Elegant Blogger Award

- When you receive the award, link back to keepcalmandsparkle1099.blogspot.com and the blog that nominated you.  Thanks to Carissa at Musings of an Introvert!
- Display the award button in the post
- Answer all of the 12 questions given in this post (do not make your own questions)
- Nominate 8 bloggers (see below)
- Notify them that they have been awarded.

1.  What made you start blogging?

Well, I guess it really started when a discussion forum I used to be part of basically fizzled out. There had been a great community there, and afterwards I missed talking to people with similar interests.  I finally started blogging in 2009, while watching the new Little Dorrit; one of the best decisions of my life!

2.  What is your fashion style?
I'd like to call it "eminently practical," with a touch of old-fashioned.  :)  I tend to wear untrendy classics - collared blouses, jackets, and sweaters, in neutrals, earthy colors, and blue.  Usually no jewelry.  Love tasteful florals and plaids. You can check out my style board here, though it's more inspirational than descriptive.

3.  What is something none of your followers know about you?
Might have mentioned it before in passing - I have a lot of trouble sitting still and concentrating.  During high school, sometimes I would actually do schoolwork standing up, because it was more comfortable and conducive to focusing on tedious problems.  Fortunately, homeschooling allowed me to stand up and move around whenever I wanted.  It seems much healthier overall than sitting glued down the whole time.

4.  What are some of your blogging goals?
Quality content with more PICTURES.

5.  Where is your favorite place to shop?
Anywhere with self-checkout.  Only partially joking...  Honestly, my favorites are the local grocery store and thrift stores.  For fun "window-shopping" places, Barnes & Noble and Bath & Body Works are another two I like.

6.  What would your ideal amount of blog followers be?
The people who regularly visit and benefit from my blog(s) make up the ideal amount, whatever the number.  I'm honored to be any part of their internet surfing routine, and to me they are real friends!

7.  What are your talents?
I write fiction/poetry pretty well, and my non-fic has earned a few accolades at school.  My second language is classical music/composers/performance.  I can design a decent website in HTML, CSS, and, at long last, PHP.  :)

8.  Are you a leader or a follower?
Most of the time, I end up being the reluctant leader.  I try not to volunteer for it.

9.  What is one of your favorite quotes?
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
- Aesop, "The Lion and the Mouse"

10.  Do you have a favorite book or series?
My most favorite is Heart of Darkness, the anti-imperialist classic (in my understanding, it is vehemently anti-racist as well, though some people claim otherwise).  My close second-favorite is Eugene Onegin, which I re-read every year.  You can find my top 10 here!

11.  Out of all the synonyms for elegant, which would you describe yourself with?  (smart -- stylish -- dressy -- graceful -- dainty -- fine)
"Smart" sounds like someone who looks impeccably pulled together; dressy, graceful, dainty, and fine could hardly describe me either.  Stylish is perhaps the least least-accurate, especially since textured hair, natural makeup, and neutral nail polish are supposedly in right now.  That is me all the time...

12.  What is your favorite flower?
I'm afraid if I name one, it will be inadequate to show how crazy I am about flowers.  Besides, I might entirely forget flowers like rhododendron and azalea blossoms, or yellow water lilies (the ones with round petals).  I guess my favorites are generally deep pink or bright yellow.

As is often the case, I have decided not to tag anyone specifically.  However, please feel free to consider yourself tagged!  If you'd rather answer in the comments section than on your blog, that is a perfectly good option as well.

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Liebster award!

{From KatySue--thanks!!}

rules:

1. You must post eleven facts about yourself.

2. You must also answer the eleven questions the awarder has given you and make up eleven questions for your awardees to answer in turn.

3. Tag eleven fellow bloggers

4. Notify them that you've awarded them

5. No tagging back

6. And the eleven blogs you tag must have less than 200 followers.

// FACT:

1. I just discovered in the last few months that I'm allergic to corn and somewhat lactose intolerant (i.e. I can eat most lactose foods, just not milk).  The corn allergy makes me especially sad.
2. My absolute favorite music at the moment is Owl City, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, and Yiruma. 
3. I'm really bad at sitting still.
4. Lately I've had a lot of dreams about real life, mostly bad dreams.
5. I use "elven" as a synonym for "eleven," because of reasons. :)
6. I'm the bona fide awkward "heroine" and kitchen klutz.  (And not in a cute "Molly Hooper" way, unfortunately.)
7. I watch Good Mythical Morning every day! 
8. As you can probably tell, I kind of live in my own world.  Every time I consider becoming even slightly more "like everyone else," something happens to make me change my mind.
9. On the other hand...I've found out that being a Trekkie is really cool because a lot of other people are Trekkies!
10. Speaking of fandoms, I think it's totally normal fun to watch Russian opera with Spanish subtitles on YouTube, late at night.
11. I plan to get a pet corgi within the next 6 years! :)

**************************

1. Rain or Shine?

Both are nice, but I always miss rain!

2. What was your favorite cartoon / movie growing up?

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!  Animated Disney movies, too.  Then when I was a bit older, the Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) series.

3. If you could be any character from a book, who would you be?

Dr. Watson, because I've always wanted to live at 221b.  XD 

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Apple cake, probably...so much nostalgia.  ❤   

5. Favorite specialty drink (Starbucks/Biggby/Etc.)

Echoing everyone else: Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte, and the eggnog latte, too (sans nutmeg).  It's like dessert in a coffee!  And it's pretty special to our family--we share a Venti every weekend after my sister's orchestra practice.

6. Favorite screen/literary couple?

Jonathan & Mina in Dracula (the book).  And, of course, Eugene & Tatyana in Eugene Onegin.  And Myshkin & Nastasya in The Idiot, if circumstances had been different (just when I thought I'd got over Victorian romance, all angst and feels, the Russian authors wring my heart).  Also, Razumov/Natalie in Under Western Eyes. 

7. What is your favorite restaurant?
Right now, either a local Indian restaurant or a local fish-n-chips (BEST ever).

8. What is your favorite color and why?

Black (so classy), gray (emotional, like the sea), white (symbolic, color of sunlight), off-white (warm and cosy), and blue.  Another ocean analogy, I guess, but the color blue is so profound, to me.

9. If you had to eat one food forever, what would it be?

Pizza.  :)

10. Mascara or blush?

Mascara.  I like being pale.  No, seriously. 

11. Is your hair color natural?
Yes, dark brown, and always has been.  :)  Funny story about that...I was sitting in church a couple weeks ago, and the light from the stained glass window "colored" my hair bright cherry red.  For a split second, one of the other ladies thought I had dyed my hair, lol!


// ELEVEN QUESTIONS

1. Favorite vegetable?
2. Is there anything you like now that you used to dislike?
3. Monkeys--cute or creepy?
4. What do you do when you're bored?
5. Do you like to garden?
6. What is your favorite color and why?
7. Your favorite screen/literary couple?
8. If you could be any character from a book, who would you be?
9. What is your favorite dessert?
10. Do you have any traditions you made up yourself?
11. Do you usually get snow in December?

