My dear girl, I just want to make you happy!

Oh, Esther, how beautiful and cold are you!!!

Still "Sanditon" on my mind.
I should cover all the characters and tell you what I feel about them.

I love Esther Denham. I am in awe how her character develops through the episodes. It is amazing how Lord Babington brings all the good things out of her and makes her happy.

Charlotte Spencer is a very good actress - sure, it might not be to her credit, that she's got this beautiful pale skin full of lovely freckles and splendid red hair. But she's got the steely and icy look, this attitude of not caring about others while in reality she is soft and fragile.
Her best episode was the one where she talked and cried at her sick aunt's bedside, but  I also loved when she and Ms. Heywood take a walk down to the shore and Esther gives her opinion about all the people of Sanditon:
Wow!
Isn't she right! She is so good at knowing people around except her own stepbrother, which makes us think again how easy it is to look at others and tell their flaws while you are blinded to notice your own.

Very good job, Charlotte Spencer! You could pull off any other classic time period role ever written too, be it Austen or grand Tolstoy for sure.

9/10 the best Esther Denham for the win!!!

Who is Your Favourite Poet?

Previous post came out so dark and full of critique that I decided to write some lighthearted one for today. Honestly, enough of that Sidney Parker and let's look at a bright one, who was supposed to play a villain, seducer, nasty and immoral baronet Sir Edward Denham, instead we got this very funny and attractive golden locked Edward who is so talentless with women, we start to sympathise with him from the start.

Even when Lady Denham talks about him as someone charming who ladies like to look at makes us smile, because of his recent ridiculous dialogue about swimming with Charlotte. Edward is a cool funny guy you would like to party and laugh with. He doesn't jump at women either, when he sees Charlotte is not into him and could not care less, he never once bothers her or makes any improper comments. He's a well mannered guy, very good job, Jack Fox!

Jack Fox as Edward Denham

Some scenes of Edward Denham as played by Jack Fox was so ridiculously silly that I couldn't stop laughing. I loved how he gets acquainted with Charlotte: "Enchanted!" - says he and Charlotte's look is priceless. His flirting style is also funny and makes you laugh all the way. I don't know, perhaps Andrew Davies should have cast Jack Fox as Sidney Parker, because he is the only guy who makes you laugh in this film. Is it that Jack Fox as a real human is so nice that he turned silly Sir Edward into likable character?

Now, I hated the intimate and scandalous episode with Clara Brereton, it was totally unnecessary and cheap. I definitely rewinded those moments because I do not watch films to see naked flesh and most natural intercourse that exists in the world from its creation. I watch films to find something to think about, to analyse, to laugh and write about it. I definitely wouldn't write about that episode, because it didn't make sense. They could have given us a hint what happened but not shown so vividly. Perhaps since Sir Edward's original character in the book is very evil, they thought they had to do something in this film too. But Jack Fox is such a positive and fine actor, he just turned the villain into very funny and spunky one.
Yes he is manipulative and nasty to his stepsister, he is not loyal and is very mercantile, but he is what is expected of him. He is not a main hero and we do not need to fall in love with him. Do you know what I mean? Every main character is created to be liked and loved by viewers - like Charlotte and Sidney (sadly, latter didn't convinced us enough), while other ones just live along.
Sir Edward is interesting and at some point, he looks even sadly romantic and reminds me of some old poet, who tries his best but never succeeds although he has every talent to do so.

Jack Fox gets 8/10 from me, very good performance: charming and funny!

Great with Child

Last book I've read is Beth Ann Fennelly's "Great with child".

I am usually very sceptical towards new authors, especially American ones. You know I adore American literature, mostly THE writers like Salinger, Hemingway, Capote, but modern literature is a disaster just like their cinematography, G-d forbid, how could I ever call Hollywood movies Cinema :D

Anyways, Beth Ann Fennelly is one of those rare authors that absolutely got me into them. First, she's got Irish roots and red hair. Second, she's mum of three. Third, she's a poet and not bad either. I've read couple of her poems and liked them actually, but this book I've mentioned above is something that every mother or to-be should read. Not only extremely encouraging and funny, but it's also very witty and non-judgmental.
I've always been trying to be non-judgmental, but not succeed quite often, people bug me anyways and I call them names, or label and even ban them. While Beth Ann Fennelly seems to be so tolerant to any kind of people, mostly mums in this case, that gives you strength to become little bit like her too.

Except all that, Fennelly's also a freak of grammar, like me, should I say. She especially can't stand when people ignore apostrophes. I liked that so much. Even though I am not from English speaking country at all and nobody would judge (hopefully) my English, but I really try to speak and write correctly and when some native speaking people can't tell between "it's" and "its", or "you're" and "your" seems so embarrassing to me.

