A HEART FOR MILTON BY TRUDY BRASURE - GIVEAWAY WINNER

The Book

When Margaret Hale hastily rejected the wealthy industrialist's fervent marriage proposal, she could not have foreseen the events that would lead her to change her mind and open her heart. But was it too late now to let the handsome, brooding mill owner know? Set amidst the clamor of Victorian England's Industrial Revolution, this is a tale of hope, trial, and love's fulfillment. Based on the novel 'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell, this book weaves a change in the original plot to create a beautiful continuation of an enduring love story.

The giveaway

A Heart For Milton is the sequel to Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South" by Trudy Brasure. The giveaway contest closing today has been running  for two weeks and has been connected to the two entries from Margaret Hale Thornton's post honeymoon diary written by Trudy Brasure for the readers of FLY HIGH: part I and part II.

The winner has been chosen via random.org among the commenters of both diary pages (two comments, two chances to win) and will get the book directly from the author, Trudy Brasure , whom I want to thank heartily for being such a  kind and generous guest. I loved her pieces and her answers to your questions  as Margaret. .

And now, the name of the lucky winner. The signed copy of "A Heart for Milton" with a special dedication from the author goes to ... 

Rachel!!!

WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING - THE HOUR (2011)

Don't ask me whether it is or not an imitation of Mad Men, nor if it is better or worse. I haven't seen the American series - I hardly ever watch American series - and I just know that this British 6-part drama is set in the same years as that American show. What I can  tell you is that I'm glad I managed to see THE HOUR and that it  doesn't look like anything I've already seen. 

THE HOUR was broadcast on BBC2 between July and August (I was in England and bumped on a TV trailer by chance) and on BBC America in August last summer. 

I don't think it is perfect and actually got into it little by little after mildly liking the slow opening episode. But in the end, I found it  intriguing and quite good on the whole.

GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY HOP - THANKS TO ALL MY READERS AND FOLLOWERS: WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

More than 100 comments is a real record for my small corner of the blogosphere! But it happened taking part  in this Gratitude Giveaway Hop hosted and promoted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & All-Consuming Books.  It's been great fun! Thanks a lot to all my old and new followers for the interest they showed in my personal book giveaway here on FLY HIGH. 

It's been interesting to see which of the books I was offering was the most wished for and this is the resulting chart: 

1. Alexandre Dumas, The Black Tulip xxxxxxxxxxxx (12)

2. Syrie James, Nocturne xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (32)

3. Prue Batten, A Thousand Glass Flowers (Kindle Edition) xx (2)

4. Tracey Kiely, Murder Most Persuasive xxxxxxxxx (9)

5. Victoria Connelly, A Weekend with Mr Darcy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (20)

6. Mary Lydon Simonsen, Mr Darcy's Bite xxxxxxxxx (9)

7. Heather Lynn Rigaud, Fitwilliam Darcy Rock Star xxxxxxxxxx (10)

8. Karen Doornebos, Definitely not Mr Darcy xxxxxxxx (8)

9. William Deresiewicz, A Jane Austen Education xxxx (4)

10 Claire Harman, Jane's Fame xxxx (4)

Unfortunately , some of the commenters didn't make their choice, so if you sum up all the x,  their total number doesn't correspond to the  number of comments. Commenters who didn't state their book of choice were neither included in the final draw to pick up the name of the winner (for which purpose I used random.org ).

The winner in this giveaway contest is FLO who chose 

Fitzilliam Darcy Rock Star by Heather Lynn Rigaud. 

Congratulations!!!

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ALI MACNAMARA - DOUBLE GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Two books, two winners! Thanks to  Little Brown, UK, we've been granted a copy of "From Nottingh Hill with Love ... Actually" and one of "Breakfast at Darcy's" for this giveaway linked to Ali Macnamara's interview on Fly High!  Lots of enthusiastic comments we got, this means Ali's books must have sounded as charming as they really are! They also look lovely, actually. Aren't those bookcovers cute? 

Here are the names of the winners picked up with the help of random.org:

1. From Nottingh Hill with Love ... Actually" goes to ... Patricia Perez Miguel


2. Breakfast at Darcy's has been won by ... Gaabi Costa

Congratulations to both and ... Enjoy your new reads!

KATHERINE ASHE ON SIMON DE MONFORT - INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY OF HER MONFORT SERIES

THE AUTHOR 

Katherine Ashe is a writer of books, stage plays and screen and radio plays on historical subjects. She has kindly accepted to be my guest on FLY HIGH! to introduce  the world of Monfort to all of us who are fond of history and historical fiction.

