~The Enchanted Castle~

-by E. Nesbit

I was told about a year ago that we were considering using The Enchanted Castle for our cousin camp production in a summer to come. But after further discussion, it was decided that it had to many "un-realities" and it would be impossible to film.

At the time, I had not read the book, but I knew the jist of it. And being told I would be casted as the witty Mabel, I was, of course, outraged.

But only until now do I understand why. It is filled to the brim with magic, statues, estates, and feasts that would be impossible to film. (not to mention the flying gods)

Don't get me wrong, I would still like to attempt filming maybe just a few scenes... but that is for another few years.

It seemed about an hour, and was really quite ten minutes, before they heard the bedroom door open and Mabel's feet on the stairs. 'She hasn't found it,' Gerald said. 'How do you know?' Jimmy asked. 'The way she walks,' said Gerald. You can, in fact, almost always tell whether the thing has been found that people have gone to look for by the sound of their feet as they return.

'We've got to find these clothes,' said Mabel, 'simply got to. I used to want to be a heroine. It's different when it really comes to being, isn't it?'

'It is a fine mansion,' he said at last when they had come back to the point from which they had started; 'but I should suppose, in a house this size, there would mostly be a secret stairway, or a priests' hiding place, or a ghost?' 'There are,' Mabhel briefly, 'but I thought Americans didn't believe in anything but machinery and newspapers.'

And then it is as though a spring touched, a fountain of light released. Everthing changes. Or, rather, everything is revealed. There are no more secrets. The plan of the world seems plain, like an easy sum that one writes in big figures on a child's slate. One wonders how one can ever have wondered about anything. Space is not; every place that one has seen or dreamed of is here. Time is not; into the instant is crowded all that one has ever done or dreamed of doing.

Now to go eat dinner with my missed-much sister :-)

I don't know how it happened, but it did.

School came and robbed me of my time... as it usually does. I hope this does not sound like an excuse, but it just as well should be.

I have read more on my list, I just have not been posting very often.

So I have not stopped altogether, I am still here. I am just finding the time.

North! or be Eaten Tour

Just getting this out of the way: a completely worth while book. North! or be Eaten is a bit lengthly (still in the reading process, here), but completely worth the time.

Fantasies are always a thrill to me, because they take place in places I have never heard of before. But there are some things in books that always stay the same. Like the value of family. The characters in this book by Andrew Peterson know the importance of family, and depend on each other.

Although I have not yet finished the book, I hope it continues to play out how has been going. I am having a hard time trying not to give out spoilers, so just go read the book that has me so excited!

Or check out the other blogs in this tour: The 160 Acre Woods, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, All About Children’s Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, Booking Mama, Cafe of Dreams, Dolce Bellezza, Fireside Musings, Homeschool Book Buzz, KidzBookBuzz.com, My Own Little Corner of the World, My utopia, Olive Tree, Reading is My Superpower, Through a Child’s Eyes

North! or be Eaten is also part of the Wingfeather saga.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side

My greener grass backyard this morning:

Some flowers begging to pose for pictures:

Just sit back, relax, and read The Enchanted Castle.

Preferences Meme

(...this is my 'hello, again' post...)

I stole this from Marie.

1)Reading something frivolous, or something serious?
It depends on what kind of mood I am in. As it is with everyone, I'm sure. I like both, really.

2)Paperback or hardcover?
Hardcover. Definitely. I hate bending books.

3)Fiction or nonfiction?
I'm bringing the mood thing in again. I like them both, and if I choose one, that shows I do not like the other one as much.

4)Poetry or prose?
Poetry. Prose. I don't know.

5)Biographies, or autobiographies?
I would like to have both, but autobiographies seem more interesting to me.

6)History or historical fiction?
History. I love cold, hard facts :)

7)Series or stand-alones?
If it's a good book, then I would enjoy reading more, but if it was not too good, or if it seems repeated, or if it seems forced, I prefer stand-alones.

8)Classics or best-sellers?
CLASSICS! Just becuase the only books our school uses are "best-sellers" and are not always - have yet to be the best choice.

9)Lurid, fruity prose, or straight-forward basic prose?
The lurid fruity stuff. It tastes good to the ears.

10)Plots or stream-of-consciousness?
Ehh. I like both but I think plots are easier to understand.

11)Long or short books?
See #7

12)Illustrated or non-illustrated?
Bring on the pictures! Just don't kill me with an overflow.

13)Borrowed or owned?
For first-reads? Borrowed. For good books already read? Owned.

14)New or used?
Ahh. The smell of an old book. Plus they are usually cheaper.