Friday Fun
Hey, remember Friday Fun? Yeah, neither do I. But I'm bored at work and feeling kind of headachy and queasy (it's my blog. I'll overshare if I want to), so in an effort to stave off sleep and the heaves, I've got five questions, five answers.
1. What is the first book you remember reading?
When I was a kid, there were three books that the beloved parents read to me every night: Noisy Nora, Morris's Disappearing Bag, and Pierre, the Boy Who Didn't Care. Probably, if I tried really hard, I could still recite most of Noisy Nora. If you've ever spoken to me, you've probably heard me say at least once, "'Nora,' said her sister, 'Why are you so dumb?'" It's the kind of thing that comes in handy. I'm not sure if they are the first books I ever read, but I'm pretty willing to bet that they are.
Incidentally, the first two (Nora and Morris) were written by a woman named Rosemary Wells. At the National Book Festival a few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Wells, and I acted like a thirteen year old at a BackStreet Boys concert. Seriously. I was shaking and babbling like an idiot and trying really hard not to cry or hug her or do anything else that could possibly get me arrested.
2. What is your favorite book?
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Read it. Read it twice. Read it out loud, if you can manage it. Then read it again. Then have someone read it to you. It's a brilliant, beautiful, magical book. It's hypnotic.
3. Who is your favorite author?
At the moment, Anita Shreve. I've read a string of her novels and love them all. She's got a very calm way of writing, if you can understand what that means. Her stories are very quiet, in a way. She gets into her character's heads very well and takes you along, too, and I like that.
4. Pick up the nearest book (magazine or any available printed material will do). Turn to page 24 (or the closest to it). Go to the 7th line. What is it?
"One of Esquire's own, that James Baldwin," says Mark. Having been . . .
It's from The Know-It-All by A. J. Jacobs.
5. If you could be any character in literature, who would you be?
This one is both hard and easy. First, gut-level response: Elizabeth Bennet. Because every girl, everywhere, who has ever read Pride and Prejudice, has a thing for Mr. Darcy. Because really, who wouldn't? Then I think about it a little more and remember Anne Elliot. Then I remember that Captain Wentworth doesn't, necessarily, look like Ciaran Hinds. Then I realize that I've chosen my characters based solely on the men they end up with and I have a little feminist fit. Then I have a brain-lock on spunky, independent, mouthy chicks in fiction that I'd like to be. Then I realize that this is pretty much why I write my own fiction, so I can be whatever character I want to be.
And now--you guys!
7 comments:
1. Mr. Squash You All Flat
2. Three way tie - a. There is a Boy in the Girls Bathroom, b. Tuck Everlasting, c. A Short History of Nearly Everything.
3. Bill Bryson, he can make impending death or complete destruction of every thing as we know it humorous.
4. "His doublet unbuttoned, no hat on his head ...."
5. Bradley Chalkers
guess
1. I am obligated to brag that I could read as far back as I can remember. I don't know if I *really* remember this or have just heard the story enough, but for sheer comedy, I'm going with the Louisville, KY white pages.
2. Favorite? Hmm, tough call.
Novel: _The Brothers Karamazov_ Dostoevsky
Play: _Henry V_ Shakespeare
Short Story: Richard Connell's "Most Dangerous Game"
(which should be required reading if it isn't)
Poem: Homer's _Odyssey_ (various translations, the plot's key)
Series: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Young person's comedy: This Island Isn't Big Enough for the Four of Us - Ruddick and Greer, I think
3. C.S. Lewis, then probably Bill Simmons =)
4. (1) Destroyed;
Indiana Code 9-18-8-13
What? It was the closest thing in arm's reach...
5. Sir Reepicheep from Lewis' _Prince Caspian_ and _Voyage of the Dawn Treader_. OK, maybe he was a mouse, but analysis has also noted he was Lewis' avatar for all the knightly virtues, i.e. all the best of Galahad and Lancelot without their annoying flaws and foibles. Skilled with a rapier, proud, courtly, and utterly fearless. Yeah, sign me up.
Flip, obviously
1) I have absolutely no idea what was the first book I ever read. I do however remember constantly flipping through a set of fairy tales with disney characters portraying the roles, I also remember the Mr. Happy, Mr. Messy, etc. series of books.
2)My favorite book is by far Les Miserables! Once you get through all of the historical ramblings (which is the only part Annie finds interesting) there is this wonderful and fantastic story of a man who touched many lives because of the kindness of one man, a priest who believed that the soul is inherently good in everyone.
For a fun little mystery I enjoy The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, I have read it at least twice a year since it was required in my children's lit class at BG.
3)My favorite author...that is very tough to say given the fact that my favorite type of book to read is an inspiring biography or autobiography (obviously the author is not constant in this case). However some of my favorite ones to read have been Lance Armstrong, Howard Schultz (The Starbucks CEO), and of course the Walt Disney bio.
4)"12th in the final National Soccer Coaches' Association..." Stevens Institute of Technology Annual Report 2003-2004
I am at work, there isn't much that is exciting to read around here.
5)North, I was always a bit more fond of Jane Eyre. The character I would most like to be is Alice of Alice in Wonderland, how fun would that be!
My apologies, the previous post was by none other than...
NJ
1. First book: It was called Kate's Quilt. According to Amazon, it's out of print! It was a sweet little book about an elephant named Kate. I don't know if I really read it or just memorized the words, but man oh man I loved that book.
2. Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. It's about his life as a pilot in the 20's, flying between Paris and Dakar. Every single sentence in that book is beautiful. I've also read The Princess Bride at least a million times.
3. Right now I really like Michael Ondaatje, who wrote The English Patient. I don't like his poetry as much, but I think he's really good.
4. "out Phil Knight for some verbal guidance. Unfortunately for me, Knight"
It's from Scott Bedbury's "A New Brand World: 8 Principles for Achieving Brand Leadership in the 21st Century." Blah.
5. I'd be Thea Kronberg in Willa Cather's The Song of the Lark. It's about a young woman's artistic development as she moves from rural Nebraska to Chicago to become an opera singer. It's all about finding a home, the importance of place, what it means to create art as a woman, heritage, aspirations, independence ... all those important existential feminist-y things. It's been kind of a roadmap for me--highly recommended!
--Caitlin
I'll totally get NJ's back on "The Westing Game". It's still one of my favorite mysteries. I remember when my school librarian suggested it to me in 5th or 6th Grade. I made my sisters read it, and they loved it as well. I think young Turtle is still one of Micro's literary heroes.
Y'all ought to check it out.
Flip
1. What is the first book you remember reading?
i fear that answering this one will identify me to any who knows me but hasn't guessed this alias... the dictionary... specifically, "The Reader's Digest Unabridged Encyclopedic Dictionary"... after that i read the encyclopedia... (the "unquenchable thirst for knowledge" thing...)
2. What is your favorite book?
The Lord of the Rings (the book!! good as the movies were, there was still much left out)
3. Who is your favorite author?
J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Pick up the nearest book (magazine or any available printed material will do). Turn to page 24 (or the closest to it). Go to the 7th line. What is it?
175 Paul Lachowicz Accounting
sorry, the closest thing was the company phone directory -- not all that interesting.
5. If you could be any character in literature, who would you be?
Tom Bombadil
what i wouldn't give for the serenity of that peaceful existence, and yet, complacent i would not be... with his ability, i'd be out trying to help all that i could.
--- The Dancer in the Shadows
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