Jane Austen Week Tag

If you haven't heard, Naomi Bennet at Wonderland Creek is hosting a blog party for Jane Austen week. There are tags, games, and general JA period drama stuff. I saw the tag she was doing, and I instantly formed the answer to the questions in my mind as soon as I read them, so I thought YOU GUYS might be interested to know what I think of Austen and her novels.

So begins Jane Austen week, and the tag:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much of a Jane Austen fan do you consider yourself?
Wellll, I actually haven't read/watched all of her works yet, and therefore I can't say that I am completely 10, so I'm gonna give myself an 8. Because I really do enjoy other authors like Dickens and Bronte, and they are all considered 'period dramas'. :)

2. If 'they' would make a new Jane Austen movie, and you would be able to be cast in it, which Jane Austen character would you most like to play?
Probably Jane Bennet. I'm not good looking like she is, nor do I have blonde hair like in the movies, but I find myself to be more like her than others. And her part is neither too big, nor too small, so it would be just right for me because those are the kind of parts I like. Not huge, but still important.

3. Is there any felicity in the world superior to a walk?
First: Thank you Naomi for phrasing this question the way you did. It is quite... 'superior'. *clears throat*. I must say, 'no'. There is no felicity in the world superior to a walk. I adore walking. It motivates me, encourages me, makes me feel better, and even inspires me. Would you believe some of the best story ideas I've imagined came to me while I was walking? It just gets my juices flowing!
Fresh air... leaves... breezes... birds... clouds... quiet thoughts... prayers...
What's not to love? I only wish I had a larger space to walk in.

4. Who is your favorite Jane Austen Villain?
I can't say I have a 'favorite'. For one, I don't think there are a lot of what you would call 'villains' in her novels (other than a few exceptions, such as Mr Wickham...). I find that the struggle her main characters face is usually some sort of situational conflict (for example: being in love with someone but they don't love you, having the fear of being thrown out of your house by Cream of- excuse me, MISTER Collins, etc.). But, if you're speaking of horrid and all around NASTY characters, there are plenty. I found Caroline Bingley from the 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice to be MOST repulsive. That vulgar, insufferable woman! She's ugly, too. *shivers in disgust* In 2005 she's at least tolerable.
So that's my take on the 'villains'.

Yes, I mean YOU, Caroline.

Next question, please.

5. What/who introduced you to Jane Austen?
A few years ago, I took a British Literature class at a co-op. We were to read Emma, by Jane Austen, a few Poirot mysteries by Agatha Christy, and some Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
I came out of the class indifferent to the mysteries, but IN LOVE with Emma. Ever since then, I've been watching/reading JA things. I don't have a favorite book or movie/series, so don't ask me. I have favorite film VERSIONS, but that is all.

6. Did you love/enjoy Jane Austen immediately, or has there been a time when you hated (prejudged) it?
I can't say I've ever hated or prejudged Jane Austen. I only didn't know who she was or what she wrote about until my British Literature class. I had heard people talk about Jane Austen before, but I was indifferent to it.
Now, I understand all the Austen talk completely. I don't like being called an 'Austenite', and I'm not 'Austentatious', or anything like that, however.

7. Who, in your opinion, is the funniest Jane Austen character?
MRS. BENNET from P&P 1995! I laughed so much at that woman and all of her  'flutterings and spasms', and her indefatigable gimmicks to get her poor daughters married. She was indeed hilarious.
Oh, and one more thing: I haven't seen any of the Sense and Sensibilities yet (shocker, I know), so I have no idea how utterly hilarious Mr. Palmer is, but I shall soon see! :D

 8. Do you quote Jane Austen randomly in public?
By 'in public', do you mean out in the store rather than at home? I usually do all my quoting at home. When I'm in public, I try to be a more or less 'normal' human being. Imagine if I walked around the store saying how much better Lady Catherine's grocery list is than THAT one.

9. Are children allowed to eat cake on weddings? 
But of course, they are, really. Anyhow, they shall eat cake at MY wedding. But please be a doll and don't tell Mr. Woodhouse.

10. What is your reaction when you hear that an acquaintance (e.g. a lady at church) of yours loves Jane Austen?
Well, my eyes would probably light up with pleasure, and I'd say "Reeeaaallyyy?! Is that so! Well now, do you prefer Mr. Darcy 1995 or 2005?"
I'm serious. That would literally be my first question.
*p.s. I happen to prefer 1995, thank you*

11. Who writes better letters, Mr. Darcy or Captain Wentworth?
Hhhmmmm dash it all, I don't know! I'm having trouble remembering the Captain's letter. I guess I like Darcy's. I admire him to go straight home and write Elizabeth that letter in a very poised and collected manner after what had just occurred between them. If it were me, I would've been much too shaken to write anything, much less an entire and thorough explanation of the things she accused me of.

12. Which Jane Austen hero do you relate the least to?

Lydia Bennet. Her and I are exact opposites. While I do think there are some men who are very nice and (more or less) attractive, I am not a crazy flirt who would do ANYTHING to show myself off... I do think military officers are quite nice, though, I do.

13. What's your favorite Jane Austen house (from one of the movies)?
It's between Emma's house and Pemberly... I just adore the sunny, cheery air of Emma's house, but I think Pemberly is so sophisticated and decorative... they are about the same, I guess. Yes, I like them both the same.
BTW, there is a new line of jewelry from Bead Landing, and it's called 'Pemberly'. It's all kinds of gorgeous vintage looking cameos and pearls and charms and pendents that look like they came straight out of an Austen novel. Here is a necklace I made from one of the pendents:

Pemberly worthy. To be sure.

14. What's your favorite Jane Austen dress (from one of the movies)?
I reeeaaaalllly like all of Emma's (Romola Garai's) clothes. She just dresses sssoooo nice, all the time. I think I like the yellow one with the little bluish flowers on it. It's just so cute.

15. Can you turn off lit candles with your fingers? 
Why yes, I can! And it's quite fun, too. I first saw the guy in Fireproof do it, though. Not Darcy. And it doesn't hurt a bit!

And that, my friends, is all. Isn't it a lovely tag? Isn't it a lovely Jane Austen week? Isn't it a lovely new blog look that Naomi has got? Isn't it all just lovely?
Isn't it true that I have to go now and write my book before November ends and December comes altogether unexpectedly? Why yes, it is.
Have a marvelous day.