Happy New Year!
It’s 2020, you know what that means! 1920s style is coming back!
So throw on your glad rags and let’s go putting on the ritz!

Love Me or Leave Me
So the past few years, I have done “theme” years. 2015 was Back to the Future, 2016 Star Trek: The Original Series, 2017 Star Wars: A New Hope, 2018 Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, and 2019 Dystopian future with The Running Man and Blade Runner. This year I’m all about the 1920s, especially one particular thing that came out:
For those of you who don’t know, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of The Mysterious Affair at Styles, the first mystery that Agatha Christie wrote and introduced one of the greatest detectives: Hercule Poirot.
So that is where this post’s title comes from, I will be reviewing a Poirot or other Agatha Christie movie for Horrorfest IX, and will attempt to work in mysteries somehow and sometime throughout the year.
You know how I love mysteries!

Mystery, you say?
But enough of that. Let’s move on to the year in review!

Let’s get started!
The Views
This year I had over 74,700 views!
Wow!
The most viewed day of the year was August 12th with 752 views! That was the day I posted I Wrote Mr. Darcy a Letter
Although the number one post viewed that day was from Horrorfest VII Which Husband Ran Off With Addie Ross?: A Letter to Three Wives (1949)
The Top Five Posts
Here are the top five most viewed posts of the year, although strangely none were posted this year-and amazingly my number one post for the past six years was knocked down to number 2. I know why too, the number one post is a confusing movie that I and my friend googled to figure it out-so I’m sure that’s what bumped the numbers.
5) A Real Man from 2014
4) Tea Time from 2015
3)Which Husband Ran Off With Addie Ross?: A Letter to Three Wives (1949) from Horrorfest VII, 31 Days of Horror Films from Halloween 2018

I don’t know who to trust!
2) Fulfilling the List: A Walk to Remember (2002), from Romance is in the Air, 14 days of my favorite romantic moments (2013)
1)What Happened to Ally Palmer?: The Good Student (2006)from Horrorfest VII, 31 Days of Horror Films from Halloween 2018
The Followers!
So this community has really grown in numbers and I can not describe how pleased I am about that. We have gone from 14 followers in 2012, to 439 in 2015, to 1021 in 2017, and now 1,647 in 2019.
Book Club Picks
My book club read:
- Wuthering Heightsby Emily Brontë
- Julieby Catherine Marshall
- Desperate Pastors’ Wives (Secrets from Lulu’s Cafe #1) by Ginger Kolbaba and Christy Scannell
- Far Side of the Sea (California Rising #2) by Paula Scott
- Chasing the Wind (California Rising #3) by Paula Scott
- The Mother Keeperby Paula Scott
I am actually 11 books behind, but I will catch up in this new year…at least I hope!
Non-Austen Reads for Austen Readers
So in 2018 I started a series on books to read after you have read all the Jane Austen novels and want elements of Jane Austen, but something fresher than another adaption or retelling. The following books I recommended for Austen fans last year are:
- And Only to Deceive (Lady Emily Mysteries #1) by Tasha Alexander
- Suitors and Sabotageby Cindy Anstey
- A Love for Keeps (Brides of Arkansas #1) by Janet Lee Barton
- Wuthering Heightsby Emily Brontë
- The Glassblower (Glassblower Saga #1) by Petra Durst-Benning
- Julieby Catherine Marshall
Dangerous to Know
So I was given the book Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues edited by Christina Boyd, in exchange for an honest review, and started reviewing it in 2018-but as I broke it up into multiple posts I didn’t finish it until 2019. We had:
- Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MODERATE by Karen M. Cox, Jenetta James, Joana Starnes
- Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MATURE by Katie Oliver & Brooke West
Jane Austen
So of course there will be Jane Austen posts, that’s the name of the blog! I reviewed the following:
On Jane Austen & her works:
- Austen Avengers Assemble!: A post on which I match up Austen heroines with the Avengers superheroes.
- Death By Persuasion: Midsomer Murders (2017)
- Five Jane Austen Adaptations That Should be Turned Into a Film or TV Show
- Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisperby Manuela Santoni
- Jane Austen’s Royal Fanboy: A post on her actual royal fanboy, the Prince of England.
- Jane Austen Questions-For the month of July I asked questions on Instagram about Jane Austen and posted your thoughts. Things from “who is the worst villain?”, “Which JA characters have the best fashion?”, “What occupation would JA characters have today?”, etc.
