Printing Press

The Rose O'Neil Literary House is where all the literary and cultural happenings go on at Washington College. With a cup of tea in hand you can walk around the house filled to the brim with books and jammed pack with broadsides of all the famous authors who have stopped by the house through the Sophie Kerr program for years. There's a kitchen, a garden, a classroom on the porch where I've had Foundations of Western Lit and Creative Process, and a ceiling painted with authors stringed together in a 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon way. 

Now as wonderful as this house is, I know I do not use it to it's full potential. In fact, the only time I really ever enter the house is for class or for a class project. Well, the King Lear video I filmed had me investigating the greatest resource available to the literary house, the antique printing press. Master printer, Michael Kaylor, was printing out 75 special broadsides for the play and one of my partner's Maisie and I, made our way down into the depths of the workshop to see Mike in action.

We were there to film, we didn't plan on interviewing him, but he wound up explaining his entire process to us. He set up the machine, slapped on the ink and would run the paper through the machine as he cranked the wheel. He'd pull it out and remark that the print was either too inked or too dry. Mike would then take the paper out, measure it, and go back to the machine and adjust. He also insisted on not filming any of the "before" prints that did not qualify for the final 75. The man is a master and his work certainly reflects it.

Soon the prints were cranking out one after the other. Maisie and I enjoyed the experience, seeing and learning the process we had taken the time to watch before. The end result was fantastic, an old illustration of King Lear and the Fool paired with the poem "On Sitting Down to Read King Lear Once Again" by John Keats.

I enjoyed myself so much, I might want to take one of these workshop classes one day. I'm glad I got to  take advantage of a resource I had long forgotten.

The Making of King Lear

This semester I enrolled in the production class of King Lear. It was a large class divided into mostly actors in the play and then a few English majors taking it for their pre-1800 class. It's funny, when I first took the class I thought I'd be just reading and analyzing the play. You know, typical English class business. But it turned out that I was about to embark on a video interpretation of the play and my group and I chose to do a documentary of "The Making of King Lear."

The moment this task was assigned to my group we got straight to work on coming up with questions and e-mailing them out to those we wanted to interview. Then for the rest of the semester we scheduled one or two interviews a week and figured out what it was like making the play from everyone involved.

In the process I got to interview Barbara Mowat, the editor of Shakespeare's Folger edition of King Lear. That was really something special. My group and I also met and interviewed with all three professors involved in teaching the course: Prof. Moncrief, the Shakespeare professor, Jason Rubin the director, and TM who played King Lear, as well as Maegan the dramaturg, Chris Chronin the fool, and the actresses that played the three sisters Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia.

I am proud of the work I put into this and the way that my group worked effectively on producing the end product. Watch and enjoy.

Harry Potter Studio London

The last part of the weekend trip to London ended perfectly with the trip to the Warner Brother Studios for a tour of The Making of Harry Potter. I was calm all the way there until we walked inside and I lost my cool and started jumping up and down in excitement because I was going to see where the Harry Potter movies were filmed and walk through them discovering all the movie magic!

When I walked through the doors of the great hall my jaw dropped. I got to see everything in the films up close and it all just seemed even more magical just being there. I walked by the uniforms, the fire place, the tables, the gargoyles, all the way up to the head table where the house points were along with Dumbledore's owl podium. I just felt like I was about to be sorted into my house right there.

After exiting the Great Hall, I came across the Boy's Dormitory and the Gryffindor Common Room. The deep red and golds, the tapestries. Such a beautiful set fit for the Gryffindor House. Did you know the portrait on the wall is supposed to be a young Minerva McGonagall.

Another great part of the tour was that not only did they show the sets but all the rest of that movie magic. I got to see the beautiful costumes of the Yule Ball, Snape's wig, Creature masks and animatronics, and architecture. Everything just seemed so alive. 

Dumbledore's Office. I was never fully aware of the architecture of the room before. It has three levels that extend into an observatory and a lower basement like area. There's books everywhere and astronomical devices. I loved seeing the pensive in there along with the sorting hat and the sword of Godric Gryffindor.

Then came the outdoor part where I got to see the flying car, Number 4 Privet Drive, drink a glass of Butterbeer, see the triple decker night bus, and Godric's Hollow.

And at the very end there was a ballroom sized room filled with a large model of Hogwarts. I walked around and the Harry Potter theme began to play as the lights changed from day to night. Little yellow lights went on inside the castle and everything was magical. I really almost cried because a childhood dream came true.

This was an amazing trip to England and The Making of Harry Potter made it so. I advise anyone traveling around England to pay it a visit especially if you're a Potter Head like me.

Shannon

Angelas Ashes: The Frank McCourt Museum

The reason why I came to study abroad at University College of Cork, Ireland was to study Irish Literature. So when it came to exploring Ireland, most of my major sights to see have been literary related. That's why when Gerred and I came to visit Limerick, we made sure to see the new (only a year old) Frank McCourt Museum.

