The New Improved Girlie Gossip thread - boys out!!

[Kafria]

I love Austen!! shes so good at dissecting human nature, Persuasion is my favourite

[odo banks]

Big hunky middleaged hobbit visitors are excepted, I trust, on the premise that girls should be allowed to chat, but only when supervised by mature males?

I've tried Jane Austen. Excellent writer, but I find her books a bit like the Silmarillion (or Wuthering Heights - which I adored but only read once). Need time, space and patience to get going. I might try Persuasion on your recommendation. Being less famous, it mght help. Read Northanger Abbey ages ago but can't remember much. My box set of Austen sits on my bookshelf and begs me to read them - I might have to exert myself.

[Pettytyrant101]

Ok confession time- I've never read any Austin- not a single word. In fact I've never even managed to sit through the entirety of any of the numerous adaptations which have cropped up.
She is so famous as a writer I must be missing something. If you could sum up what was good about her writing in a paragraph Kafria what would you say?

ps if I'm wearing a kilt am I allowed in here despite the no boys policy (that and I have to delve into memory to remember when I was still a boy!-although arguably not a great deal has changed)

[janesmith]

I'm pleased to see you have made a place for the girls, Kafria, but sadly it's already abundantly clear that the boys won't be letting us enjoy our privacy - so we must be careful what we say. Boys always have such trouble understanding us as it is. We'll definitely need to keep things simple. There is, of course, no hope of the new Administrator banning them altogether, is there? After all, the sign does say - boys out!:-Jane

[Admin]

It'd be difficult for the new administrator to do that since he is a boy ... and by responding to you I've gone and broken into your thread, oh dear....

[janesmith]

Oh dear! Then it will have to be kept simple, and don't blame me if you hear perfectly true and applicable comments about boys then, whether young or old:-Jane

[Pettytyrant101]

Blimey Jane- I hope your avatar is a self potrait!

[janesmith]

There are some similarities, if that's what you mean, and, frankly, a certain amount of wishful thinking involved too. I do hope you accept me for who I am and not for what I look like, Petty. Or perhaps, you are like some men I knew many moons ago who thought that what was in my head was supremely unimportant:-Jane

[Pettytyrant101]

Sorry, what? Were you saying something? I was looking at your picture.

[odo banks]

How un-thankful you are, Jane. If Primmy or Bella looked like that I should admire them even more than I do now. What if they were twins that looked like that!!! My goodness me.... As to what's in their heads, well, isn't it wise for a man to keep out of there!

[Kafria]

Ok confession time- I've never read any Austin- not a single word. In fact I've never even managed to sit through the entirety of any of the numerous adaptations which have cropped up.
She is so famous as a writer I must be missing something. If you could sum up what was good about her writing in a paragraph Kafria what would you say?

ps if I'm wearing a kilt am I allowed in here despite the no boys policy (that and I have to delve into memory to remember when I was still a boy!-although arguably not a great deal has changed)

Well, how do I keep this brief and clear? I think the difficulty is you have to see past the 'love' story and historical setting to the characterisation of individuals and human nature. Persuasion on the surface is a very sad story of a couple who got engaged when they were young, she is persuaded it's not a good idea and then they are thrown into company again years later. However through its characters you get to see the self delusion of the prideful, the impetus youth and the consequences it can cause, the irritated rubbing along of family, affected behaviour (in the classic sense) and the self interest of people. (I also admit it has my favourtie 'resolution' for the couple ever!!!).
As I love both silly romance as well as the insightful views of people these are fab reads for me. A lot of Sci Fi fans enjoy Austen due to the human nature link (as this is what good sci fi is about for me!).

Don't know if this helps - although Sense and sensibiltiy is a good place to start - I'd personally avoid Emma even though it is often said to be the best, she is just too much of a silly girl for me!

Does the kilt allowing you in here mean it is a skirt?

[Gandalf's Beard]

As Pro-feminist Goddess worshiper I'm certain that I am allowed on this thread (by the way, it was because of me that Beren started the original Feminism thread back in the very early days of the forum). Yes, I know I'm just as naughty as any boy that likes girls, but I'm an equal opportunist when it comes to ogling.

Women should be able to have fun too. Who am I to complain that the Ladies like to ogle Gerard Butler or Brad Pitt, or Daniel Craig (heck, even I like to ogle Daniel Craig ).

GB

[Gandalf's Beard]

By the way, Sense and Sensibility is by far my favourite Austen. And I have to admit that my favourite film version is Ang Lee's (which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Alan Rickman is in it ).

GB

[Kafria]

Just recorded the rerun of andrew davies three part adaptation, which in my opinion catches Elinor better! Ah now, just need to find the time for telly marathon!

[Squach]

What girlie things shall we talk about? Boys? Make-up? Latest fashions?

[Ringdrotten]

What happened to baking, cooking and cleaning?

[Ally]

Cesc Fabragas is way to pretty to be a footballer...

[Pettytyrant101]

He should play in Scotland they will soon kick lumps out of his pretty face.

[Kafria]

Definately, then he'll be suitably manly!!

What happened to baking, cooking and cleaning?

I don't know, did you forget to do your chores before you joined the high brow female conversation?

[Ringdrotten]

[Pettytyrant101]

Don't let the ladies intimidate your chauvinism Ringdrotten. Deep down they know no matter what they say they get a deep natural sense of well being and contentment at the sight of a nice clean floor, or a pile of freshly laundered clothes!

[Ringdrotten]

Oh you chauvinistic , I never said anything that might offend anyone! ...

[Squach]

Don't let the ladies intimidate your chauvinism Ringdrotten. Deep down they know no matter what they say they get a deep natural sense of well being and contentment at the sight of a nice clean floor, or a pile of freshly laundered clothes!

Not for me. You should see my bedroom! Though I don't really know if I class as a 'lady'.................

Probably just a girl.

[Tinuviel]

Well here's some girlie-ish gossip!
Orlando Bloom had a baby named Flynn. I'm pretty sure that kid will be the most gorgeous human being on the planet!
Flynn Bloom. Has a sexy ring to it

[Squach]

Wowzerz, coolio, lolzers!

All of these are random 'words' i say at school cos the other words like 'wow, cool, lol' don't have that edge that makes them so expressive.

Maybe i'm just weird....

If I say them in a weird accent, it sounds like im an alien or something!
Look! There I am!