SIMON DE MONFORT

For 700 years it was a hanging crime to speak his name. Believed to be the Angel of the Apocalypse, launching the millennium that would see the disintegration of nations in a single world-order, and the withering away of the Church as each soul is filled with the Holy Spirit – Simon de Montfort founded England’s Parliament and brought modern democracy into being.

Few could have been a less like champion of the common man – or considered an angel. Brought up as companion to King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis), Simon was befriended by King Henry III of England, married the king’s sister, who was a nun, and probably was the queen’s lover and father of the heir to the throne, Edward I.

Offered the Crowns of three nations, tried twice for treason, repeatedly excommunicated, Simon, as Earl of Leicester, enforced an elected government upon his king in 1258. And the government he brought into being has been the model for most modern nations.

“Montfort”, a speculative history in the form of a novel, with extensive research notes in an Historical Context section appended to each of the four volumes, follows 13th century documentation to probe how these things may have happened in the day-to-day living of Montfort’s life.

GIVEAWAY 

Read the following interview with Katherine Ashe and leave a comment/question for her + your e-mail address. One lucky commenter will win the 4 Monfort novels in the e-book  edition ! The giveaway is open worldwide and ends on December 2nd when the winner is announced. 

MARGARET HALE THORNTON AND HER SECRET DIARY - SECOND GUESTPOST BY TRUDY BRASURE + GIVEAWAY

                                            Tuesday  May 29, 1852

Mrs. Thornton and I had our first argument today. Well, perhaps it was not quite an argument, but I did speak quite adamantly when she spoke so unfavorably of John’s accomplishment in providing a workers’ kitchen. I must try to keep my voice more tempered when others do not see things as I do.

Fanny came to tea this afternoon and tried to offer me marital advice! It was all I could do to keep my composure. She has obviously quite a different marriage than I.

She reminded us all of the Milton ball which is forthcoming. John was fortunate enough to escape our little gathering before she graced Mrs. Thornton and I with all the myriad details of preparation for such a social enterprise. The Milton Ladies Society was very astute to have put Fanny on the planning committee, as she seems to have a very fine head for every last arrangement.

TEATIME TEN AT EMILY SNYDER'S BLOG - FANCY A CUP OF TEA WITH US?

Emily Snyder is a director, writer, teacher who lives in Massachusetts, US. We all know how easy it is to make acquaintances and friends in the blogosphere, especially when you find so many interesting people who share your same passions. And Emily and I share some: literature, teaching, Jane Austen among others. 

So, when she invited me to her Teatime Ten, how could I decline? I said, Yes, of course, and had great fun chatting with her on a cup of good English tea. An Italian and an American? Well, why not? Join us. We talked about books, literary heroes and heroines, teaching, blogging and tall, dark, handsome, blue-eyed Brits ...or more precisely A tall, dark, handsome, blue-eyed Brit: Richard Armitage. It was some time I didn't mention him here on FLY HIGH... Wasn't it? 

Ok, then. Will you join us?   I'll wait for you at Emily's.  CLICK HERE.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ALI MACNAMARA - INTERVIEW AND DOUBLE GIVEAWAY

British author Ali Macnamara is my guest today. She kindly accepted to answer my questions about her books: her first successful "From Nottingh Hill with Love ... Actually" and her due to release "Breakfast at Darcy's". You'll have the chance to win one of her two books reading and commenting this interview. You'll find the details for the giveaway contest at the end of the post. Enjoy and good luck!

Welcome on FLY HIGH! Ali. It’s a great pleasure to have you as my guest and to introduce you and your work to my readers. Tell us Ali, have you always wanted to be a writer?

No I actually started writing stories by accident on an Internet message board. People were enjoying them so much that I decided to have a go at writing ‘real books.’

How has your life changed after the publication of your first novel, “From Notting Hill with Love … Actually”?

I'VE SEEN IT AT THE CINEMA : ANONYMOUS (2011). SO LONG AS MEN CAN BREATH OR EYES CAN SEE...

... so long live Shakespeare's wonderful words ... whoever wrote them. After watching Roland Emmerich's intriguing Anonymous about the controversial question of the authorship behind Shakespeare's plays, I'm even more convinced of that. Whoever wrote them - as Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto) says at the end of the film - those words will live forever, and he and everybody else who lived in the same age as the bard who wrote them, even the Queen herself, will be remembered because they had the honour to live in the same age as that man. Isn't that true? 

GRATITUDE GIVEAWAY HOP - THANKS TO ALL MY READERS AND FOLLOWERS!

The Gratitude Giveaway  Hop is hosted and promoted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & All-Consuming Books. What is a giveaway hop? Each participating blog hosts a giveaway and then we link up together allowing our followers to hop easily from one giveaway to another. For followers this means lots of chances to win free books. 