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Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Frank McCourt tells the story of his childhood in the memoir Angela's Ashes. Filled with the sorrow of the loss of his sister Margaret and twin brothers, Eugene and Oliver, the story of his life continues to worsen as his father leaves for England when he is eleven and spends all his money at the pub, leaving Frank's mother, Angela, to raise the children penniless by herself. Though sad as it is, the book is filled with excellent black humor and is a great literary masterpiece.

The Museum happened to be Leamy's School For Catholic Boys, the very school Frank McCourt went to when he was young. The owner of the museum, Una Heaten, happened to be one of Frank McCourt's friends and erected the museum in his honor. She also happens to be an artist, so the museum is definitely a little more "quirky" than the usual museum.

There is a glass case full of notebooks that members of Frank McCourt's class donated to the museum for display. The giant picture is of all the masters, and the one in the far back with the beard is the headmaster. The guy with all the medals on his kilt, happens to be the boy that danced a lot and won all the medals from the book.

This is the classroom and desks that Frank McCourt was taught in.

Oh and this little gem. Gerred found this on the way out, a tiny little angel sitting on the 7th step. The same one from the book that brought Frank his brothers. It made me happy to see this little detail as I left.

I still have to read 'Tis and Teacher Man and am waiting until I am mailed them from my bookshelf at home.

Shannon

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha

Last Fall I took a class on the Irish Novel and was able to explore Irish history and culture through literature. What interested me the most was the family dynamics in the stories, especially in the novels by Roddy Doyle. I fell in love with The Woman Who Walked Into Doors and as soon as I was ready I read its sequel, Paula Spencer. Roddy Doyle has easily become one of my favorite writers and as I am about to leave for Ireland in a month, I've begun an Irish literature kick for the summer. The first on the list being Doyle's Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha.

Doyle captures the carefree life of a ten-year old boy, Paddy Clarke, as he grows up in Ireland during the 60's. The stylized voice gets in the mind of the restless child as he runs around Barrytown with his gang playing, stealing, and causing shenanigans. But even while he is having fun teasing his brother with his friends, Paddy Clarke starts to observe the world around him as he finds his childhood slipping away from him.

I think the conversation that Paddy Clarke and the boys have with the Father captures the loss of adolescence perfectly:

Heaven was supposed to be a great place but nobody knew much about it. There were many mansions.

-One Each?

-Yes.

-Do you have to live by yourself?

Father Maloney didn't answer quick enough.

-Can your ma not live with you?

-She can, of course.

I'd really recommend reading this book if you haven't already, I know I'll soon have to read Roddy Doyle's The Commitments Trilogy soon enough.

Shannon

Eastern Neck

I never really stop to see nature. It's always there. The trees, the grass, the Bay. But I pass nature by everyday without acknowledging it. After spending a week discussing the The Bay by naturalist Gilbert Klingel with the group of middle schoolers Ms. T and I were teaching I started to understand and appreciate what's around me.

The class took a field trip to the Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge on the Chester River last week to really get a feel for what Klingel was talking about in The Bay. They went around, slowly with a great attention to detail and discovered each plant and animal with a newfound sight. 

And you know if I wasn't looking at everything I saw as a naturalist, I wouldn't have discovered the bay leaves growing and how they smelled like soup, or the not yet ripe wild rice that was growing underneath the overlook, or which berries were poisonous and which ones I could eat. I believe the fascination with the edible plants was due to the other reading material, The Hunger Games though.

I can't say that I'd like to stay in the "wild" all the time, but now I can walk out and identify the plants I know, learn the ones I don't, and survive off of certain roots. Mostly I can just stop and appreciate what's there instead of walking past it all.

Shannon

Good Reads

Back in high school I was a voracious reader. I was reading on the bus, in school, after school, and right before bed. I even worked at a library for two years shelving books. I miss filling my head with new words and stories all the time that I'm pledging to get back to my reading status now. Except this time I won't be reading young adult books, but books that are a little more noteworthy.

 So to do this I've compiled all the books I've read and want to read over at Goodreads.com. There you can find my profile Shenanigansrose, where I've got most of the books I've read (yes, this includes my fantasy young adult phase) along with my ratings on them all. You can even check out what I'm reading now-- The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald. is. perfect.

So join and follow me over there to see what it is I'm reading at the moment and I'll be sure to leave my thoughts on the books I finish over here on my blog. Remember, I'm always open to recommendations so let me know what you think I should read.

Read on!

Shannon

Girl in Translation

Around January my mom lent me Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok to read before heading back for the second semester of my Sophomore year. Well, being an English major I never got around to reading the book because I was too busy reading the entire Bible (for Foundations of Western Lit, not because I'm in Seminary school) and the Canterbury Tales, too read anything fun. But I finally can say that I finished this book and I liked it.

