Slight delay...

Our apologies, everyone, but the short story contest conclusion is postponed to next year.

Well, January 1st, anyway.

Thank you for your patience, if indeed you are being patient, and we don't blame you if you aren't-- isn't it always a little funny when people thank you for patience when they really have no idea whether you actually are feeling patient? So thank you anyways for not yelling at us for our negligence. ;)

Or extreme busyness, as the case actually is.  (Life on Miss Marianne's part, at least, should be slowing way down sometime next week.)

Hope you all had a marvelous Christmas, and enjoy the festivities tonight, and we'll be back in 2014!

~Miss Dashwood and Miss Marianne

Game the Forty-fifth: P&P Yuletide Contest

Our next game will be testing your creativity!  We are hosting a short story contest here at the Club, and we think this will be fun for everyone.  The rules are simple.

• Write a story between 1,000 and 2,000 words and submit it to shelvesinthecloset95{at}gmail{dot}com.
• Stories are due by Tuesday, December 24th.
• The story must be about the characters in P&P-- any characters you like-- and may take place within the scope of the story-- i.e., as if it were a scene Jane Austen left out or forgot to include. *Miss Marianne washes Miss Dashwood's mouth out with soap*  Or, if you prefer, it can be a sort of sequel to the book, taking place after the book's events have ended.
• The story must be true to Jane Austen's original novel and if it takes place within the story arc, must not tamper with the events of the novel.  If it is a sequel-ish sort, it must not take too many liberties with "what happened next." Be reasonable and respectful to the Almighty Authoress and her work.
• The story must be Christmas-themed and must take place at Christmastime (any time during the month of December is fine).  
• The story must be historically accurate (to the best of your ability) and should contain Regency-era dialogue between characters (no modernization, please!).
• And, of course, the story must be clean and family-friendly.

You have a maximum of two weeks to write your story, as all stories are due Christmas Eve to be considered for the contest.  Miss Marianne and I will read and judge each submitted story, and choose one winner (with possible runners-up) from the lot.  If none of the stories submitted are particularly meritorious, we reserve the right not to announce a winner, blah blah blah.  The winning story will be announced on Monday, December 30th and published here at the Club for all to enjoy.  (So by submitting your story, you are agreeing to allow it to be published on this blog.)  There will be no other games until January 6, as the holiday season is rather busy for both Dashwood sisters.  :D

Looking forward to your entries!

Happy Anniversary to Us! (and the Club, of course)

It's been a whole year, folks.  One whole year of P&P95-related nonsense here at the Club, and the Dashwood sisters (yes, we're sisters-- well, actually Tweens, which is like sisters but a little bit better) are celebrating.  Separately, of course.  Because we're miles and miles apart in real life.

SOB.

Ahem.  That's not what this post is about.  This post is about our anniversary (our Clubiversary? nope, too cheesy) and the way we intended to celebrate it.  Because, see, we had big plans for this day.  We intended to write a Bashing of FakeP&P as a sort of fun party-ish post... after all, it's our blog and we can be as snarky as we wish.  Plus we needn't be afraid of offending 2005 fans because why would they be frequenting this blog in the first place, arewerite?  (Arewerite doesn't quite have the right ring to it... perhaps it's because our English teacher minds rebel against spelling "right" as "rite"...)  

At any rate, we ran out of time to get the post up today, so it will be along later in the month.  Do stay tuned... and thanks for sticking with us for a year!  (And a big hearty welcome to all the members who have been here less than a year, heehee.)

And now for a few stats, because those are fun.

Number of followers: 70
Number of members: 41
Most popular post: "And the winner of the 'Ask Mrs. Bennet' Contest..." (wonder why...? It is a mystery!)
Busiest month: July (so the giveaway was a success...)

Anyway, let's hear it!  Well, if you're not in a humor for applauding thunderously, here is some confetti to throw, because that's always fun-- as long as you aren't the one who has to clean up the mess. :D

What's been your favorite thing about the Club?  Is there anything you wish to see more of?  Do give us some feedback!

