Emma

Almost 200 years since her passing Jane Austen is still considered one of the greatest novelists of all time. Years ago I read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility--both wonderful. However it wasn't until last week that I was introduced to Emma.

How could I have missed this classic?

Maybe I read it in my early 20's and simply forgot--I doubt it.

I would not have forgotten Austen's Emma?

PBS Masterpiece Theater is showing the 2009 version of Emma free online through March 9th. The movie is divided into three episodes which can be viewed by chapters--how I watched it. If you subscribe to Netflix you can find this version of Emma along with older remakes.

Strong, witty, funny, and a self-proclaimed match-maker, Emma's meddling gets her into more than one sticky situation. It's a family friendly movie young girls can watch--no foul language or inappropriate behavior. Click here to view.

If you enjoy Emma, consider watching Persuasion too. While it is not available to watch online, the version with Sally Hawkins is available through Netflix. Masterpiece Theater had an encore presentation of it last night and our local PBS station went out with only 40 minutes to go! I hopped on Netflix today and have it in queue--along with many other viewers as there is a wait for the movie now.

If you watch it, let me know what you think!

John Adams

HBO's 7-part mini-series on the life of our nation's second president, John Adams, is a powerful look into colonial America. The movie is based on the book, John Adams
by David McCullough. I rented the series free at our local library--I could not beat the price! My family spent a week watching a few episodes each night.

The movie includes two inappropriate scenes along with seven bad words. There is enough forewarning to fast forward through the scenes. The language is spread out over the course of the series with most of it towards the end.

The love story of John and Abigail Adams is central to the story with a look into the sacrifice and consequences of political life in Revolutionary America. Their marriage, which spanned 54 years was tenderly marked by calling one another 'my dearest friend.' I particularly enjoyed the final scenes showing the Adams' while snippets of their love letters were being read by the narrator.

Viewers watch as Abigail Adams parents four children alone as John is in Boston for the Continental Congress followed by years in France as a diplomat. Magnificent scenes of the budding of our nation along with introductions to other historical figures of the time rounds out the movie.

My family enjoyed the series. The movies have planted seeds of curiosity to learn more about John and Abigail Adams. I would recommend this for older children and adults -- with a remote handy to fast forward through the inappropriate scenes.

Some books now on my reading list as a result of watching the movie:
My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams
Abigail Adams: A Biography
The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams