still strongly suggest the soundtracks to both musicals with the original cast.  But I'm sure that's no surprise.  I also suggest seeing them both if you're a fan of musical theater, or if you're not maybe they will convert you!  At any rate, thanks for letting me gush!

...Hen

The doctor is in...

Ok that was cheesy but House is back on Fox!  I did experience a substantial amount of disappointment when I realized the premiere would be away from the hospital and subsequently Cuddy and Wilson (oh how I love Lisa Edelstein and Robert Sean Leonard).  But not to worry, because House should be safely back within the walls of Princeton-Plainsboro next Monday, and oh the mischief that will commence!  I heard from the people at TV Guide that House MD is the most watched show on television in the world.  Don't quote me because I could have dreamed that or otherwise made it up, but nonetheless it is awesome, creative, and intelligent so everyone should watch it at least once.

So no review or anything, just a small exclamation of joy and a plug for Fox Monday nights (which is entirely unendorsed and sadly without financial  gain on my end).  Unless someone from the network reads this and would like to give a struggling college senior a job or internship.

But I digress.  House is back and my love for the season is complete.  With the turning of leaves and cooler temperatures come my favorite TV shows and  holidays.  What could be better? (other than a November return for Chuck on NBC... get it together guys!)

...Hen

They may not be real...

...but I wish they were.  The fictional characters of the real island of Guernsey are so compelling that is takes very little to believe they're not in fact, fictional.  Written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, the book is made up of letters and telegrams sent in the aftermath of the second World War.  Each piece of correspondence between these (mostly) delightful characters seems so founded in truth and personality that I found myself needing reminders that they had been (wonderfully) fabricated.  
The book opens with a letter from Juliet Ashton to her publisher and friend Sidney Stark.  I only had to read this letter to know that I would love Juliet.  She continues her correspondence with Sidney about a series she wrote during the War called "Izzy Bickerstaff Goes to War".  "Izzy" is a great success and the majority of the first part of the book follows Juliet on her book tour.  One of my favorite letters is written by Susan, Juliet's agent, to Sidney informing him that the media frenzy Juliet created from her sharp tongue was indeed true and entirely deserved.  Juliet always speakes her mind and the honesty she has with her friends is both lovely and refreshing to read.

Another favorite passage of mine comes when we are introduced to Dawsey Adams, a resident on the Channel Island of Guernsey.  He has come across an old book of Juliet's by Charles Lamb and writes her in hopes that she knows where he may find more or Lamb's essays.  His letter is filled with interesting tidbits that hooks Juliet immediately and the two begin to write each other regularly, opening the door for the other wonderful inhabitants of Guernsey. 

After many letters between the interesting people of this small island, Juliet makes the trek there and discovers more than she could have imagined.  One of my favorite aspects of the book was the parallel that Shaffer and Barrows created between Juliet and a woman named Elizabeth that we never get the opportunity to meet in the book.  My knowledge of Elizabeth came entirely from the stories told to Juliet by the people of Guernsey and yet I felt like they could have been my own memories.  I don't think I have ever read a book where I felt so intrinsically connected to the characters.  After the first several pages, I barely realized I was still reading a book composed entirely of letters.  Elizabeth became one of the characters that I was most invested in and I never even read so much as a first hand account from her.  That may have been what I love most about this book: I became so invested in the lives and well being of these characters and I didn't even realize it until I'd finished the book and felt a kind of loss that it was over. 

I picked up this book because I thought the title was intriguing.  After reading it, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one of my very favorite books and Juliet Ashton is one of the most genuine and honest narrarators I've read in awhile.  Bravo Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, I would not have had the pleasure of visiting Guernsey or knowing the wonderful people in Juliet's life without you both.

...Hen

I know it's been a while...

...and I'm pretty sure today isn't movie day. But it's our blog, we make the rules.

Besides, Hen and I just saw G.I. Joe. Yes, I know. Contrary to popular opinion, I liked this movie. But before you get out your pitchforks, let me explain myself.

Sometimes, I just want a movie to be entertaining. Call me crazy, but that's what they're for, right? And G.I. Joe didn't disappoint on that front. Sure, at times the acting was subpar at best, and this movie certainly won't be winning any awards, but it was fun to watch.