I tag ANYBODY who would like to do this, and more specifically:  Emiko, Lydia, Helen, Celtic Traveler, and Abby!

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30 day challenge

powered by Fotopedia

I saw this at Lydia's blog Eternal Simplicity.  Apart from working on my summer goals, I'm jolly bored, so I think I'll give this a try!  (Probably, I should have started at the beginning of the month, but oh well.)

Day 1: A favorite song 
Day 2: A favorite movie 
Day 3: A favorite book
Day 4: A favorite TV show 
Day 5: A favorite quote
Day 6: A moment you wish you could relive
Day 7: Five things you couldn't possibly live without
Day 8: A thank you letter to someone who has changed your life 
Day 9: A photo you took 
Day 10: A photo of you taken over ten years ago 
Day 11: A photo of you taken recently 
Day 12: A song that you want played at your wedding 
Day 13: A guilty pleasure 
Day 14: A vacation you would like to take 
Day 15: A person you admire 
Day 16: A song that makes you cry 
Day 17: An art piece 
Day 18: A time when you felt passionate and alive 
Day 19: A talent of yours 
Day 20: A hobby of yours 
Day 21: Something you know you do differently than other people 
Day 22:  A website 
Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered 
Day 24: A movie no one would expect you to love 
Day 25: A recipe 
Day 26: A childhood memory 
Day 27: A physical feature you love 
Day 28:  A scar you have and its story 
Day 29: Hopes, dreams, and plans you have for the next 365 days 
Day 30: A motto or philosophy

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11 Things tag

From Sophia, at Revolving at Two Speeds:

The Rules.

✔1. Post these rules.

✔ 2. Post 11 random things about yourself. (although this one can be optional)

✔ 3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.

✔ 4. Create 11 new question for the people you ask to answer.

✔ 5. Go to their blog and tell them they have been they have been tagged.

11 Random Things About Myself:

1. One of my dream projects is to create a 5+ ft. structure using toothpicks & Elmer's glue.

2. I prefer real keyboards over touchscreen keyboards.

3. I absolutely hate talking on the phone (unless the person I'm talking to is a close relative).

4. I love to quote people, real-life and fictional.

5. I don't like popcorn much.

6. Joseph Conrad is currently my favorite author.

7. I'm good at quickly inventing long, complex passwords.  So long as I write them down, all is well.

8. I have what is called "synesthesia", mostly when it comes to numbers.

9. Public speaking doesn't scare me, though I'm super reserved and dislike talking in general.

10. I've learned how to say seven things in Russian--"Good day", "Hello", "Hi", "Thank You", "Yes", "No", and "I love(d) you" (it's Pushkin's fault!). 

11.  I've been told at least three times in the last six months that I strongly resemble somebody else.  Random, indeed.  It would be interesting to meet these people; then I could actually "see myself as others see me."

11 Questions:

1. Can you describe your ideal wedding in three words?
Traditional, small, relaxed.

2. What's the best outfit for a day on the town?
Something nice-casual with comfortable shoes.

3. Rain or sunshine?
Both at the same time.

4. If you could eat one food forever, what would you choose? (It would provide ideal nutrients, it's just a flavor thing)
 Pizza..

5. Do you use Pandora? What's your favorite station you have? If not, what kind of radio do you listen to?
I don't listen to radio much anymore.  Sometimes the classical station.

6. What's the last thing you wrote?
A to-do list.

7. What do you order at Starbucks?
Pumpkin, peppermint, and eggnog lattes.  They need to make those all year round!  (Or maybe not, haha.)

8. If you got to chose which of your five senses to lose, which one would you chose to lose?
Probably smell.

9. What would you do if you knew the world was going to end in five minutes?
It would depend on where I was and what mood I'd be in.

10. Biggest plan for summer so far?
 Publish my poetry book, if I don't get it done this spring.

11. How do you calm down when you're frustrated/upset?
Sometimes I play the violin, and that restores rational thinking.  Or I just find something else to do that gets my mind off it, or explain it to a family member.  If it's a big deal, a good cry in my room helps.

Prayer always helps, too.  I remember once I was upset, and it wasn't even a big deal, but I felt the need to pray for help.  Literally within seconds, I met someone I hadn't seen in a while who cheered me up.  It might seem like a "little thing", but it made a real difference to me.

 My 11 Questions:

1. Five of your favorite words (in any language)?
2. Would you rather stand in line for 3 hours or sit in a conference for 3 hours?
3. Spring or Autumn?
4. Do you have any historical heroes, and if so, who?
5. Three of your favorite quotes?
6. What is your favorite dessert?
7. A series you like (TV, book, etc)?
8. Three of your favorite colors?
9. A phrase you are often heard to say?
10. Three of your favorite accents?
11. You're stranded on a desert island for life, but are allowed to receive one section--Nation & World, Local, Sports, Business, etc--from the weekly newspaper.  Which would you choose?

I tag anybody who would like to be tagged.  :)

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Literary Heroine blog party!

I've seen this on a few other blogs, and it looks like a lot of fun!  Hosted by Kellie at Accordion to Kellie.

Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!

Well, I'm a Christian, homeschool graduate, writer, and college student working towards a comp sci major.  I live in the Pacific Northwest, my favoritest place on terra firma.  Consequently, I own two umbrellas which I rarely use, and have an almost vampirical distrust of sunlight (just kidding). 

What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?

1. Moral strength
2. Loyalty to loved ones
3. Respect for others, including children 
4. Respect for human life
5. Dedication to justice, honesty, and liberty

Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.

Marian Halcombe (The Woman in White), Tatyana Larina (Eugene Onegin), Amy Dorrit (Little Dorrit), and Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland).   

Five of your favorite historical novels?

Kidnapped, Under Western Eyes, Shirley, Moby-Dick, and Heart of Darkness.

Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?

Tie between Alan Breck Stewart (Kidnapped) and Razumov (Under Western Eyes).  They're both pretty complex characters.  Alan is kind of annoying and egotistic on the surface, but deep-down he means well and is a true patriot.  And Razumov is a person who leads a hardworking, upright life until circumstances tempt him into bitter revenge.  It's fascinating to read the character arcs of both of these guys. 

Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Starbuck (Moby-Dick).  He doesn't know whether to stage a mutiny and go against his pacifist beliefs, or stand back and let Ahab destroy the crew.  It's a lose-lose situation, and Starbuck acts as conscientiously as he can. 

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?

Rome--city tour and catacombs, England--Lakes, Scotland--highlands, and maybe the Galapagos Islands.  

What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?

I don't really have a favorite.  Good books are good!

You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?

Probably a violin/cello duet with my sister!

If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?

Probably Jane Eyre.  But if I wanted to go all out, I'd dress up as Marguerite Blakeney (The Scarlet Pimpernel), with a super extravagant ball gown...

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?

I love chocolate, but fortunately it's not addicting for me.

Favorite author(s)?

Right now, Joseph Conrad and Lewis Carroll.  They're awesome and underrated.

Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land?

An open mind...

In which century were most of the books you read written?

