Favorite Fictional Character--Ayla

FFC is a weekly event created by Ryan at Wordsmithonia.

Ayla from The Clan of the Cave Bear and the entire Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel.

If Ayla were a real historical figure, she might have been the first woman in history to stand for women's liberation.  And though she is a fictional character, I like to think that there really was an Ayla in prehistoric times who dared to stand up for a woman's right, and ability, to accomplish anything a man could.  Ayla is not a Neanderthal, but a Cro-Magnon, and when she is taken in by the "clan", she is not readily accepted--by some less than others.  When her totem (an animal spirit guide) is determined to be a cave lion--a particularly strong totem for a woman--Ayla is seen as even more of a threat.  When she picks up a weapon, a rock sling, and learns to use it as well, or even better, than the men, she is severely punished for breaking the clan law of women being forbidden to wield weapons.  Now you can see why I think Ayla is the prehistoric poster child for women's liberation!

On a side note, I will say that I think the use of the stronger cave lion totem for Ayla was the author's way of using symbolism to show that "the others" (Cro-Magnons) were stronger and superior to the Neanderthal.  This is something that we, of course, now know to be true because the Cro-Magnons prevailed and the Neanderthal died off.  However, it has been proven more recently that the Neanderthal were not quite as inferior to us as originally believed.  Whether they did indeed die out or assimilated with Cro-Magnons is still yet to be proven.

Sorry...I didn't mean this to be a science lesson! Truly, Ayla is one of my favorite characters because The Clan of the Cave Bear is one of my most favorite books.  It was recommended to me by my high school English teacher--my favorite teacher--Mrs. Fitch.  I have not read the rest of the series yet.  Scandalous, I know! It has been almost 25 years since I read the first one, but I have never forgotten it...that's how good it is.  I own the entire series and I will read them all eventually! *with a determined set of her jaw*

If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it.

Library Loot (my first one!)

It's a shame to say, but I really do not check out many books at the library anymore.  Don't get me wrong...I love the library and when I visit or go on their website, I just keep adding and adding books!  The reasons for my lack of library check outs? 

1) my personal library of 1700+ books (the bulk of which are TBR) means I never lack something to read,
2) I have been receiving so many ARCs and books for blog tours and
3) until recently, I haven't had a need for research materials. 

I'm now actively researching my novel (I'm getting ready to start a writing progress blog too) so I will be frequenting the library more often.  As I was browsing the library site for my research materials, naturally I had to go to the new arrivals section.  I found some good stuff there which I put on hold.  Also, after watching the French film "Queen Margot" recently, I was intrigued by the subject and found out that Alexandre Dumas had written an historical novel about her so....here's my loot!

In Search of Dracula: The History of Dracula and Vampires--Raymond T. McNally & Radu Florescu

Romania: An Illustrated History--Nicolae Klepper

Queen Margot--Alexandre Dumas

The Mayo Clinic Diet

Remember Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre which aired on cable in the 80s?  My library has all of them on DVD so I decided to revisit them! For some reason, they didn't have Disc 1, but I got Disc 2 and 3.  They include Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Goldilocks and the three bears, The princess and the pea, Pinocchio, and Thumbelina.  Sleeping Beauty...my favorite!


Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!

Winners of my 100+ Followers Giveaway and an announcement

There are three winners! The first winner I drew had only requested World Without End so I was able to draw another winner for The Pillars of the Earth!

The winner of World Without End is:

Laura @ The Calico Critic

The winner of The Pillars of the Earth is:

Ronnica

The winner of Catherine the Great is:

Heather @ The Maiden's Court

Congratulations to all the winners!

I am emailing the winners.  Please respond with your mailing addresses within 72 hours.  If I do not get a response within that time frame, I will pick another winner(s).  Thanks!

Now, an announcement:

Since starting my blog in August, I have entered a TON of contests and giveaways.  I have found that I much prefer the giveaways that only require you to be a follower and leave a comment.  You might ask me, "Well, why don't you just not do all the extra entries?"  I just can't! If the opportunities are there, I try to do them.  But I do get (slightly) annoyed, which isn't the giveaway blog's fault...I could just walk away by leaving a comment only.  People do win with only one entry.  Case in point--one of our winners today won with only one comment! Okay, okay...get on with it, I know! What I'm proposing is that from now on the only requirements for my giveaways will be that you must be a follower (I do verify) and leave a comment with your email.  Easy peasy! After tallying this contest's entries, my head was spinning so it will be a lot easier on me too! I don't know how the people with hundreds and hundreds of followers do it! Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this new guideline.  I hope I haven't ruffled any feathers.  I'm just trying to make it easier on everyone!

