All About Books

Here are some interesting tags about books that have been floating about the blogosphere, which I have filled in my spare time. I thought you might enjoy them! Feel free to grab any you're interested in. :) 

Here's the first one:

Instructions.... Grab the nearest book and flip to page 123 and type up the first four lines (sentences). It has to be the nearest book, you can't pick one randomly... the only exception is text books :) They don't count as options in this case.

Well, the nearest book is Jane Eyre: "I should, if I had deliberated, have replied to this question by something conventionally vague and polite; but the answer somehow slipped from my tongue before I was aware-- "No, sir."

"Ah! By my word! there is something singular about you," said he: "you have the air of a little nonnette; quaint, quiet, grave, and simple, as you sit with your hands before you, and your eyes generally bent on the carpet (except, by-the-by, when they are directed piercingly to my face; as just now, for instance); and when one asks you a question, or makes a remark to which you are obliged to reply, you rap out a round rejoinder, which, if not blunt, is at least brisque. What do you mean by it?"

The Second One: (This one's a long one!)

Top 3 authors:

1. L. M. Montgomery

2. C. S. Lewis

3. J. R. R. Tolkein

Top 3 male characters: 

1. Frodo & Sam from The Lord of the Rings (I just love those hobbits!)

2. Gilbert Blythe from the Anne of Green Gables books (he loves Anne so much and yet she won't see it!)

3. Sir Percy Blakeny from The Scarlet Pimpernel (love him both as Sir Percy and as the Scarlet Pimpernel)

Top 3 female characters:

1. Beauty from Beauty by Robin McKinley

2. Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice

3. Anna from my story Rescue My Heart (yes, I have to admit, I love a character I made up. After all, she is very similar to me!)

Top 30 fiction books in no particular order: 

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

2.The Chronicles of Narnia (especially The Horse and His Boy) by C. S. Lewis

3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

4. The Last Sin-Eater by Francine Rivers

5. Beauty by Robin Mckinley

6. Emily of New Moon series (especially Emily's Quest) by L. M. Montgomery

7. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

8. Wild Rose by Ruth Axtel Morren

9. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

10. Turn Not Pale Beloved Snail by Jacqueline Jackson

11.The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

12. Watership Down by Richard Adams

13. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

14. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baronness Orczy

15. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

16. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

17. Redwall by Brian Jacques

18. Mossflower by Brian Jacques (I love all of the Redwall books, but these are my two favorites)

19. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

20. At Home in Mitford series by Jan Karen

21. Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke

22. The Tender Years by Janette Oke

23. A Gown of Spanish Lace by Janette Oke

24. The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

25. Lady of the River by Dianna Crawford

26. Kilmeny of the Orchard by L. M. Montgomery

27. Return to Gone-Away by Elizabeth Enright

28. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R King

29. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

30. Regina Silsby's Secret War by Thomas J Brodeur

Top 3 books most recently read:

1. Jane Eyre

2. Do Hard Things

3. The Book Thief

Worst 3 books ever read: (please don't read any of these! They are truly horrible)

1. A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (the sequel to A Beekeeper's Apprentice). The name alone should scare you away! :P

2. Sophie's World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaardner

3. Summer of the Swans (just kind of boring and dumb, in my opinion)

Top 5 scenes from any book:

1. The scene from Inkheart where Meggie is reading the book for Capricorn and his men to release the shadow. (I love how they did this in the movie!)

2. In Regina Silsby's Secret War, the scene where Rachel is playing the organ as Regina Silsby.

3. In The Last Sin-Eater, when Cadi and Fagan are running for their lives up the mountain and God sends a mist to cover their tracks.

4. In The Scarlet Pimpernel when Sir Percy and Lady Blakeney want to talk to each other and confide in each other so badly, but they both are restrained by their pride. It's just so sad and sweet! :(

5. In The Lord of the Rings, when Frodo and Sam are together at the end of all things.

The book(s) that made me cry the most:

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

2. The Last Sin-Eater by Francine Rivers

3.The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

4. Watership Down by Richard Adams

5. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baronness Orczy 

6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

7. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The books that made me laugh the most:

1. At Home In Mitford (and other books in the series) by Jan Karen. The situations are too funny!

2. The Redwall books by Brian Jacques

3.Watership Down by Richard Adams (love this book!)

4. The Four-Story Mistake, and Return to Gone-Away by Elizabeth Enright

The books that made me feel the best at the end:

1. The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien (though it is so sad!)

2.The Last Sin-Eater (one of my favorite books ever!)