Probably a tie between 19th and 20th.

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…

Sherlock Holmes (surprise!).  I decided that when I was 9 or 10, haha.

Describe your ideal dwelling place.

A two-storey colonial-style house on a hill overlooking the Puget Sound.

Sum up your fashion style in five words.

Traditional, practical, plain, sweaters, grey.

Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name?

Only my own characters', but that doesn't happen often.

In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...

Totsky (The Idiot), closely followed by Dr Moreau (The Island of Dr Moreau).

Three favorite Non-fiction books?

The Bible, A Tangled Tale (Carroll), and Through the Magic Door (Doyle).

Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?

Playing piano, taking photos, blogging.

Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.

I actually own my dream hat.  It's a brown fur-trapper hat with fur trim.  I've been tempted to add a pair of goggles for a true steampunk look, but my family wouldn't be thrilled...

Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.

Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

"Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13b) 

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Dickens Tag

From Alexandra at Of Trims and Frills and Furbelows.  This is part of "Dickens Week" that she is hosting at her blog! 


1.       How were you first introduced to Dickens?


I watched some versions of A Christmas Carol as a kid, and a little later I read Great Expectations & Oliver Twist.  I became a real Dickens fan when I read Nicholas Nickleby.  :)


2.       Which is your favorite Dickens novel?

Nicholas Nickleby. 


3.       How many Dickens adaptations have you seen?

At least 16!  :)  My family and I love watching Dickens.  The plot twists, quirky/scary/wonderful characters, British actors and actresses...Dickens movies are the kind of movies you can watch innumerable times.  And there's such a balance of humor and drama that you don't feel sad at the ending (usually).


4.       Which Dickens adaptation is your favorite?  

Hard to choose one...they're most of them equally brilliant.  I guess the ones that particularly stand out to me are Bleak House (2005), A Tale of Two Cities (1989), and Little Dorrit (2008).  Such great characters and character portrayals.  Little Dorrit has fantastic cinematography & sets, too.

But there are many more I like.  Martin Chuzzlewit (1994) gets points for being the creepiest film I've ever seen (well, up there with Sherlock: The Great Game).  The '80s and '90s saw a lot of good Dickens adaptations.  Can't forget Our Mutual Friend. 


5.       Have you seen multiple versions of A Christmas Carol?  Which version is your favorite?

I've seen 5 versions:  Mickey Mouse, Alastair Sim, Disney (Jim Carrey), a local theater production, and a one-man version at the York Castle Museum.  For a filmed version, Alastair Sim's version is by far the most intelligent and well-done, and my favorite live production was the one-man performance--highly abridged but also well-done.

6.       Who is your favorite Dickens hero and (if applicable) who does your favorite portrayal of him?

Well, as I said on Dickensblog, mine are subject to change from day to day...there are just so many great characters.  :)  Some of my favorites:

1. John Jarndyce.  Book version, or played by Denis Lawson (aka Captain "Dreadnought" Foster). 
2. Nicholas Nickleby.  Book version. 
3. Arthur Clennam.  Portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen.
4. Herbert Pocket!

7.       Who is your favorite Dickens heroine and (if applicable) who does your favorite portrayal of her?

Amy Dorrit, played by Claire Foy.  She's a truly admirable character--dedicated to her father, kind to everyone, and faithful to Arthur Clennam even when she thinks she won't see him again.


8.       Who is your favorite Dickens villain and (if applicable) who does your favorite portrayal of them?

Tulkinghorn, played by Charles Dance.  He appears to be so polite and respectable, when in reality he's a ruthless persecutor. 


9.       Have you seen any musical adaptations of any of Dickens’ stories? If so, which is your favorite song from it? 


10.   Do you have a favorite Dickens quote? If so, what is it?

Off the top of my head:

No man of sense who has been generally improved, and has improved himself, can be called quite uneducated as to anything. - Daniel Doyce, Little Dorrit

And this quote is very famous, but I do think it is so true, even today:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

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Book Questionaire

From Ashely at The Epic Reader!
1. Favorite childhood book?

Too many to name!  A few off the top of my head: The Boxcar Children, Trixie Belden, The Magician's Nephew, The Williamsburg Years (Nancy Rue), and Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales (adapted version).  I liked books about adventures and other eras/worlds.

2. What are you reading right now?

- The Secret Agent (Joseph Conrad)
- The Mirror of the Sea (Conrad)
- The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Symbolic Logic (Lewis Carroll)
- Omnitopia Dawn (Diane Duane) - going to start reading it today

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

- Complete Illustrated Works of Lewis Carroll 
- Selected Poems (1954-1986) (Tomas Tranströmer)
- The Great Enigma (Tranströmer) - been waiting for his books for eons.  By the time they get here, I may not wish to read them.  :P
- Physics (John D. Cutnell)

4. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

The Aeneid and Conceptual Physics

5. Do you have an e-reader?

Yes, my precioussss Nook Simple Touch.  It is epically cool, and I couldn't be happier!

6. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

Several at once.  Though page-turners get priority.  ;)

7. Can you read on the bus?

I've never tried.  I can read in the car, though, for limited amounts of time.  


8. Favorite place to read?

The college library.  It's the one place where there are no distractions of any kind.  And if you really want peace and quiet, they have places to sit called "Silent Study" areas, aka The Diogenes Club.  :P  But that's too eerie for me.

9. Do you ever dog-ear books?

NO. 

10. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

NOOOOOOOOO.  A thousand times NO.  Shame on those English textbook authors who encourage this.  Besides, it's not green...if books lasted longer, they wouldn't have to print as many.

11. What makes you love a book?

It can be any number of things, but typically:  amazing characters, vivid atmosphere, psychological depth, and/or interesting drama.  Symbolism is cool, too.

12. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

I don't typically recommend books in real life, mostly because people are sick of me doing so.  ;D  On my blog, I recommend books based on (usually) the quality and relevance of their message(s).

13. Favorite genre?

I don't have one, really.  I love almost any genre, if it is a good book.  But I tend to prefer sci-fi, "dark Romanticism" (i.e. Hawthorne), Kafkaesque, and Conrad-esque.  Mysteries and adventure, too.

14. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

Usually, if a book I'm reading gets really bad, I stop reading it.  And since I didn't finish it, I don't feel qualified to review it.  If it's a book I finished, I try to mention both pros and cons.  I think the most negative review I ever wrote was for Romeo and Juliet, but I don't plan to write reviews like that anymore.  Being snarky is just a cheap way to grab people's attention and appear to be witty.

15. Favorite Poet?

I love Tolkien, Wordsworth, Longfellow, Carroll, and Pushkin (for Eugene Onegin). 

16. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?

Two or three.

17. How often have you returned books to the library unread?

Often.

18. Favorite fictional character?


Sherlock Holmes.  Big surprise, right?  ;)  Closely followed by Alan Breck Stewart.  Here's 30 more favorites.  I would also add Razumov, from Under Western Eyes.  And Spock. 

19. Favorite fictional villain?

Probably Captain Nemo and Moriarty. 

20. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?

My current read.

