Page Update!

I thought this was super cute, and fitting. 

Currently I am on chapter 4 of Captivating and about 50 pages away from finishing Villette. 

Updates to come soon!

Beauty is "Captivating"

Per the last post on "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge, I promised my thoughts and my thoughts you shall have. ... As far as chapter 2 anyway. 

So the main idea that I have gleaned so far is that women were designed to be beautiful, romantic, adventurous creatures under God's eye. Pretty cool. 

But wait. 

We are also emotional. Very emotional. 

I bet anyone could've guessed that though. Just picture yourself (or your significant other) watching something to the likes of The Notebook... pass the tissues please. 

So here's the stuff that I found important:

1. God created Eve to place another beautiful being into this world. He knew that Adam wasn't complete without her [see Genesis 2:18] and that a woman should also be created in His own image. Eve resembled God in that she was beautiful like nature and gentle like grace, but also had within her an adventurous spirit [after all, she was the one to eat the forbidden fruit]. 

2.Eve desired for a relationship, therefore women in general desire deep, meaningful relationships. Think about it. As a girl, would you rather have a one-night-stand or a devoted boyfriend to bring you flowers? As a man, do you see women as "clingy" at times? This is because we yearn for a relationship, with men, with women and God wants us to yearn for one with him as well. He created Eve in a way that mirrors the relationship he hopes to have with each and every one of us. Cool, huh?

3. Beauty is important, necessary and not something to be ashamed of. Now I'm not talking super-model, magazine cover, what the media says is beautiful, beauty. Not at all. I am talking about the beauty that each and every one of us holds inside. Have you ever heard the little message, "It's what's inside that counts?" Well that little saying is 100% true. 

God enjoys beauty, he embraces it. Look around you. The sky, trees, flowers, sunset...it's all pretty wonderful if you ask me. That is the kind of beauty we're talking. Natural, all-consuming beauty. It is peaceful. Women were created to be beings that invoke and create peace. 

Do I think we should run out and go on diets? Heck no. I love all things sugary. 

Do I think we should begin to see ourselves not for what the mirror shows us but for what we feel inside? My gosh yes. 

Dudes, it is your job to honor us chicas. Girls, honor yourselves and your sisters. 

What did you all think? Thoughts? 

Can't wait to continue the adventure!

A Digression

Oh, hey there. Did you think I forgot about you? Because I didn't! Well, I can't honestly say that I've thought much about reading either. Scratch that. The thought has been there, as has the desire, but again sleep deprivation has prevailed. Has anyone else felt that way? If you haven't, please share your tips! 

Needless to say I am a tiny bit  way behind on my reading. 

But, good news! I have begun another book. No fear, Villette is still in the works, and Lucy Snowe will have her adventures (or lack thereof?) in the near future!

I'm notorious for multi-tasking and that part of me has creeped its way into my reading habits as well. Listen to music, drink coffee ... lots of coffee, and still retain the information in the pages? Done. Now if only we could get that to creep into my school work we'd be all set to go!

So, what is this new book you might ask?

Well my boyfriend and I (aforementioned race car driver) are embarking on a two book set together. Trust me friends, to the engineer this is a massive feat. 

We're beginning with Captivating and then moving on to Wild at Heart. 

  

Essentially its a new way to get to know one another. 

But ey oh to those single ladies and gents out there.. I'd totally recommend these!

So why not? Learn a little more about yourself, ask questions, go deep. 

I'll share my thoughts if you share yours! 

....

Who are we kidding? I'll share mine regardless, but I would love to hear yours too!

Ready.Set.Go

Happy Reading!

Literary Love

In honor of the "holiday" a true literary lover cannot forget to sprinkle a little bit of classic romance throughout the day. So, to do this I thought it would be fun to post a page that I happened upon today while perusing my Twitter timeline (follow me @etara18 to hear more of my random thoughts and antics). The article covers the Top 10 kisses in literature. 

Clipped from: flavorwire.com (share this clip)

So, feel free to read, and tell me what you think. I have full faith that today is a day that it is a-ok to be 100% cheesy. And I mean, most of my favorite literature is romanticism, so I'd be quite the hypocrite if I said I didn't enjoy this stuff. 

However, my one criticism, is that I would've added a few to the list, tweaked it a bit. So here are my (my very few) additions: 

1. Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte ... 

If you didn't see that coming, refer to the previous 2 posts

In Ch. 15 Catherine exclaims, "Kiss me again, but don't let me see your eyes! I forgive what you have done to me. I love my murderer--but yours! How can I?"

And then in the next chapter Heathcliff says, "And I pray one prayer--I repeat it till my tongue stiffens--Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you--haunt me, then! The murdered DO haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts HAVE wandered on earth. Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad! Only DO not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I CANNOT live without my life! I CANNOT live without my soul!"

oh.my.gosh.

 I dare you to tell me that your Valentine said those last two lines to you over overpriced roses and dark chocolate covered strawberries. Heathcliff is a rare breed. And so is Catherine. And holy cow when they come together it is like two cosmic universes colliding and all of the passion in the world just bursts into the air. Intense.

2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin

I am cheating. This is clearly not a "kissing" scene, as (arguably) Darcy and Elizabeth never kiss as was proper in their time prior to marriage. 

None the less, I love this quote:

"In vain I have struggled.  It will not do.  My feelings will not be repressed.  You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."-Darcy

Big, tough Darcy has just come to terms with the fact that despite what he wishes to think, love really does conquer all. It is a feeling that cannot be repressed or pushed aside. Once felt, it can consume you until acted upon. 

Oh, Darcy...you are one dashing fellow. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 I hope that the person of your dreams (or of your fav. book) will be there with you! 

Me, I have a race car driver :)

Lucy Snowe... Weird or Wonderful?

On the adventure of speaking about Villette, by Charlotte Bronte, I feel it is most fitting to begin with Miss Lucy Snowe; the wonderfully dark protagonist of the novel.
Miss. Snowe undergoes much pain and heartache early on in the novel, and finds herself leaving home after familial deaths. On her adventure, she is not truly aware of where she will end up, but knows that she must go somewhere.
I'd like to take a moment to interject here. Although many argue her "weirdness" (my thesis advisor included), the girl had guts. Can you imagine packing up all of your belongings and just going away to somewhere totally new, presumably permanently, alone? I couldn't. Granted I am going to Rome in March by myself, and will travel through Munich and Brussels (another sidenote) but I know that I have a set destination, and will return home after 10 days. Lucy, did not.
Anyway, I digress. Back to the point.
Miss Snowe wound up at a boarding school for young women under the direction of Madame Beck. Since the language of choice was French, and Lucy was from England, she was instantly out of place with her accent. However, she soon found a niche in teaching English to the pupils, and not too long after found a companion. Graham Bretton, her youthful friend, from when she lived with he and his mother as a young girl.
But will time have changed the friendship between Lucy and Graham?
Seul l’avenir nous le dira .. Only time will tell.