3. The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

4. The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis (because they're all finally in Narnia and with Aslan forever!)

5.The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

6. Kilmeny of the Orchard by L. M. Montgomery

Contemporary or Historical?

I love both, though perhaps Historical a little bit more. :)

Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror?

Fantasy, definitely. I don't like horror at all, and I like only a few Science Fiction books.

Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?

It doesn't really matter to me I guess. I mostly have paperbacks.

Barnes & Noble or Amazon?

Hard to say - Barnes & Noble has some pretty awesome journals, but Amazon is really easy to order from. :)

Bookmark or Dog-ear?

Well, I tend to dog-ear unless I have a bookmark handy (yes, I'm bad, I know).

Alphabetize by author, alphabetize by title, or organize not at all?

In my room, I organize by how much I like the book. The books closest to the middle of the bookshelf are my favorites.I to try to keep books by the same author together, though. ;)

Keep, Throw Away, or Sell?

Keep, unless it's a book I already have, then give away/sell.

Keep dust-jacket or toss it?

Haha I never thought of tossing the dust-jacket!

Read with dustjacket or remove it?

Though it's annoying, I usually keep it because I thought that's just what you do. 

Little Women or Anne of Green Gables?

Ann of Green Gables. I love L. M. Montgomery's writing style!

Short story or novel?

Usually novel. Though I have found a few short stories that I absolutely love.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

At chapter breaks. That's the only way I can force myself to put down the book!

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?

Probably "it was a dark and stormy night," because that promises a slightly deeper book than "once upon a time." ;)

Tear Jerker or Belly Laugh?

Tear Jerker.

Buy or Borrow?

I usually borrow a book from the library or from a friend first, then buy it if it's really good.

Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation, or Browse?

I usually only buy books that I've read before, unless I'm at a garage sale or something where they're really cheap.

Collection (short stories by the same author) or Anthology (short stories by different authors)?

Either one!

Standalone or Series?

I kinda prefer standalone, unless I really love the author's style of writing.

Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?

Definitely tidy ending. I hate it when a story ends with a cliffhanger or a kind of wishy-washy ending. :P

Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?

I usually read while I eat breakfast and lunch, and sometimes before bed. It just depends if I'm really into a story or not.

Favorite genre series?

(I take it this means your favorite series from your favorite genre.) Have to say Lord of the Rings.

New or used?

Just depends. I usually buy my books used, though it's nice to have them new!

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?

Regina Silsby's Secret War by Thomas J Brodeur. It's really good, too, you should definitely check it out! :)

And the last one: 
Name 12 Characters and then answer the questions:

1. Anna (from my story Rescue My Heart)

2. Frodo (LotR)

3. Sam (LotR)

4. Jane Eyre

5. Lucy (Narnia)

6. Edmund (Narnia)
7. Sir Percy (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

8. Meggie (Inkheart)

9. Capricorn (Inkheart)

10. Mr. Darcy (Pride & Prejudice)

11. Elizabeth (Pride & Prejudice)

12. Emily (Emily of New Moon)

1. Who would make a better collage prof, 6 or 11?
Well, probably Edmund. Though I don't doubt Elizabeth would have a sharp enough mind (and wit)!

2. Do you think #2 is nice?

Yes. :) It's so sad that the ring basically destroys his life.

3. 12 sends 8 out on a mission. What is it? Does it succeed?
Hmmm... interesting. Emily sends Meggie on a mission. Perhaps she sends her on a mission to get more paper for her... and Meggie just writes some into existence. ;)

4. What is or what would be 9's favorite book?
Now this I'm not sure of, but one thing I do know - he despises the book Inkheart. ;)

5. Would it make more sense for 2 to swear fealty to 6, or the other way around?
Frodo swearing fealty to Edmund... now this is an interesting thought. 

6. For some reason, 5 is looking for a roommate. Should (s)he room with 9 or 10?
Innocent little Lucy isn't going to room with either Capricorn or Mr. Darcy!

7. 3, 7 and 12 are going out to dinner. Where do they go and what do they discuss?

Sam, Sir Percy, and Emily. Hmmm... Sir Percy would probably be the one to pick the place, as he is the most talkative and decisive of the three (and he'd probably pick somewhere fancy). Sam probably would be too nervous to talk about anything, Sir Percy would be acting affected and foppish, and Emily would probably be writing down her thoughts about them in her journal. Altogether a very interesting scene. ;) 

8. #3 challenges #10 to a duel, who wins?