For me, it was better than Transformers. The graphics didn't get in the way of what was happening in the scene, and though the plot was sketchy at times, it still made sense on the whole. With the exception of Shia LaBeouf (my heart flutters a little bit when I think of him), I thought the acting in G.I. Joe was better than Transformers. It seemed more real to me, but I can't put my finger on the reasoning. I'm not saying the acting in G.I. Joe was perfect, because there were definitely more than a few times that I rolled my eyes until it hurt at a badly delivered line. But in the end, I know that this movie was meant to be a summer blockbuster, not to blow my mind with plot twists and deeper meaning. So if I were you, I'd see it, if only for the action-packed fight scenes. Seriously, they're awesome. And they even fit a few laughs in between.

Besides, who turns down Channing Tatum?

Personally, I think the biggest issue this movie had was in publicity. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who stole my heart in 500 Days of Summer) was a part of this project, along with Sienna Miller. And while I knew that Dennis Quaid was involved, I was completely unaware that Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (who played Mr. Eko, the best character Lost ever had) was a major character. Even Brendan Fraser made a small appearance. Not to mention, I don't remember seeing a trailer for this movie outside of a movie theater. What the hell, Paramount? Did you want it to fail? Luckily, it still did well at the box office. Honestly though, I'd have gone to see this much sooner had I known who was in it. Maybe that's why I have such an issue with the PR (or lack thereof).

In any case, go see this movie if you want to be entertained for a few hours, but not if you want your mind blown.

Letty

Random House quote...

I was watching House and heard this little gem! Letty will appreciate this.

"Dr. House: Go up his rear and get a smear. Which reminds me, kinda feel like a bagel."

So good. So House-like.

...Hen

Check it out!

I know it's not Friday and it's been awhile...

...but let's talk about Glee. How I adore this show, even though I have only seen one episode. I am anxiously awaiting the next episode when it starts airing regularly next month. I have never seen a show quite like this one and it's unique plot and one of a kind characters make it a must for me.

Letty and I recently went to a cast signing and Q&A, and everyone was incredible. The entire cast was amiable and kind and made the whole experience well worth the wait in line and cost of the t-shirt. Cory Monteith, who plays Finn, was funny and outgoing and Lea Michele was just as adorable as she seems on screen. All of the 'gleeks' were there in addition to Cory and Lea, including Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, and Jenna Ushkowitz. They were all so friendly and open, and it made me like them even more.

The show itself is genius and the cast just makes it better. Jane Lynch is impeccable as she often is and I think I would watch the show just for her if nothing else. Lea's voice is a force to be reckoned with and paired with the other talented singers, it's magic. It's hard to single any one voice out with this crew, because Amber, Jenna, Chris, and the rest of the cast are all amazing as well.

To make a long story short, this show is funny. And you can root for the characters. Or hate them in a way that only good writing makes you love to hate someone. The writing is great, the acting is great, the choreography is great. It's all great. Watch the pilot on Fox.com and then catch new episodes on September 9th, because it's you know, great!

...Hen

Rant.

I'd just like to take the time to say that I think NBC choosing to broadcast Leno five nights a week in prime time is nuts. Maybe I'm the only one, but that seems counter-intuitive. Perhaps it's cheaper. But then again maybe they shouldn't have picked up two medical dramas that look remarkably like reincarnations of ER or perhaps another show that's on a different network about a hard working nurse.

If NBC would put some of that money to use promoting, and airing, their great shows like Chuck, perhaps other networks wouldn't feel so inclined to mock their methods. Or maybe I'm just biased. Either way, pardon this random rant.

...Hen

See for yourself!

So, in case anyone needed further proof of how awesome Jack's Mannequin is live, here's a little visual evidence.

The video is short but catches the chorus of Swim.

Seriously, they put on an amazing show and I once again recommend seeing them perform. I promise I'm done gushing now. Enjoy!

...Hen

There's a lot that I don't know, there's a lot that I'm still learning...

OK, so I know it's Friday and technically a day for all things TV, but I'm going to rewind and go with a missed music post from Wednesday. I am going to delve into our first music post with one of my favorite albums at the moment. Actually, it's been one of my favorite albums since its release in September of 2008. Jack's Mannequin, The Glass Passenger, is seriously great at every level. I know there are many out there who would argue that this CD isn't even the best of all his albums. I, on the other hand, love every track on this CD which makes it special in my opinion.

