Literary Heroine Blog Party!

Miss Kellie is having the Literary Heroine Blog party again!!! I almost didn't do this because of scheduling (and since I did it last year) but everyone was having so much fun I couldn't resist! :-) Those of you who've been around a while may notice that some of the answers are the same as last year. That's ok. :-)  

With all that said! We proceed...

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

I am a twenty-two year old young lady living at home, passionate about this life that the Lord’s given me, His creation, and the plans he has for my future! You can look at my "About Me" bit for my obsessions in my life. :-)  I love spontaneity, anything and everything romantic, and living life to the fullest. I dislike hypocrisy, the prudishness that likes to pass as “spirituality” and a generally morose look on life. God gave us life – abundant life! If the Lord wills, I would love to someday fall hopelessly, passionately, head-over-heels in love with an amazing man and raise a family together, doing huge things for the Lord! If not, then I am more than happy to live a full and happy life right here where the Lord has me. And that’s my vision.  

 

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

A true heroine is strong. Strong in her femininity, not needing to act “macho” or brash, but at the same time not a wilting wallflower. A woman can be feminine and still be a strong heroine ready to stand up for what she believes in and ready to stand by her man.
She is also compassionate. That doesn’t always come naturally, :-) but a true heroine should be able to have an open heart to those who are hurting.
Also, she is real. She doesn’t always have it all put together and she doesn’t always try to act as if she does. She sometimes slips up…she’s not perfect.

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

Marguerite Blakeney
Because we both love Sir Percy. Hehe. Um…because she’s passionate and loving, and after an adventure or so learns to support her husband, even though it’s difficult for her. She’s someone whom Percy can trust (after the first book :-P) and that he can rely on to be strong in the middle of a sticky spot. El Dorado is the best example of this, IMO. “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” – at least not intentionally. :-P 

Anne Shirley
We are both hopeless romantics, we both love to write, we both love life. We both have tempers. :-P We both tend to hold grudges (I’m working on it!!!), are impulsive, and have over-active imaginations. I relate so much to Anne it’s not funny. Every time I see the films it’s like, yup, yup, that’s me! Or quotes she says. Or anything.
“I can’t help flying on the wings of anticipation. It’s as glorious as soaring through a sunset. Almost pays for the thud.”
“I went searching for my ideals outside of myself. I found it’s not what the world holds for you, it’s what you bring to it.”

Marianne Dashwood
While I hope I am the teeeeeeniest bit more sensible than Marianne, I can relate to this character most of any of Jane Austen’s heroines. The very dramatic, very romantic, very passionate, all that. Yupper, totally me. Thanks to good parents I’ve learned that you can’t always wear your heart on your sleeve and to temper my emotions with a dash of common sense :-), but at the heart of the character and me are one and the same.  
“Pathetic? To die for love? How can you say so? What could be more glorious?”
Amen, sistah. ;-)

Jane Eyre

I read Jane Eyre for the first time last year and ab.so.lute.ly. LOOOOOOOOOVED it. You know how some stories are “good” and some just strike a chord somewhere deep down inside of you? Jane Eyre was one of those. I fell head-over-heels in love with the story, and the awesome heroine. Jane is deeply passionate about life (despite that she sometimes has to hide it), but that doesn’t keep her from doing what’s right, even when it is heart-breakingly difficult. She is so strong and very compassionate, and feels so deeply. Definitely fits the “true heroine” category.

4.       Five of your favorite historical novels?
-The Scarlet Pimpernel
-A Tale of Two Cities
-Jane Eyre
-The Secret Adversary

-The Phantom of the Opera

5.       Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?
If you mean period – duh. See question 15. J If you mean heroine…probably Marguerite. Or Jane Eyre.
 
6.       Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Ummmmm…I love Mr. Lorry from Tale, he’s hilarious. And I loved the character Julius in The Secret Adversary. But of them all, Raoul is pretty cool. I mean...come on, people. Despite my definite huge pity for the Phantom...Raoul and Christine were meant to be together. He's a much better choice. And he's willing to give his life for her! Come on, peoples. The end.  

     7.  If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?
Oh, definitely England and France. And just….soak it all up! Go to all the amazing places…wow.
 

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

For quite a while now I’ve had a fascination with the post-WW1 England such as many of the Agatha Christie novels are set in, or the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, or the Jeeves books. Love that time period. The French Revolution is another favorite setting. ;-)  

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

Singing, of course. And perhaps a sketch from a favorite musical – song and recitation. :-)

10.   If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?
Marguerite Blakeney, without a second thought. :-)

(and this is the dress I'd wear. With a higher neckline, of course. Percy not included, unfortuantely. :-))

11.   What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?

Divinity.

12.   Favorite author(s)?

Charles Dickens, P. G. Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Baroness Orczy 

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

Cute clothing. Sorry. :-)

 

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

19-20^th Century

 

15.   In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…

Oh, dear me! Can you possibly guess? I know that I haven’t ever really been perfectly clear who my favorite literary hero is…oh, dear, try and guess. Just take a random stab at it. :-P

Ok, since it’s soooo impossible for you to guess, I’ll give you a quick description from last year’s questionnaire.

“Brave, noble, and compassionate”. He is not perfect (I have a particular aversion to “perfect” heroes - I prefer them to be human) but strives to do what’s right, even at personal risk or pain to himself. He has a drive and a vision to make the world a better place, a strong stand against evil and injustice, and will die for what he believes. Plus he's witty, clever, passionately adores the woman he loves, and is enormously gallant, dashing, and handsome.

In short….

Duh.

16.   Describe your ideal dwelling place.

A little house—white, with pink doors and shutters. :-) A narrow entry with an open staircase. White beadboard on the walls, and lots of shabby chicness everywhere. A window seat in the bedroom, and an antique pink iron bed with gazillions of pillows and soft comforters and lace everywhere. A lovely fireplace in the living room and big windows. Built-in bookshelves crammed with antique books. A claw-foot tub in the bathroom. A little attic-turned-sewing room with a slanted ceiling. White beadboard cabinets in the kitchen, and pots hanging from the ceiling. A little cottage garden in the backyard with a hammock.

17.   Sum up your fashion style in five words.

Romantic. Vintage touches. Flowers-n-Ruffles. Bling. Dash of Glamour. :-)

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

You know…not really…I don’t think…

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

Ooooh. Um…Chauvelin’s pretty nasty.

20.   Three favorite Non-fiction books?

For Women Only, Created to be His Helpmeet, and the Bible. :-)

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

Reading a book on the trampoline! I love that. Or on the porch. Some of my best summer memories. :-)

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

A hat to portray my true character…if you were to take my personality and make it into a hat, it would be big. Huge. Eliza-Doolittle size. Just the slightest wee bit on the grandiose side. In pink, of course. With several big cream and brown feathers bobbing on top, and several rhinestone brooches, and a ribbon…leopard print ribbon. Because I adore it, especially with pink. And big pink roses. And lots of dreamy tulle. There you have it.   

 

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

This past year? Losing my brother and aunt…and definitely the work the Lord’s done in my life this past year. Really showing me who I am and the meaning of what an abundant life can be.

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

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9