Sam challenges Mr. Darcy to a duel. Sorry Sam, but Mr. Darcy has quite the advantage over you with height, I'm afraid. ;)

9. If 1 stole 8's most precious possession, how would (s)he get it back?
 Anna would never steal anything from Meggie! They're both nice, sweet girls who probably would become friends since they have so much in common. (And they really do have a lot in common. Their stories are surprisingly similar!)

10. Suggest a story title in which 7 and 12 both attain what they desire.
Hmmm... how about: "Acceptance For Who You Really Are" (haha sounds like a self-help book. I'm horrible with titles!)

11. What kind of plot device would you have to use if you wanted 1 and 4 to work together?
Anna and Jane Eyre working together... that probably wouldn't be too hard as long as they both understood how the other person liked to work.  

12. If 7 visited you for the weekend, how would it go?

Well, that would be interesting indeed to have Sir Percy over for the weekend! I think I would be rather intimidated by him. :P

13. If you could command 3 to perform any service or task for you, what would it be?

Oh, good old Sam. I'd ask him to please come into one of my novels so I can write a wonderful character like him. 

14. Does 11 like to write or draw?
Elizabeth Bennet isn't very fond of either, I don't think, though she does "tolerably well" at both. :)

15. If 2 had to choose sides between 4 and 5, what side would (s)he choose?
So if Frodo had to chose sides between Jane Eyre and Lucy... I think he would probably chose Lucy. They have some similarities. ;)

16. What might 10 shout out while charging into battle?

Mr. Darcy charging into battle - now that's a new one! He'd probably shout "What's going ooooonnnn??" ;)
 
17. If you had to choose a song to best describe 8, what would it be?
Aw... probably Vanilla Twilight (for Meggie's relationship with her mom). 

18. What would be a good pickup line for 2 to say to 10?
Well, if they were actually going to duel like one of the other questions said, Frodo would say, "What big sword you have, Mr. Darcy!"

19. What would 5 most likely be arrested for?
LUCY??? ARRESTED??? Well, only if it was for doing what is right.

20. If 11 and 9 were racing to a destination, who would get there first?

This would be a very interesting scene. Capricorn would probably get there first, because he would do something to hinder Elizabeth. 

21. What is the lowest point of 1's story?

For Anna? Like... the whole story. :P (And for those of you who are reading it, I don't want to give anything away!)

22. 1 and 9 reluctantly team up to save the world from the threat posed by 4's sinister secret organization. 11 volunteers to help them, but it is later discovered that s/he is actually a spy for 4. Meanwhile, 4 has kidnapped 12 in an attempt to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of 5, they seek out 3, who gives them what they need to complete their quest. What title would you give this fic?
Okay, so let me get this straight:  Anna & Capricorn team up (unlikely!) to save the world from Jane Eyre's secret organization (haha!). Elizabeth Bennet volunteers to help them, but is discovered to be Jane Eyre's spy. Jane Eyre kidnaps Emily to force their surrender. Following the wise advice of Lucy, they seek out Sam, who gives them what they need to complete the quest. 
Haha! I would call it "In Cahoots with Jane Eyre"

This was a ton of fun to fill out, and I hope you had fun reading it! :D

I'd like you to meet...

I have a good friend I'd like you all to meet. Her name is Rosandra Seams, and actually she is a character in a book I'm writing with my (real life) good friend Violet. I asked her some questions about herself the other day, and I really got to know a lot more about her character. I thought you might enjoy getting to know her better. My questions are in bold, and her answers are underneath. (Note: please read this post if you aren't familiar with the story).


So, Rosandra, tell me about yourself. What's the most interesting thing about you?
Interesting? Well... [fidgets with hair], I'm not that interesting of a person, actually. I think I've lived a fairly normal life... at least up until now.

What has changed to make your life different?
Well... Diana moving in to our home has certainly been... a challenge. It's been hard for me to adjust to her and all her... needs. But please, let's not talk about her; I'm sure you have other questions for me.

Of course. Tell me a little bit about your family. What's special about each of them and how to you relate to them?
My brothers Kevin and Titus are typical boys, as most boys go. They're quite nice, actually, though I don't spend a whole lot of time with them. They're usually off together doing some boyish thing. My mom - she's special because she's so sweet. She always looks for the good in others. She's my treasure-bank of advice for all the tasks I have to do or the proper etiquette for a certain place. And she's very forebearing and long-suffering. Though she is not very strong, she always has a smile and a kind word. And my dad is special because he spends time with us. In the evenings, we all sit around the fire with him and he reads stories or the Bible or tells us about his day. I'm glad we are as close as we are.

