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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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Cranford

Captain's Log, Stardate 05.30.2008

I have just finished watching the BBC production of Cranford and I am COMPLETELY FLOORED!!!

I love this miniseries more than North and South and as much as Pride and Prejudice!!!!!

There is humor, there is love, there is tragedy. There is hope. I love how the story flows from person to person, and how despite hardships, the kindness and love of the residents of Cranford shine through.

This is a wonderful script and excellent casting. These are some of the finest actors I have seen in any movie. Dame Judi Dench is amazing, as is Dame Francesca Annis. I can’t praise this miniseries enough.

I have this saved on Tivo, but I am buying this DVD AT ONCE!!!!
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Unknown said…
So glad you liked Cranford! It is wonderful, isn't it? I bought the DVDs but haven't rewatched them yet (hmm...good weekend project!). Still like North & South more though (I mean, c'mon, it's got RICHARD ARMITAGE in it!! LOL, j/k!). The BBC is producing a 2 part "Christmas" special that will air over there in 2009...so I'm sure it'll be 2010 before we get it (SIGH!!). It's supposed to pick up one year after this miniseries ends I believe.
Fri May 30, 05:03:00 AM 2008
Anonymous said…
This was definitely my favorite film of the 2008 Masterpiece Classics season. I got an advance copy of it on DVD from PBS to review on my blog before it aired. I watched all five hours in one sitting (okay, I was ironing and folding laundry and doing stuff like that while I was watching).

I'm usually the kind of person who prefers the original source material over a film adaptation, but having read about half of the novella Cranford, I have to say I like the film version MUCH better!
Fri May 30, 08:07:00 AM 2008
Anonymous said…
I completely agree, Camy. I have recommended the series to all my Netflix pals, and while I have saved it on my DVR, I want to buy the DVD too.

Robin
Fri May 30, 10:49:00 AM 2008
Tanja said…
I thought of you, Camy, when I watched Cranford and wondered if you saw it. Because I read all your comments about the Jane Austen movies. I laughed out loud at the scene about how to eat oranges and if "sucking" was appropriate. I got THE LOOK from my husband for that. And I bawled like a child when Dench's love interest died. I loved every minute of it.
Fri May 30, 11:14:00 AM 2008
Camy Tang said…
Ruth, I will give you leave to like N&S more because of Richard, but for me, while the choice was VERY HARD, I have to say I enjoyed Cranford more because of the terrific casting and script.

Kaye, I'm so jealous you got an advance DVD! I've glanced at the Cranford novella, and when I discovered she'd combined three different stories for the series, I was thinking that the series is probably better. Fuller, more stuff added to link the three stories, etc.

Robin--Is it bad for me to gaze longingly at it in my Amazon wishlist? ;)

Tanja--I loved that orange scene! And I was bawling too. I think I bawled through the entire last two hours.

Camy
Sat May 31, 12:50:00 AM 2008
Trekkie4Ever said…
I saw it too!! It was truly wonderful and I hope to purchase the series someday. Right now I am working on buying all the Star Treks.

"Live long and prosper."
Mon Jun 02, 01:03:00 PM 2008
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