Sunday, March 31, 2013

Day 90: It's Easter! Have I finished Coriolanus? HAVE YOU?!

Look, it's Easter. Right now I'm probably wrist deep in turkey juices and wine. I'll tell you right now, I wrote this post well in advance and scheduled to publish today (while I was also wrist deep in wine, but that's a whole other story...don't judge). I can almost guarantee you I haven't finished Coriolanus by now. But who knows? Maybe I have. It's like a mystery!

In the meantime, how about a video of animals shaking water off their fur? What does that have to do with Shakespeare? NOT A DAMN THING. 

Enjoy!


Saturday, March 30, 2013

Day 89: Coriolanus has a lot of names...and citizens coming hither to speak

SCCEnglish 'Coriolanus' wordle
Mike's Riverside Shakespeare says that Coriolanus is one of Shakespeare's least popular tragedies with one of his least likable tragic heroes. Great, can't wait. :( [that's a frowny face, in case you couldn't tell...I'm frowny]

Friday, March 29, 2013

Day 88: Oh no! I don't want to ruin the endings for myself! (Hint: If it's a tragedy, then ending is that somebody--or everybody--dies)

I found this great schematic of deaths in Shakespeare's tragedies on WildernEnglish. It's pretty awesome, but I almost don't want to look because I don't want to ruin the endings for myself. On a positive note, I'm reading Titus Andronicus next so YAY! Oh shit, what does it say about me that I said "yay" to that?

Also, I just realized that I posted an illustration of death on Good Friday. Is that bad? It's probably bad.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Day 87: I refuse to believe that Coriolanus is even a real play...even if it does have a movie version

via
This is a shot from the 2011 movie version of Coriolanus (which I still refuse to believe is even a real play). It's apparently about Voldemort after he got punked at prom by the popular kids. 

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Day 86: Check out my interview with iBardBooks!!

CHECK OUT MY INTERVIEW WITH iBARDBOOKS!! I don't think I've ever been interviewed for anything before. It's VERY exciting. Don't tell them I haven't started reading Coriolanus yet.

You can check out the interview here:
http://www.ibardbooks.com/shakespeare-on-twitter-shakespeare-year/

Or scroll down...I've pasted the whole thing it (it doesn't fit...but I was very excited).



SHAKESPEARE ON TWITTER: @SHAKESPEAREYEAR



We’ve been connecting to Shakespeare lovers all over Twitter but sometimes we want more than 140 characters. Mary Lavers aka @ShakespeareYear is one of those people. She’s reading everything Shakespeare in a year. It’s an ambitious task in many ways. We know how difficult it is to wade through pages and pages of text–that’s why we created iBardbooks! Check out our interview with Mary to find out how she started blogging, why she decided to do this project and what surprises she encountered along the road.

Hi Mary! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m originally from Truro, Nova Scotia. I moved to Montreal in 1994 to attend McGill University, where I started out studying biochemistry but ended up completing a degree in Religious Studies and Women’s Studies (biochemistry is not for everybody!). Later I studied Early Childhood Education as well. I lived in Ottawa for a few years but now I’m back in Nova Scotia. I currently live in Dartmouth with my partner and our three-year-old daughter.
How did you start blogging?
I started my first blog, Cozy Little Book Journal, as a way to record my own thoughts on the books I was reading, really just for my own purposes. I thought if I kept track of which authors I liked and didn’t like, it would be easier to read them/avoid them in the future. But I came to really love the process of recording my thoughts on the books I read. It made me a better reader, I think. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that people started reading my blog!
You were 12-years-old when you decided to read all of Shakespeare’s books by 40. Where did that ambition come from?
I think I was a little bit like Lisa Simpson (from The Simpsons) in that regard. I was a bookish kid, but I was also very interested in SEEMING bookish, if that makes sense. I was a little bit obsessed with being “cultured.”  I’m sure at 12, I was also bemoaning the fact that my town had no opera house or ballet theatre. Did I like opera and ballet? Who the hell knows? I just liked the idea of knowing about “high culture.” For me, Shakespeare was by far the most accessible way to become “culturally educated” (or at least what I thought was “cultured” at that age).
Do you still feel that way?
As I got older, my perspective changed of course. I came to appreciate all different kinds of cultural and educational experiences, not just the ones I thought were “elite” and not just for the sake of seeming smart! But Shakespeare still seemed like a worthy goal. If nothing else, I liked the idea of understanding the source material for all those Shakespearean references that show up in everyday life all the time.
Have there been any surprises during your Shakespeare Year project?
When I planned my reading schedule for the year, I made sure to start with a few comedies and sprinkle the rest of the comedies between the tragedies and histories. I thought they’d be easier to read for some reason and would provide a welcome relief after some of the more intense tragedies.
In reality, it’s been the other way around. I’m finding the tragedies much, much easier to read than the comedies. I guess the things we find funny change from generation to generation (let alone century to century!) but the things that break our hearts stay the same. Plus it’s harder to understand the comic timing and “quippiness” of the comedies when I’m just reading them on the page. Shakespeare’s plays were not meant to be read like novels, and that’s especially clear when reading the farcical comedies like Love’s Labour’s Lost.
Oh, and reading Romeo and Juliet at 17 and re-reading it at 37 is like reading two completely different plays. I loved that play so much I would dream about it at night when I was 17. I couldn’t imagine anything more romantic. Now I just want to tell the little twerps to stop wasting everyone’s time and that they’re both grounded.
Screen Shot 2013-03-20 at 6.28.44 PM
Follow @ShakespeareYear here and check out her blog here.
And follow iBardbooks on Twitter here