21. The longest I’ve gone without reading.

No idea...

22. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

Master and Commander.  Too much bad language.  It's a real shame, since the movie is excellent.

23. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

People talking.

24. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

Basically, all of my favorite movies.  I should add, that some of the adaptations are vastly better than the books (i.e. Hornblower).

25. Most disappointing film adaptation?

The new Jane Eyre (2010).  Which I also highly recommend (read the review for an explanation). 

26. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

Offensive content and/or boring chapters. 

27. Do you like to keep your books organized?

Indeedy.  My books are organized by author, for the most part.

28. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

I keep books.  As my family will testify, I have a GIGANTIC black bookcase, in addition to a shelf on the wall... 


I tag all of my readers who love books!

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Awarded

...the One Lovely Blog Award, from Celtic Traveler!  Thank you!  :)

The rules are:
List 7 things about yourself and
award 15 other lovely bloggers.

7 things about  me:

1. I once toured the replica of Captain Cook's HMS Endeavour, which later contributed to the production of Master and Commander (2003). :)
2. I've been obsessed with operatic tenor singing, ever since watching a PBS re-run of the Three Tenors. 
3. I like the original Star Trek (the show in general, not all the episodes).  
4. I'm planning on majoring in computer science. 
5. I have a blue "Sherlock" scarf and a black pea-coat/jacket, which I've indeed worn together.  Technically it's a costume, but nobody else knows.  *grins*
6. I can drink coffee with sugar & cream, coffee with only cream, or just black coffee.  (i.e. I love coffee.)
7. I like trees as much as flowers.  Especially Douglas fir, oak, ginkgo, and cypress.

Now, there are tons and tons of blogs that I follow and like to read, so please feel free to take this award/tag if I follow your blog and you'd like to have it.  :) 

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Letter tag

Comment to this entry/post and I'll give you a letter. List ten things that you love that begin with that letter and then post that list on your journal/blog.

I got the letter G from ever_maedhros at LiveJournal.  :)

God
(my) Grandparents
Grieg's piano concerto, mvt 1
Gruffudd (Ioan) in Hornblower and Amazing Grace 
Gandalf
"Giorni Dispari" by Ludovico Einaudi
Grey (the color)
Green grass.  And trees.
Gothic classic lit, Hawthorne and Melville style
Google

Fun!  I think I could add several more....  :)

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30 Favorite Characters

From Thoughts of a Shieldmaiden.
Rules:  Without thinking about it too much, list 30  fictional characters that

• you really liked, or
• identified with, or
• who you think influenced you, or
• who you simply will not forget!

Well, you know me--I always over-think and over-analyze stuff.  So this should be fun!  *turns off analyzing-mode*

EDIT:  Silly me, I forgot to tag someone!  Well, I tag anybody who wants it.  ^_^

1. Sherlock Holmes.  Yeah, I'm a broken record.  Yeah, he tops every list, in my opinion.
2. Starbuck.  The one man who had the guts to stand up to Captain Ahab. 
3. Gollum.  Memorable, yesss he is.  I'll never be able to say the word "precious" again...
4. Boromir.  Gondorian knight from Lord of the Rings.  I realise he's an unpopular guy, but he may also be the most realistic, and one of the most epic, characters in the whole trilogy.  Underneath all the anti-heroism, he has a noble heart.
5. Fanshawe.  The enigmatic "suffering student", from Hawthorne's novel of the same name.  I didn't much like him at first, but I understand him better now; and he makes a very striking, Gothic type of character.
6. Eustace Bright.  Another college-student character by Hawthorne.  A cheerful, slightly eccentric young man, who enjoys telling stories to his army of younger cousins.
7. Marian Halcombe.  Strong, persevering heroine from The Woman in White, who will even go up against the evil Count Fosco, in order to save her sister.  Not a fan of the '98 movie, but the scene where she's eavesdropping on the balcony (or roof?) in the pouring rain is unforgettable!  One of the best heroine-moments in literature.
8. Count Fosco.  Speaking of.  The unique Fosco, with his mice and cigars and Rossini overtures and horrible conniving.  *shudders*
9. Digory Kirk.  Apart from his cool name, I'll always admire Digory.  I love the fact that he stands up to his nasty Uncle Andrew...someone had to do it.
10. Athelstane.  Am I the only one who likes this minor character from Ivanhoe?  He's dreadfully lazy, not very clever, and "dies" only to wake up at his own funeral.  Oddly likeable, compared to the boring title character.  *ducks tomatoes* 
11. Nancy Drew.  As portrayed by Emma Roberts.  Starts out as a Mary Sue, but her naivete and eccentricities make her very likeable.  I love how she tries to get along with everyone, unashamedly "likes old-fashioned things", is a neat-freak, and talks to herself.  I'll admit I don't have a sunshiny personality (alas), but I sure can relate to the old-fashioned and mystery-loving side of her.
12. Lt. William Bush.  As portrayed by Paul McGann.  How did I not think of him SOONER?!  The ultimate, austere naval officer with a strong sense of duty and justice.  The guy you'd want by your side in battle.  The guy who never smiles; but when he does, it's 100% more special.  (I'll shut up now, I promise...)
13. Alexander Taylor.  The charming tutor from the sadly out-of-print Williamsburg Years, by Nancy Rue (any other fans?).  One of my all-time favorite characters from childhood.  I literally can't explain how wonderful Alexander is...charisma is just part of it. 
14. Scarecrow.  "It's no use screaming at a time like this--nobody will hear you!  HELP!" <3
15. Cpt. Edward Pellew.  Classic Pellew:  "You behaved rashly--you had no right to open fire on that French ship--you ought to be ashamed for feasting on fresh beef when there were wormy biscuits on board--and by the way, I'm glad you made it back alive, son."  Gotta love Pellew...he's always there to give Hornblower a rant and a "Good job".
16. Eugene Onegin.  Personally, I call him an anti-romantic-hero.  Very flawed, memorable, and from another era entirely. 
17. Amy Dorrit.  Dickens's Cinderella character.  It would be interesting to read another author's take on Amy's story...I think Bronte or someone could have really highlighted the emotional/psychological struggles that Amy went through, in unfailing patience. We do get glimpses of it.
18. Dr. Livesey.  The good, sensible doctor from Treasure Island.  There's nothing like a sensible character.
19. Legolas.  The only guy who can wear long, pristine blond hair and get away with it. Legolas is unbeatable in this department.  And he has some mean archery skills.  <3
20. Alan Breck Stewart.  I'm horrified that I didn't remember him until just now...DUH, Marian!  Alan Breck, with the silver buttons, brilliant swordfighting, childish vanity, and persevering patriotism.  After Sherlock Holmes, he's my favoritest fictional hero in the world, and that's saying a lot.  
21. Prince Rilian.  The enchanted prince from The Silver Chair.  A very haunting, tragic character at first; the whole enchantment scene gets me choked up.  I like how (perhaps unintentionally) C. S. Lewis took the traditional fairytale-prince stereotype and turned him into someone the reader actually cares about.
22. Mr Guppy.  One of those (many) Dickens characters that you just can't un-remember.  He's funny, shrewd, and endearingly annoying.
23. Gandalf.  What can I say?  Gandalf is epicness in fictional character form.  In fact, he probably ties with Alan as my second-favoritest character.  He's got a sense of humor too--"And just bring out the cold chicken and pickles!"
24. Hastings.  As portrayed by Hugh Fraser.  Great character; he has such patience to put up with Poirot and his little grey cells.  Scary driver when it comes to the car chases, though!
25. Sir Guy Morville.  The unhappy hero of The Heir of Redclyffe.  Has a terrible temper but always, always tries to do the right thing (people today would call him OCD in this respect).  Frankly, I admire him all the more for it; and it's too bad he's been eclipsed by Darcy, Heathcliff, and other heroes that are popular with modern readers.
26. Philip Morville.  Well, you can't talk about Sir Guy without mentioning his devious cousin, Philip, who drives the story.  You don't like him, but you can't really hate him, either.  Well-written character.
27. Lord John Roxton.  Big-game hunter and protagonist in Doyle's The Lost World.  His confident and cheerful attitude is a much-needed relief in the story, plus he's wonderfully British.
28. Michel Dufrénoy.  Main character in Verne's Paris in the 20th Century. Michel feels like a misfit--he is a student of literature, but the world he lives in is all about technology, and it's the only way by which a person can succeed.  Michel isn't the most inspiring of characters, but there's certainly a lot of truth in him.
29. Alice.  Only Alice would run headlong into a rabbit-hole.  She's funny, clever, compassionate, talks to herself, and is a little too confident in her stock of knowledge. Wonderful character.
30. Mr Venus.  Another hilarious Dickens character.  And a taxidermist.  It doesn't get more Dickensian than Mr Venus.  :)