This giveaway is meant to express our gratitude to our followers, readers, friends and mates on the blogosphere. As a gift,  I offer you a list of books I read, reviewed, liked or simply wrote about  in 2011 either here on FLY HIGH or on MY JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB.

To take part in this giveaway contest, choose one of the books in my list , leave a comment below this post + your e-mail address and good luck! The contest is open worldwide and ends on 27 November. The winner will be announced on the 28th.

I appreciate all those who visit my blog.  Thank you for being friendly, witty, interested and interesting! These books are for you. Pick up one, choose your favourite:

1. Alexandre Dumas, The Black Tulip

2. Syrie James, Nocturne 

3. Prue Batten, A Thousand Glass Flowers (Kindle Edition)

4. Tracey Kiely, Murder Most Persuasive

5. Victoria Connelly, A Weekend with Mr Darcy

6. Mary Lydon Simonsen, Mr Darcy's Bite

7. Heather Lynn Rigaud, Fitwilliam Darcy Rock Star

8. Karen Doornebos, Definitely not Mr Darcy

9. William Deresiewicz, A Jane Austen Education

10 Claire Harman, Jane's Fame

You'll find the list of all blogs participating in this event HERE. Hundreds of free books!

MARGARET HALE THORNTON AND HER SECRET DIARY - GUESTPOST AND GIVEAWAY BY TRUDY BRASURE

Dear friends of Fly High, especially you who like me love Mrs Gaskell's North and South, are you ready for a great couple of posts? Have you ever wondered what Margaret and John's married life could be like? Maybe you can have a glimpse on their happiness. How? Today and next Wednesday November 23 I'll have the honour to publish here on my blog two very confidential pages from Margaret Hale's - well Thornton's - Secret Diary. The first page, the one you are going to read today, was written soon after her honeymoon with John. I know, I know, I too envy her a lot. What a lucky young woman! I'll leave you to her words. For our eyes only.  Oh! And by the way, 

1. There's a giveaway linked to this series of posts. Read the details below.

2. If  you've got questions for Margaret, please, leave them here in your comments. She's ready to answer.

THE COMPANION OF LADY HOLMESHIRE BY DEBRA BROWN - DOUBLE GIVEAWAY WINNERS

• Book description from Amazon.com : A baby girl was found in a basket on Squire Carrington's doorstep. She was raised and sent to work as a servant girl for The Countess of Holmeshire. The widowed and unconventional Countess chose Miss Emma Carrington as a companion and sent her off for finishing with the goal of dragging her along into genteel Victorian society. What sort of reception would she have at tea and dinners? The young Earl of Holmeshire was engaged by arrangement to a lovely London lady, but their relationship was difficult. Could they work it out? Even the tribulations and banned romances of the servants downstairs play into the story as we follow Emma from a stone fortress to a Victorian village and then into fabulous London mansions. Great surprises unfold at a Midsummer Night's Dream Ball which help to solve mysteries that have gradually developed. You are invited to predict the great revelation of the last few pages!

Thanks a lot to all the readers who entered the contest to win this novel on occasion of Debra Brown's guestpost. Of course, many thanks also  to Debra for being my guest and offering the two copies of her book for this giveaway contest.

LONDON. THE IMPRESSIONISTS. LEONARDO.

Waldemar Januszczak

I was in London last summer when BBC2  broadcast a series of documentaries about the Impressionists. I couldn't watch them then but I took note. I had to find them. Well, I did it and I've finally seen the whole series.

In the four episodes,  Art writer Waldemar Januszczak explores the revolutionary achievements of the Impressionists: The Impressionists: Painting and Revolution, The Great Outdoors, The Gang of Four, Painting the People. 

G - LOYALTY BINDS ME: AUTHOR CHRISTOPHER RAE TALKS ABOUT HIS NOVEL OF RICHARD III

My guest today is Christopher Rae. I've asked him to answer some questions about his interest in Richard III Plantagenet and about the book he wrote about him: G - Loyalty Binds Me: A Novel of King Richard III.

Join our discussion and welcome Christopher on Fly High!

Christopher Rae was born in Glasgow, but having arrived in Yorkshire at the age of 5, after a detour via London, feels justified in claiming to be a native. A first degree in History from the University of Sussex was forgotten for a number of years while he pursued a career at the bleeding edge of information technology, working for companies such as American Express and Visa, but now provides the experience and knowledge behind the exhaustive research which underpins his writing.

WINNER OF CRANFORD DOUBLE GIVEAWAY

CRANFORD: I ONLY HOPE IT IS NOT IMPROPER ... SO MANY PLEASANT THINGS ARE! 

was my post for The Picninc at Cranford, hosted by Katherine at Gaskell's Blog.