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Day 85: New Play Tuesday! Coriolanus

from gosimpsonic.tumblr.com
Coriolanus? Has anyone even heard of this play? I feel like Bart Simpson when he encounters Roman numerals. "Coriolanus?! They didn't even TRY to teach us that in school!" Mike says by that analogy it means that someone DID try to "teach me that in school" but I just wasn't listening. Whatever. I think it's a made-up play. 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Day 84: What I Learned: Antony and Cleopatra

So, uh, I don't know what's going on here...I don't remember this from the play. It's apparently from a 2010 Cape Town production of Antony and Cleopatra. You can see a review here.
I'm not sure how much I actually learned from Antony and Cleopatra. The language is rich and fun to read, but there are SO MANY scenes that I lost track of all the things that are supposed to be happening and which ones I was supposed to keep track of. Mostly I just pictured Elizabeth Taylor. Except half the time it wasn't even Elizabeth Taylor from the movie Cleopatra; it was Liz from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It kind of still works, actually. I'm going to try picturing Liz Taylor for more Shakespeare characters and see where it takes me.

I'm sorry I don't have more to say about this one. I kind of feel like the Roman plays are ones that I should be reading in a classroom, with someone explaining the actual history along side the dramatic interpretation. I can only imagine how I'll feel when I get to the English histories. In addition to not watching the HBO show Rome, I have also not watched The Tudors. So I guess I'll just have to remember history class or do some additional research or something.

Sigh.

What's next? Coriolanus? Oh man, NO ONE HAS EVEN HEARD OF THAT ONE!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Day 83: Maybe I should have watched Rome...

Mike was always trying to get me to watch that show Rome. I tried but I could never get into it. Now Mike is breezing through Shakespeare's Roman plays and is bragging how easy it is to keep track of the characters because he just pictures the actors who played them on the HBO show. Grrr.

I am struggling through Antony and Cleopatra and I'm a little worried that I will soon be TWO plays behind instead of one. I think I've hit a wall.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Day 82: I think Love's Labour's Lost broke my spirit

Sigh. I don't know what happened. I was doing so well. A play a week? No problem! Then along came Love's Labour's Lost and it hasn't been the same since. The week after I finished that play (barely) I was supposed to read Julius Caesar. I ended up not reading that at all. Of course, it was a weird week. I had a death in the family and had to travel for a funeral. It sucked. So I guess I could be forgiven for not reading that play. I'll catch up later. But this week I'm supposed to be reading Antony and Cleopatra and I'm WAY behind in that one too. I just can't seem to summon the energy and focus. Is it the subject matter? Am I burned out? Is it because I'm dozens of reviews behind schedule on my other book blogs? Maybe. Or maybe it's because Love's Labour's Lost left a sour taste in my mouth...or whatever the equivalent to "sour taste" is ON MY SOUL. Damn you, Berowne!!
Berowne costume design from UVic Theatre Dept 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Day 80: Is there an Antony & Cleopatra word cloud? Why, yes there is!

via
Is anyone else seeing "Thou Lord Antony Enter Well Cleopatra" and "Let Mark Come Caesar"?  How about "Cleopatra May Guard Death"? Man, I just can't get enough of these word clouds. I like some of them more than I like the plays.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Monday, March 18, 2013

Day 77: Julius Caesar: What I Learned (Part 1 of 2)

This has been one heck of a week. What started out as an easy week re-reading a play I remembered from high school turned into a week of frantic travel plans and packing of funeral clothes. Shakespeare took a back burner. But as I spent time with my family and decided not to worry about anything else, I also remembered that I DID learn something about Shakespeare this week after all. 

I learned that scheduling nine months' worth of reading into a twelve month period was an excellent idea. I built "catch up" right into my schedule. So I'm forgetting about Julius Caesar for now. I've already read it anyway, so it's not even cheating. I'm not going to struggle to finish it and then put the rest of my reading plans behind schedule. I'll just tack it on at the end, or else read it when I have a few days in between plays (some plays only take a day or two to read, then I don't need to start the new one until the following Tuesday). It'll get done. Whatever. When I read it, I'll post a new "What I Learned" thingy.