I'm planning a giveaway on my challenge blog when I reach 40 followers.  If you're not already following, head over and follow.  Just click my challenge blog button at the top of my left sidebar.  Thanks!

Congratulations again to the winners!

OSCAR Watch

Woo hoo! The OSCAR nominations were announced this morning.  As I predicted in this September 9th post, Christoph Waltz was nominated for his supporting role in "Inglourious Basterds" and, much to my delight, "Basterds" was also nominated for best picture and original screenplay AND Quentin Tarantino for best director.  Also, as I predicted in this December 3rd post, Helen Mirren picked up a nomination for best actress in "The Last Station" and George Clooney and Anna Kendrick for "Up in the Air."  I was glad to see Stanley Tucci nominated (best supporting actor) for his creepy turn in "The Lovely Bones."  I know my friend Ryan (Wordsmithonia) is probably thrilled that "Precious" and "The Hurt Locker" received their share of nominations.

Here is the list of nominations:

Best Picture
"Avatar"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"An Education"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
"A Serious Man"

"Up"

"Up in the Air"

Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges for "Crazy Heart"

George Clooney for "Up in the Air"

Colin Firth for "A Single Man"

Morgan Freeman for "Invictus"

Jeremy Renner for "The Hurt Locker"

Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock for "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren for "The Last Station"

Carey Mulligan for "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe for "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Meryl Streep for "Julie and Julia"

Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon for "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson for "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer for "The Last Station"
Staney Tucci for "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds"

Actress in a Supporting Role

Penelope Cruz for "Nine"
Vera Farmiga for "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal for "Crazy Heart"
Anna Kendrick for "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique for "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

Best Director
James Cameron for "Avatar"

Kathryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker"
Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds"
Lee Daniels for "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Jason Reitman for "Up in the Air"

Best Original Screenplay
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"The Messenger"

"A Serious Man"
"Up"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"District 9"
"An Education"
"In the Loop"
"Precious"
"Up in the Air"

Best Animated Film
"Coraline"

"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"
"Up"

Read the rest of the list here.

Congratulations to all the nominees!

Mailbox Monday (late, late show)

...that Michelle can never do an on time Mailbox Monday post! LOL! A little Craig Ferguson humor for you.

Mailbox Monday is a weekly event hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.

Click on the titles for book synopses.

In the Mail:

Won:

I am now in league with the devil...haha! I won this very nice Sony Reader from Shauna at Book Giveaways.  Thank you so much girl! She is always hosting the most awesome giveaways.  Be sure to stop by her blog.
I have already downloaded 5 FREE ebooks!

-Cranford--Elizabeth Gaskell
-The Mysteries of Udolpho--Ann Ward Radcliffe (the very same book read by Catherine in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey...woo hoo!)
-Essays of Travel and in the Art of Writing--Robert Louis Stevenson
-History of Letter Writing--William Roberts
-Scenario Writing Today--Grace Lytton

O, Juliet--Robin Maxwell 

I won this glorious book from the author herself AND it's signed! I also won a silver heart necklace and earrings.  Thank you Robin for writing such a beautiful book!

Notorious Royal Marriages--Leslie Carroll

Won this one from Allie at Hist-Fic Chick.  Thanks again Allie!

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World--Abigail Reynolds

Won from Martina at She Read a Book.  Thanks Martina!

From Paperback Swap:

The Town That Forgot How To Breathe--Kenneth J. Harvey

Bought:

From Amazon.com

Dracula: Prince of Many Faces/His Life and His Times--Radu R. Florescu & Raymond T. McNally

Art History: Volume I--Marilyn Stokstad

This is my gorgeous art history textbook.  I just had to share!

Mini Review--Zodicat Speaks by Doctor Zodicat

Zodicat Speaks: Discover Your Cat's Astrological Signature, an adorable book that basically allows you to determine your cat's sign (if you know their exact or approximate birthdate).  If you are not sure of their birthdate, there is a section at the beginning that helps you determine their sign in three easy steps.  Since I know the exact birthdate of my cat, Alis (February 24, 2007), I found out that her sign is Pisces.  Here are some characteristics of the Pisces cat from the book:

PISCES (February 19/20 to March 19/20)

Mode:  Mutable
Element:  Water
Rulership:  Neptune

Pisces and Aries are adjacent signs, yet they couldn't have less in common.  The first and last signs of the Zodiac, they represent the beginning and end of the life cycle.  Aries is like the newborn, brimming with untamed impulses, whereas Pisces is the sage--compassionate, wise, and empathic.  This is the pet that senses your feelings, reflects your mood, and offers you comfort when you're feeling blue.  Pisceans do, however, have ideas of their own.  Ruled by fanciful Neptune, they are dreamers who live in an enchanted world that few can enter.