What does a typical day look like for you?
Well, I usually rise early and help get breakfast on the table. I have various duties throughout the day (mostly supervising or directing the servants), as well as lessons. My mother is teaching me different skills such as needlework, knitting, sewing, and art. I also have a tutor once a week who drills me in different subjects in the humanities. It's not often that I have spare time during the day, but I don't mind it that much.

Do you have any hobbies?
Oh, I do love to go horseback riding when I can get the chance, and I enjoy composing small verses or pieces of prose.

What are your spiritual beliefs?
You mean what religion am I? My family and I are Christians, naturally. We go to church every Sunday, and often have devotions in the evening.

What is one thing you wish for more than anything else?
That's rather a strange question... I don't think I'm very dissatisfied with my life where it's at. [pauses] Well... I guess with Diana coming and all, I do wish that she wouldn't be so cold to me - that maybe we could be good friends like we had been before.

Would you still consider Diana to be a good friend?
Well of course. Though she's not the same as before, she still is my friend. I can see that she's hurting, and may take a long time to heal from the death of her family. So I'm just trying to do my part to support her in this process, as best I can. I really do care about her, deeply! It's just hard - because she doesn't seem to want to talk to me anymore.

So there's no hard feelings between you?
Of course not! I just don't understand her... and I try to overlook any hurt she might unintentionally cause.

Alright, let's get back to talking about you.
Thank-you.

Can you remember a time when you felt extremely happy? Can you describe that time?
Extremely happy? I.. I can't really recall any extreme happiness. My life has been a blessed one, it's true, but there have been few extremes.

So no low points then, either?
None that I can recall. I try to take things in stride, regardless.

What are your dreams and goals for your future?
I am being prepared to be a wife and mother, to be able to run my own household someday. I don't have much of a prospect with drawing, sewing or the like, for I am only adequate in those areas. I do love to write, though... perhaps one day I shall write a full-fledged novel, or have my poetry published. [pauses] As for dreams... I've sometimes wished my life was a little more adventurous - tinged with mystery and romance like the novels I love to read. But of course that's just a wish, and a silly one at that.

What character qualities do you most admire, and wish to have?
I admire those who are carefree and confident, who know what they want to do or say, and do it. I can be decisive when I'm deciding what to make for dinner, of course, but it's harder when I'm trying to relate to people. I often wish to have more boldness to show how I really care about others.

How do you think others view you? Do you care what their opinion is of you?
I'm more reserved when I'm out and about, especially at balls and parties and such. So they probably see me as the homebody, the shy wallflower. And I guess... I'm pretty comfortable with that. 

What is your greatest achievement?
Well, like I said before, there's not a whole lot that's gone on in my life.
[I interjected here: surely there's something, though!] Well... it was a big achievement to take over the running of the household. Especially since I was only 13 at the time. It was a rather scary time for me, as I had to take things over without exactly knowing how they ran. My mother was such a help to me, though she was ill herself.  

What is your greatest regret?
My greatest regret? I regret so many things... I wish I was bolder so I could say the things I really want to say to people. Each time I don't, I regret it. 

What has been the most important event of your life (so far)? 
[sighs exasperatedly] I keep telling you - my life hasn't been that interesting!  

What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
This is always so hard... I guess I would say: hardworking, caring, loyal. 

What about three words to describe Diana?
I don't know. Right now I feel like I don't know anything about her, so I would only be able to describe her as mysterious and withdrawn. 

What part of your life is the most enjoyable to you - gives you the most fulfillment?
Um, let me think on this one... [pauses] Well, it's always fulfilling to go to bed knowing everything ran smoothly and the jobs were all well-done. It's a good feeling being able to live up to the standard that's set before me. But I do often wonder if there's something more.   

So you enjoy having people depending on you?
Well, yes. I really do love to help, and to know that I am a help to others. I've always had that feeling when people come to me with their problems that I've got to solve them somehow. And I've always worried that there will come a time when I won't be needed... that there will be no one who depends on me.
But I am feeling a little overwhelmed right now with all the obligations to all these different people I'm having to fulfill. Maybe it's just all the unknown, unmet expectations with Diana that's got me on edge. I'm sure it will blow over, though. Things will go back to normal. They always do.  


Well, there you have it. What do you think of Rosandra? How would you describe her character, based on the replies she gave me? Do you think there's anything she's not telling me? Would you like her if you met her?

If you would like to read Rosandra & Diana's story (which is still in progress), Violet and I have it up on a private blog. Send me a comment with your email address (which I won't post), and I will invite you to read the blog.