My favorite song from the album is the third track, Swim. It rings with the struggle McMahon faces from his battle with leukemia which he was diagnosed with immediately after cutting his last CD, Everything in Transit. My family is no stranger to cancer and this song particularly struck a chord in me. The lyrics can be applied to any struggle, internal or something physical like an illness. McMahon's voice is impassioned and clear and I find it especially easy to connect with him on this track, even more so than the others.

Each song is a progression through to the next one and the entire album rolls together seamlessly. This is one of the easiest CD's to listen to from track one straight through to the last song.

The other song that stands out for me is Hammer's and Strings. There's something in Andrew's voice that compliments the music so well that it sounds more like you're standing feet away from his piano in a quiet room rather than listening to it pumping through your speakers. As cheesy as this may sound, there is a lot of truth in his voice that really comes through, as if you're the friend he's singing about, lamenting to your friend Andy. Not to mention that this is one of those bands that sounds just as great live as they do recording in a studio. Trust me, I saw them in concert with The Fray a couple of weeks ago and have never really felt anything like that before. Each time he opened his mouth to sing, I would turn to Letty and grin or laugh or suppress a girlish squeal, which is something I refrain from doing a lot. They put on an amazing show and I highly recommend seeing them live. Letty and I decided we would follow them on tour if we weren't decidedly incapable of doing so financially.

I really love this CD and I know that much is obvious, but I heartily recommend that everyone listen to the album at least once all the way through, from beginning to end. You're judgement after that isn't up to me, but then if it were, everyday would spin to a soundtrack filled with Jack's Mannequin.

...Hen

Let's start off by saying, this is NOT a love story.

I'll be honest, when I first decided to go see (500) Days of Summer, I was seeing it for Zooey Deschanel. She's beautiful, she's a wonderful actress, and her voice is like heaven. It also doesn't hurt that she's engaged to Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard (as much as it pains me, I won't talk about music. Or my insane love for DCFC). I know I may have been a little late to the party, but really, she had me in the first notes of her rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the movie Elf. But this post is about a movie, not an actress.

While I tend to shy away from Indie films (I have a tendency to find them a bit pretentious), I must say that (500) Days of Summer was a pleasant surprise for me. I almost groaned audibly as I realized that the timeline jumped around instead of staying in chronological order (I usually get frustrated as I spend half the movie figuring out the when rather than the what is happening), but in this movie, it worked. I found that the uneven timeline added value and further depth to the story, rather than detracting from the plot as a needless distraction. And the acting was good, to boot!

I'll admit I was afraid that I'd have constant 3rd Rock from the Sun flashbacks while watching Joseph Gordon-Levitt on screen, but he did a fantastic job. His portrayal of Tom (a failed architect turned greeting card writer) was surprisingly refreshing. Considering every male character in this genre tends to give me the same vibe (let's face it, they're wusses), I was surprised to find myself sympathising with him despite the gender role reversal central to the movie's theme. He's pushing for commitment from Deschanel's character, Summer, while she claims she's "not looking for anything serious."

While this deviation from typical gender stereotypes could've easily turned me off to the movie (frankly, I like my men to be men), I thought it was an interesting take on modern relationships. But that's all I'll say about that. Moving to less controversial subjects...

The karaoke scenes. Hilarious, and well-executed. I almost jumped out of my chair in excitement as Zooey Deschanel stepped up to the mic for her rendition of "Sugartown." Seeing how this would've been my second seemingly irrational response to a song in the movie (I'd already freaked out in the beginning as Regina Spektor played within the first five minutes), I restrained myself. Then, I entirely pre-judged Gordon-Levitt, thinking he'd be painfully awful when it was his turn for drunken karaoke. In reality, he was pretty damn good.

Did I mention how excited I am about the soundtrack? Especially when I found out She & Him was on it.

I feel like I should apologize that the thoughts and assorted ramblings in this post seem randomly thrown together. There's so much to say about this movie, and I'm having some difficulty getting it all in while trying not to put you to sleep with copious amounts of words.

All in all, I was glad that the movie felt like a realistic depiction of real-life events, just as I felt it had promised me. It's nice when things surpass your expectations (however cynical those may be), and (500) Days of Summer certainly did the trick for me.

Letty

It's never safe in the car...

So since it's Friday even if it's a little late, let's talk television. In honor of this inaugural TV discussion, I'd like to start with one of my favorite and most under-appreciated shows on the air right now, Chuck!

