Sunday, February 16, 2014

Literary Heroine Blog Party Questions 2014


It is that time of year again! Accordion to Kellie is hosting her fabulous Literary Heroine Blog Party. It runs from the 16- 28. There will be games and giveaways, so hop on over to her blog to see everything.


  1. Introduce yourself!  Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random! Hi, for all of you who don't already know, I am the Madd Rose and I post about books, movies, and shows that I love. Many of these are period drama related. I like Books (especially classics), movies (especially BBC period dramas) and I love tea! I dislike cold very much at the moment, I do not like Twilight and the like, and I do not like crude language. Something completely random... I always wear a wristwatch.
  2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? A true heroine does not have to be perfect. In fact, I usually like her better if she is not. (Not to be completely off topic, but I am reading A Tale of Two Cities for school, and perfection is exactly why I can't seem to connect with Lucie Manette. Did anyone else have that same problem? Also her fainting... YEESH. Anyway...) I like heroines who aren't perfect, who grow, change, learn, and I especially like if they end up finding true love. Girls with some selflessness, fun, smarts, and kindness. Those kind of girls are fun to read about. 
  3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. Anne Shirley. She is what started me on classics. She is imaginative, talkative, fun, and kind. She is not perfect, but she never makes the same mistake twice.  :) I wish I were more like her and I hope I end up with a Gilbert Blythe. Emma Woodhouse. She is silly, naive, kind, and rather selfish. I can be all those things too. I love how NOT perfect she is. It is so refreshing. Emily Webster. From the little known Emily of Deep Valley. She is tall, shy, and unsure of herself. She is pretty much me on paper for the most part. Elizabeth Bennet. Who doesn't admire her? She is so witty. I am not really very much like her, except in that I can judge people first, and learn about them later. Also, I like reading like her.
  4. Five of your favorite historical novels? The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, An Old Fashioned Girl, Anne of Green Gables, Emma, and The Moving Finger.
  5. Out of those five books who is your favorite major character and why? Out of those five, my favorite major character is... oh I already talked about some of them, so I will pick Juliet Ashton.  She is funny, breezy, and kind. She is a little older than the heroine I usually read, so she provided a refreshingly new perspective.
  6. Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why? Out of those five, my favorite secondary character is Mr. Knightley. He IS a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. I adore him.
  7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? England! Or can I just say Europe in general? I would visit Bath, I would visit Jane Austen's house in Chawton. I would also shop in London and go into every little tea and book shop I see. I would visit the gardens and rent a little cottage in some out of the way village. If I could do all of those things I will think I have died and gone to heaven. :)
  8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? I love to read about Regency, Victorian, Edwardian and WWII. I like to read about England, mostly.
  9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? I should sing, but I couldn't do it by myself. It would have to be a duet with my friend.
  10. If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? Oh! This is difficult. I would like to dress up in a fancy outfit, so I would be Marguerite St. Just. She wears such lovely outfits. I'm not sure I could do with that much hair piled atop my head though....
  11. What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? I love it. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate with caramel, with raspberries, strawberries, hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream... You get the idea, right?
  12. Favorite author(s)? L. M. Montgomery, Jane Austen, Maud Hart Lovelace, Louisa May Alcott, Heather Vogel Frederick, Agatha Christie, and many more.
  13. Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land? Are books essentials? They should be. So, besides books, I would take a camera, a traveling diary, my laptop and phone.
  14. In which century were most of the books you read written? 20 C. I believe.
  15. In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… Oh! I don't know. Maybe Sir Percy? He makes so many sacrifices for the greater good. (But I'd still rather marry a Gilbert or Knightley.)
  16. Describe your ideal dwelling place. It is still the same as last year. "A cozy cottage, with a little garden, and a hammock swung between two trees. It will have a little library with old beloved books and a nice, roomy window seat, simply strewn all over with pillows. I'd like a creamy yellow kitchen with a farmhouse sink. There should be a little piano somewhere, maybe in the library. It will have nice, crooked stairs, with a little platform and window. I'll have lace curtains billowing in the breeze. There will be bedrooms, of reasonable size, and at least one small walk in closet. It must have nice, shadowy little corners and some flowery wallpaper.  I'd like a little porch out front, with a rocking chair, where I could sit and hear the ocean; for my dream house must be reasonably close to the ocean, you know. I will see the lighthouse peeping through my living room window as I sit on an overstuffed chair by the fire on wintry evenings. Oh, and I'd like it to be on an island. "
  17. Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence. Comfy and cute. (Hopefully.)
  18. Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? Yes, specifically Mr. George Knightley. He isn't really a George. Also, Mr. Darcy. Fitzwilliam just doesn't really work for me.
  19. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... Um.. all of the sudden I cannot think of a single villain I REALLY disliked. Soary.
  20. Three favorite Non-fiction books? I'm afraid I don't read much nonfiction. So I shall skip this one.
  21. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? Reading on the hammock or by the pool. With lemonade!
  22. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. Ugh a HAT that portrays my CHARACTER? Wow pressure. So, I suppose I would want a simple straw hat like they wear in Road to Avonlea with a blue ribbon and a little bit of lace.
  23. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. Last year I was diagnosed with Celiac disease and had to change up my whole diet. That was a biggie.
  24. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently. Philippians 4:13, Isiah 41:10, John 4:7-8, and the beatitudes. 
Well that was fun! I hope you all enjoyed yourselves, I know I did. Make sure to check out all the festivities Kelly has planned this week!