In the meantime, here's a picture of a lady who would have made Shakespeare weak in the knees. She was a matriarch, a lady who lived through two world wars, tonnes of family dramas, a scandal or two, more losses than are fair, more fairness than most ever show, and did it all with a twinkle in her eye and a bite in her speech. She was a helluva lady, all 103 years she was here.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Day 76: Check out this blog

I'm still out of town for a few days (I should be back tomorrow with a "What I Learned About Julius Caesar" but we'll see) so in the meantime, check out this blog:


Stewatry is one of my favourite book blogs (besides my own, of course...wait, no, I like hers better) plus she has tonnes of stuff about Shakespeare.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Day 75: My Shakespeare Year is on hold for a few days...Here, have a Joss Whedon trailer!

I have to take a few days off from reading and blogging to go out of town, so in the meantime, have you seen the trailer for the new Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Joss Whedon? Let's be honest, this is as much work as I put into a regular blog post some days, so you're not missing that much. 


p.s. Am I the only one who can't figure out if the whole movie is in black-and-white or not? 

Friday, March 15, 2013

Day 74: Beware the Ides of March, Fool!

via
Word.

Not for nothing, but I once dated a guy whose birthday was March 15th and I'm pretty sure he was constantly planning to assassinate the Roman emperor. You know, as a birthday present to himself. You can never be too careful with those Ides.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Day 73: Did someone say Sock Monkey Caesar?

Sock Monkey Julius Caesar, by David Jones (fineartamerica)
Awww...it's so tragic and so adorable at the same time!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Day 72: A Julius Caesar word cloud

Does anyone else think this looks like a zeppelin, riding atop a giant Brutus? Also, "Brutus" must have been said twice as many times as "Caesar." Interesting. Another awesome Shakespeare Wordle!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Day 71: New Play Tuesday! Julius Ceasar!

Finally I can get back on track with my original plan of reading all of the plays during the time of year in which they are set. The problem is that so few of the plays actually sticks to a specific month or even season (not to mention the ones that take place over many months or even years). 
via
But everyone knows "Beware the Ides of March" which means March 15th! So at least some of this play (the most important part) takes place on March 15th, which is this week. Hooray! 

Plus, as an added bonus, I've already read this play (AND I mostly remember it) so it's almost a freebie week for me. Score!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Day 70: What I Learned: Love's Labour's Lost: A Cartoon Summary

Love's Labour's Lost is the first play so far in this project that I just haven't like. I hated it. It annoyed me. I'm breaking up with it. So instead of "What I Learned" here's a cartoon of Love's Labour's Lost. It's very accurate...you won't even have to read the play now. You're welcome.

LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST: A CARTOON SUMMARY, by Mary Lavers





Sunday, March 10, 2013

Day 69: Maybe I should watch the movie...oh wait, the entire world says no

Love's Labour's Lost (2000)
Starring Kenneth Branagh, Alicia Silverstone, Matthew Lillard, Emily Mortimer and Nathan Lane
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
via
A lot of the plays I've read so far have had one or more film versions. Some of them have been good, like Scotland, PA (based on Macbeth), A Thousand Acres (based on King Lear), and both Othello and O (based on Othello). Others have been, uh, not as good (like that BBC Twelfth Night, not the one with Helena Bonham Carter). Some have been hard to find (like the Twelfth Night with Helena Bonham Carter!). And some haven't seemed worth the trouble (I still haven't gotten around to watching She's the Man, or Helen Mirren's Tempest). 

So should I hunt down the wildly unpopular 2000 film Love's Labour's Lost, directed by Kenneth Branagh? The internet says, "God, no!" It was a critical and commercial flop and it looks dreadful. 

Then again, the source material is...well also not that popular. It's a long play, it's WAY too full of silliness and romantic foolishness. It's the first time in the project that I'm a little worried about finishing my play-of-the-week because I'm dragging my heels so much on this one. At least next week is Julius Caesar, which I've already read, so if I need extra time I can probably go long on this one and then just rush through Julius Caesar next week and still stay on schedule.

via

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Day 68: For heaven's sake, Shakespeare didn't invent ALL the words!

So I still haven't read Love's Labour's Lost, which is the play I'm supposed to be reading this week. I have read this book though:

Brush Up Your Shakespeare! 
An Infectious Tour Through the Most Famous and Quotable Words and Phrases From the Bard
by Michael Macrone
(available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca)

It's not bad. It has a collection of words and phrases made famous by Shakespeare--like a million other books I suppose--but my favourite thing about the book is the section on phrases NOT invented by Shakespeare but usually attributed to him anyway.

