Literary Heroine Blog Party

Hmm, I've had this post all ready to publish for days. I've just been waiting to get the pictures organised - but I can't do that because my computer is out of order at the moment! So you can just have the post without the pictures, LOL.

How delightful - a Literary Heroine Blog Party! Please join in, if you feel so inclined.

~ The Questions ~

Compiled by Miss Kellie and Miss Natasha

What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? A true heroine should be someone who I can relate to and admire. A true heroine should be strong, yet feminine.

Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. Oops, I've just realised that I used those two words in my first answer, above! Oh well. . . Okay, four heroines who I admire and relate to:

~Fanny Price from Mansfield Park. I first read this when I was about 14 or 15. I think I was even more painfully shy then than I am now. I don't have Fanny's moral strength and steadfastness, but I sure could relate to her quiet nature and sometimes crippling shyness!

~Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey. Perhaps there isn't much to admire about Catherine, aside from the fact that she is a genuinely sweet, good-natured girl, but she's probably the Austen heroine to whom I can most relate, aside from Fanny. I found it so lovely and refreshing to read a Jane Austen novel with a heroine who was. . . well, just an ordinary teenage girl, who I could identify with! Young, a bit silly, very gullible and naive, a great bookworm, part of a big and happy family, totally in love with Mr. Tilney. . . Yep, Catherine and I have a lot in common!

~Emily Starr from the "Emily" books. Emily has always been the L.M. Montgomery heroine to whom I could most relate. More on this when I get to the letter "E" in my fave books series. Much as I adore Anne, we're almost complete opposites, in terms of temperament, LOL.

Oh, and I just remembered my "Top 15 Heroines" post that I did a while ago - I'll refer you to that post for more of my favourite heroines!

Five of your favorite historical novels? Historical as in historical fiction or historical as in books that were written a long time ago? Oh well, I'll assume it's the latter. I've picked these at random; these are five OF my favourites, not my five favourites.

Rose in Bloom - Louisa May Alcott
North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell
A Girl of the Limberlost - Gene Stratton-Porter
Our Mutual Friend - Charles Dickens
The Enchanted April - Elizabeth Von Arnim

Out of those five books who is your favorite character and why? Hmm, I'm going to say John Thornton from North and South. Because he's one of the sweetest, kindest, manliest heroes. . . ever! He's even nicer in the book than he is in the miniseries.

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? The British Isles. I'd visit as many castles, stately homes and historical sites as possible. :D

What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? Ummm. . . I like reading about ALL different historical periods and cultures! Oh well, I'll say the Regency Era for now.

You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? (!!!) Well, NOT singing. I couldn't do comedy. Maybe recitation. Or perhaps I'd play something on guitar.

If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? Lady Percy Blakeny!! LOL, that was just the first thing that popped into my head. I recently read The Scarlet Pimpernel for the first time, and am going through a second phase of SP fandom. . .

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? I can live without it, but. . . I do like it. :-) Dark, but not too dark (i.e. not the 85% cocoa variety). I like most chocolate things too (cake, brownies, etc.), but generally not chocolate ice cream.

Favorite author(s)?
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Jane Austen
Charles Dickens
Jane Austen

Okay, okay, let's try that again. . .

Jane Austen | Charles Dickens | C.S. Lewis | J.R.R. Tolkien | L.M. Montgomery | Elizabeth Gaskell | Charlotte Bronte | And many more. . .

As a small, imaginative, red-haired damsel might query; would you rather be divinely beautiful, dazzlingly clever, or angelically good? Why? I'd say "angelically good", except that the phrase somehow smacks of hypocrisy and goody-two-shoes-ism. And I'd pick it for partly selfish reasons, I'm afraid. I think being truly "good" would be more likely to help me find happiness and contentment than being beautiful or clever.

In which century were most of the books you read written? 19th century. . .

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… It's a toss-up between Henry Tilney and Sir Percy Blakeney.

Describe your ideal dwelling place. Hm, hard! Umm. . . wherever my family is!

Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? Yes, sometimes.

In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... Oooh, another hard one! I can't pick just one, but here are a few: Rigaud, Carver Doone, Chauvelin, Heathcliff. . .

Three favorite Non-fiction books? The BIBLE, So Much More, Castles of Friuli.

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

Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. Oh, I don't know. . . something broad-brimmed and utterly romantic. :-)

Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. 1. Our big road trip last year. 2. My 18th birthday (not so much the day itself, just. . . getting older).

Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently. God's and Moses' admonitions and encouraging words to Joshua in the book of Joshua, and towards the end of Deuteronomy.

And lastly, as I am a rather businesslike hostess, may I ask you your views regarding those adorable little items - namely pin back and mirror back buttons? 1). Where would you choose to display a button badge to best showcase your unique style? 2). What image and/or sentiment would most make you smile were it inscribed on your very own compact mirror? 1). I'd proudly wear it on my shirtfront, to declare to all the world my passionate love of books! LOL. . . Seriously, I don't really know. But I do think they're adorable. I especially like the "Bibliophile" badge. 2). I don't know! I do love the design on the compact mirror in the giveaway, though.