This is a joint Public Service Announcement from Write Meg! & Linus’s Blanket !
It was a cold, wintry night when Megan joined Nicole on her weekly feature “That’s How I Blog!” — a chronicle of the reading and blogging habits of those in the book blog community. It didn’t take long for the ladies to discuss classic literature, and what “classic” conversation can be brought up without the mention of William Shakespeare?Nicole’s experience with Shakespeare is equally limited, actually, probably even more limited that Megan’s. Only for only a few short months as a freshman in high school did Nicole ponder “to be or not be with” Hamlet- Nicole chose to be. That’s pretty much all she remembers except some brief hand wringing by Ophelia before she is found floating down the river, and maybe some hand washing- but on further reflection that may have been in Macbeth, the evil machinations of that dude who was trying to separate Othello and his woman, and Iago and his trials with The Merchant of Venice. Any real understanding was limited by the lack of interest in dusty old texts where the English was unwieldy and extremely dated. Nicole then went on to college and, also as a freshman, with some small effort managed to avoid any mention the bard until Claire Danes and Leo DiCaprio did Romeo and Juliet and the student housing cable played it ad naseum, ad infinitum and other latin-esquey words with which Nicole is unfamiliar. She finished her stint in school sans reading any of Billy’s work and never looked back.
Which, dear readers, brings Megan and Nicole to the present moment, when post – “That’s How I Blog!” Nicole said to Megan “Hey girl! Do you want to read some Shakespeare and talk about it on our blogs?” And Megan said “Sure! What should we call it? ” And they thought long and hard before e-mailing each other simultaneously, “How about ‘Two Girls Read Shakespeare’?”
And that’s exactly what’s happening!
Over the next few months, we’ll be spending time with the Bard’s sonnets and plays before picking up some of the modern “spin-offs” and sequels. And when better to discuss Shakepeare’s sonnets — considered by some to be insanely romantic (or just insane?) — than on Valentine’s Day?
On Sunday, Feb. 14, Nicole and Megan will post their discussion of Sonnet 18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”) and Sonnet 130 (“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun…”). We hope you’ll join us and share your thoughts, comments and criticisms! We’ll chat about more sonnets each Friday in February before moving on to a larger work — to be announced very soon.
So brush up on Billy’s poetry by checking out The Sonnets, all available for free right here:
http://poetry.eserver.org/sonnets/
And check back to spend Valentine’s Day with Megan, Nicole and the Bard!
P.S. And because we both love John Mayer we will each try to bring everything back to one of his songs…you know…for extra credit, if we can.
Other reviews and posts:
So excited — I’ll be reading the sonnets as I’m totally snowed in this weekend!
.-= Meg´s last blog ..Two Girls Read Shakespeare: The Launch! =-.
This is great! I love the title of this project! I’ll look forward to your thoughts!
.-= Rebecca Reid´s last blog ..Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn =-.
That is so great! I love it and am going to try to stop in!
This is great!
I have surprisingly fond memories of Shakespeare’s sonnets–the first time I *really* read them was in an intro to Lit class in college. Love them, even as we were dissecting them. I’ll be following along!
.-= Katy´s last blog ..BookCloseouts.com Bargain Sale =-.
You two are too smart for me!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Our Life in France – banking, money and numbers =-.
Very cool you guys! Seriously, hats off to you. I didn’t get much literary edg-ma-cation in high school or college, and with the little that I did receive, I did NOT get Shakespeare. Leo and Claire did help a bit (I might add that my daughter is getting her education now with that same movie). Maybe I can pick up a shred of intelligence from you and Megan!
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Cemetery Dance – Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston (audio) =-.
Nicole, I LOVE Will Shakespeare. I read his work in high school and again as an adult. I read from Shakespeare often. Enjoy. There are versions with original text on the right side of the page and current english on the left
. This might be helpful if you are not really interested in the plot.
.-= mari´s last blog ..Preparing… So much to do, so little time! =-.
Ooh! I’m really excited about this! I was a theatre major in my past life and had to spend a TON of time studying Shakespeare. I still kinda like it.
Very awesome. I am such a ridiculous Shakespeare nut, it’s kind of insane. I’ll be reading along with you guys!
Oh, and if I might suggest, try Othello for one of the longer works. It’s my favorite!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Giveaway: Last Snow and First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader =-.
LOL, I love the little pink bow you guys gave him.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..The Book of Fathers – Book Review =-.
What an AWESOME idea! BTW, I love the pink bow on old Mr. Shakespeare!
This is such a great idea! I studied Shakespeare for a semester in college when I was in London and we all had tshirts that said “I love my Willy”. Is that ok for me to write on here?
It had Shakespeare’s face on the back! Anywho, can’t wait to see what you two talk about and I LOVE the pink bow!
.-= Amused´s last blog ..Winter Reading =-.
What a great idea! I remember my dad (who was a philosophy professor) reading me some Shakespeare sonnets when I was a young teen, and trying to share with me what a great writer he was. And there was me: “Um, sure, Dad. Great.”
I need to reread those sonnets.
.-= Ali´s last blog ..Diversity Roll Call: Paradigm Shift =-.
The sonnets are pretty tough to crack (at least for me they have been). I have had to read them many times over this week in order to get them to give up the littlest pieces of meaning. The plays are a little easier because even if you don’t know completely what is going on, you have the context of the action and the other characters.
Love the hair ribbon and earring! I think the last time I read a Shakespeare sonnet was in 10th grade, so kudos to you both.
.-= softdrink´s last blog ..East of Eden =-.
Yes. 10th grade sounds about right. That’s where I feel like I am as I try to figure everything out.
I was never into his sonnets but after a few pages of his plays I could get into them. It does take me a while though.
Good luck ladies and I look forward to your interpretations and experiences.
Nice pic
.-= jennygirl´s last blog ..Review: Island of the Swans by Ciji Ware =-.
I am definitely having to read the sonnets loads of times before I start getting anything out of them.
I love the bow.
.-= J.T. Oldfield´s last blog ..FreeVerse: Grecian Temples =-.
I love the bow too. I didn’t notice the earring until someone pointed it out!
What a great idea! Can’t wait to check back next week for the sonnet run-down.
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..Review: Bird by Bird =-.
I have been reading them several times over. I think one is finally starting to make some sense.