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Book tag: The End

29. Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)

How about the saddest?


That would be Sherlock Holmes...it seemed so real, almost as if a real person had died.  I was a serious little girl, who never cried over books at that age; but nonetheless, I was pretty heartbroken. 

Another sad death was that of you-know-who in A Tale of Two Cities; it was especially intense since I didn't see it coming.  Then there were the two deaths (SPOILER IN WHITE:  Boromir and Gandalf)  in The Fellowship of the Ring, and two of my favorite characters (Gandalf and Frodo) virtually dying at the end of The Return of the King.  Nobody writes death scenes like Tolkien, that's for sure.

30. The End: do you prefer everything tied up or to be able to 'make up your own mind'? What is the worst ending to a book you have read? And the best? (careful, spoiler tags!)

Generally, I prefer complete endings that leave no more questions, as in Jane Eyre and Bleak House; but on the other hand, I love the bittersweet, ambiguous ending of Eugene Onegin, which leaves the characters' futures up to the reader to decide (and interpretations, from what I've heard, vary drastically).  It's such a perfect ending for that story, full of "poetic justice" but not engraved-in-stone. 

Probably the absolutely worst ending I ever read was in Johnny Tremain, which ends *right before* he enters the battle.  It doesn't even tell whether he "gets the girl" (who isn't that nice anyway).  So annoying.  Romeo and Juliet had a terrible ending, too--not even romantic.  Moby-Dick...well, it has one of those excellent endings that you hate.  It completes the story with a dose of realism, but I think it's tragic that (Starbuck) died.

Apart from Eugene Onegin and A Tale of Two Cities, I can think of at least two other books with outstanding endings:  The Lord of the Rings and Kidnapped.  Both are real tearjerkers.  SPOILER:  Nobody exactly dies...in Kidnapped, the journey ends and Alan has to go into hiding again; in LOTR, Frodo and Gandalf (the characters who began the story) both leave to go to the Undying Lands (fictional parallel to Heaven)...Gandalf, because "his work is done", and Frodo, because he is physically and emotionally dying from his battle with the Ring.  But they're not just sad for melodrama's sake...Kidnapped's ending is about how "life goes on", and LOTR reminds you that, in the real world, happy endings come at a price for those who make them happen.  I guess the ideal book ending, to me, is "bittersweetly ever after".

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Book tag! {part 22 - 28}

Well, I have major catching up to do!   :P

22. Your "comfort" book

I have about four, actually...the book of Psalms (KJV), Kidnapped, The Encyclopedia Sherlockiana, and The Federalist Papers (seriously). 

23. Favourite book cover including a picture!

Here's some of them (wait 10 seconds for the next batch):

24. Favourite fictional relationship (romantic, friendship, familial)

Oh, that's impossibly hard.  How about one of each?  (And that still doesn't include all my faves.)


Romantic:  Lucy Snowe and Prof. Emanuel (Villette, C. Bronte).  At first, all I could think was "How does she ever fall in love with such a rude, authoritarian guy?"  But, of course, the professor has a nice side, she falls in love with him, and I ended up rooting for them, too.  I especially admire how they ultimately respect each other's differences and don't try to convert/change each other.
Friendship:  Alan Breck Stewart and Davey Balfour (Kidnapped, Stevenson).  Alan is egotistical and Davey is self-righteous...they have a hard time getting along.  But in the end, they become as close as brothers and stick by each other no matter what.  My favorite chapter in the whole book is "The Quarrel", because it illustrates the very worst and best moments of their friendship.
Familial:  The Holmes brothers (Sherlock and Mycroft).  Ahem, there's no sibling rivalry between them (yes, BBC writers, I'm glaring at you).  Mycroft governs England, Sherlock polices it.  Sherlock genuinely believes Mycroft's the smarter brother, and Mycroft isn't ashamed to say that Sherlock "has all the energy of the family".  Sherlock even seems to trust Mycroft more than Watson.  So even if they don't meet but a few times a year, I think Mycroft and Sherlock--in their own eccentric way--are pretty close siblings, not to mention two of the coolest in fiction.  ;)

25. Most annoying character ever

Mary Russell, from The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Laurie King).  Most obnoxious, irritating, cringeworthy character EVER.  And then King marries her off to my favoritest character in the world...who, by the by, is old enough to be Mary's grandfather.  O_O

Honorable mentions:  all the main characters in Wuthering Heights.  Oh, and Ishmael in Moby-Dick.

26. Most quotable novel or 5 of your favourite quotes from any books.

Some of my faves:

- "I never make exceptions.  An exception disproves the rule." (Sherlock Holmes)  {A bit narrow-minded, but I love the mathematical spirit behind it.}
- "'I will have no man in my boat,' said Starbuck, 'who is not afraid of a whale.' By this, he seemed to mean, not only that the most reliable and useful courage was that which arises from the fair estimation of the encountered peril, but that an utterly fearless man is a far more dangerous comrade than a coward."  And later on:  "Starbuck was no crusader after perils; in him courage was not a sentiment; but a thing simply useful to him, and always at hand upon all mortally practical occasions."  (Moby-Dick)
-  "I don't know that I care much about living on and on after everyone I know is dead. I'd rather live an ordinary time and die and go to Heaven."  (Digory, The Magician's Nephew)
- "No man of sense who has been generally improved, and has improved himself, can be called quite uneducated as to anything."  (Doyce, Little Dorrit)  

27. Any five books from your "to be read" stack. What makes you select a book for your “to be read” stack?

Hornblower and the Hotspur, The Mark of Zorro, The Children of Hurin, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and War and Peace.  (More complete list here.)