Sense and Sensibility:
- “Every Past Affliction” by Nicole Clarkston from Rational Creatures
- The Smart One and the Pretty One by Claire LaZebnik
- “Self-Composed” by Christina Morland from Rational Creatures
- “Willoughby’s Crossroads” by Joana Starnes from Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MODERATE
Pride and Prejudice:
- “Charlotte’s Comfort” by Joana Starnes from Rational Creatures
- “Happiness in Marriage” by Amy D’Orazio from Rational Creatures
- I Met Mr Darcy
- I Only Read Pride and Prejudice Because I Hated the Keira Knightley Adaptation
- I Wrote Mr. Darcy a Letter
- Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de La Cruz
- Pride, Prejudice, and Personal Statements by Mary Pagones
- The Retellings Strike Back: Pride & Prejudice, cont: So back in 2013, I listed out 30 adaptions and retellings I would review of Pride and Prejudice-I only did 30 as there are soooo many. I finished that list last year, and started a new post with 30 more, (all just a drop in the bucket). Of course the list isn’t set in stone as sometimes it fluctuates depending on what book comes my way.
- Why Do People Love Bridget Jones’ Diary?
- “A Wicked Game” by Katie Oliver from Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MATURE
- YULETIDE: A Jane Austen-inspired Collection of Stories Audiobook
Mansfield Park:
- Anna Karenina Made Me View Maria Bertram-Rushworth and Mary Crawford Differently
- The Heartbreak Kid: A post on a friend of mine who was just as unlucky in love as Edmund Bertram
- “Last Letter to Mansfield” by Brooke West, from Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MATURE
- Little Literary Classics Mansfield Park Cloth Book
- Mad about Mansfield Park: A brief introduction to the book and list of books and films based on Mansfield Park that I plan to review/have already reviewed.
- “The Meaning of Wife” by Brooke West from Rational Creatures
- Once Upon a Time There Were Three Sisters…: A post on the relationships between the sisters Miss Ward, Miss Maria Ward, and Miss Frances Ward who set up the backstory of Mansfield Park.
- “What Strange Creatures” by Jenetta James from Rational Creatures
Emma:
- Dull Times Breed Disaster: A post on why I believe Emma turned to matchmaking.
- “An Honest Man” by Karen M. Cox, from Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MODERATE
- “In Good Hands” by Caitlin Williams from Rational Creatures
- “Knightley Discourses” by Anngela Schroeder from Rational Creatures
- Pride, Prejudice, and Personal Statements by Mary Pagones
- “The Simple Things” by J. Marie Croft from Rational Creatures
Northanger Abbey:
- Did Jane Hate a Richard?
- “A Nominal Mistress” by Karen M. Cox from Rational Creatures
- “The Strength of Their Attachment” by Sophia Rose from Rational Creatures
Persuasion:
- The Art of Pleasing by Lona Manning from Rational Creatures
- Holiday Mix Tape by Beau North and Brooke West
- It Sucks to Be Lady Elliot
- “The Lost Chapter in the Life of William Elliot” by Jenetta James, from Dangerous to Know, Jane Austen’s Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues: MODERATE
- “Louisa by the Sea” by Beau North from Rational Creatures
- “An Unnatural Beginning” by Elizabeth Adams from Rational Creatures
- “Where the Sky Touches the Sea” by KaraLynne Mackrory from Rational Creatures
Lady Susan:
- “The Edification of Lady Susan” by Jessie Lewis from Rational Creatures
Recipes
As C.S. Lewis says
“Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably.”
And sometimes you want something to nibble on when you read Jane Austen or watch the films. This year we had the following recipes:
- Amish Baked Oatmeal
- Blueberry Matcha Smoothie
- Carrot Oatmeal Muffins
- Cheese Round
- Crispy, Chewy, Matcha Green Tea Cookies
- Earl Grey Infused Blueberry Smoothie
- Green Tea Frappuccino
- Matcha Green Tea Blast Smoothie
- Matcha, Matcha, Matcha
- Scottish Oatcakes
Books, Books, Books!