Game the Forty-Fourth: Double Challenge Caption Contest {2}

Back in June we hosted a 'Double Challenge Caption Contest,' and as we received a number of entries, I've decided to do it again. :)

So. Here's how it goes.

Rather than giving you a picture to make up a caption for, you get to find your own. Any P&P screencap you want. The Club's stock is right here, and then for a very extensive selection, go here or here. It can be easier to find funny ones since the Club's screencaps don't usually freeze weird faces and that sort of thing. ;) But you can even take your own if you want to. It just has to be from P&P95. (Yes, thank you, Mary.)

There are three ways to submit your entry...
1) Comment on this post with a link to the picture in question and your caption
2) Make your own captioned picture, post it on your blog, and comment on this post with a link
3) Make your own captioned picture and send it to us at shelvesinthecloset95 (Gmail account)

Any questions? Let us know!

Please get your caption to us by the the time a new game is posted (probably on Monday). We'll select a winner within the next day.

Have at it, folks, and a very Happy Thanksgiving! :)

True/False Trivia Quiz: Answers

Here are the answers to last week's game, folks!

1. The lady who owned Luckington Court (Longbourn) and let her house be disrupted for the filming was offered the role of an extra in P&P, but declined.
True

2. The actors who played Sir William and Lady Lucas were married in real life.
False (as far as I know :P)

3. Colin Firth had read Pride and Prejudice before being offered the role of Mr. Darcy.
False. But he read it afterwards, and before playing Mr. Darcy, and has since read all of Jane Austen's novels, I believe, and has a proper appreciation for them.

4. Jennifer Ehle first read P&P when she was twelve, and adored it (and Elizabeth) from the very first.
True. Everyone give her a hand!!

5. Lucy Davis (Maria Lucas) originally auditioned for Lydia Bennet.
True. In fact, she almost got the part, but they wanted somebody more experienced.  They were impressed by how much work she put into it, though.

6. Crispin Bonham-Carter was partially chosen because he looked distinctively different than Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy so that no one would get them confused.
True.

7. Susannah Harker (Jane) and Jennifer Ehle (Lizzy) both had wigs made to play their characters.
False. Lizzy's hair was a wig, but Jane's was Susannah's own (dyed a bit lighter, and cut in front for the Regency style).

8. There was a slight panic when the dance scenes at Lucas Lodge were about to be filmed, because somebody had recently waxed the floor and it was far too slippery to dance on. The polish wouldn't come off so someone finally suggested un-slip-ifying the floor by mopping it with Coke, and it worked.
True! I found this hilarious.

And our winner is Kerry, with everything right! Everyone did a pretty good job though!

Game the Forty-Third: True/False Trivia Quiz

For my birthday I received a copy of the book The Making of Pride and Prejudice, which pleased me very much.  So as I've been poking through there, I've been gleaning all sorts of new and interesting trivia facts, so I decided to compile a little quiz.  All you have to do is identify the facts as true or false.

1. The lady who owned Luckington Court (Longbourn) and let her house be disrupted for the filming was offered the role of an extra in P&P, but declined.

2. The actors who played Sir William and Lady Lucas were married in real life.

3. Colin Firth had read Pride and Prejudice before being offered the role of Mr. Darcy.

4. Jennifer Ehle first read P&P when she was twelve, and adored it (and Elizabeth) from the very first.

5. Lucy Davis (Maria Lucas) originally auditioned for Lydia Bennet.

6. Crispin Bonham-Carter was partially chosen because he looked distinctively different than Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy so that no one would get them confused.

7. Susannah Harker (Jane) and Jennifer Ehle (Lizzy) both had wigs made to play their characters..

8. There was a slight panic when the dance scenes at Lucas Lodge were about to be filmed, because somebody had recently waxed the floor and it was far too slippery to dance on. The polish wouldn't come off so someone finally suggested un-slip-ifying the floor by mopping it with Coke, and it worked.

Answers will be posted this weekend.

What's Wrong With This Quote?: Answers

And we have our answers in!  The messed-with quote comes first, followed by the correct one, with the correction highlighted.

