Tag: Annabelle Troy

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How to Pamper An Invalid

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The concept of an invalid–a sick person confined for a long time to bed, usually at home– hasn’t had much play in modern life. But now that #coronavirus has changed everything, Jane Eyre is here to guide us on this very Victorian role. Below are some ways to spoil your special invalid during convalescence. Bed Jacket: First you might want to get them, if female, #transgnder or gender neutral, a Bed Jacket. This charming garment can be worn over a pajama top or tank then used later for evening wear or to dress up jeans. Lots of vintage examples, from … Continue reading How to Pamper An Invalid

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Gretel and Hansel: A #Grimm Tale

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Heidi, the youngest character in Jane Eyre Gets Real by Annabelle Troy, has always been something of a child icon. Therefore, she was eager to see Gretel and Hansel, a new movie based on the legendary fairy tale siblings. Spoiler Alert: review below does contain ending of film. Directed by Oz Perkins and starring Sophia Lillis, the film is beautifully shot. You instantly feel that you are trapped in a black forest, dark to the core. In this version Gretel is older than Hansel and, after their poverty-stricken mother goes insane, throwing an ax at her children to make them leave … Continue reading Gretel and Hansel: A #Grimm Tale

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Snow Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

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David Copperfield appears as a character in Jane Eyre Gets Real by Annabelle Troy. Some people say that Copperfield’s original creator, Charles Dickens, popularized the idea of a white Christmas–having written A Christmas Carol during a particularly stormy winter. Being then something of an expert on the subject, David gives us three variations of Victorian snow-related themes: 1. The #Snow Baby: a miniature figurine, in the shape of an infant or small child, engaged in some winter activity. The figure’s snowsuit is often covered in tiny pieces of crushed bisque which appear to glitter like snowflakes. The first snow babies were … Continue reading Snow Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

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Were Fairies the First #Ballerinas?

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If you are in any doubt, read The Grace of the Hunchback by Annabelle Troy–available on Amazon, for free Jan. 12, 13th and 14th. It is a novel based on real-life prima ballerina Marie Taglioni who, among other famous parts, played a sylph, the most ethereal type of fairy. The book is about her quest for love. However, it is not a romance; rather, it portrays Marie’s yearning for affection in a world where she plays a beauty on stage but spends her reality as an awkward outcast. Jane Eyre gives it 5 stars!     Continue reading Were Fairies the First #Ballerinas?

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Already Broken #NewYearResolutions

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The characters of Jane Eyre Gets Real by Annabelle Troy may be better known for their whimsy than their stamina. Below are the resolutions of the famous nine, which have proven to be a tall order: Hester Prynne: stop compulsively embroidering Alice in Wonderland: don’t follow strange rabbits Heidi: trade that dirndl for some North Face Emma Bovary: clip coupons Jane Eyre: don’t become engaged to already-married men Sherlock Holmes: no more mansplaining, even to Dr. Watson Mr. Darcy: never marry a bookish girl with an irritating mother & ineligible sisters David Copperfield: step up and be the hero of my own life … Continue reading Already Broken #NewYearResolutions

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Very Regency #Thanksgiving Problems

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Mr. Darcy, created by Jane Austen and recreated by Annabelle Troy in her book Jane Eyre Gets Real, didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving. But if he had he might have faced these common Regency entertainment problems: Must Harvest Your Own Cranberries Plenty of Stove But No Stove Top Stuffing You WILL Be Judged On Your Napkins Your Dessert Just Isn’t Wobbly Enough Your Cook Thinks This Is A Turkey Continue reading Very Regency #Thanksgiving Problems

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Take It or Leaf It: Japanese Street Art

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Hester Prynne, of The Scarlet Letter fame, is the only Puritan character in Jane Eyre Gets Real by Annabelle Troy. As autumn comes to New York City, Hester keenly registers the turning of the leaves; as they drop she dreads the winter to come. Puritans viewed Nature as a hostile force (well, ok, they pretty much viewed everything as a hostile force..but Nature especially). They knew America would hold for them “a sharp and violent winter” (in the words of #Mayflower survivor William Bradford), in which sickness and starvation would be rampant. However, in modern day #Japan there are no such worries. A … Continue reading Take It or Leaf It: Japanese Street Art

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Uptown Ghouls

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  David Copperfield, created by Charles Dickens and appearing in Jane Eyre Gets Real by Annabelle Troy, has always relied on the good fellowship of mankind. This may seem in short supply today; but, somewhat ironically in a holiday devoted to the dead, the living shine on October 31st. In some of the best neighborhoods in the USA and England, the spirit of Halloween is alive and well. Decorations are lavishly demonic and candy is democratically given to all. New York’s Upper East Side Boston’s Beacon Hill Philadelphia Los Angeles, California Kensington, London Wherever you are trick or treating, have a safe … Continue reading Uptown Ghouls

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Lizzie Borden House: Rent A #Ghost

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Jane Eyre is no stranger to the power of hauntings. Before she “got real” in the Annabelle Troy novel, Jane was imprisoned by her cruel Aunt Reed in a red room said to be visited by her dead uncle. This episode so traumatized her that she fell into fits. So why, Jane asks, would anyone pay for such an experience? Yet many flock to the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, the former home of the alleged 19th century murderess (who has been played by actresses as diverse as Elizabeth Montgomery and Christina Ricci). In the spooky old house located in Fall … Continue reading Lizzie Borden House: Rent A #Ghost

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Alice’s #IcedTea Party

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Alice in Wonderland, a character in Annabelle Troy’s droll novel Jane Eyre Gets Real, is known to love tea parties. Transported by magic out of Wonderland and into the heat of a NYC summer, Alice has learned to make iced tea instead. This treat was relatively unknown to the Victorians. Before refrigerators were invented people had to rely on ice houses, man-made structures built underground near freshwater lakes. By the end of the 19th century a lot of families did have “ice boxes”, which were made of wood and lined with zinc or tin. A man would make daily rounds of … Continue reading Alice’s #IcedTea Party

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Very Victorian #Picnic Problems

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You Can’t Find Your Way Out Of the Picnic Grounds Your Sister Ate All The Sandwiches Then Stuffed Herself In the Hamper You Want To Flirt But He Just Wants To Eat Deviled Eggs You Have A Pigeon Pie But Forgot To Bring The Galantine of Veal–What Would Mrs. Beeton Say! Sand Keeps Getting Onto Your Sand Tarts   From Annabelle Troy and all the characters in Jane Eyre Gets Real “Have A Happy Summer & A Great 4th of July, Whether You Eat Al Fresco Or Indoors!”       Continue reading Very Victorian #Picnic Problems