How do I compile my reading list?  It's an interesting question...  People probably think that I only read classic lit--which is mostly true, but I don't mean to boast or appear snobbish about it, because I'm not.  It's more of a result than a cause--older books tend to have better morals, less chance of objectionable content.  I'll gladly give a contemporary book a try, but so often I've had to give up on it, that it's much easier just to stick to the classics.  So it's my concern about content, rather than any sense of "elitism", that I read classic lit. 

Besides that aspect, it's hard to say how I select a book...variety's the keyword, I guess.  There's books I feel I ought to read...Beowulf, Shakespeare, Greek classics.  (Though Shakespeare gets on my nerves...)  Then there's the "Boy's Own" adventure books, a great genre.  Sci-fi, sea-stories, and those grittier kinds of adventure stories are even better, not to mention highly educational.  Romance stories...good ones are hard to find, but I like them.  Detective fiction is always interesting.  Historical fiction, if well-written, is good.  And finally there's the weirder stuff, like Kafka and Wells, which (if it's good) joins my favorites, just because it got me to think outside the box.  Oh, and one more--Joseph Conrad.  He writes about psychology/life/people like nobody else I've read.  And I couldn't rave enough about his amazing writing style...

In the past, I used to read one series or author for weeks before moving on.  I don't do that as much, anymore, but I still like reading by authors...I like getting a good understanding of their beliefs, perspective, era, and style; and that's what makes the connection between the works of any great author.

Lately, too, one of my goals has been to branch out and read classics from a broader range of countries, not just England.  So more Russian, American, Italian, Spanish, and French books will be showing up on my reading list.  :)   

28. Some firsts: First book you remember loving/being obsessed with. First book that made you cry. First book you gave to someone else as a gift.

- I think it was either The Chronicles of Narnia or the Trixie Belden series...don't remember which came first.  Narnia...pretty self-explanatory.  Trixie Belden, because the mysteries are really good, the supporting characters are lovable, and Trixie herself is very clever, brave, and stubborn (in a good way).  Very underrated series.
- A Tale of Two Cities, maybe?  I know I was all weepy at the end of The Return of the King.  But who wouldn't be, after 1000 pages of drama, and my top two favorite characters practically dying... 
- The Boxcar Children: Mountain Top Mystery, to my brother.

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Book tag! {part 17 - 21}

17. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?

Two Years Before the Mast...didn't even finish it, though I hope to someday.  It's interesting enough, but the writing style is tedious.  Same with The Children of Hurin (J. R. R. Tolkien).

In terms of books I've read completely, Ben-Hur probably takes the cake.

In terms of content, I thought The Hiding Place, The Heavenly Man, and The Island of Dr Moreau were all very difficult to read, though worthwhile.

18. Your favourite book series & your favourite book out of that series

Not to be a broken record, but yeah...Sherlock Holmes!  My fave novel is The Sign of Four...it has hidden treasure, a "damsel in distress", Toby the hound, a disguise, Holmes's sense of humor--a little bit of everything.  And I have many favorite short stories, like "The Copper Beeches". 

19. Your favourite picture, junior fiction and Young Adult books

- The Children's Book of Virtues.  <3  I have good memories of my dad reading it to me when I was little.
- The Boxcar Children, all sixty-odd books that I could find at the library.  Up through the Charles Tang (I remembered his name!?) illustrated books, it's all great, clean reading for kids. 
- The Magician's Nephew and The Silver Chair, by C. S. Lewis.  (I'd like to think these count as YA).  Pure genius.

20. Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise

The romantic plots (or subplots) in which the guy suddenly falls in love with the girl (or vice-versa) merely because s/he looks stunning and says nice things.  And it isn't just a plot device, it's a standard formula found in many books.  So annoying.

21. A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

Shirley, by Charlotte Bronte. I think the reason it's underrated is that it's neither typical Regency romance nor typical Bronte...it's something in between.  Still a good read, though.  :)

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Book tag! {part 12 through 16}

12. Book borrowing – do you use the library? Do you prefer to try before you buy? What about lending your books to friends? Are you a good borrower, do you remember to return books?

I love the library--I have (almost) nothing but good memories of libraries.  I generally prefer to borrow before buying, just to be on the safe side...  And I haven't yet had an opportunity to lend books to anyone, outside of my family.

13. Do you reread a lot? Why (not)? Name a book you have reread many times.

These days, not a lot.  I like to move on to something new, especially since my reading list is 20000 leagues long.  When I was a kid, there were numerous books (Narnia, for instance) which I liked to re-read.

14. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?

It's not a new book to me, but still:  Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.  I don't know if it's the amazing prose, my (albeit fractional) Scottish heritage, or what; but there's something about this book with which I can strongly connect.  And it's the sort of book I think I could re-read every year without tiring of it.  Maybe because it's almost a "day in the life" kind of book--it's not like Alan "rids the world of evil" or Davey "gets married and lives happily ever after"...but rather, it's about imperfect people, imperfect friendships, and continuous struggles against injustice.  A very "grey" book, with glimmerings of a fairytale.  Just like real life.

As for new books, the best would probably be Eugene Onegin, the epically romantic "novel-in-verse" by Alexander Pushkin.  Full of ambiguity, subtlety, depth, and drama... 

15. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes!  It's the only fictional book which I could wholeheartedly recommend to anyone.

I also think The Metamorphosis and The Lord of the Flies are well-deserved classics.  I wouldn't recommend them to everyone; but they're certainly worthwhile, especially if you have an interest in analysis and psychology/human nature.

16. Adaptation: What book would you most like to see made into a film? Do you like to read the book first or see the film? Any books you have read after seeing the film version?

My entire movie wishlist is too long to be named here.  ;)  But it includes: Eugene Onegin, Sherlock Holmes (accuracy, accuracy!), The Heir of Redclyffe, and The Blithedale Romance.

I prefer being a book-firster, in general--there's a lot that just can't be portrayed on screen, especially when it comes to the Brontes or books like Heart of Darkness, which involve a heavy emphasis on the human mind, not "action" or spoken words.  I did watch Moby-Dick (1956) before reading the book, though.  The inevitable abridgment of the story, coupled with the excellent portrayals of Ahab and Starbuck, definitely made me want to the read the book.  Also, certain stories have been made into better films than books, such as The Wizard of Oz or even North and South.  I've read both of those, but I do think that the films were more worthwhile.

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Character questionaire

From Thoughts of a Shieldmaiden.  It's pretty fun--I tag all authors who'd want to take it!  :)
Here are the rules:
1-) Choose 3 of your Cs
2-) Make your Cs answer these questions
3-) Tag 3 other people

My characters:  "Patrick" (hero), "Joaquin" (villain), "Elsie" (heroine).  All from my 18th-century historical-fantasy (think early Colonial American times, with a bit of Jane Austen and sci-fi/adventure).




