Beginnings

Welcome friends! I have started this entry in the global technosphere because I have been in love with books since the age of 2. Among the busy business of being a new teacher, this is my outlet for sharing thoughts on a love of reading a wide variety of books. My inspiration can be summed up with a yearbook quote from a teacher written when I was 8: "To the only girl at recess I see reading a book. Good for you!"
My blog title is quoted from a classmate who asked me this once. Believe it or not, I've also heard it as a teacher :D

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Bookish Fun

I found these two Q&As while blog hopping today and had to participate.


Jillian @ Random Ramblings posted this Character Tag.  Here's my take on it:


1. Which character would you throw out the window?
Willoughby from Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.  Arrgghh...he was annoying!


2. Which character would be your best friend?
Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.  She's always been my favourite character.


3. If you could make a character come to life, who would it be?
So many options!  I would probably choose prot from K-PAX by Gene Brewer.  He could potentially solve a lot of the world's problems.


4. What traits do you look for in a character?
In a hero, obviously bravery, tenacity, but also a feeling of self-doubt and uncertainty that adds to the story's conflict.  In a villain, assuredness, confidence, and a wicked sense of humour.


5. What would you change in your favorite character?
I think in order to truly love a character, you accept him/her as is, so I wouldn't change a thing :)


6. Favorite male/female character?
Tough one!  When push comes to shove, I would say Anne Shirley and Col. Brandon (from Sense & Sensibility).


7. What two characters from different books would you put together?
Hmmm....this one is stumping me.


8. Favorite book couple?
Anne & Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables; Henry & Claire from The Time Traveler's Wife


9. Cutest character?
I love the conversations between Scout, Jem & Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  It definitely brings out nostalgic feelings :)




Dizzy @ DizzyC's Little Book Blog posted about a 30-day book talk.  I'm taking a shortcut as I won't have time to participate in the long term but here's what I came up with for the topics:


The best book you read last year
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.  I was lucky enough to read several "A+" books last year.


A book that you’ve read more than 3 times
The Firm by John Grisham.  Probably about 5 times :)


Your favorite series
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.


Favorite book of your favorite series
#7- The Deathly Hallows.  It makes everything come together so clearly.

A book that makes you happy
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.  *Ahhh* :)


A book that makes you sad
The Green Mile by Stephen King.  Despite being sad, it's one of my all-time favourite books.


Most underrated book
K-PAX by Gene Brewer.  Not enough people have read it.  Amazing!


Most overrated book
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.  Sorry, not for me.


A book you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
I was skeptical about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams and put it off for way too long.  This was snorting milk out the nose funny :D


Favorite classic book
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  Very few books are this perfect.


A book you hated
I've written about this enough times but Jonathan Franzen doesn't cut it for me.  Freedom and The Corrections.  Ugh...


A book you used to love but don’t anymore
I'm not sure about this one as I haven't re-read old favourites in a while.  If I had to guess, I think The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger would probably be lukewarm on a second read.


Your favorite writer
In terms of the number of books I've read and liked by him, probably Stephen King.


Favorite book of your favorite writer
The Green Mile with Different Seasons a very close second.


Favorite male character
Col. Brandon from Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.  He's gentlemanly, thoughtful, generous, and unwavering in spite of other people's feelings about him.


Favorite female character
Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.  She`s spunky, romantic, passionate, and literary.


Favorite quote(s) from your favorite book(s)
One of my favourites (I may be paraphrasing) is "'What is the purpose of books,' thought Alice, 'without pictures or conversations?'" from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.


A book that disappointed you
I was really hoping to like Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut but I couldn't get into it.


Favorite book turned into a movie
It was actually a short story but my favourite movie, The Shawshank Redemption, was in Different Seasons by Stephen King.


Favorite romance book
I only like literary romances like by Jane Austen.  I'm not much for Danielle Steel or novels categorized as romances in bookstores.  With that being said, I would go with Sense & Sensibility.


Favorite book from your childhood
I gobbled up every single Babysitters Club book ever printed :D


Favorite book you own
I own a copy of all my favourites.


A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Too many!  I'm planning to (finally) read Jane Eyre for next year's Back to the Classics challenge.


A book that you wish more people would’ve read
I don't think enough people read books.  Period.  Read anything!


A character who you can relate to the most
I definitely related to Hermione Granger in Harry Potter with her booksmarts and being very studious :)


A book that changed your opinion about something
I can't say for sure that this has happened to me.  I think reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury made me realize just how important it is to protect and cherish the written word.


The most surprising plot twist or ending
Without spoiling anything, I loved how Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows finished up, especially with Snape :)

Favorite title(s)
I have a top 25 favourite books list.


A book everyone hated but you liked
I don't think everyone necessarily hated it, but I actually liked The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, while most people seemed to find it boring.


Your favorite book of all time
Has to be Anne of Green Gables :)

6 comments:

  1. Yay for the Green Mile and I have to say I felt the same exact way about the Hitchhikers! I never thought I would enjoy it, but yes, it is an awesome read!

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  2. Anne of Green Gables is a wonderful choice for favorite book of all time. I adore Anne for her courage and honesty and ability to pick herself up each time she makes a mistake and start over.

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  3. I love those character traits, but I'd add sense of humor to the hero, too. I can't fall in love with any hero unless he can laugh at himself and make me laugh.

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  4. I totally agree with HP & the DH ending. <3 that series.

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  5. I loved Anne of Green Gables. I want to re-read this sometime

    Today I am looking for my fav classic and adult classics have not featured in my reading much so I went for a children's classic, The Lion, The witch and the Wardrobe.

    carol

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