I'm here to announce the name of the winner who's going to receive Cranford paperback + audiobook, picked up among the commenters to that post through random.org 

Of course, thanks to all of you who took part in the contest, but congratulations to ...

veganlenna!!!

DEBRA BROWN - THE WONDERFUL AUTHOR AND READER COMMUNITY - GUESTPOST AND DOUBLE GIVEAWAY

Join me and welcome author Debra Brown on Fly High! Read her guestblog and leave your comment + e-mail address to enter the double giveaway contest:

1. A signed paperback copy of Debra's "The Companion of Lady Holmeshire" for US and Canada readers only

2. An e-book version of the same book for readers from the rest of the world. 

Please, specify if you enter the contest from the US or elsewhere. This giveaway ends on November 16th. 

SPOOKS vs DOWNTON ABBEY - WHO WON THE MATCH IN THE END?

Everybody knows the answer now: Just look at the figures... Anyway, I promised in one of my previous posts (HERE) that after watching both series, I'd tell you which MY winner between Spooks 10 and Downton Abbey 2 was . Before they started broadcasting the new series, if asked to choose between them,  I would answer ... like someone else (HERE): that it was a real dilemma to me. Now Spooks has finished and we won't be asked to choose any longer. Only, am I really eager to see the  next season of Downton Abbey? *****Full of doubts. *****

Spooks has been one of my best favourite TV shows for so long and it remained such till its very end,  a couple of weeks ago.
Downton Abbey attracted my attention last year in November while I was in London because the Christmas DVD box or its publicity was almost everywhere. My fondness for period drama didn't let me resist. I had to see it! And it was a very pleasant discovery: amusing, light, well-acted, beautiful faces, beautiful costumes and locations.

Now, first of all I think it was tremendously unfair and unjust to broadcast the two series on the same day and at the same time,  so this resulting rivalry is the absurd consequence of that big mistake.
Secondly, I know that  it  may sound  incorrect  to compare such different produtcts since they actually were/are basically different in so many aspects. But BBC and ITV wanted,  if not a duel, a match. So, let's give them one.

LITERARY BLOG HOP - TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU ANALYZE LITERATURE?

This monthly blog hop is hosted at The Blue Bookcase . I know it's close to its deadline but I've just discovered this event and found it so interesting that I made up my mind and joined the discussion. This month's question is...

To what extent do you analyze literature? Are you more analytical in your reading if you know you're going to review the book? Is analysis useful in helping you understand and appreciate literature, or does it detract from your readerly experience

I tend to analyze whatever I read as a professional bias. I studied literature, I teach literature, I analyze or compare the texts I read. However, I hate dissecting literary texts and I don't usually teach literature that way. I still remember the awful sensation of hating a literary work while working on its detailed analysis, so this is just what I avoid doing with my students. They are just teenagers, English (as a foreign language) is compulsory in their curriculum,  so they are not specializing students who chose to study English Literature. This is another reason why I avoid proposing them a technical study of  literary texts. I'd like to make them love reading  novels or poetry and often the first reason why they hate those texts is because they usually study them that way at school.

However, what I do as a reader is inevitably to analyze, not only when I decide to review a book I'm reading on Fly High or My Jane Austen Book Club, but in general, whenever I read and that even when I read fanfiction or chick lit. Because I've read lots of that stuff too,  recently. Attempt to escape or to widen my horizons, I actually did it and liked it a lot (mind you, not in any case). 

My tendency to analyze and compare what I read does not detract my readerly experience, the more I read the more I like doing it. Analyzing increase the pleasure, it doesn't deminish it. You understand more, hence you appreciate or dislike  what you read more .

What is your personal attitude and experience in reading literary texts? I'd love to hear from you.

CLASSICS ON DVD - TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING (BBC 1997)

Never watching a classic period drama was more amusing. This one was brilliant. It was broadcast in 1997 first time and it is now available on DVD at a very cheap price. It is an excellent BBC 6-hours' costume drama. I simply loved watching it at the weekend. I  had added it to my TBS list after watching Faulks on Fiction in April.

The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling  (1749) is Henry Fielding's masterpiece,  which I had to read  - well, to study -  for  my English Literature Course at University when I was in my first year. I must admit I didn't have as much fun while reading it at that time.  But we grow-up, don't we? I must reread it and give Fielding's great humour another chance. It is also one of the 18th century novels I have very rarely used in my lessons. I have to correct that too: Fielding must be read. He is too clever. Do you remember the scene from "Becoming Jane" in which a fictional Tom Lefroy (James MacAvoy) suggests a fictional Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) to read  a book of an extraordinary young man to widen her horizons and write fiction with as much knowledge of the world as a masculine writer?  He  is  in fact  suggesting her to read Fielding's Tom Jones.