We've all heard the claims of how many words Shakespeare "invented." Two thousand or more according to various sources. But I've always thought "invented" was a strong word. I'm sure Shakespeare did invent some words, but I also think the vast majority of the words attributed to Shakespeare were perfectly normal words in his time. He wanted his audience to understand him, for one thing. If half his words were brand-new, made-up words, that might have been a problem. 

Plus, it wasn't like there are millions of other text sources from before Shakespeare's time that we can use for comparison. When his plays were first published, the printing press with movable type was still a fairly new invention. The mass market publishing world that we know today simply didn't exist yet. In fact, most of Shakespeare's plays might not have been published at all if it hadn't been for the fact that King James closed the theatres, and because some of Shakespeare's actors collaborated to record his work. 

My point is, most of Shakespeare's so-called invented words were probably in existence long before he wrote them, but we simply don't have earlier examples of them in print. Or at least none that still exist today.

And, in fact, in a lot of cases we actually do have examples of earlier usage but certain words and phrases get attributed to Shakespeare because his was the earliest FAMOUS use of it. Some examples include (according to Brush Up Your Shakespeare):

"ALL THAT GLISTERS IS NOT GOLD" from Merchant of Venice. Chaucer said something similar two hundred years earlier.

"FOOL'S PARADISE" from Romeo & Juliet (and Love's Labour's Lost apparently...though I wouldn't know since I STILL haven't read it). William Paston said that in 1462.

"IN A PICKLE" from The Tempest. Both Thomas Tusser and John Foxe said this in the 1570's and 1580's.

"BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE" from King John. It actually traces back to at least 1300.

"IT'S GREEK TO ME" from Julius Caesar. George Gascoigne's play Supposes used that phrase in 1575. But you probably never had to read that in high school.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Day 67: Love's Labour's Won? What the hell kind of bullshit is that?

So apparently Love's Labour's Lost not only has a cliff hanger ending, it also has had a sequel. A sequel which has been lost (Shouldn't have put that right in the title. Tempting fate really.) The supposed followup play, Love's Labour's Won, is referenced by later sources, but the original text is gone. 

But what if I get to the end of the play and want to know what happened next? NOW I'LL NEVER KNOW.

Sigh

This is not making me want to read this play. I feel like Annie in that movie book Misery. SHE JUST WANTED THE FREAKING SEQUEL. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Day 66: Obviously you need these


Do you need bandages that make you feel smart AND insulted at the same time? Of course you do. You can buy this box of 15 Shakespearean Insult Bandages for $4.95 (US)


Can't get enough Shakespearean insults? They also have Shakespearean Insult Gum for $2.50.
And just for the heck of it, here's a Shakespeare Insult Generator!

Thou surly bat-fowling scullion!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Day 65: Love's Labour's Lost...word cloud edition

This one looks vaguely psychedelic, like the play takes place in the late 1960's and is complicated by groovy. Okay when DOES it take place? The setting is very confusing to me.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Day 64: New Play Tuesday! Love's Labour's Lost

From a 2009 production of Love's Labour's Lost, directed by Dominic Dromgoole
Left to right: Andrew Vincent (Dull), Michelle Terry (Princess of france), Siân Robins-Grace (Katherine), Thomasin Rnad (Rosaline) and Jade Anouka (Maria) in Love's Labour's Lost, Shakespeare's Globe on Tour. Photo John Haynes. From The Berkshire Review
I know so little about this play. What's it about? It looks long. Sigh. Well, from the above picture I can assume that--like all of Shakespeare's plays--people seem to think it takes place in early 19th-century Yorkshire. 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Day 63: Speaking of things to do before 40...

Vitruvian Mike (I would have made it bigger but that's a lot of cartoon penis coming at ya)
I started My Shakespeare Year as a way to give myself a kick in the pants to fulfill my childhood ambition of reading all of Shakespeare's plays before I turn 40. I figured if I waited until I was 39 there was a pretty good chance I wouldn't make it (I have a proven track record of procrastinating when it comes to reading Shakespeare).

In the same vein of "things to do before we turn 40," my partner Mike started his own personal improvement project. Around the middle of January he realized there were just over 1000 days until his 40th birthday. As such, he decided to set himself a series of challenges in the form of 100 ten-day projects to improve his physical, mental, cultural or all-around awesomeness. Things like "learn to play lacrosse" or "read the works of Mark Twain" or "improve my flexibility so I can touch my toes." And of course, his first project was "start a blog about it."

You can check out his fairly awesome and impressive (in a wish-I'd-thought-of-that kind of way) blog here:

vitruvianmanifesto.blogspot.ca

BTW--It's called "Vitruvian Manifesto" as a reference to da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" because Mike had the notion that he was turning himself into a Renaissance Man, or at least a little bit. He had intended that the above graphic would show various tools and implements in each of his hands--an electric drill, a lacrosse stick, a book, etc.--but he's not that great at graphics. He might have put it on his list though, so he might change his logo before the 1000 days are up.