Happiness is curling up with a new Shannon Hale novel. Really. One of my blogging friends shared her ARC of MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND, by Shannon Hale, and I totally loved it. Not as frothy as AUSTENLAND, this one still made me laugh out loud. A lot.
I hate spoilers, so I'll keep the description short. Set in Pembrook Park, a place where women can go for a "Jane Austen experience," MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND is part murder mystery (though whether the murder happened or not is part of the mystery), part romance, and part satire. If you're a fan of Austen's NORTHANGER ABBEY, I think you will especially love it. But I also think this one is more likely (than AUSTENLAND) to appeal to someone who's never read anything by Jane Austen. Charlotte was just so easy for me to relate to.
Reading the novel made me think about how it can be hard for us to say "no" to other people, and yet we tell ourselves "no" all the time. For instance, I've been wanting to take piano lessons for most of my life, but I'd always told myself that I didn't have the time or money. Well, for the most part, we determine what we have time and money for. I already had a piano, and I was signing my son up for lessons. So, I started taking lessons in August, and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm not a prodigy, but I love it. Also, when I was in college, I really liked latin dancing (one of those Spanish major things), so when one of my friends started teaching a Zumba class, I wanted to try it. But I told myself "no." Why? I'm not really sure. I started going last week, and it is seriously fun. I come out of the class humming and dancing and in a much better mood than I was when I went in.
Now, I'm not advocating debt or sugar comas, but . . . just try it. Take something you've been putting off, something that will enrich your life, and work towards it. You're worth it.
Oh, and I'm giving away a pre-order for MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND. You don't have to be a follower. To enter, just tell me (in the comments) something you'd really like to do. And if you leave a link in the comments, I'll give you an extra entry for sharing. That's two possible entries per person. The contest is open internationally (as long as The Book Depository ships to your location), and it ends Monday, January 23rd (Chinese New Year), at midnight.
:o)
Reading the novel made me think about how it can be hard for us to say "no" to other people, and yet we tell ourselves "no" all the time. For instance, I've been wanting to take piano lessons for most of my life, but I'd always told myself that I didn't have the time or money. Well, for the most part, we determine what we have time and money for. I already had a piano, and I was signing my son up for lessons. So, I started taking lessons in August, and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm not a prodigy, but I love it. Also, when I was in college, I really liked latin dancing (one of those Spanish major things), so when one of my friends started teaching a Zumba class, I wanted to try it. But I told myself "no." Why? I'm not really sure. I started going last week, and it is seriously fun. I come out of the class humming and dancing and in a much better mood than I was when I went in.
Now, I'm not advocating debt or sugar comas, but . . . just try it. Take something you've been putting off, something that will enrich your life, and work towards it. You're worth it.
Oh, and I'm giving away a pre-order for MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND. You don't have to be a follower. To enter, just tell me (in the comments) something you'd really like to do. And if you leave a link in the comments, I'll give you an extra entry for sharing. That's two possible entries per person. The contest is open internationally (as long as The Book Depository ships to your location), and it ends Monday, January 23rd (Chinese New Year), at midnight.
:o)
Fun post! I love the idea of saying YES to myself about something I've been wanting to do forever...and that thing is voice lessons.
ReplyDeleteNow what did you mean by a link? I really want to get an extra entry (I'm dying for that book, really). Do you mean a link to my blog, or FB page, or something else? Sorry to be obtuse. :)
ChristyLou, just copy and paste from the place that you shared (FB, blog, Twitter, or whatever). And voice lessons is exactly the sort of thing I meant. I hope you do it. :o)
DeleteAnd you're right, happiness IS curling up with a Shannon Hale book...I'm so glad there are two coming out this year!
ReplyDeleteSo am I.
DeleteI would really like to do the crazy thing after I graduate and move to Japan for a year to teach English.
ReplyDeleteYIKES. (I don't speak Japanese.)
And so is going to Japan to teach English, Q. You can do it. Most of them already speak English, and you'd pick up some Japanese. :o)
DeleteLearn Spanish. Travel to Ireland. Learn to play the harp. I loved Austenland! Can't wait to read the sequel:)
ReplyDeleteThose are all fabulous. My oldest sis plays the harp, and I've had harp envy ever since I was a kid. And if I could go anywhere in the world, it would be Ireland. I'd want to stay for a while though. :o)
DeleteI love Shannon Hale's books, and I'm overdue for reading another one. What would I really like to do? I'd like to learn how to draw - just simple sketches. I'd like to keep a drawing journal as well as a writing journal.
