MY FAVOURITE AUTHOR.

[Eman]

Lindy, Thanks!! The one I saw was a BBC production with David Morrissey as Col Brandon. I know Jane Austen are "girly' books that blokes wouldn't read, but in English Lit class in college we read them and I loved them. They are classics. Though if you can get a copy of Lost In Austen. It's a hoot. Modern Day girl switches place with the main charachter in Pride and Prejudice and goes back into time.

[mariana44]

I have to confess I am not a Jane Austen fan--in fact I have never read any of her books--but I have got as far as downloading "Pride and Prejudice" onto my Kindle--I thought that could encourage me to read a few other classic books too.

And yes, Lindy-Kent is a very historic county--Canterbury Cathedral of course---lots old castles, including Hever Castle--not too far from here, where Anne Boleyn lived.

As for my singing--I do love to sing along to my music, but my husband George, always said to me--"Marian, stop singing--you are out of tune--you are tone-deaf "--but to me, I always sounded Ok. I can sing as much as I like now--only the dogs around to hear me !!

[LindyG]

Lindy, Thanks!! The one I saw was a BBC production with David Morrissey as Col Brandon. I know Jane Austen are "girly' books that blokes wouldn't read, but in English Lit class in college we read them and I loved them. They are classics. Though if you can get a copy of Lost In Austen. It's a hoot. Modern Day girl switches place with the main charachter in Pride and Prejudice and goes back into time.

Hi Eman,
No, Jane Austen's novels are NOT "girly" books. Only a truly adult mind can grasp them; the more mature one becomes, the greater they are realized to be.
They are brilliant achievements. Austen is accepted in the literary world as the greatest novelist of all time. Austen is the giant. Henry James, for example, that dour novelist of many great somber classics like the Turn of the Screw, The Golden Bowl, The Bostonians, (born American but wisely emigrated to England) stated in the late 19th century that Austen was the greatest. Generations of novelists and critics since have agreed on her preeminence. Of course, she wrote of higher life forms than those that now surround us. She had better material to work with.

I saw Lost in Austen the movie, Eman. There was too much NOW in it for me.
Kindof like watching "Julie and Julia"....I loved all of the Julia Child parts, but not the Julie parts.
I've heard that there was a great BBC series of Lost in Austen before the movie though, and I bet I would like that better.

[LindyG]

I have to confess I am not a Jane Austen fan--in fact I have never read any of her books--but I have got as far as downloading "Pride and Prejudice" onto my Kindle--I thought that could encourage me to read a few other classic books too.

And yes, Lindy-Kent is a very historic county--Canterbury Cathedral of course---lots old castles, including Hever Castle--not too far from here, where Anne Boleyn lived.

As for my singing--I do love to sing along to my music, but my husband George, always said to me--"Marian, stop singing--you are out of tune--you are tone-deaf "--but to me, I always sounded Ok. I can sing as much as I like now--only the dogs around to hear me !!

Mariana, I think if I were living where you live, I would have no need to travel. That's as good as it gets...as long as you can get to the ocean frequently, and that's not far for you.

Dogs don't lie, Mariana, and they have very good hearing. If your dogs aren't covering their ears or howling when you sing, you must be singing beautifully! And I bet they love you for playing Matt!

[LindyG]

I have just been inspired, having read a new post from Sir Robert of Yorkshire, to observe that there are still gallant characters to be found among us, even in these depraved times, worthy of Jane Austen's finest hero characterizations.

Thank you, Sir Robert of Yorkshire.

To Sir Robert...... "The Impossible Dream", sung by the greatest singer and knight of all time, Sir Matt Monro

[Eman]

Of all the versions of "The Impossible Dream", I love Matt's the best. Though I will admit the Lettermen have a good one also with an outstanding solo by Jim Pike.

[mariana44]

I love the version by Johnny Mathis version--a medley, where he also sings "Man of La Mancha" and "Dulcinea"---I have never heard Dulcinea anywhere else.

[LindyG]

Dear Mariana,
Treat yourself to the movie, starring your extraordinary countryman, Peter O'Toole, and the always fabulous Sophia Loren.
While Peter provided the excellent acting (as usual), he did not sing, it was dubbed by Simon Gilbert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayz50HeFJUU

The audio and video seem a bit mismatched in the Youtube vid, but it's fine in the movie. Not too sure about those eyebrows on him though! But rather like the punked in his hair!

Richard Kiley was the original great Broadway star of Man of La Mancha, and it seems he toured the U.S. (perhaps the world?) performing it for DECADES. I don't find his "Dulcinea" on Youtube.
There is, however, a version starring the more recent revival Tony winner, Brian Stokes Mitchell, singing Dulcinea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLsQvCKG58k

I would bet you still like your Johnny's recording best.

And having heard many "Impossible Dream" recordings long before I heard Matt's (sad for me), I can only now listen to his now, it is so beautiful and I prefer it even to Kiley's.

[Eman]

Mariana, I've forgotten about Johnny Mathis' version. My Mum loves it and she's a big JM fan. Lindy I listen to Man From La Mancha from time to time while driving to work on the I-5 and I'm singing along to it..so it's kinda funny if you ever drive by me on the freeway and see me singing. A friend was beside me on the freeway and he said I looked like I was conducting an orchestra when he saw me.

[LindyG]

I listened to Johnny Mathis' recording (on Youtube) today, the medley Mariana referred to. It's lovely.

Now we need to hear your recording, Eman.

[mariana44]

I have never heard of Richard Stokes Mitchell---but he has a great voice--ideal for musical theatre--but yes, I still prefer the version by JM--of course he is just a singer, not an actor.

To be honest, I am not so keen on the song "The Impossible dream", although I know it has been recorded by almost everyone.

And I really do not like Peter O'Toole much either---but I thank you for the clips Lindy-really enjoyed Dulcinea--a great song.

Eman--"Man from La Mancha" is a song you can really get into it-I can imagine you in the car, belting it out. A bit like "Camelot ".

On a much smaller scale, when I walk my dogs, I always take my Ipod shuffle, and sing to myself while walking---and sometimes I see people smiling at me--never sure if it is my singing--or the dogs that make them smile.

[mariana44]

I am glad you got to hear JM singing the Medley Lindy--and even more glad that you liked it--I would guess that was a very old clip, I cannot remember when he stoppd singing it in his live concerts.

[Eman]

Marian and LIndy, sometimes I'll belt out The Phantom of The Opera or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, or my favourite sing-a-long when I have my friends riding with me "Grease".. ha ha!! Once I was out with my friends and we drove into to the restraunt parking lot and we were singing "It's A Sunshine Day" by the Brady Bunch, and this older couple who were going to park by us, backed up and parked somewhere else. And as I told you before in a meeting I broke out into song and sang "On A Wonderful Day Like Today" by Matt which shocked my office. LOL

[mariana44]

I can remember one morning going into work on the train, putting on my headphones, and singing to myself--or so I thought--till the other guy sitting in the carriage, stood up, and cursed, then walked out , into the next carriage !!!

[ROBERT M.]

As for my singing--I do love to sing along to my music, but my husband George, always said to me--"Marian, stop singing--you are out of tune--you are tone-deaf "--but to me, I always sounded Ok. I can sing as much as I like now--only the dogs around to hear me !!

You had better get your name down for the X Factor then Marian