G is for...Elizabeth Gaskell



Today is all about the letter G and it's dedicated to a very deserving writer, in my opinion.  If you like Jane Austen (who I would have included in my A post if I had figured out my guiding theme by that point), then you will like:  Elizabeth Gaskell.





Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865)
A British writer during the Victorian era, Gaskell structured her novels and short stories around the social strata of the times and was a staunch believer in tolerance toward all religions, which is shown in many of her works.  In addition, Gaskell would pepper her works with local or regional dialect depending on the various settings to further aid in her want to represent the social times.  I first read one of Gaskell's works when I was living in Scotland; fitting since the setting was in Scotland as well.  From the time I picked the book up until I finished it, I was in love.  As a huge fan of Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell ranked right there alongside Austen's genius.  In fact, I might even like Gaskell's novels better.  Whoa!  Additionally, a fair number of her works have been turned into BBC and PBS productions.

*Recommendation:  North and South, both the book and the film (No, it is not the Civil War movie)

Who are some of your favorite G writers?

Comments

  1. Christine RainsApril 8, 2014 at 5:26 PM

    I didn't recognize her name, but I've heard of North and South. You've listed a lot of amazing writers so far during the Challenge. The first G author that comes to my mind is Neil Gaiman. :)

    Good luck with the Challenge! Visiting on behalf of Untethered Realms

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MelApril 9, 2014 at 12:31 PM

      Hi Christine! Thanks for stopping by. I've heard great things about Neil Gaiman, but haven't really read much by him...in fact, I don't think I've read anything! I'll have to check him out. And most people have no idea who Elizabeth Gaskell is...

      Delete
  2. UnknownApril 9, 2014 at 3:53 PM

    (In response to your above comment): I was one of those people who didn't know who Elizabeth Gaskell was until I read this and I'm so glad I have since I've read and reread my Austen books about 15 times each and would love to read something similar without knowing the ending. :) Thanks again Mel!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MelApril 10, 2014 at 9:01 AM

      Hi, Lena. You're very welcome! It might be sacrilege to say, but I just may enjoy Gaskell's work a little bit more than Austen's...

      Delete
  3. M&YApril 9, 2014 at 5:28 PM

    Oh Mr. Thornton....

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Get Wordy!

Popular posts from this blog

2016 A-Z Blogging Challenge Theme Reveal

Image
Oooo...the day is getting closer; creeping stealthily, it will smack you in the face in no time! While we impatiently await the start of the challenge, it's time to reveal our themes.  Yay!  I'm going for something drastically different this year.  Something much more challenging than I've ever done in my previous four years participating in this particular challenge.  Normally my posts are pretty straight-forward, contained, not overly ambitious.  This year is going to be another beast all together. My mission, should I choose to accept it, will be to write one continuous story for the entire challenge.  I know my characters, setting, and where I want it to go...kind of.  All I need to figure out is how to get from point A to point Z.  The first word of each post will start with the letter for the day; some of these will definitely be more difficult than others, but I'm determined. I look forward to writing this, receiving feedback, and having a rip-roaring goo
Read more

Top Ten Tuesday: FREEBIE

Image
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and it's a way to share what you're loving in list form. The topic changes every week, so there is always something new to discover! This week's topic is:  FREEBIE .  Yay!  So, because I missed last week's Top Ten, I am going to go with that topic... Top Ten Complete Series I Have Yet to Finish . Here they are: Inkworld   by Cornelia Funke Finishing School  by Gail Carriger The Chemical Garden by Lauren DeStefano Contours of the Heart by Tammara Webber The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman Edilean by Jude Deveraux The Tudor Court by Philippa Gregory Wildwood Chronicles  by Colin Meloy The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff Some of these I've only read one book in, while others are nearly complete!  What are some series you need to finish? Also, look for next week's top ten:  Top Ten
Read more

B is for...Bend

Image
It's day two of the A-Z Blogging Challenge and B is our designated letter today.  Unlike last year, I've decided on a dedicated theme to guide my posts for this month's challenge and have chosen:  sites and points of interest in Oregon .  I sat down last night and filled in my list (for the most part...some of those pesky letters are tricky) with places and things that I think are awesome and must-see stops for anyone traveling through the Pacific Northwest.  So, without further ado, let's get this virtual tour started! Bend, Oregon Technically considered the central point of the state, Bend is a city that is a must for nature enthusiasts and beer connoisseurs.  Nestled in the Cascade Range, it's a vibrant city with the highest population in Central Oregon (roughly 76,000).  Surrounded by high desert and US Service Forest land, the climate is temperate and offers activities year round.  Whether you're into biking and hiking in the summer or skiing an
Read more