I love books and reading:
- Better Not Be Disrespectin’
- Bookishhq Monthly Book Bingo-Every month on Instagram
- Happiness is Having a Library Card: Another 13 of the Best Fictional Libraries
- Literary Tea Parties
- An Ode to Goodreads
- Shame Book Tag
- Stranded at the Bookstore
Holiday, Celebrate, Holiday, Celebrate…
I LOVE holidays, and love to celebrate. Here are the holiday posts:
- Here Piggy, Piggy: Chinese New Year: A post on nine of my favorite pigs from film, TV, and books.
- 13 Films to Watch on Valentine’s Day If You Are in An Anti-Romance Mood: A post for all those who aren’t into the gooey romance of Valentine’s Day.
- Jane Austen Chinese Zodiac: So let’s pretend the Jane Austen main characters celebrated Chinese New Year, here is what they would be in the Zodiac.
- Kissing the Blarney Stone: 7 More Irish Heroes: The Saint Patrick’s Day post, honoring 7 Irish characters from film, TV, and books.
Tea Time
What goes better with Jane Austen than tea? I love tea and we have the following posts on it:
- Blueberry Matcha Smoothie
- Clean Cup! Clean Cup! Move Down, Move Down, Move DOOOWWWNN!!!!!
- Crispy, Chewy, Matcha Green Tea Cookies
- Earl Grey Infused Blueberry Smoothie
- Green Tea Frappuccino
- I Ran Out of Milk So I Put Buttermilk in My Tea
- I Tried Tea & Me’s Tea Hair Rinse
- I Tried Tea & Me’s Tea Infused Facial Cubes
- Matcha Green Tea Blast Smoothie
- Matcha, Matcha, Matcha
- Tea Advent Calendar on Instagram: This year I joined a tea advent calendar swap and posted a photo every day leading up to Christmas on the tea. I will be doing a full review later.
- Use Tea to Soothe Dry or Irritated Skin
Non-Austen Films for Austen Fans
So as I enjoyed doing the Non-Austen Reads for Austen Readers, that I decided to expand to another series- Non-Austen Films for Austen Fans. This has films that are not based on Jane Austen, but have elements we love from the films in a fresher source. I recommend Austen fans to watch:
Desire & Decorum
So Jane Austen has entered the 21st Century with Pixelberry creating a video game based on Jane Austen’s works and set in the Regency time period. I started playing in 2018 year and continued last year:
- Desire & Decorum: Chapter 4, Best Foot Forward Part II
- Desire & Decorum: Chapter 5, The Road to London
- Desire & Decorum: Chapter 6, An Intimate Affair
- Desire & Decorum: Chapter 7, Opera St. James
- Desire & Decorum: Chapter 8, Ill Repute
- Desire & Decorum: Chapter 9, An Indelicate Proposal
Catherine Morland’s Reading List
Another series? Yes…I know, I just can’t help it. Yes, this series will be on gothic novels that Catherine Morland would totally love to read, if she existed:
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
- “The Murders in the Rue Morgue (C. Auguste Dupin Mysteries #1)” from The Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allen Poe
- “The Tell-Tale Heart” from The Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allen Poe
- The Inn at Half Moon Bay: A Gothic Novel by Diane Tyrrel
Painted Portrayals of Christ
For Easter I discussed different artworks of Christ, (have to put that Art History degree to work). Last year I chose:
- Gero Crucifix from Cologne Cathedral
- Christos Panto Krator or the Deesis Mosiac
Jane Austen Stuff
Last year I reviewed a few companies’ Jane Austen stuff:
Austentatious (2015)
Last year I decided to review one episode from Austentatious (2015) every month. After I finish it, I’ll be picking another one to do this to. I really, really, really hate this show-so be prepared for the sarcasm and the hate.
- We Are Family: Austentatious, Episode 1 (2015)
- Big Girls Don’t Cry: Austentatious, Episode 2 (2015)
- I’ll Be Watching You: Austentatious, Episode 3 (2015)
- Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Austentatious, Episode 4 (2015)
- Call Me, Maybe: Austentatious, Episode 5 (2015)
- Drive Me Crazy: Austentatious, Episode 6 (2015)
Giveaways!
Last year I won five giveaways. The ones I have reviewed:
- I Won the Regency Marketplace Giveaway
- I Won the Mad Hatter Review Giveaway: I took the tea to my friend’s when I visited for a weekend, forgot it, and her roommates drank it all. So I will not be reviewing it.