Aptitudes

• Turning banal circumstance into full-blooded drama--the fur along a Piscean spine can go rigid at the spectre of a mark on the floor (on a good day, a Piscean back goes up at the sight of the floor itself)
• Staring at walls
• staring at corners
• Giving you a good scolding when you need it

Attitudes

• Disapprove if they catch you feeling sorry for yourself
• Believe that life is brief and should be filled with as much light-hearted play as possible
• Consider their visions and fantasies to be as real as anything else
• When hunting, do not distinguish rubber bands and cellophane from mice
• Regard themselves as figments of their own imagination

Zodicat's Guide to Pisces

Life Ambition:  None
Pet Peeve:  Missing a nap
Favorite Pastime:  Chasing shadows
Ultimate Pleasure:  Dozing off
Moment of Truth:  Waking up
Highest Expression of Love:  Total identification with the loved one
Karmic Downfall:  Reality
Traumatic Past-Life Experience:  Forced to hunt for food
Possible Professions:  Mystic, martyr, healer
Appropriate Names:  Gandhi, Sebastian, Joan, Tammy-Faye LOL!

This describes darling Alis very well.  She can be a handful, but she's very loving and sweet.  I enjoyed reading this book and finding more insight into Alis.  I've had this book for a few years and I plan on keeping it so I can analyze any future kitties that come into my household!

This was my January read for:

FTC Disclaimer:  This book was purchased by me and is from my personal library.

Addicted to the Past--Queen Elizabeth I signs Mary Stuart's Death Sentence

Today in history, February 1, 1587, English queen Elizabeth I signs Mary Stuart's (queen of Scots) death sentence.

Elizabeth was conflicted when it came to the matter of her cousin.  She knew that Mary represented danger, but she was highly aware of Mary's being a sovereign queen who was unlawfully deposed by her subjects.  She could not malign her cousin at the risk of damaging the model of royal prerogative.

At her trial, Mary defended herself; arguing that she was a sovereign queen and not punishable under the laws of England.  Additionally, she denied that she had ever plotted the death of Elizabeth.  By this time, it was too late.  She was condemned to death.  Elizabeth did not want to sign the execution warrant at first.  She agonized over the decision.  It is probable that she was tricked in to signing it.  Some believe that once she did sign it, the council rushed the execution in case Elizabeth changed her mind.  Mary was beheaded on February 8, 1587.  Elizabeth sent the following letter on the 14th to Mary's son, King James VI of Scotland:

My dear Brother,

I would you knew (though not felt) the extreme dolor that overwhelms my mind, for that miserable accident which (far contrary to my meaning) hath befallen. I have now sent this kinsman of mine, whom ere now it hath pleased you to favour, to instruct you truly of that which is too irksome for my pen to tell you. I beseech you that as God and many more know, how innocent I am in this case : so you will believe me, that if I had bid aught I would have bid by it. I am not so base minded that fear of any living creature or Prince should make me so afraid to do that were just; or done, to deny the same. I am not of so base a lineage, nor carry so vile a mind. But, as not to disguise, fits not a King, so will I never dissemble my actions, but cause them show even as I meant them. Thus assuring yourself of me, that as I know this was deserved, yet if I had meant it I would never lay it on others' shoulders; no more will I not damnify myself that thought it not.

The circumstance it may please you to have of this bearer. And for your part, think you have not in the world a more loving kinswoman, nor a more dear friend than myself; nor any that will watch more carefully to preserve you and your estate. And who shall otherwise persuade you, judge them more partial to others than you. And thus in haste I leave to trouble you: beseeching God to send you a long reign.

Your most assured loving sister and cousin,

Elizabeth R.

Clearly, Elizabeth felt that her actions were justified, but she felt somewhat wrong about it because Mary was her cousin and also a queen. I also think that Elizabeth remembered a time when she was in a similarly precarious position with her sister, Mary Tudor.  Recalling that must have given her pause, if only for a moment.

 I can't imagine ordering the death of a cousin, but Elizabeth was a queen.  Her main priority was keeping her safety intact so as to preserve the safety of the realm.  Someone once said, "It's good to be the king queen."  When it came to decisions like these, it probably wasn't!

Source: englishhistory.net