ReplyDeleteYes! This is one of mine as well. :o)
DeleteSo happy that Shannon Hale has two books coming out this year! Something I'd really like to do is a slamdunk, but since that's not likely, I'd like to go to cooking school.
ReplyDeleteActually, you could coach a youth team. Their baskets are adjustable. ;o)
DeleteI adore Shannon Hale... and it's quite possible that she's the reason why I began writing YA fiction. :) Thanks for sharing about Midnight in Austenland, I can't wait for it to come out!
ReplyDeleteAs for something I want to do, half of me really wants to study abroad in London next year. But half of me is terrified of leaving home (again. I already left Colorado for Los Angeles, and now I'm considering leaving the US for the UK?). I'm a double major in Theatre and English, and London would be the perfect place for me to study both... if only I can make myself DO it!
London would be the perfect place for that. I hope you make it there, if only for a visit.
DeleteSomeday... I want to ride a camel.
ReplyDeleteReading the book Shabanu has made me want to, so badly. To be riding, a little closer to the sky, in the midst of the desert.
I've never read a camel, either. I hope you do, someday. :o)
DeleteI'd love to learn a new language, maybe Italian. That would be so fun!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! :o)
DeleteOh, I am dying to read this one! I'm so glad you liked it! Love Shannon Hale.
ReplyDeleteAnd someday I'd love to go to Europe! It will probably never happen, but I can dream, right? :)
I loved it. And you should totally make a plan to go to Europe. So should I. :o)
DeleteOh fun! I adore Shannon Hale.
ReplyDeleteI really want to learn to play the guitar. I have a gorgeous guitar. I do not know how to play it. That's lame.
It's not any worse than my having a piano for years for my kids to take lessons on and not taking advantage of it myself.
DeleteI've never read a Shannon Hale book. Maybe I'll have to change that!
ReplyDelete=)
Hmm. I'm entering you, Sue. Reading books by Shannon Hale is definitely a life-enriching experience.
DeleteI love Shannon Hale's books! I'm so ecstatic for this one!!!
ReplyDeleteI want to get in shape and not be self conscious about my body anymore. My goal is to look good and feel great in an almost bikini! Hahaha
twitter.com/#!/girlwhoswaiting
Working toward a healthy body is a great goal.
DeleteCount me in! I loved AUSTENLAND (it's one of the few books I've checked out a second time from the library because I wanted to read it again), and MIDNIGHT IN AUSTENLAND sounds great, too.
ReplyDeleteSomething I've wanted to do for a few years now is take a cooking class or two - or a ballroom dance class - with the hubby. We both enjoy those things, so I wouldn't even have to drag him to it:)
Thanks for the giveaway, Myrna!
You're back! I bet he'd love to take classes with you when he finishes school. You guys are almost there. :o)
DeleteOkay, hopefully I did this correctly. :) It's up on my FB profile. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1154603564
ReplyDeleteThat'll do. Thank you!
DeleteThank you for this great giveaway! I LOVE Austenland and can't wait to read the next book.
ReplyDeleteSomething I would like to do? If I had enough money, I would love to travel around. It would be an advendure!!!
Again, thank you! :)
Giada M.
fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com
Yes, it would. :o)
DeleteIt is certainly far too easy to beat ourselves up!
ReplyDeleteShannon Hale is one of my fav authors too. I had the good luck to take a workshop with her a few years back.
ReplyDeleteOOOH! My friend just told me about the new book and it would be awesome to read a copy sooner than later! Loved Austenland and her Bayern series is excellent. What would I do....perhaps become a fabric designer. I love quilting and stacks of newly washed and folded fabric makes me so very happy.
ReplyDeleteLearn to paint with water color. Can't wait for her new book!!
ReplyDeleteSo I just did a quick blog post for lack of better idea. http://luminousquilts.blogspot.com/2012/01/midnight-in-austenland.html
ReplyDeleteI want to get in the best shape of my life. Perhaps too ambitious, but I'm hoping 2012 is my year. (After I have this baby, of course.) Never heard of Austenland, but sounds like I need to check it out.
ReplyDeleteOh, Hillari, you would LOVE it! I'm trying to get back in shape, too (hence the Zumba).
DeleteI'm dying to know who won?!?!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. I had work, today. Pica won.
DeleteLucky Pica! Sigh...maybe next time. :)
ReplyDelete