Do you want a hug?
Elsie:   No, thank you, a handshake will do...
Patrick:  *glares*  Don't you dare.
Joaquin:  *bear hug*

Do you have any kids?
Elsie:  No.
Patrick:  Of course not.
Joaquin:  Nope.

Have you killed anyone?
Elsie:  No, indeed.
Patrick:  No, and FYI this is getting old already...
Joaquin:  Killed anyone?  Me?  Why should I do that?  How very absurd.  *smiles deviously*

Love anyone?
Elsie:  Well...yes.  But I don't expect to see him again.
Patrick:  Not that I know of.
Joaquin:  Um, myself?

What is your job?
Elsie:  Schoolteacher.
Patrick:  I'm in exile and under disguise, to the extent that I can hardly eat breakfast in broad daylight.  So, needless to say, I'm unemployed, at the moment.
Joaquin:  I am the governor... I strive to serve the people and all that jazz.

Favorite season?
Elsie:  Spring!
Patrick:  They're all the same to me...
Joaquin:  Summertime....  (Me:  PLEASE stop singing.)

Who’s your best friend?
Elsie:  Mary; she's like a sister to me.
Patrick:  No such thing.
Joaquin:  Lady Victoria, I suppose...

Hobbies?
Elsie:  I like walking at the beach.
Patrick:  Does staring at carpets count?
Joaquin:  Ooooh, poisons...er, chemistry, I should say....

What are you going to do when this tag is over?
Elsie:  Make a cup of tea for my aunt.

Patrick:  Find Joaquin and tell him off.
Joaquin:  Beat Patrick up, when he gets here.

What is your eye color?
Elsie:  Brown...
Patrick:  Grey, but my author insists it's bright blue, like Frodo's.  *shakes head*
Joaquin:  My author describes them as "glittering".  I suspect there are serpentine connotations, but I'll take it as a compliment.

Are you good? Or bad?
Elsie:  I try to be good.
Patrick:  I do my duty, but I don't claim to be good.
Joaquin:  Good?  Bad?  Everything is relative...

What is your greatest fear?
Elsie:  Being a failure to those closest to me.
Patrick:  The dark.  I don't know why.
Joaquin:  n/a  (Me:  Actually, he fears losing power.)

What do you think of your parents?
Elsie:  I'd do practically anything for them. 
Patrick:  I'll always love my father, but I don't want to become like him.
Joaquin:  No comment.

Any siblings?
Elsie:  Sadly, no.
Patrick:  I did, once.
Joaquin:  Nope.

Was it fun to answer all these questions?
Elsie:  Yes!
Patrick:  Not particularly.
Joaquin:  Sure, why not?

Do you have any weaknesses?
Elsie:  *sighs*  More than I'd like to name. 

Patrick:  No comment. 
Joaquin:  No, indeed!  (Me:  Er, he has many--particularly his sudden temper.)

Your favorite element? 
Elsie:  I'm sure I don't know...
Patrick:  Um, water?  Ice cold, please.
Joaquin:  FIRE!

Do you care what others think of you?
Elsie:  Sometimes.
Patrick:  No, I got over that long ago.
Joaquin:  Yes, my dear, that's the most important thing in life!

Your theme song?
Elsie:  "Only You" from The Young Victoria. 

Patrick:  *groans* My author says it's "Alaska" by Sky Sailing.  She seems a trifle obsessed with my fear of the dark.
Joaquin:  I really am too epic for theme songs.

What’s your species?
Elsie:  Human.
Patrick:  Human.  And I'll answer for Joaquin--he's a bona fide, non-sparkling vampire.
Joaquin:  Human, of course.

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Book tag! {part 8, 9, 10 & 11}

08. The last book you acquired, and how (begged, bought, borrowed?)

I think it's the original Nutcracker stories (by Hoffmann and Dumas), which I ordered from B&N.

09. Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next.

Last read, which I didn't finish, was Huntingtower, by John Buchan.

Current reads (subject to change):
The Mirror of the Sea, by Joseph Conrad
Five Weeks in a Balloon, by Jules Verne (re-reading)
Through the Magic Door, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

My next read...I have no idea.  :)

10. What author do you own the most books by and why?

I believe it's a tie between Doyle and Tolkien.  Doyle, because his minor works (i.e. The White Company, Sir Nigel, The Lost World) are great reads, too.  Tolkien, because there are so many editions of The Lord of the Rings.  And I have that paperback Children of Hurin still to be read...

11. Do you own multiple copies of any book? What are they? Why do you have multiple copies?

I own two or three paperbacks of The Fellowship of the Ring, a paperback TTT, and a paperback ROTK, in addition to the complete LOTR trilogy paperback.  I had some idea of loaning FOTR to some like-minded person, someday.  :P  I tend to pick up multiple copies at thrift stores and $1-bag garage sales, just to have on hand... 

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Book tag! {part 7}

07. What fictional character are you (secretly) in love with?

Er, I don't think it gets any more un-secret.  Really.  And I'm not just talking about actors' portrayals, however excellent they certainly are.  No, I'm talking about the original character, the eccentric tobacco-smoker with the grey eyes, "hawk-like nose", and receding hairline.  The detective who is as unromantic as "the fifth proposition of Euclid".  Who knows nothing about the Solar System and everything about poisons.  Who could make a fortune with his brain power, but who will gladly fight crime for nothing.  Who now lives in the Sussex Downs, beekeeping.  IMHO, no Darcys or Thorntons can hold a candle to this guy.  ;)  Time for some picspam!


















[All images are in the public domain and are from Camden House.] 

He may also be the most quotable character in fiction.

Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones.

My mind rebels at stagnation. 

It is of the first importance not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities.

I never make exceptions. An exception disproves the rule.

Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and leading to the most outre results, it would make all fiction with its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and unprofitable.

08. The last book you acquired, and how (begged, bought, borrowed?)
09. Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next.
10. What author do you own the most books by and why?
11. Do you own multiple copies of any book? What are they? Why do you have multiple copies?
12. Book borrowing – do you use the library? Do you prefer to try before you buy? What about lending your books to friends? Are you a good borrower, do you remember to return books?
13. Do you reread a lot? Why (not)? Name a book you have reread many times.
14. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
15. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
16. Adaptation: What book would you most like to see made into a film? Do you like to read the book first or see the film? Any books you have read after seeing the film version?
17. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
18. Your favourite book series & your favourite book out of that series
19. Your favourite picture, junior fiction and Young Adult books
20. Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
21. A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
22. Your "comfort" book
23. Favourite book cover including a picture!
24. Favourite fictional relationship (romantic, friendship, familial)
25. Most annoying character ever
26. Most quotable novel or 5 of your favourite quotes from any books.
27. Any five books from your "to be read" stack. What makes you select a book for your “to be read” stack?
28. Some firsts: First book you remember loving/being obsessed with. First book that made you cry. First book you gave to someone else as a gift.
29. Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
30. The End: do you prefer everything tied up or to be able to 'make up your own mind'? What is the worst ending to a book you have read? And the best? (careful, spoiler tags!)

