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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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Northanger Abbey on Masterpiece

Captain's Log, Supplemental

Okay, I finally got a chance to watch Northanger Abbey on Masterpiece. I was very entertained! I have to admit, however, that I’m not as fond of Northanger Abbey as I am of Persuasion, so I wasn’t well-versed enough to know where the script deviated from the novel.

Ignorance is bliss.

I thought it was very well cast. I LOVED the actor who played Henry Tilney—I thought he was perfect. I also liked the actress who plays Catherine Moorland. And I thought Mrs. Allen looked familiar—the actress is the same one who played Fanny Price in that old BBC version of Mansfield Park!

Anyway, it’s gotten me to read Northanger Abbey again. So far, there are a few differences but nothing major—mostly just to compress the storyline for a 2 hour movie. And I found out that the script was written by Andrew Davies, who did the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth, so I’m rather pleased.
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Deborah said…
yay i loved it too! and i thought that the guy playing Henry looked like Jude Law at times too. did you catch mansfield park last night?
Mon Jan 28, 04:02:00 AM 2008
Unknown said…
I loved Northanger Abbey - and JJ Feild, oh my word, I LOVE him!

Curious what you think of Mansfield Park (the Billie Piper version). I thought it was a bit of a mess...definitely my least favorite of the last 3 adaptations.
Mon Jan 28, 05:47:00 AM 2008
Brenda said…
I liked it too, but it had been so long since I read Northanger Abbey that I had forgotten most of it anyway.
Mon Jan 28, 11:25:00 AM 2008
Anonymous said…
Camy, I thought Mr. Tilney was great, too. I have Mansfield Park on my DVR right now, but I don't know when I'm going to get to watch it.

Maybe I can skip sleep? :D
Mon Jan 28, 06:16:00 PM 2008
Anonymous said…
Well since I haven't seen any of them except those made into big movies I have really enjoyed them all.

Did you note the gal who played Maria in Mansfield Park is the Bionic Woman??
Mon Jan 28, 07:11:00 PM 2008
T. Forkner said…
Hi Camy,
Great thoughts. Believe it or not, I have never read or watched Northanger Abbey. I LOVE Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice.
Wed Jan 30, 08:30:00 AM 2008
Martha A. said…
She was just so young looking! I could barely wrap my mind around the fact that she was getting married! I really enjoyed it even though I have not read the book yet, I intend to now!
Tue Aug 05, 07:05:00 AM 2008
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