It's a coming of age story of a young girl, Kim Chang, who emigrated from Hong Kong with her mother in the late seventies. Upon arriving in America she finds herself living in squalor and in dept to her Aunt who saved her from Hong Kong. In order to get her and her mother out of their situation she begins a double life where she climbs the academic ladder by day and works at the sweat shop by night. Ah-Kim, triumphs over so much and has such a strong bond with her mom throughout the entire story. I definitely recommend that you read this book and then have your mom read it as well.

Anyone else have any recommendations for Summer Reads?

Shannon

Oh No She Didn't

Remember that lady you saw the other day with the bright red lipstick on her teeth and the scrunchie in her hair? Or the 60 year old woman wearing the tight tube top? And you thought "Oh goodness who let her out of the house? Doesn't she know what she's doing?" 

Yeah, well she probably doesn't and that's why you should carry around, Oh No She Didn't: The Top 100 Style Mistakes Women Make and How to Avoid Them by Clinton Kelly, from TLC's What Not To Wear, so that you can help those who have wandered from the path of fashion. Or you know, maybe yourself?

Clinton's book tackles all the hard issues of fashion blunders we're all thinking in our heads with a sassy, sarcastic, humor that makes you smile and cringe all at once. 

Mom Jeans

Tattoos and Formal Events

Denim on Denim a.k.a. The Canadian Tuxedo

Wearing all Black

Muffin Tops

Too much tucking

and much more that women really should know but I keep seeing!

If you read this book it'll either be hilarious or a terrible wake up call.

Shannon

Running With Scissors

While I was packing for my trip to New Mexico this past Winter Break, I grabbed a few books I hadn't read off my bookshelf and hopped on the plane. When I boarded the plane and pulled out a random book, I found Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. 

Goodness. I went from laughter to shock in just about every chapter.

This memoir is a retelling of all the strange happenings Augusten Burroughs encounters in the house of Dr. Finch after his mother gives him up as she looses her mind. Drug use, pedophilia, bizarre psychology...everything it's there as young Augusten grows up. Seriously, some of the events seemed so unreal, but I had to remind myself that it is in fact a memoir. Chilling.

One of the cool things I just found out is that there's a movie of the book, written and directed by the ecentric Ryan Murphy. With big stars like Alec Baldwin, Evan Rachel Wood, Kristin Chenoweth, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Honestly, why haven't I seen this? Maybe because it was made in 2006. Anyways, it's now number one on my list of must watch.

Have you seen the movie or read the book?

Shannon

Irish Novel

Irish Novel was a class that I feel I have truly benefited from. I've always been interested in Ireland (being an Irish-American) and it was great to learn about the culture through the novel. Now what was I expecting when I began the course? Faeries and potatoes. Yes, but what I got was much more. I learned about the history and culture of the Irish people. And I'd just like to share two books worth reading from the class.

Reading in the Dark by Seamus Deane

A young boy grows up in Derry, Northern Ireland, haunted by his family's history. By listening to the political, educational, and ghost stories around him he is able to piece together the family mystery and step into adulthood.

"A swift and masterful transformation of family griefs and political violence into something at once rhapsodic and heartbreaking. If Issac Babel had been born in Derry, he might have written this sudden, brilliant book."
--Seamus Heaney

The Woman Who Walked into Doors by Roddy Doyle

Another great book that I read was a much more modern book, The Woman Who Walked into Doors. Here, Paula Spencer is a working-class woman left powerless after the abuse of her husband and is left to find control through other aspects of her life. There's also a sequel, Paula Spencer, which takes place ten years later as she attempts to get her life back together again. 

Fun Books: Wish

You've seen the cool books that I do have, here are just a few that I think would make a great read and use of time.

Ready Set Novel Writer's Workbook

After getting No Plot No Problem Book I want this and the kit to just work.

No Plot No Problem Novel Writing Kit

I love the organization and fun that these two provide (hence these two books are on my Christmas list.)

Finish This Book

Being a big fan of Kerri Smith and all her works, I'm going to have to try this one.

Photojojo

I am in love with the Photojojo website. It's a fun place to get inspiration and tutorials. Having it as a book would just be stellar.

The Big Ass Book of Crafts

I love to craft and this book makes crafting seem less girl scouty and more hard core.

In the mean time I'll read my Irish Novels for class. Until Winter Break then.

Fun Books

Ever walked through a bookstore and found an odd book that stuck out? Maybe it was the bright colors, or the pop-ups, or the crazy title. But these are the books that just look fun. I have a few books like that actually and I love to read them. They cheer me up and never stop entertaining me.

The Mission: A Change Your Life Game

During my Senior year of high school I kept this in my purse and would pull it out whenever I got bored. I learned all the countries in Africa through this.

 Passive Agressive Notes

Well this is just entertaining and self explanatory.

Other People's Love Letters

These letters are beautiful and sad and I just want to know more about their life each time I read them. 

Wreck This Journal

I'll have to make a post on my progress with this book. My cousin, Kara, completed this once while we were in North Carolina.

No Plot, No Problem
I just got this the other day and I can't wait to crack it open.

I'm looking forward to adding some more silly books to my collection this Winter.