So I recommend everyone to read this book. I am even going to re-read it, so enjoyable like a friend of yours writing to you and you are dying to respond or ask some advice, but you really can't.
We all need friends like Beth Ann Fennelly, oh I do a lot.

Have a lovely time!!!

Little before Rosh Hashanah

It's month of Elul for us, less than 10 days left before Rosh Hashanah and the judgment day - doesn't it sound scary?
It is indeed.

I've been thinking and analysing things so much lately. Millions of bees have been buzzing in my brain (if it's a correct way to express my state of mind) and asking so many questions I couldn't answer.
The month before Rosh Hashana is supposed to be the time for meditation, changing one's character traits and shortcomings that one knows should be changed. It's time to think more and talk less.
I don't have much time for thinking because I'm mum, you know, of the 16 months old energetic boy who needs my attention all the time.
But I also know that it doesn't mean I can slip away from Elul having those reasons mentioned above. I don't want either - I want to change myself and move forward as a better person.

Sometimes I have a feeling that everything is illusion though.
Everything, especially religion.
Just look into their philosophies - starting from my very own Judaism and finishing with most modern religions - don't they all have same content?
Don't most of their authorities brainwash the mass conscious?
Don't most of them ignore women?
And in the end everyone is expecting Messiah, which gets so annoying, I wish I could ask G-d, what's all that for? Are we just puppets? Why are we so weak that can't make it without Messiah who should come and do the work for us?

I have one favourite rabbi (I have VERY few of them) Osher Baddiel - great old English man emigrated from Germany before the WWII. He gave shiurim to us couple of times in the midrasha and talked a lot about Mashiach/Messiah that is to come and redeem us all. Rav Baddiel was little sarcastic, but brilliantly explained that no-one's coming to redeem us like we expect: nobody will come and bring heaven on Earth. Messiah isn't/won't be son* of G-d, that's for sure (since we're all G-d's children in general) and he won't be walking on a water... he won't do the work for us either, he said. G-d has created this world in a way that we should sweat working and overcome obstacles before us.
In short, redeemer is mostly in us - it's our soul, our willpower and our desire to work on ourselves, help others and live according to Torah.

I absolutely loved Rav Baddiel's points of view, although he made sure that Mashiach definitely will come, as it's promised, but not in a way most people believe.

Yes.
Older I get less I believe in changing the world while I can't even change myself (do I really try?). Little Elul is left and I hope to get some strength and time to have meaningful Rosh Hashanah.
Or just let Mashiach come, and soon, please!


*with all respect to my Christian readers - this doesn't mean to reassure or upset you. We all should believe in what or who we believe in. Diversity is beautiful.

Leap Year - about American women & Irish men

I can't understand why do all those successful American women leave everything behind for rude, hairy pub owner Irish men?


Yep. This movie "Leap year" is about an American redhead Anna who falls for Irish Declan (not easy name to pronounce), who is rude, eats like pig and never helps her to carry the luggage.



It's a typical American movie shot by English director Anand Tucker who's quite okay I would say. It will absolutely remind you the other American redhead woman vs Irish man movie "Laws of attraction".

So very Good_e, smoking, huh?

Still worth to see just for breathtaking scenery of Ireland, Amy Adams's childish yet very mature face and Matthew Goode - just another British bad boy with dark eyes and attractive smile.

5/10

Flying over

My last post was true ill person's diary. It's unbelievable how can one become so tired and stressful when one's ill and has sore throat and nose. But there always is some positive aspect of being sick you know - one has more time to think about its life goals, improving personality and SLEEP. I slept so much on Shavuot that I think I'll never miss sleep again.

Midrasha is fine as usual. Lessons are fantastic, teachers - inspiring; can't say same about the weather. But I'm getting used to it I guess.

I think my English got worse. I mean I have no inspiration to write often on this blog even though there are so many things going on. I used to be very honest on this blog, even more than on my Georgian one, but now I feel like I have grown up so much I can't be same sunny funny girl. I mean, not that I quit being what I have always been, it's just that my life's little complicated right now and I hope it will be settled soon. I feel like flying over the cliff and not knowing whether I keep flying or someone snaps me and tells me to wake up from my dream... :))) I guess I'm being kind of surrealistic, but that's how I feel tonight.

Here comes the New Year again

I haven't posted here for ages I guess.
I have times when I just can't think in English & vica-verca, I post so much that forget my Georgian blog (which happens almost never :lol: )

Today's Tu Bishvat - Jewish New Year of trees. Last year I went to Georgian Hillel to celebrate this day, but this year Tu Bishvat comes to the same day as Shabbat so there won't be any parties I guess. Everyone will celebrate it at home.

Aw. And I miss midrasha. My life is empty without it. I miss all the girls, families I used to visit on Shabbat, shiurs of my beloved teachers, rabbis and all. I just miss that kind of life. Hope to go back soon, with G-d's help.

Shabbat Shalom & have a great week end you all.

:)