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Book tag! {part 4, 5 & 6}

04. The book that’s been on your shelves the longest.

That would most likely be my NIV Bible; and then a hardcover, 1880 facsimile edition of Little Women.

05. A book you acquired in some interesting way

I purchased Frankenstein at a (yard?) sale, in a small town in England. The cover has a closeup of "The Gross Clinic" on it; and I'll never forget the elderly lady who, upon accepting my 50p (or whatever it was), gave the book a disapproving glance.  :P  To my credit, I do think that the cover picture is a bit...gross.  Especially since it was taken out of context...the closeup on the book cover makes it look like the woman just got jabbed in the face, which isn't true in the original painting.

Anyhow, I've heard Frankenstein is a great book (haven't read it yet)... 

06. A book with a story for you, that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time).

How about a book I've never read, The Fighting Temeraire by Naomi Novik?  What I did read (a few years back) was Novik's bio on her website, and it helped solidify my realisation that I could still have a writing career even if I went to college, got a "real" job, etc.  :)

07. What fictional character are you (secretly) in love with
08. The last book you acquired, and how (begged, bought, borrowed?)
09. Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next.
10. What author do you own the most books by and why?
11. Do you own multiple copies of any book? What are they? Why do you have multiple copies?
12. Book borrowing – do you use the library? Do you prefer to try before you buy? What about lending your books to friends? Are you a good borrower, do you remember to return books?
13. Do you reread a lot? Why (not)? Name a book you have reread many times.
14. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
15. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
16. Adaptation: What book would you most like to see made into a film? Do you like to read the book first or see the film? Any books you have read after seeing the film version?
17. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
18. Your favourite book series & your favourite book out of that series
19. Your favourite picture, junior fiction and Young Adult books
20. Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
21. A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
22. Your "comfort" book
23. Favourite book cover including a picture!
24. Favourite fictional relationship (romantic, friendship, familial)
25. Most annoying character ever
26. Most quotable novel or 5 of your favourite quotes from any books.
27. Any five books from your "to be read" stack. What makes you select a book for your “to be read” stack?
28. Some firsts: First book you remember loving/being obsessed with. First book that made you cry. First book you gave to someone else as a gift.
29. Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
30. The End: do you prefer everything tied up or to be able to 'make up your own mind'? What is the worst ending to a book you have read? And the best? (careful, spoiler tags!)

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Book tag! {part 2 & 3}

02. Your earliest memory of reading or being read to.

I vaguely remember reading "Dick and Jane" types of books, when I was really little.  <3  Mom and Dad also read a lot to me--like the Little House series; Children's Book of Virtues; illustrated Bible stories; and, later on, some classics like The Secret Garden.  Good times...

03. Your favourite book aged 9 ½, or 13 ¾, whichever you remember best.

Either way...probably the Sherlock Holmes series.  I was *really* (and I mean really) into it.  I read from the Adventures up through the Return, and then I stopped---only because I thought that there was no more!  A few years later I found out about the rest of the series and finished it off in a few days, I think.  ;) 

04. The book that’s been on your shelves the longest.
05. A book you acquired in some interesting way
06. A book with a story for you, that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time).
07. What fictional character are you (secretly) in love with
08. The last book you acquired, and how (begged, bought, borrowed?)
09. Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next.
10. What author do you own the most books by and why?
11. Do you own multiple copies of any book? What are they? Why do you have multiple copies?
12. Book borrowing – do you use the library? Do you prefer to try before you buy? What about lending your books to friends? Are you a good borrower, do you remember to return books?
13. Do you reread a lot? Why (not)? Name a book you have reread many times.
14. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
15. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
16. Adaptation: What book would you most like to see made into a film? Do you like to read the book first or see the film? Any books you have read after seeing the film version?
17. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
18. Your favourite book series & your favourite book out of that series
19. Your favourite picture, junior fiction and Young Adult books
20. Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
21. A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
22. Your "comfort" book
23. Favourite book cover including a picture!
24. Favourite fictional relationship (romantic, friendship, familial)
25. Most annoying character ever
26. Most quotable novel or 5 of your favourite quotes from any books.
27. Any five books from your "to be read" stack. What makes you select a book for your “to be read” stack?
28. Some firsts: First book you remember loving/being obsessed with. First book that made you cry. First book you gave to someone else as a gift.
29. Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
30. The End: do you prefer everything tied up or to be able to 'make up your own mind'? What is the worst ending to a book you have read? And the best? (careful, spoiler tags!)

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Book tag! {part 1}

I got this tag from Gina's livejournal; and seeing as how it's entirely about books, I really couldn't resist.  ;)  There are 30 questions, so I thought it'd be fitting to do it throughout the month of June.  Anyone who wants to join in through the comments or fill it out on their blog, feel free!

01. A fictional character you identify with and why.

Alice, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  See this post by Lolly, at Ourspareoom.  I was a lot like Alice at her age, and I still am, especially when it comes to "giving myself very good advice".  ;)  Or hoping for seemingly impossible things:

'Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but she could not even get her head though the doorway; “and even if my head would go through,” thought poor Alice, “it would be of very little use without my shoulders. Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only know how to begin.” For, you see, so many out-of-the-way things had happened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible.'

02. Your earliest memory of reading or being read to.
03. Your favourite book aged 9 ½, or 13 ¾, whichever you remember best.
04. The book that’s been on your shelves the longest.
05. A book you acquired in some interesting way
06. A book with a story for you, that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time).
07. What fictional character are you (secretly) in love with
08. The last book you acquired, and how (begged, bought, borrowed?)
09. Your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next.
10. What author do you own the most books by and why?
11. Do you own multiple copies of any book? What are they? Why do you have multiple copies?
12. Book borrowing – do you use the library? Do you prefer to try before you buy? What about lending your books to friends? Are you a good borrower, do you remember to return books?
13. Do you reread a lot? Why (not)? Name a book you have reread many times.
14. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
15. Do you recommend books to other people? If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
16. Adaptation: What book would you most like to see made into a film? Do you like to read the book first or see the film? Any books you have read after seeing the film version?
17. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
18. Your favourite book series & your favourite book out of that series
19. Your favourite picture, junior fiction and Young Adult books
20. Least favourite plot device employed by way too many books you actually enjoyed otherwise
21. A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
22. Your "comfort" book
23. Favourite book cover including a picture!
24. Favourite fictional relationship (romantic, friendship, familial)
25. Most annoying character ever
26. Most quotable novel or 5 of your favourite quotes from any books.
27. Any five books from your "to be read" stack. What makes you select a book for your “to be read” stack?
28. Some firsts: First book you remember loving/being obsessed with. First book that made you cry. First book you gave to someone else as a gift.
29. Saddest character death OR best/most satisfying character death (or both!)
30. The End: do you prefer everything tied up or to be able to 'make up your own mind'? What is the worst ending to a book you have read? And the best? (careful, spoiler tags!)

Read More