The Eclectic Authoress Recommends...

40. "Fahrenheit 451", a fantastic dystopian classic by Ray Bradbury.

"It was a pleasure to burn."

Stuck in My Head

"Young and Beautiful", a song on "The Great Gatsby" soundtrack by Lana Del Rey.

My, Oh My!

I know I've talked about Kate of Scathingly Brilliant before, in reference to those amazing sweater clips that I bought from her shop Sweet and Lovely. Well, I haven't bought anything this time (quite a relief, as I'll have Christmas presents to shop for soon!), but I have been wish-listing quite a lot... This gorgeous print above is from Kate's Etsy shop Flapper Doodle, and, as you can see, it combines books and the 1920s! I'm quite smitten with this lovely artwork. And, while you're on Etsy, give Sew Sugar Beans (the composition notebook covers are just too cute) and Yessiree Petunia (those vintage dresses are to die for!) a look!

Happy shopping!

Let's Go Swancing

I just saw the most fantastic "1940's Radio Hour" production, and I'm in quite the mood to go swing dancing. If anyone has found so helpful online tutorials, I'd love to improve.

These Books Should Be Read

Classics:
Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie
A Company of Swans, by Eva Ibbotson
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë
Emma, by Jane Austen

Dystopian:
Article Five, by Kristen Simmons
Enclave, by Ann Aguirre
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
After, a collection of apocalyptic short stories
Wither, by Lauren DeStefano

General:
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke
Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor
Beautiful Days, by Anna Godberson
And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie

Historical:
The Season, by Sarah Maclean
The Twin's Daughter, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
All of A Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor
My Mother the Cheerleader, by Robert Sharenow
Boston Jane, by Jennifer Holm

Science Fiction/Fantasy:
The Lost World, by Michael Crichton Wings,
Wings, by Aprylinne Pike
Eve and Adam, by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
I Am Number Four, by P. Lore
The Thief Lord, by Cornelia Funke

Children's:
Wings, by E.D. Baker
Half Upon a Time, by James Riley
Surprise Island, by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Twice Upon a Time, by James Riley
Between the Lines, by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Scripts:
The Thirty Nine Steps, by Patrick Barlow
Our Town, by Thornton Wilder
Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

People Have Tattoos of This

Today, I saw a simply wonderful production of the play To Kill a Mockingbird. It's one of my favorite novels, and the play exceeded expectations by including several direct quotes. One of these is a particular favorite of mine:

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

And another amazing Atticus Finch quote:

"Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win."

(The ham costume, unfortunately, was not included.)

Stuck in My Head

"All the Rowboats", a hauntingly lyrical song by Regina Spektor

"I'm Used to Working in my Basement Where Things Fall to the Floor."

I will not give any spoilers, I will not give any spoilers, I will not give any spoilers. It's sort of a mantra, and next to impossible with a film like Gravity. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, it's bound to be nominated for a few Academy Awards. In fact, if it doesn't win in at least one category, I'll be shocked.

Let us set the record straight: I hate space movies. Space is beautiful and wondrous and vast, and it's nice to go to a planetarium every once in a while. I have not ever, however, been interested in going into space. I was one of the only kids who never went through the "I want to be an astronaut" phase.

I absolutely adored Gravity. It's wonderful from every aspect- film work, camera angles, acting, writing, directing. But be sure to bring tissues; when I went, the entire theatre was sniffing.

Times New Roman

Although tattoos aren't for everyone, and I certainly do not have one (yet), there's quite the appeal for literary ink. The first of these images is from, obviously, Alice in Wonderland. Though the quote is not my favorite, I am quite a fan of the font. The second is not a quote, but still counts as literary. Both these link back here.

Oh, Lorde

When I started listening to Lorde's music, I suddenly had a problem: how to pronounce her name. I couldn't very well tell someone that, "Oh, I love that one artist's music- Lordy? Lord-eh? L-O-R-D-E? However you pronounce it? She sings 'Royals'?" And so- as every problem requires- I Googled it. As I did so, I found interviews of this artist, and, naturally, watched. By doing so, I found not only that Lorde is pronounced "lord", but also she seems like an actually cool, down to earth person. And (to top it all off), I am incredibly jealous of her hair.

And so, do give Lorde a listen- a few of my favorites of her songs are as follows:

"400 Lux"
"The Love Club"
"Buzzcut Season"

And, of course, the ever-played, a-bit-too-mainstream, "Royals".