1.
Now... let me see if I've got this right, Jane. Your father's sister is named Mrs. Phillips?
~Mrs. Hurst

Now... let me see if I've got this right, Jane. Your mother's sister is named Mrs. Phillips?
~Mrs. Hurst

2.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Indeed I am, sir. I have been invited twice to dine at Rosings Park. I have been treated with such affability, such condescension, as I would never have dared to hope for.
~Mr. Collins

Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Indeed I am, sir.  I have been treated with such affability, such condescension, as I would never have dared to hope for. I have been invited twice to dine at Rosings Park.
~Mr. Collins

3.
I’m sure she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful recipient.
~Jane Bennet

I’m sure she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful recipient.
~Lizzy Bennet

4.
Mr. Darcy, I really believe you take too much upon yourself.
~Lizzy Bennet

Mr. Darcy, I really believe you take too much upon yourself.
~Mr. Gardiner

5.
Mama! Mama! Where is my new locket that Jane brought me from London? Mary, have
you seen my new locket?
~Kitty Bennet

Mama! Mama! Where is my new locket that Lydia brought me from London? Mary, have
you seen my new locket?
~Kitty Bennet

6.
Almost from the earliest moments of our acquaintance I have come to feel for you a passionate admiration and regard which, despite all my struggles, has overcome every rational objection; and I beg you, most ardently, to relieve my suffering and consent to be my wife.
~Mr. Darcy

Almost from the earliest moments of our acquaintance I have come to feel for you a passionate admiration and regard which, despite all my struggles, has overcome every rational objection; and I beg you, most fervently, to relieve my suffering and consent to be my wife.
~Mr. Darcy

7.
Kitty, you're squashing my bonnet!
~Lydia Bennet

Kitty, you're squashing my bandbox!
~Lydia Bennet

8.
I'm not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home and a respectable husband. And, considering Mr Collins' character and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.
~Charlotte Lucas

I'm not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home. And, considering Mr Collins' character and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.
~Charlotte Lucas

9.
I confess I’ve hardly had time to write; my young cousins have commandeered almost every moment! But they are such dear children. Our mother indeed finds their exuberance a little trying for her nerves.
~Jane Bennet

I confess I’ve hardly had time to write; my young nieces and nephews have commandeered almost every moment! But they are such dear children. Our mother indeed finds their exuberance a little trying for her nerves.
~Jane Bennet

10.
And I am sure he and his wife kept a very good sort of shop before his elevation to the knighthood.  Poor Darcy, what agonies he must be suffering.
~Caroline Bingley

And I am sure he kept a very good sort of shop before his elevation to the knighthood.  Poor Darcy, what agonies he must be suffering.
~Caroline Bingley

And our winner is... 

Melody, with seven out of ten correct!  Thanks to everyone who played!

Game the Forty-Second: What's Wrong With This Quote?

I'm one of those people who goes out in public wearing a shirt that says "I Randomly Quote Jane Austen."  (So is Miss Marianne, in point of fact.)  And as any avid Jane Austen (or, specifically, P&P) quoter will tell you, the most embarrassing thing in the whole world is getting a quote wrong-- unless maybe it's accidentally speaking words that came from FakeP&P.  "You have bewitched me, body and-- UGH WHAT AM I SAYING CALL THE POISON CONTROL CENTER."

Um, anyways.

The point of this game is to test your expertise in the area of P&P95 quotes.  I have compiled a list of ten quotes from the miniseries, and each one has something wrong with it.  Sometimes it's as little as one word being changed-- sometimes it's as big as being cited with the wrong character.  Your job is to figure out the mistake and leave your answers in a comment.  One try per person, and we'll announce a winner on Saturday.

(Please note that all tweaked quotes have been taken verbatim-- and then tweaked-- from this online script.  We are playing this game based on the assumption that the script is correct-- if there is indeed a mistake in it, I am sorry for not being able to catch it, but the game is based on the script and that will be the final authority for correct answers.  Oh, and of course, it's not fair to go looking up quotes in the script before you submit your comment.  You must rely on your memory.  Thanks!)

So... how well do you know the dialogue of P&P95?

1.
Now... let me see if I've got this right, Jane. Your father's sister is named Mrs. Phillips?
~Mrs. Hurst

2.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Indeed I am, sir. I have been invited twice to dine at Rosings Park. I have been treated with such affability, such condescension, as I would never have dared to hope for.
~Mr. Collins

3.
I’m sure she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful recipient.
~Jane Bennet

4.
Mr. Darcy, I really believe you take too much upon yourself.
~Lizzy Bennet

5.
Mama! Mama! Where is my new locket that Jane brought me from London? Mary, have
you seen my new locket?
~Kitty Bennet

6.
Almost from the earliest moments of our acquaintance I have come to feel for you a passionate admiration and regard which, despite all my struggles, has overcome every rational objection; and I beg you, most ardently, to relieve my suffering and consent to be my wife.
~Mr. Darcy

7.
Kitty, you're squashing my bonnet!
~Lydia Bennet

8.
I'm not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home and a respectable husband. And, considering Mr Collins' character and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.
~Charlotte Lucas

9.
I confess I’ve hardly had time to write; my young cousins have commandeered almost every moment! But they are such dear children. Our mother indeed finds their exuberance a little trying for her nerves.
~Jane Bennet

10.
And I am sure he and his wife kept a very good sort of shop before his elevation to the knighthood.  Poor Darcy, what agonies he must be suffering.
~Caroline Bingley


{And just so ya know, all the mistakes found in these quotes are wording mistakes or citation mistakes-- punctuation is not the issue at stake.  Or should I say mistake? No, I think I should shut up.}

Talk Like Jane Austen

In celebration of the 202nd anniversary of Sense and Sensibility's publication, today (October 30), as determined but... somebody important, is "Talk Like Jane Austen Day." So assume a Regency demeanor and have a splendid time quoting your heart out and trying to speak as if you've been transported two centuries back in time.

One thing I've always loved about P&P95 is all the wonderful talking they do. For new devotees it will take some time to become accustomed to--it did for me, back in those days--but I always thought it sounded delightful, and the actors do a lovely job of making it seem realistic.

What do you think are some of the best-sounding quotes from Pride and Prejudice? (Or any other Jane Austen story, if you like!)

Visit the web page for Talk Like Jane Austen Day here.

Caption Contest {14} Winner

Winning caption by Joan!

Game the Forty-First: Caption Contest {14}

Try your wit with this one, ladies. :)

A winner will be selected before Monday. Until the caption is posted (it will appear here as well), feel free to enter!

What Were They On: Answers

Last week's game is posted here, and these are the answers.

~One~

1. Sense and Sensibility (1971)

2. Elinor Dashwood

3. Joanna David

4. Mrs. Gardiner

~Two~

1. Wives & Daughters

2. Lady Cumnor

3. Barbara Leigh-Hunt

4. Lady Catherine de Bourgh

~Three~

1. Lark Rise to Candleford

2. Ruby Pratt

3. Victoria Hamilton

4. Harriet Forster

~Four~

1. David Copperfield (1999)

2. Clara Copperfield/Murdstone

3. Emilia Fox

4. Georgiana Darcy

~Five~

1. Agatha Christie's Poirot (episode called "The Chocolate Box")

2. Virginie Mesnard

3. Anna Chancellor 

4. Caroline Bingley

~Six~

1. Miss Potter

2. Fruing Warne

3. David Bamber

4. Mr. Collins

~Seven~

1. Emma (1996, A&E)

2. Mrs. Elton

3. Lucy Robinson

4. Louisa Hurst

~Eight~

1. Cranford

2. Jessie Brown

3. Julia Sawalha

4. Lydia Bennet

~Nine~

1. Adam Bede

2. Dinah Morris

3. Susannah Harker

4. Jane Bennet

~Ten~

1. The Secret Garden (1987)

2. Adult Colin Craven

3. Colin Firth

4. Mr. Darcy

And our winner is most certainly Miss Laurie, with 38.5 out of 40 points! :) Thanks everyone!

