Category: Classic Books
‘The Bitter Tea of General Yen’ Review – See One of the First Interracial Romances on Screen
Directed by Frank Capra, The Bitter Tea of General Yen is a relatively forgotten pre-Code film with social relevance, religious cynicism, violence, and a shocking interracial romance between a Chinese warlord and a Christian missionary. Indeed, this is not the type of movie one thinks of when referencing a Capra classic. It’s a Wonderful Life it is not. But that’s what makes this movie so fascinating. Not only is it different from Capra’s later films, but it’s also a love story ahead of its time.
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Coming Home (1998) Review: A Solid WWII Period Drama With Fine Performances
Coming Home (1998) is an ITV miniseries based upon Rosamunde Pilcher’s coming-of-age story of the same name. The series is set during World War II (pre and post as well) in England. It follows about a decade of the life and loves and travails of schoolgirl Judith Duncan, who comes of age as war erupts.
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Watch Colin Firth in the First Trailer for the New Adaptation of ‘The Secret Garden’
The first trailer for the new adaptation of The Secret Garden is here and it looks magical! From the producers of Paddington and Harry Potter, comes a new take on the classic children’s book by Frances Hodgson Burnett with Colin Firth in a starring role.
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The Lyra Novels: This is a Fun 1980s Fantasy Series Full of Magic
In a lot of ways, The Lyra Novels is your typical eighties fantasy romp, and I loved every minute of it (some minutes more than others).
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Ranking the 16 Best Adaptations of the Beauty and the Beast Story
The Beauty and the Beast story is a tale as old as time. From Cupid and Psyche to the lesser-known...
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‘Cold Comfort Farm’ Book Review: A Futurist, Romantic Parody
Thus, begins Cold Comfort Farm, setting the tone for this tale of one young busybody, Miss Flora Poste. Cold Comfort Farm is a comedic novel, a gentle parody of romantic pastoral novels, of societal mores and the like.
It is also a futuristic novel, set in the near future (from 1932), after the fictional Anglo-Nicaraguan War of 1946, in which there are TV phones, and people jet around in private planes, flying themselves here and there.
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‘Ophelia’ Review: This is What Happens When ‘Hamlet’ is Told From the Female Perspective
Movie magic and thrilling female empowerment happen when Hamlet is told from the female perspective in Ophelia – a mostly brilliant re-imagining of Shakespeare’s tragic tale.
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‘Mansfield Park’ 1999 Review: A Unique and Controversial Adaptation
Patricia Rozema’s Mansfield Park (1999) is a unique and brazen adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, bringing out the book’s themes and morals in interesting ways.
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Where to Watch the Best Jane Austen Movies Right Now
After intense research, I’ve organized a list of where to watch Jane Austen movies on various streaming services right now. If a movie’s only available to rent/buy digitally or only on DVD, I’ll let you know.
From faithful adaptations such as the iconic ’95 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth to modern-day retellings like Clueless, there’s plenty of Jane Austen movies and TV shows to watch.
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Why You Should be Reading The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series
Over twenty years ago, in 1998, the first novel in Alexander McCall Smith’s latest series was...
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Evelina by Frances Burney: Take a Gander at This Still Fresh, Lesser-Known Classic
Classic Book Review: Evelina, or the History of a Young Lady’s Entrance into the World of Society...
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Martin Chuzzlewit (1994): A Finely Acted Dickens Adaptation
TV Series Review: Martin Chuzzlewit (1994) Martin Chuzzlewit is a six-part, BBC miniseries, an...
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