I am very excited for the start of 2013! Are you? I love the feeling of turning over a new leaf, beginning anew, starting new goals…such a fun time of year for an organizational-goal-oriented-geek like me!
I hope you all had a lovely holiday break and that the new year is treating you well so far! Did you find anything Austenesque under your tree? I did! My mom and hubby know me well (or, more likely, they are very good at stalking me on amazon and twitter!) LOL!
 |
| My lovely Austenesque gifts! |
 |
| The Bennet Sisters Clothespin Doll Kit! I had great fun putting them together! |
This month will be busy for us since we are traveling! Yes, you heard right! Mr. Bingley and I are actually going somewhere! With family living 25 minutes away and a bank account that was a little on the lean side, we haven’t really seen the world too much. Our destination this trip: COLOMBIA! Mr. Bingley is from Colombia and we are going to visit and see his family (or in my case, meet is family). I have met his mother, father, and brother – but I haven’t met any aunts, uncles, and cousins yet!
 |
| Family is in Bucaramanga, but Cartagena will be just us! |
I’m very excitedabout the whole trip – I love travelling, flying, seeing new places, eating Colombian food, and I know it will be a great experience for Mr. Bingley to be around his loved ones again. But I will admit to feeling a little apprehensive too, though. I’m worried about the language barrier a little (only his mom speaks English!). And of course, I’m a little anxious about making a good impression on everybody!So if you notice that I’m kind of MIA towards the end of the month, you now know the reason why! I plan to set up as many posts ahead of time as I can, and will schedule them to publish during our trip so this blog won’t be empty!I will of course be missing and thinking of all the lovely and kind people in the Austenesque community while I’m away, and you can expect some pictures and a small recap when I return! 🙂
Speaking about blogging…here is what is on this month’s Austenesque Agenda:
~ TO REVIEW ~
Read over Christmas break, now just need to write a review.
~ TO READ AND REVIEW ~
~ FEATURED AUTHORS VISITING THIS MONTH ~
January 11th – Syrie James
What Austenesque novels are you planning to tackle this month?
Any new Austenesque Novels come your way recently?
Oh wow, Colombia! I hope you and your hubby have a fantastic time! Be safe and eat lots of yummy food for me.
I’m currently reading Persuade Me by Juliet Archer. I have soooo many books on my list after that! Really I have no idea how many. I’m enjoying reading some great WIP online, too.
I’ve never even flown out of the country so this is huge for me! My passport is getting its first use, lol! And yes, the food is incredible! Will be bringing home some recipes.
I hope you are enjoying Persuade Me! I loved it! I can’t wait for Juliet to publish her next book!
That’s great to hear about the WIPs! Hope we will see some of them in print soon! 🙂
That sounds like a very special trip and not just because you get to see and experience a new place, but because your hubby gets to introduce you to his family and ‘hometown’.
I got a pile of books for Christmas and won some prizes (my peeps asked me for a wish list that I was happy to provide) that include Sally Smith O’Rourke’s Yours Affectionately, Kara Louise’s Pemberly Celebrations, Sharon Lathan’s A Darcy Christmas, Marsha Altman’s Georgiana & the Wolf and Jane Odiwe’s Searching for Captain Wentworth. So yes, I’ve got plenty of lovely reading to do in these cold months.
Thank you, Sophia! My husband left Colombia when he was ten so he loves to talk about all the places and things he saw as a child. It will be a very nostalgic trip for him! I can’t wait!
You got a nice haul! That’s great that your friends and family did some Austenesque shopping! I guess the question is, what will you read first?
Pemberley’s Promise has been at the top of my “to read” pile for a while, so I really ought to get going on that. But, I’ve had my eye on The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen for months. I have already demanded, er, kindly asked, my library to buy a copy, so as soon as it’s processed and in my hands I plan on devouring it. I’m looking forward to your review and Syrie James’ visit on the 11th.
Have a wonderful time in Colombia! What a special opportunity. Your husband must be so thrilled at the idea of going back home and having the chance to show you off to all his family. Personally, there are times when I’d love to have a language barrier with my in-laws. That way, I would have no idea that I was on the receiving end of unsolicited advice or mindless gossip. Keep such things in mind if you start to feel bad that you can’t follow all the conversation 🙂
Happy travels, Meredith! We’ll miss you.
Hello Heather! Oh you MUST read Pemberley’s Romise right away! It’s one of my all-time favorites! You will just love it! Haha! You sound like me – I said I would devour TMMoJA as soon as the mail brought it to me and I did! Working on my review right now, hopefully it will be ready to go soon!
Thank you, Heather! We are both very excited! I’m very happy for him because we live so far away from his family. Hopefully this will become a yearly trip for us!
I’m embarrassed to say that I did take four years of Spanish in high school (so I will understand a little of what they are saying) but I hardly feel that counts since the last two year we just watched Disney Movies in Spanish! LOL! Suffice to say…I’m not fluent! Soooo Mr. Bingley will be helping me out… a lot!
Oh my goodness!! A trip to Columbia – How FUN!!! I have to admit, though, when I looked at your map and saw Cartagena… the first thing that popped into my brain was “Joan Wilder” and “Romancing the Stone”! LOL I’m sure you won’t be traipsing through the jungles & running from jewel smugglers 😉 *Giggle* Can’t wait to hear all about your trip… and no worries!! Mr. Bingley’s family is going to LOVE you!!