How I Met P&P95: Banríon An Gheimhridh

The story of how Pride and Prejudice 1995 came into my life began before my life began.  What I mean is that even before I was born, I was in a way destined to meet the ‘95 version of P&P.  This story begins with my mom when she was eighteen.  I know this story is supposed to be about me, but I must tell that story as well, because it all is connected, and in a way, all part of one huge story about how much P&P ‘95 means to me.

When my mom was eighteen years old, she went on a trip to Britain with her grandparents.  When they were doing some shopping in the shopping district in London, they came across a posh new video store, gleaming, and two stories high, as my mom describes it whenever she retells this story, that was very hip at the time.  It was June 1986, and VHS tapes and VCRs were fairly new.  My great grandma and my mom found a shiny brand new VHS box set of the 1980 version of Pride and Prejudice.  It was exciting for both of them, as they had only ever seen the 1940 version with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson.  They brought it over to a young blond salesclerk who stood behind the cashiers counter.  In later years my mom would recall seeing a strange look fliter across his eyes, when they told him they were from Canada.  When my mom and great grandparents returned home to Canada, to their disappointment, the tape wouldn’t work in their VCR.  VHS tapes in Great Britain use a different format to the one used in North America, but they hadn’t realized that when they bought it.  That was when it dawned on my mom that the look in the salesclerk’s eyes had meant that he had known the tapes wouldn’t work in Canada.  He had sold it to them anyways.  My great grandpa sent it back for a refund.  Later on in life, my mom thought that they should have kept it anyway, since she and my great grandma liked looking at it and owning it, even though they couldn’t watch it - that’s how much they loved it.  Sadly, my great grandma never got to see it.

Fast forward to years later, when my mom just turned twenty nine and now had a six month old baby, me.  It was the year 1996, when P&P ‘95 was a new and recent series by the BBC.  My mom was shopping on that fateful day.  She came across a complete VHS box set of all 6 episodes of P&P ‘95.  She didn’t make the purchase that day.  My great grandma had had a stroke but insisted on going with my great grandpa on one last road trip to visit me, her new great granddaughter, and the rest of my family.  While my great grandma was visiting, my mom mentioned to her that she had seen the ‘95 P&P while shopping, and my great grandma asked her how much it was.  It wasn’t until four years later that my mom acquired the box set of P&P with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.

This brings me to why everything in this story is connected - if my mom had not experienced losing the opportunity to see the ‘80 version with her grandma as an eighteen-year-old, she may not have made so sure to buy the ‘95 version.  And if she had not bought the ‘95 version, it would never have become one of my childhood favorite movies, and therefore, I wouldn’t know to love it to the extent I do now.

My mom has always regretted that she did not buy the P&P ‘95 the first time she saw it, so that she could have watched it with my great grandma.  If my mom had purchased the ‘95 P&P earlier and brought it to Canada when we came to look after my great grandma, watching Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle’s Pride and Prejudice would have brought my great grandma joy when she was immobile in her last months.  My great grandma died when I was five years old, never having seen the 1980 or the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice.  This is why the story of how P&P came into my life is a bittersweet one.  The happy part is that I have grown up with P&P ‘95 and love watching it to this day.  And I have loved watching it ever since I first pushed the VHS of the first episode into my T.V., as an eight-year-old, and fell in love with the world of Jane Austen’s characters.  All my childhood I had seen scenes of it from all of the times my mom watched it, but it wasn’t until I was eight that I got to see all of it from start to finish for myself, and it quickly became my favorite.  I have loved it ever since.  That is the story of how I met Pride and Prejudice 1995. :)

Game the Fortieth: What were they on?