I'll keep this fairly short because I would go on forever if I didn't set a limit for myself. But let's begin with the basics. This show is hilarious. From the lead actors, to the story line, to every one of the supporting cast, Chuck is perfectly funny. In case you've never seen the show, and I highly recommend you rectify that unfortunate fact if that's the case, the premise revolves around an adorkable guy named Chuck who works at an electronics store after he was unceremoniously expelled from Stanford five years prior. One afternoon, Chuck receives an email from his ex-roommate, who is a spy and also the reason he was expelled, that is embedded with all of the secrets of the US government. Come to find out it is called the intersect and obviously very attractive to enemy agencies of foreign countries. Now, Chuck experiences 'flashes' of government intel when triggered by some sort of sensory stimulation. The CIA and NSA send their best agents to act as his handlers and the rest is television genius in my opinion.

Zachary Levi is brilliant as the lovable Chuck and his comedic timing is perfection. Throw in Yvonne Strahovski and Adam Baldwin as Sarah and Casey, his overprotective and sometimes reluctant handlers and you've got one of the funniest and most enjoyable trio's on TV right now. The growing and strained love story between Chuck and Sarah would keep me tuning in every week on it's own but it is only one element to this original and wonderful show.

The supporting cast boasts talented actors such as Sarah Lancaster as Chuck's beautiful and caring sister Ellie and Joshua Gomez as his loyal and eccentric best friend. There are numerous other actors who make this show good, like Ryan McPartlin as Ellie's fiancee and Vik Sahay and Scott Krinsky as two of Chuck's vibrant coworkers. Not to mention all the incredible guest stars that make memorable appearances.

So much for keeping this short I guess.

At the helm of this great show is Chris Fedak and Josh Schwartz to whom I can only say thank you for bringing such a unique and funny show to NBC. That said, I can only hope the execs at NBC realize what a gem they have and give Chuck it's full support. After a near miss with the third season, the fans rallied and demanded the network give this deserving dramedy it's due. Now Chuck will return in March after the 2010 winter Olympics with a shortened season and while I find this decision disappointing and disheartening, I suppose I must be grateful for any kind of third season at all.

All in all, Chuck is the epitome of clever and creative television and I hope it gains the respect it deserves. At any rate, I will tune into NBC for as long as Chuck is on the air. If the day comes that the Peacock decides to pull it from it's lineup, I may very well rethink my viewership.

So watch Chuck and laugh... a lot!

...Hen

Thursday Night Book Club

So I was thinking we should designate a day every week for a discussion of our favorite books. Thursday sounded right to me. Every Thursday evening, we can come here to discuss a book of our choosing; sounds simple, right?

While we're at it, maybe we can pick a day for movies, TV, and music as well. Let's say Monday we delve into our favorite films or at least the ones we've seen recently. Then on Wednesday we can talk about the latest in music and Friday can be dedicated to television. The remaining days can be left for whatever topics that are presently weighing on our minds.

Thoughts, suggestions? Or all out disagreement and outrage at such a preposterous idea?

...Hen

This won't be the last you'll hear from me...

In response to Hen's previous post regarding my want of a mouse in my life, I'll show you the picture, and you can judge for yourself:

Don't even try to tell me that's not cute, and I found the article on cnn.com, in case anyone wants to read up on how the blue they use to dye m&m's helps spinal injury patients.

But since we're on the subject of things that I like, I figure I'll give you a little glimpse into my world. But not too big of a glimpse, or else I wouldn't have much to write about in the future (not to mention you can read the basics in the "About Us"section). Bear with me, and I'll do my best not to be repetitive.

My favorite characters, whether they be in books, tv shows, or movies, are the strong ones (see: Veronica Mars. Really, do. It's one of the best shows to ever grace a television screen). And if that means they're the one we're meant to hate (ahem, Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass of Gossip Girl, or even better, Georgina), then I'll be cheering them on in their scheeming. (I feel like I should mention that most of this will probably apply to Hen as well; we're very similar in our tastes, hence the joint blog). We like the ones who are a bit ballsy, for lack of a better word. When characters are weak, I tend to want them to go away. I guess it makes sense, weakness is boring.

But regardless of our preference in characters, Hen and I have wide and varied tastes in everything. And we mean everything, which is probably why we're so excited about this blog. We needed an outlet. We could go on for hours. And sometimes, we do.

Letty

Shudder...

Letty just told me she wants a pet mouse. And then she sent me a link to an article about blue m&m's reducing spine injury. The mouse in the picture, used for research I assume, is admittedly cute with it's adorable blue paws but as a pet? I'm not entirely sure I could get past the eek factor.

