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!

The Literary Heroine Blog Party Questions

~ The Questions ~

1. Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random! My name is Maddie Rose from The Madd Rose blog. I love books, old movies and shows, baking, playing piano, old fashioned things in general and BOOKS! I dislike homework, most modern furniture, snakes, spiders, creepy-crawly things in general, and crude or nasty behavior. God is only just recently playing a daily part in my life right now as I (finally) strive to do His works. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I'd love for it to have something to do with, what else, books. I dream of living on P.E.I, Canada, in a little cottage by the sea. I am a Road to Avonlea addict, and like nothing better than to lounge around with a good book or show, and a nice cup of tea. (Earl Grey especially)
2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?  I love a heroine who is kind, considerate, and helpful, without being too annoying and perfect. She should have a good imagination and a sense of humor. She doesn't need to be beautiful (I rather prefer that she isn't, actually) but I like them to be... pretty, even in a little way. Sweetness always helps, but you need a dash of salt, or else you might get a toothache. It helps if she has one or two run ins with love, and gets into scrapes occasionally. This is what I imagine a true heroine to be.
3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.  I admire Anne Shirley greatly. She was my first old-fashioned love. I am absolutely obsessed with the series. (Ask anyone) Gilbert helped a lot too. ;)  Another heroine I relate to is Betsy Warrington Ray. She is a little known heroine, but one of my favorites. She is kind, smart, funny, and imperfectly beautiful. I want her and her Crowd to be my friends! I even went to the Betsy-Tacy Convention in Mankato, Minn. this summer. I admire Emily Starr, although she and I aren't that much alike. I like her spirit, her beauty, and her goal in life. Finally, I like Polly from An Old-Fashioned Girl. She is sweet, kind, and resourceful. She has a strong faith and shines light on the lives of others. I wish she and I were more alike. 
4. Five of your favorite historical novels?  Oh, this is hard. Are classics historical novels? I suppose they are. In no particular order, I like love: the Anne of Green Gables series, the Betsy-Tacy series, An Old-Fashioned Girl, Love Comes Softly, and Emma.
5. Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why? This is REALLY HARD! Why don't you just ask me which kid is my favorite? (If I had kids....) Anyway..... I guess Anne. What can I say? I'm a big Anne of Green Gables fan! She is my favorite because she is smart, kind , stubborn, imaginative, and she gets the best guy EVER! ;)
6. Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why? Marilla Cuthbert. At first I wasn't sure I'd like her at all, but under that cold exterior beats a kind, motherly heart.
7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? This is so hard... should I do P.E.I., England, or Italy? I suppose I'll choose England, although I dearly love my little P.E.I.! England would be such fun! I love the accents, the little shops and cottages, the sheep, the beaches  the culture, and of course JANE AUSTEN! 
8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? I would have to say mid to late 1800's and early 1900's. The culture can be Canadian, American, or British.
9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? I am best at singing, but I don't know if I'd have the nerve to do that. If not singing, then recitation- like Anne at the White Sands Hotel! :)
10. If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? I suppose I'd pick Emma Woodhouse. With my longish caramel blond hair, it'd be best to be her. (I've always imagined her with blond hair as I saw the movie before I read the book. plus, she has beautiful outfits and hairstyles, and I could spend the whole party making matches;)
11. What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? MMMMMMM! Is the exact phrase that comes to mind. If I could live on chocolate, I would.
12. Favorite author(s)? In no particular order: L.M. Montgomery, Maud Hart Lovelace, Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Heather Vogel Frederick, Janette Oke,  Elizabeth Gaskell, Jeanne Birdsall (author of The Penderwicks), A.A. Milne of the dear Winnie-the-Pooh stories, and Michael Bond, who is the author of a childhood favorite of mine, Paddington Bear. 
13. Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land? Books, old movies, my smart phone,  my puppy Ollie, and my ipod
14. In which century were most of the books you read written? There are two: 19 C. and 20 C.
15. In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… GILBERT BLYTHE
16. Describe your ideal dwelling place. 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. Not a private island or anything, just an island. I think people who live on islands are nicer and happier.
17. Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence. Just one sentence? Alright, my personal style is feminine and classy, but not old granny-ish or anything.
18. Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? Yes, I don't like that Mr. Darcy's first name is Fitzwilliam. :(
19. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... for some reason I'm drawing a blank. I suppose, maybe Chauvelin from the Scarlet Pimpernel. I just don't like that guy!
20. Three favorite Non-fiction books? Um... I don't read a lot of non-fiction... I like the Little House on the Prairie (although I think that might be fiction, but it's based off Laura's life.) I can't think of any more, although I know I've read non-fiction!
21. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? Outside rowing on the pond, swimming at the pool, gardening, or on our hammock reading with some lemonade.
22. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. Oh dear, well this is an interesting one. I'd have to choose a hat that might come from Road to Avonlea. A simple hat with a nice blue bow and some small flowers. Nothing too fancy, but overall very simple and flattering.
23. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.  I found some blogs, started blogging myself, and started high school.
24. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently. Goodness, uh... Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 32:8, Revelation 21:4, 1 John 4:7-8, and Deuteronomy 31:6