Helloooo everyone.  Today we shall have an actors game. The last one I did was, if I recall, a bit hard for y'all. So hopefully this will be easier. And more fun.  Sorry this is a day late... I was all out of ideas until the dear Miss Jane Bennet inspired this one. (Many thanks for that!)  But I won't post the answers till Monday, so feel free to play up to then. :)

First of all, no peeking at the actors page. Because the object of this game is to recognize the actors of P&P in other period dramas, so that might give things away. Well, all of the pictures will be of some actor who was in P&P, but none of them will be from P&P. Each one will have four categories, there are ten pictures, so the highest number of points will be 40. (I'll just put the categories under each picture to make it easier. :) )

~One~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/Miniseries/TV Series

2. Character

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Two~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Three~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Four~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character (on the left)

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Five~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Six~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Seven~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Eight~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Nine~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character (on the right)

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

~Ten~

See if you can name the:

1. Movie/miniseries/TV series

2. Character

3. Actor

4. Actor's character in P&P

Have fun! Let me know if you have any questions.

The Us Game: Answers

1.  How did we meet each other?

We met when Miss Marianne began following (and commenting on) Miss Dashwood's blog-- technically Amy first followed Melody's blog, but we didn't mutually acknowledge each other's existence until Melody found Amy's blog so we say that we met when Melody left her first comment on Yet Another Period Drama Blog.

2.  Who discovered P&P first?

Miss Dashwood, the summer she was fourteen.  (Miss Marianne followed soon after, though her first exposure to Jane Austen came through Sense and Sensibility.)

3.  When did we first see each other in real life, and how many times has this happened?

We met in real life on July 9th, 2013, and sadly this delightful event has happened only once thus far. WE DO NOT INTEND FOR IT TO BE THE LAST TIME THOUGH.

4.  Were we knowledgeable about Jane Austen before we actually read her books?

No-- in fact, we knew very little about her life at all.

5.  Which is our favorite film version of Mansfield Park?

The 1983 miniseries, though we by no means call it perfect-- we heartily wish the BBC would make a new, delightful, true-to-the-book and fascinating adaptation.

6.  Which of us began blogging first?

Melody did, in January of 2011.

7.  Which is our second-favorite Jane Austen movie (after P&P95, of course)?

Emma (2009).  It is practically perfect in every way, and is in fact the only Jane Austen adaptation (to date) that we have seen together in real life. (Not that the blogging world isn't real, but you know what I mean.  :D)

8.  Who created the Which P&P Miss Are You? quiz?

Miss Marianne.

9.  Which of us has had real-life experience with English Country Dancing?

Melody again (and I don't know why I'm using the Misses and our real names interchangeably-- I suppose I enjoy befuddling you.)

10.  Which of us prefers the 1995 adaptation of Persuasion to the 2007 one?

Miss Dashwood indubitably prefers the 1995 version, but Miss Marianne has a hard time deciding and concedes that both have their merits and faults.

11.  What is "probably" Miss Marianne's favorite part of P&P95?  (the word probably is used as Miss Marianne used it, and is meant to be taken to mean that it is very difficult to pick a favorite scene above all others.)

In Melody's own words in the comments on this post, "My favorite part of the movie is probably the bit at Pemberley. Beginning when she visits the grounds up until Lydia's elopement."

12.  Find us on the blog.  You'll know us when you see us. ;D

We were located on The Music page, and here is the picture in which we appeared.

Oh!!! You FOUND us!

And our winner is... The Elf!  All three ladies who participated did EXTREMELY well, however... thanks to all who played!

Game the Thirty-Ninth: The One About Us

This game is just a wee bit different from the norm... in honor of the two years and four days that Miss Marianne and Miss Dashwood have known each other, this week's game will focus on trivia facts about them and their friendship.  (It's not narcissism if there are two people involved.  Fact.)  The quiz is fairly simple, and all of the answers can be found somewhere on this blog.  You may have to dig deeper for some facts than for others, of course.  :D

1.  How did we meet each other?

2.  Who discovered P&P first?

3.  When did we first see each other in real life, and how many times has this happened?

4.  Were we knowledgeable about Jane Austen before we actually read her books?

5.  Which is our favorite film version of Mansfield Park?

6.  Which of us began blogging first?

7.  Which is our second-favorite Jane Austen movie (after P&P95, of course)?

8.  Who created the Which P&P Miss Are You? quiz?

9.  Which of us has had real-life experience with English Country Dancing?

10.  Which of us prefers the 1995 adaptation of Persuasion to the 2007 one?

11.  What is "probably" Miss Marianne's favorite part of P&P95?  (the word probably is used as Miss Marianne used it, and is meant to be taken to mean that it is very difficult to pick a favorite scene above all others.)