Wow!! You got quite the haul for Austenesque Christmas goodies!! While I didn’t get anything Austenesque-related, my daughter gave me a Nook… been having a lot of fun with it too! 🙂
As for Austenesque books I’m tackling… I just started “The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen” by our featured author this month, Syrie James! I’ve only just started it, but I’m HOOKED!! It’ll be a few days before I can sit down & finish it (we’re in the process of moving… *sniff* *sniff*)… but I know when I do, I’ll read it right through! LOL I LOVED her book “The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen”! Can’t wait for her to join us here!!
LOL! Yeah, we picked Cartagena because it is a coastal city and has a nice historic district – not to escape jewel smugglers! 😉 Thank you, I hope they do! He’s kind of a favorite with everyone (which I can easily understand!)
Ohh! A Nook! I bet that will definitely come in handy! Great gift!
So glad to hear you are enjoying TMMofJA! It is hard to put down! I hope the moving goes well – it is never a fun process, is it? And that you get to return to reading soon! 🙂
Wow!That sounds like a very exciting month! I wish you all the best for your trip. Have fun and I´msure you´ll make the best impression on you in-laws.
I´m currently finishing reading Abigail Reynolds “Christmas at Pemberley” which I LOOOVE! Such a great book – might consider rereading it every other christmas or so. Perfect mix between P&P, festive joy and fun plot.
There wasn´t really much austenesque under the tree. But I gifted myself with Capt. Wentworth and Anne, the clothpins. Need to put them together still, but they´ll fit perfectly on my Austenesque shelf!
And I was so lucky to win Sally Smith O´Rourkes big holiday giveaway of ALL her book (still can´t believe it!!! Sooooo lucky!!). They arrived today – need to go and pick them up from the post office, as I had to work today, but I´m so so so excited!!
Thank you, Katrin! Oh yes, I loved that book too! It was all-encompassing!
I hope you enjoy putting your dolls together! They look so adorable – I love Wentworth’s hat!
Congrats on the big win! That’s an exciting surprise! I look forward to hearing what you think of Sally’s books, I haven’t read any by her yet.
Columbia – how awesome! Have a wonderful time but stay away from treasure map pieces for a valuable stone in Cartagena 🙂
I’m planning to tackle Searching for Captain Wentworth. My kids gave me a copy for Christmas. After that, I have quite a few on my bookshelf.
Thank you, Susied! LOL! 🙂 Will do.
You’ve got some great kids! Smart too! Happy reading, that one is just terrific!
Oh, Meredith!!!
I’m so excited for you about your trip to Colombia with your hubby. I know you’re going to have a wonderful time and that *everyone* there will adore you!
Thanks so much for adding my books to your list of stories to read this month, too ;).
*hug!*
Thank you, Marilyn! We are too! It will be such a new and novel experience! I appreciate all your kind words and am, of course, very happy to have Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match on my list this month!
I hope you and your hubby have a lovely break with his family. Much of my husband’s family speak a language I can’t understand, so when they all start chatting rather than feel excluded I catch up on my daydreaming!
I am not organised enough to have a reading list so I don’t know what I’ll be reading next. I have so many books on my kindle waiting to be read, plus some paper books so I’m spoiled for choice at the moment 🙂
Thank you, Ceri! LOL! I know what you must feel like. We do have a lot of time for quiet contemplation when they are talking, don’t we?
That’s a great position to be in! Happy reading!
You are going to have a blast in Columbia! I can’t wait to hear about your trip and see pictures.
Don’t forget to pack your books in your carryon! 🙂
LOL! Thank you, Danielle! I will definitely be packing along many books – you never know if your plane will be delayed or for how long! 🙂
I won Pride and Platypus by Vera Nazarian and got it in December. I also won two paperback mysteries by Kari Lee Townsend in December. I have Searching for Captain Wentworth, another book that I won. Maybe I’ll read it this year.
For Christmas I got some books (mysteries and one true ghost story book) from the Edward R. Hamilton Bargain Books Catalog. I got The Long Stitch Good Night by Amanda Lee (I finished it already), The Web Weaver by Sam Siciliano, Quilt or Innocence by Elizabeth Craig, Haunted Hollywood by Tom Ogden, The Mystery of Fu Manchu by Sax Rohmer, A Pug’s Tale by Alison Pace, and The Unbelievers by Alastair Sim.
Only other country that I’ve been to is Canada. I took German and French in high school.
Sounds like you got a nice collection to choose from, Michelle!
This will be my first time travelling to a new country! Very excited!
Hi Meredith, my name is Teresa, I am spanish and I follow your blog since months. Thanks for your beautiful reviews and knowing you are in Colombia here you have some useful expressions: Buenos dias (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon and good evening), buenas noches (to go to sleep at night), me encanta leer (I love reading), este lugar es precioso (this place is beautiful). I hope you enjoy.
Hi Teresa! Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate you sharing some helpful phrases for me to use in Colombia! I think I’ll be using “me encanta leer” the most! LOL! I’m planning to bring a small stack of books to read while we are away! Thank you! 🙂
Meredith, hoping that your trip is everything that your husband remembers and that you will have a safe journey!!
and don’t forget your camera!!
Happy new year and have a safe trip !!! enjoy yourself as well
I haven’t commented your blog for ages 🙁 but I am currently reading “Mr darcy’s refugee” and “mr darcy’s letter’ I hope to finish them this month so that I can start ‘Becoming Elizabeth darcy’ that I am buying through amazone .
Thank you, rainakochan, for stopping by and your kind words! I hope you are doing well! Those sound like some great reads! I’m looking forward to reading Mr. Darcy’s Refuge soon – I haven’t read it yet! Happy reading!