...Hen

Bloody hell, Harry...

The most recent movie I've seen is Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and yes I have seen it twice now. I have to admit, I wasn't sure how it would hold up when compared to The Order of the Phoenix. It's hard for me to say it was better because the fifth book and subsequently the fifth movie are my favorite of the series, for many reasons. The primary reason being the turning point we see in Harry and the overall tone of the book. It's considerably darker than the previous four and for good reason. The second and almost equally as prominent reason is in the fifth installment we meet my favorite character: Bellatrix Lestrange. Call me crazy but she is just so wonderfully evil, I can't help but find myself drawn in by her complete lack of sanity. And I would be lying to say that Helena Bonham Carter's brilliant portrayal in both movies didn't solidify Bellatrix's position as my favorite character.

Now, on to the sixth movie. Without a doubt, one of the most surprising aspects of the film was how often I laughed. The Potter movies are no stranger to humor by any means but I was thoroughly impressed by the successful balance the film achieved between light comedy and the serious nature of the plot. Daniel Radcliffe made me chuckle genuinely on more than one occasion, Rupert Grint's impassioned and love struck Ron was extremely funny and Emma Watson's timing when evading her date at the party was perfect! All three of them really stepped up to the plate in my opinion and it's refreshing to see young actors continue to grow and maintain such genuine chemistry. And I can't move on without mentioning how much Tom Felton elevated the emotional depth of Draco Malfoy. Gone is the sneering little rich boy, instead Felton portrays Draco as the broken, terrified, and conflicted mess he is.

The other aspect that I was greatly impressed by was the casting. Jim Broadbent was wonderful as Professor Slughorn and Helen McCrory played a perfectly passionate Narcissa Malfoy. I also thought Lavender Brown, played by Jesse Cave, was true to my own imagination's depiction of her and quite funny. Both of the actors who played the young Tom Riddle were appropriately chilling and quietly frightening, as well.

Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman stole the show for me, once again. Both actors are so perfect for J.K. Rowling's characters that I sometimes wonder if she didn't have them in mind when creating them. I would watch this movie over and over if only to see the scenes in which they played.

Of course there were things left out of the film that would have been wonderful to see but I understand the need for editing and the factor of time. One of the story lines, and two of the characters, that I missed most from this film was the Tonks and Lupin relationship. I would have loved to see the tormented Tonks and resolute Lupin as their romance unfolded. I thought J.K. Rowling's realistic depiction of a love that developed in such troubled times deserved a place on the screen. Alas, small sacrifices.

The sixth film stayed remarkably loyal to the book in my opinion and that is one of the greatest gifts a filmmaker can give when developing a book series. The characters we love are where we expect them and doing what we expect them to be doing. David Yates and those responsible for bringing them to life on screen refresh the storyline not by altering it but by supporting it with dazzling effects, beautiful landscapes, superb direction, and a brilliant cast of British actors.

Perhaps I'm biased because I have long been a fan of Harry Potter and I am by no means an expert of film or acting, but what percentage of the Potter audience is? As a fan of the books and previous films however, I find myself reinvested in the characters and their plight as the movie progresses toward the final confrontation.

...Hen

Introductions are in order....

A Twist of Austen is our first foray into the world of blogging and we're very excited to be here! To begin, an explanation: Letty and Henrietta (Hen for short), are two of our favorite heroines brought to life by the wonderful Lauren Willig in the historical fiction 'Pink Carnation' series. We humbly borrow their names for anonymity so all credit for anything 'Pink' related that may pop up on this blog must deservedly go to Ms. Willig. We debated for some time over which nom de plume we would choose and ultimately decided between the aforementioned names and our favorite Austen characters. Letty had picked Anne Elliot and I was torn between Hen and Elizabeth Bennet. In the end we wanted to broaden our blog beyond the (beautiful) realm of Austen, so we begrudgingly left Anne and Lizzy to Jane herself and embraced Letty and Hen.

Letty and I have been friends for quite some time now and one of our greatest similarities is our love for books, movies, music, and the world of pop culture. So we created this place to discuss and share our thoughts with others who may share similar tastes.

I'm sure we will inundate this page with musings on our favorite books, TV shows, films, and music and will no doubt have to reign in the impassioned discussions that ensue. But that is essentially how our conversations run every day, so nothing new there.

...Hen