12.  Find us on the blog.  You'll know us when you see us. ;D

Have fun!

Caption Contest {13} Winner

Caption by Anne-girl.

How I Met P&P95: Deryn Joy

It's odd to remember a time when I wasn't acquainted with Jane Austen, she's been such a huge part of my life for the past few years. (Okay, that sounded creepy. Guys, I don't know her personally or anything.)

Of course, though, once there was a time before I knew the words, "there is a truth universally acknowledged," or fully understood their import...and shockingly, that was a mere 4 years ago. I distinctly remember being at church one Sunday evening and having a friend reference some person called "Mr. Darcy"; I gave her a blank look ("oh, this is, like, one of those obscure-celebrity crushes *sigh*") and had to admit, no, I've never read Pride & Prejudice...nor any other of Jane Austen's works...nor have I even heard of Mr. Darcy. Frankly, he sounds like a fuddy-duddy. -- NO, I didn't say that out loud, thank heavens. My rep would be virtually unsalvageable if I had.

In the course of human events, however, I had to read P&P for school and... I could say 'the rest is history,' but that would hardly be satisfactory.

I was hooked and dangerously obsessed by the second page. I ate, breathed, slept, swore by, and spoke nothing but Pride & Prejudice for weeks. ...the book, I mean. Not the actual manifestations.

My ravings over everything Mr. Darcy and the book finally induced one of my friends to ask if I'd ever seen The Movie (by which she of course meant the miniseries, though she wouldn't have, had she known where it would lead me).

"I'll bring it next week," she said. "You'd probably like it," she said.

Well, okay, she was a little more emphatic than that. I think the word "obsessed" figured in her description; but we can understand the gist without the details.

The rest is, pretty much, history: I read every other Austen novel out there within the year; I own two 'complete works of' and an extra each of P&P and Sense & Sensibility; I happen to have both movies. (...and lest you think I am a traitor to the cause, I present to you a little DISCLAIMER: my poor sainted grandmother only knew that her poor crazed granddaughters were nuts about this story and she sweetly bought us "the movie" as a present. yes, "P&P"05. Pestiferous & Pathetic would be a better title; but I digress. She couldn't have known how we'd say... mean, unprintable things about the actors, laugh it to death, and execrate it. AND IT'S NOT MY FAULT WE HAVEN'T BURNED IT YET! My dear grandmother can't help that  Matthew Mcfadyen looks like a horse and acts like a donkey. We sent her very sweet thank-you notes.)

Anyway, my wonderful friend brought me The Real Movie. As I watched all the glorious hours of Colin Firth's face it, I knew that my life would never be the same. Innumerable marathons later, I'm not sure what "my life would never be the same" really means, but it's got to be true, because all my productive-life plans have been trashed in favor of asking people how their families are and cracking up over "WHAT. -- excuse me."

So. That, my friends, is the story of how I met P&P95.

And I lived happily ever after.

Find out more about the blog series by clicking the "how I met P&P95" tag below.

Game the Thirty-Eighth: Caption Contest {13}

You all know the drill by now.  :D

The Random Stuff game - Answers

Well, looks like last week's game was a bit of a toughie, since only one person played! And she (The Elf) is coincidentally the winner. ;)

In case anybody is curious about the answers, though--

--1--

Chandelier at Lucas Lodge

--2--

Outside of Longbourn

--3--

Jane Bennet's room at Longbourn

--4--

Near the pianoforte upon which Mary played

Netherfield Ball

--5--

On that chest of drawers in Mr. Bennet's library/study/His Room

--6--

Tea set at Lucas Lodge

--7--

The clock at from the Proposal Scene

Hunsford Parsonage

--8--

Statue in the dining room at Longbourn

--9--

Washbasin and books on a table in Lizzy's room at Hunsford

--10--

The flower arrangement Lizzy was working on when Mr. Collins came along to propose

So there you have it! :)