10 comments:

  1. Great answers! I loved An Old Fashioned Girl! I am always so happy to talk to book lovers who read more of Alcott's work than her (admittedly wonderful) Little Women / Little Men books. I had a customer request that I make her an Old Fashioned Girl necklace this past Christmas and I actually squeed out loud in excitement!

    I would be right next to you at Chawton House! Did you hear that they are selling Cassandra's Teacup, the tea room right by Chawton House.it even has an apartment upstairs so I could totally never leave my Jane Austen books and tea! *sigh*

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    1. I'm so glad you like An Old Fashioned Girl too! Sadly, it is not well known. I did hear something to that effect about Cassandra's. I was so jealous of whoever will end up having that wonderful little shop!

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  2. Heather Vogel Frederick! I've only read Pies and Prejudice so far, but I really want to begin and the beginning and read all of that series. It's so fun and sweet and just... nice.

    I don't mind the name Fitzwilliam, but the first time I read P&P I did get Fitzwilliam Darcy and Col. Fitzwilliam confused ALL the time.

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    1. By the way, I nominated you for the Sunflower Blogger Award. Read my post here to learn more. Play if you want to!

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  3. You are the first person I have read so far to mention an "imperfect" heroine. I'm automatically attracted to flawed heroines, but only as long as they learn from their mistakes. And ditto on An Old-Fashioned Girl--best book I have ever read besides the Bible. :-)

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  4. I feel the same way about Lucie Manette! She annoyed me while I read A Tale of Two Cities. And Mr. Knightley. Just YES! He's my favorite.

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  5. I think Emma Woodhouse is a great character, too. I know a lot of people dislike her (and Austen expected them to), but I like her a lot. :) I also enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society...I need to reread it! And though I've never really thought about it, I'm not crazy about the names George or Fitzwilliam, either. I guess it never bothered me because they're usually called by their last names. :)

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  6. Hamlette: Another Mother Daughter Book Club fan! You should read the whole series, they are all very nice.

    Joanna: I am surprised I am the first person to mention that. I am so glad you like An Old Fashioned Girl too!

    Emily Ruth: I am so glad you feel that way! When I told me English teacher and discussion group that, they all looked at me like I was crazy.

    Kristin: Ah yes! Emma, who may be hard to like at first, but whom I find hard not to love by the end!

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  7. Lovely answers and your blog is fab! I totally feel for you about having to change your entire diet. A few years ago my entire family was diagnosed with severe wheat and dairy allergies, it was really tough, buts its second nature now :)
    God bless!

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  8. Charming answers! Your idea of renting an English cottage is splendid. Re your "ideal abode"...have you ever seen the picture book If Once You Have Slept On An Island by Rachel Field? It's beautiful, filled with visiting little shops and the water, reading books, and playing in a flower filled garden. The upshot is, "if once you have slept on an island, you'll never be quite the same."

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