Why I Prefer Mr. Knightley to Mr. Darcy

Today I have a repost for you of an article I really enjoyed writing back in 2014. Thus, I present to you, Why I Prefer Mr. Knightley to Mr. Darcy.

Millions of women adore Jane Austen’s novels, in particular Pride and Prejudice. I am among them, though I’ve only read what must have been an abridged version of the novel. I love the movies, though. And I love Emma, too, though, again, I haven’t read the book. So, I’m basically on even terms for discussing these stories’ respective gentlemen, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightley. If any guys are reading this, don’t freak out. If you’ve ever despaired of being compared to the perfect Mr. Darcy, I’m going to show you a glimpse of the female mind on the subject.

For most Austenites, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is considered the epitome of manhood. He is the ideal man for many women. And I love Darcy, I really do. But I think there is another Austen hero who is an even better candidate for the title.

Reading Through My Bookshelf: November's Reads

I'm hoping that, with school out, December will let me read more books. But, for now, I give you my reads of November.

1. In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Filbrick 4/5 – I read this book for my U.S. History class, and it was really quite interesting. The book tells the story of the sinking of the whaleship Essex by a whale; that story was the real-life inspiration for Moby Dick. It's a fascinating, smooth read, but the accounts of cannibalism were almost more disturbing than I could handle. Read with caution.

Sunday Psalms: Chapters 55, 57 & 59

Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall."

I love finding parallels between the Old and New Testaments. There are so many of them, and, for me, they bring this whole epic story into focus.

I Don't Want Your Happy Ending

Sometimes I feel like I'm being left behind, with friends entering serious relationships, getting engaged, and even having kids. Yet here I am, never having been on even a single date.

It's painful.

But I've realized something recently. If I truly believe that God has a purpose for my life, then I shouldn't be wishing for what someone else has. In addition, I don't really want what God has for my friends. I want what He has for me.

 

Happenings of the Month: November 2016

Whew, what a month! I wonder if yours was as full as mine!

Entertainment of the Month:

• Movies/TV:

I don't watch many shows on NBC, but one of their newest, Timeless, is proving to be an exception. The show follows the exploits of historian Lucy, Delta Force soldier Wyatt, and programmer Rufus as they travel through time, fighting to save history from the destructive efforts of Garcia Flynn. As they work, though, they find that each choice they make in the past has consequences in the future, and the mysterious Written House may be a bigger problem than any of them realize. Though I am slightly worried about the potential longevity of the program, I am really enjoying it so far.

On NanoWriMo, Pressure, Pacing, and Uniqueness

Can I share a rather unpopular opinion?

I don't like NaNoWriMo.

Shocker, I know. My Twitter feed has been full of it all month. Many of the blogs I follow make much of it. I'm surrounded by NaNo excitement. But I don't like it.

I get nervous, frankly, to consider writing 50,000 words in a single month, a month that happens to be a very busy time of the year for me. I have other things to focus on. And my one pseudo-attempt at NaNo resulted in a whole lot of stress and major burnout. I prefer not to repeat it.

That being said, I know many people really enjoy NaNo and get a lot out of it. That's great for them. I would never want to say that someone else's writing success is a bad thing. I just get tired of hearing only one opinion. All I hear is: "You've gotta do NaNo." or "It's the best thing ever." But I never hear the opposite. I never hear that it's okay not to like NaNo. I never see my own opinion reflected back at me. So I decided to do it myself.

Sunday Psalms: Chapters 51 & 53

Psalm 51:16-17 "You do not delight in sacrifices, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

God doesn't just want the outer trappings of my life. He doesn't want me to lip sync through life, imitating other Christians but withholding my heart.