- I Won the Two Sisters Tea Giveaway
Rational Creatures
So like Dangerous to Know, this book was given to me by Christina Boyd in exchange for a honest review. Rational Creatures has stories by Elizabeth Adams, Nicole Clarkston, Karen M. Cox, J. Marie Croft, Amy D’Orazio, Jenetta James, Jessie Lewis, KaraLynne Mackrory, Lona Manning, Christina Morland, Beau North, Sophia Rose, Anngela Schroeder, Joana Starnes, Brooke West, and Caitlin Williams-all on the women of Jane Austen:
- Rational Creatures: Anne Elliot, Mrs. Croft, Mrs. Clay, & Louisa Musgrove
- Rational Creatures: Catherine Morland, Eleanor Tilney, & Lady Susan
- Rational Creatures: Elinor & Marianne Dashwood
- Rational Creatures: Elizabeth Bennet & Charlotte Lucas
- Rational Creatures: Emma Woodhouse, Miss Bates, & Harriet Smith
- Rational Creatures: Fanny Price & Mary Crawford
Horrorfest VIII
- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
- King Kong (1933)
- Rebecca (1940)
- “Lamb to the Slaughter” from Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958)
- Horror of Dracula (1958)
- The Notorious Landlady (1962)
- Planet of the Apes (1968)
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
- Escape from Planet of the Apes (1971)
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- Battle for Planet of the Apes (1973)
- Logan’s Run (1976)
- The Fog (1980)
- Dark Crystal (1982)
- “To All the Ghouls I’ve Loved Before” from 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985)
- The Running Man (1987)
- Batman (1989)
- Dead Again (1991)
- Leprechaun (1993)
- Death of a Cheerleader (1994)
- “The Puppet Show” from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
- Unbreakable (2000)
- Spirited Away (2001)
- The Stepfather (2009)
- The Last Christmas: Shadow Island Mysteries (2010)
- R.I.P.D. (2013)
- “Death By Persuasion” from Midsomer Murders (2017)
- Strong Woman Bong Soon (2017)
- Veil of Secrets (2018)
- High Seas (2019)
- Psycho Mother-in-Law (2019)

25 Films of Christmas
Christmas is hard to do posts on as it is so busy! However, in 2018 I watched a Christmas film every day and posted it on Instagram. Last year I decided to do it again (and ended up watching 29 films). Here are the 25:
- The Thin Man (1934)
- Somewhere in Dreamland (1936)
- The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
- It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
- Frosty the Snowman (1969)
- Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) (In my family it counts as a Christmas movie)
- Jack Frost (1979)
- Babes in Toyland (1986)
- A Garfield Christmas (1987)
- Die Hard (1988)
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1988)
- Die Hard II (1990)
- Home Alone (1990) I watched it twice!
- Batman Returns (1992) It was my Friday the 13th pick
- Jumanji (1995)
- Jingle All the Way (1996)
- The Christmas Card (2006)
- The Christmas Candle (2013) I watched it twice!
- Christmas in the City (2013)
- Dashing Through the Snow (2015)
- The Mistletoe Promise (2016)
- Once Upon a Christmas Miracle (2018) Recommended to me by martha.leith on instagram
- Klaus (2019)
Other Posts:
Other posts that don’t fit a theme:
- The Conscripted Seamstress: I don’t sew, but was conscripted to help with a wedding dress.
- I’m a Barbie Girl: A post celebrating the 60th anniversary of Barbie dolls
- Man, She Sure Looks Great in Clothes: A post dedicated to Doris Day who passed away in 2019, and ten of my favorite films starring her.
- May the Odds Be in Your Favor: I held a giveaway for my 7th Blogiversary which was won by SewMelissaWrites.
- Paris Street; Rainy Day: A painting by Gustave Caillebotte that has nothing to do with Jane Austen, but always makes me think of her books.
- Why Does A Tragedy Remind Us of What is Important?Women are Like Werewolves
For 2018 in review, go to The Future is Bulletproof
For 2017 in review, go to Life Seems But a Quick Succession of Busy Nothings
For 2016 in review, go to A New Hope
For 2015 in review, go to To Boldy Go Where No Man Has Gone Before
For 2014 in review, go to Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads
For 2013 in review, go to Looking at the Past, Focusing on the Future
For 2012 in review, go to Looking Back, Moving Forward