Literary Heroine Blog Party - 2012

I decided that it might be a fun way to relax (since I don't have any school today,yipee!) to take part in this blog party hosted by Miss Kellie

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

A little about me ~ I am a senior/freshman in high school/college homeschooler! (wow that kinda  got away from me) to further explain I am a highschooler who is now taking a my first year of college a year early. I am majoring in animal science and hope to eventually go on to Vet school. Besides my fondness of all living creatures, I am also a complete any-thing Jane Austen Nut, (not to mention, Charles Dickens, Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Anime Nut(oops! how did that get in there?)). Besides my somewhat bizarre likes, I am the happy middle child of a large Catholic Family ( ten kids, composed of seven boys and three girls) and enjoy spending much of my time with them! I am a stolid believer in the right to life, and the dignity of every person! Now that's over I can move on to the other questions.

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

I can't exactly say, would I think be different for everyone. I suppose in essence it would be anyone who longs and fights for the truth. Not someone who is perfect but despite their faults peruses perfection. Someone who overcomes their fears and becomes better, and is willing to be saved

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

Amy Dorrit

Jane Eyre

Ester Summerson

Five of your favorite historical novels?  

Jane Eyre

North and South

Bleak House

Little Dorrit

Wives and Daughters

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

Jane Eyre - My favorite character would be Jane. I love how she sees the world, though she has experience very little love or kindness, she still is a good person who does not resent the people who where unkind to her. 

North and South - My favorite character is Margret. I admire her strength, how she takes care of everyone around her, how she stands firm even in tragedy.

Bleak House - My favorite character is Esther. She is probably the kindest creature alive! Can't be matched in her humility or gratitude.

Little Dorrit - My favorite Character is Amy. She has such fortitude, and patience, she is always affectionate and caring. In her quite way she watches for out for all those who are dear to her.

Wives and Daughters -  I love little Molly, she such a lovely character, so believable. 

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

Jane Eyre - Mr. Rochester, he adds an interesting element to the story, being almost the exact opposite of Jane. There conversations together are quite intriguing!

Bleak House - I just love the character Mr.Woodcort, though he is not much in the book, the point in which you do read about him, make him unforgettable!

North and South - Mr. Thorton is quite the interesting character, adding much to the story in way of intellect and an objective view of what it is like on the other side of the industrial revolution

Little Dorrit - Mr. Clements is quite the hero, I love his quite gentleness to everyone, especially to little dorrit.

Wive and Daughters - Roger the steady gentle Roger. Such a interesting character!

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

My dream is to eventually travel to either the UK (including a round tour of England, Ireland and Scotland) or to go to Japan. For the UK trip I would visit all the places that my favorite Authors lived, and go to see the country side. In Japan I would probably mostly visit historical sites and learn more about their culture (which I find fascinating!)

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

Depending on the culture, for England I prefer the from Regency to early industrial revolution. For Japan I prefer the Baskumes to the Meiji era, but more Meiji.

I like the English culture mainly because of the books written in it history and though the culture is very interesting I suppose I have been getting a little tired of it. My newest fanaticism is the Japanese culture, which is quite different from the other oriental culture once you start learning more about it!

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

I would probably would recite a very dark or dramatic poem or selection, that or play a song on my violin.

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 because I look very much like how that character was described. Plus I just love the costume of that time!

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? 

Fine for an occasional treat, but not exactly my favorite.

Favorite author(s)? 

Elizabeth Gaskell, Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Charles Dickens, Watsuki Nobuhiro, and some others that I can't think of right now.

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

My sister, a dictionary in that langue, painting supplies, a pack horse or two, swords, two wool cloaks, and walking staff.

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

Victorian mostly...

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… 

Besides Kenshin (which might not be included as literature) not anyone I can think of off the top of my head.

Describe your ideal dwelling place. 

A place in deep in the mountains of some distant land, a delightfully ancient house filled with books, old papers, maps, and paintings. A stable is a must. 

Sum up your fashion style in five words. 

historical, old-fashioned, colorful, creative, and quaint. 

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

Yes, in Mansfield park I wish the main character had any name except Fanny, such a horrid name!

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

the villain in Bleak House, Mr. Tulkinghorn!

Three favorite Non-fiction books? 

How to grow Bonsai

Medrick Veterinarian Manuel

Diary of Anne Frank

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

Horse back riding, painting or reading.

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

elegant sophisticated and NO HAT! If I must wear something over my head probably a long flowing veil.

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

Probably starting college a year early, it has been interesting to say the lest, but not exactly as challenging as I thought it would be.

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

My favorite is and probably not a original choice but it is one of my favorites:

For the plan He has for you are for your good, not evil, life not death, to give you a future and a hope.

~ Jeremiah 29:11

Embroidered Books

Sorry about not posting for some time, things have been getting weird. Too much to get into right now, another post perhaps. Anyway I found these delightful and colorful classics,



I never thought that it would look nice to embroider book covers, but the end result is quite pretty I think. The only let down is that the cover of the book is only a photo of the embroidery. I thought that I might have a go at trying to make this covers and frame them for over my bed. Of course I shall have to work off the pictures but I think that I can manage, even if the colors won't be exactly the same. I will have to post them after a I finish!

The Rose

Today I'm going to share a story, one that you may of read, still is a pretty good tale. Romantic, granted, still I am kinda silly that way that I like that sort of literature.

John Blanchard stood up from his seat and straightened his neatly pressed army uniform as he studied the crowd of people making their way through the Grand Central Station in New York. He eagerly looked for the girl with the rose.
His interest in her had begun two years before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf, he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margins.
The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and an insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name: Miss Holly Maynell. In time and some effort he located her address. She now lived in New York City.
He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next week he was shipped overseas for duty in World War II.
During the next two years they grew to know each other through overseas mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that, if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like.
When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled a meeting at 7:00 PM at the train station. "You'll recognize me" she wrote, "by the read rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 PM sharp he was in the station looking for the girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen.

In Mr. Blanchard's own words, this is what happened next:

A gorgeous young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blond hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were as blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small smile curved her lips. "Going my way, soldier?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably I made one step towards her - and then I saw Holly Maynell.                                                

 She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past forty, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, with her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as tough I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet not so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly been my companion overseas. And there she stood. Her pale face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate.

My fingers gripped the small worn copy of the book that was to identify me to her.This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders, saluted, and held out the book to the woman, even though I felt chocked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Mynell. I am so glad we could meet; may I take you to dinner?"

The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said that if you where to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

North & South

I can tell you right now I just love watching period dramas! One that I have recently watched and is now one of my favorites is North & South from the book written by Elizabeth Gaskell. I have never read the book, and usually I don't approve of watching the movie before reading the book, but I was really interested in seeing this one. After watching, I've determined that I must read the book, as soon as I can get my hands on it. North & South is about a young woman named Margaret who moves with her family to the  industrial North, in which Margaret is displeased with the conditions of the workers of the local Cotton mill, owned by the stubborn Mr. Thornton, he refuses to listen to her, which leads to many misfortunes. Though it may not exactly sound very interesting or dramatic from my description I can't say more or I would ruin the story for you so I will leave it at that. The actors are all very good, though not particularly well know they are very good at the roles that they have. So one the whole, I would highly recommend this mini series.