Comments | mollyringwraith: Immense Rave: 'Daniel Deronda' (book AND film! a double threat!)

mollyringwraith

Immense Rave: 'Daniel Deronda' (book AND film! a double threat!)

Sep 28, 2005 20:15

Sliding easily into my top 5--nay, perhaps even top 2 or 3--for books and films discovered this year, we have Daniel Deronda, book by George Eliot, film by BBC.

I'm a big Victorian-lit fan, and Eliot's Middlemarch is one of my all-time favorites, so I'm not sure why I hadn't read more of her stuff until now. But Deronda convinced me I will have ( Read more... )

scholarly attempts, george eliot

Comments 25

lilyofshalott September 29 2005, 03:56:07 UTC

But I *like* the hat! I haven't read much Eliot, but this book sounds interesting--I think I shall check it out over Christmas holidays :)

mollyringwraith September 29 2005, 19:52:43 UTC

Yes, in truth the costumes were quite gorgeous. Droolworthy gowns; glossy curls; the works. Found myself thinking modern guys should wear cravats more often rather than these boring old ties. ;)

knitting_hobbit September 29 2005, 04:09:10 UTC

Dude! I'm an Eliot fan and somewhat of a Romola Garai applaud-er as well, so thank you for posting this! *adds film to list* :)

mollyringwraith September 29 2005, 19:54:25 UTC

Garai did a good job with a character who would be very difficult to portray, since a lot of what makes her interesting in the book is internal and not seen. But it worked well, as did all the casting. I was much impressed. Enjoy!

*fangirls right along* eowyn_luthien September 29 2005, 18:37:52 UTC

I loved both the book and movie as well! I sought the book out after part 3 of the film proved to be impossible to find (note to self: save money for movies instead of spending it all on books), and adored it from the first. Even though I've still not seen the third part, I can picture every second of the book from what I've seen of the film. :-)

I love Daniel's internal struggle when it comes to Mirah- he thinks that she puts him on a pedestal and doesn't want to hurt her by just being a man; not only that, but a man who is in love with her. *sniff* SO well written! I also love what Eliot wrote about Daniel's grandfather: "Daniel Charisi used to say, 'Better a wrong will than a wavering; better a steadfast enemy than an uncertain friend; better a false belief than no belief at all.' What he despised most was indifference." That quote just completely clicked with me for some reason- it seems to sum up so many aspects of the book. And, in the film, the contrast between Gwendolen's sometimes-flashy beauty and Mirah's quiet elegance is ( ... )

Re: *fangirls right along* mollyringwraith September 29 2005, 20:07:28 UTC

Hurrah! Well, naturally someone else who adores the same stuff would think I had good tastes ( ... )

kalquessa September 29 2005, 18:50:44 UTC

*adds to list of books and movies to buy/rent*

Whoa, the book is gigantimous! (says the girl who recommended Strange & Norrell)

mollyringwraith September 29 2005, 20:10:24 UTC

Hee - well, Strange & Norrell is somewhat easier to read, to be sure; but I think if Dickens' convoluted sentences don't faze you, neither would Eliot's. :) In any case, the film is a surprisingly faithful adaptation, so it almost serves as an adequate substitute. (And has all that pretteh in it.)

ex_krazycat651 September 29 2005, 21:30:05 UTC

PREACH THE LOVE OF HUGH, SISTAH!

Um.

I'm a fan.

Kind of.

I know where there's Dancy Slash.

mollyringwraith October 1 2005, 02:21:20 UTC

*pets your icon*

Dancy slash? Oh goodness. Hehe. Well, I'll settle for movies in which he does sex scenes...of which I hear there are one or two, out there...

ex_krazycat651 October 1 2005, 02:28:56 UTC

Sleeping Dictionary - Hugh sexes Jessica Alba. There is kissing of a tit that supposedly is hers, but in real life, someone actually came in to do the job of being Tit That Hugh Kisses. I want that gig, thanks.

Tempo - Hugh sexes Melanie Griffith (EWW) and Rachael Leigh Cook. The film is the worst film I've ever seen, but he takes his shirt off. A lot. Best ten seconds in the film is the pointless shower scene, which I suspect was just put there to make my heart explode. (Read: Naked Dancy Bum).

I hear he was a boytoy for two episodes of Cold Feet, but I didn't see those.

mollyringwraith October 2 2005, 17:47:19 UTC

Hmm, what a coincidence; Sleeping Dictionary has mysteriously appeared on my Netflix queue. ;) And yeah...what's the problem there, Miss Alba? Somehow I bet there were only around 80 other female volunteers on set, ready to stand in for that scene. (I'd do it too, modesty notwithstanding. For the sake of art, you know. Ahem.)