Literary Heroines

Blog questionnaires, I never do them. I'm always curious as to whether or not anyone really want's to read my answers. But this one, well, this one is all about literary heroines. I couldn't help myself. It beckoned and called to me.  So here you are, 23 things that I want to share with you, about everything bookish, and literary heroine-ish. :/  Grab a cup of tea, please, keep reading.

 1. Introduce yourself! Hi, I'm Amanda. I read, a lot. I collect books, the older and mustier the better. I wish I could write like Dickens, instead, well... I like tea, I'm normally covered in cat hair due to my cat, and I really like to buy earrings. 

Confessions... sigh

2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? A true heroine knows her weakness, a true heroine isn't afraid to lean on God and someone else for help. A true heroine has faith, love, and forgiveness. A true heroine stands up for what is right, even when she is scared to death. 

3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. Esther Summerson (Bleak House) I love how sweet and gentle she is. She is willing to give up everything for others.  Meg March, probably not the first person you would think of, but she is a true heroine. Lastly, Eurie Mitchell, in Isabella Alden's Chataqua girls series. 

4. Five of your favorite historical novels?  Hidden Hand, Mr. Standfast, To Have and to Hold, Anne's House of Dreams, Bleak House.  (Do I have to stop????) 

5. Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?  Hidden Hand- Capitola- I like a heroine who is not only heroical, but hilarious! 

Mr. Standfast- okay Richard Hannay is of course great, but I like Mary too.  

To Have and to Hold - can I choose the villain? He's like the BEST villain ever! Alright, Captain Percy, he is so.... perfect.

Anne's House of Dreams - Anne. :) 

Bleak House- Esther Summerson of course. :) 

6. Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why? Hidden Hand - Black Donald- Old Hurricane comes in close. 

Mr. Standfast - Peter Pienarr- His fortitude and trust in God. 

To Have and to Hold - Lord Carnal - okay, confession, I love good villains! (I mean bad villains, really bad villains!) 

Anne's House of Dreams- Sorry Gill, I have to choose Captain Jim. :/ I feel bad. 

Bleak House- Mrs. Jellyby- I know she's only a minor character, but hey, she's my favorite! 

7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? London, buy books and drink tea.  

8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? Victorian and Edwardian times. The Mid-evil is close, and WW1, and the "modern age" of America, and ancient times and...

9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? Comical 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? Anne. That would be fun. :) 

11. What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? Firmly decided. Chocolate is necessary to health and long life. I am positive Anne would agree. 

12. Favorite author(s)? Too many really- Dickens, Montgomery, Southworth, Stevenson, Verne, Alden...

13. Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land? A friend. Adventures are always better with a friend. And lot's of extra suitcases for all the books returning home with me. 

14. In which century were most of the books you read written? 19th

15. In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is... Captain Ralph Percy. Not only does he have every attribute necessary: gentleness, love, strength, protectiveness, courage... He's also the best swordsman in the colonies, Plus he is pretty good at acting like a pirate. Can't beat that. 

16. Describe your ideal dwelling place. A tiny fairy-tale house, with lots of little nooks and crannies, a plethora of windows, a stone fireplace, and an English cottage garden. 

17. Sum up your fashion style in five words. Haven't found it yet. (I did it in four words! :) Okay really, whimsy, accessories,  casual, dark colors. 

18. Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? Yep, in a child's book I used to read, one of the main character's was named Cecilia.I couldn't pronounce it, so reading it was almost painful. 

19. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...  Oh boy!  I love Villains! :) James Carker- from Dombey and Son. 

20. Three favorite Non-fiction books?  Elements of Style- Strunk and White,  Literary Taste: How to Form it,  Tremendous Trifles. 

21. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? Outside in a flower strewn meadow. Laying out on the grass, with a picnic basket, some good books, a journal, and maybe even a friend. 

22. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.  A floppy yet stylish sun hat, something that reminds you of the 50's (or was that 60's?)  Perhaps a bit of ribbon around it. 

23. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. Going through one of life's biggest trials, the loss of someone very near and dear. 

24. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently. Isaiah, the promises of God's faithful love are enough to take your breath away. 

Fine Print: Images Not mine. Linking to Accordion to Kelly for the Literary Heroines. Had much fun. Going to find the episode that Lucy and Ethel go to London, didn't know they had done that too. All the books I site are not exactly recommendations, some have to be taken with a grain of salt, a few with  a black permanent marker. 

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day. Pink hearts, chocolate, candle-light dinners, X's and O's.

I'm single, yet, I love Valentine's day. I like what it stands for, a yearly reminder to love the one God has given you. I love looking forwards to the day when I can give my man a big hunk of chocolate wrapped in bright pink polka-dot foil. I love thinking about the love of Christ.  A love that will never let me go.

There are times in your life, when you sense the Father's love for you in a way you never have before. The little phrase "Jesus loves me",  never crosses your brain carelessly. And when that realization of the immensity of God's love for teeny tiny, pathetically worm like, little old you settles upon you, life will be changed forever.

It's so simple, yet so very complex. God loves us.

He has since the foundations of the earth were formed. He will when the foundations of the earth fall into dust.

God loves us.

"I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD forever..." Psalm 89:1



There is a poem that is very dear to me. It was written upon the wall of a cell in an insane asylum. We don't know who the man was who wrote it. But, living where he did, with his mind continually tortured, his life was no doubt far worse than anything we could imagine. He was at the lowest spot anyone could be in life. Yet, though no doubt insane and incapable of logical reasoning, he understood the glorious love of God. He had discovered it's height and depth and weight.




These are the words he wrote.

 " Could we with ink the ocean fill and were the sky of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole the stretched from sky to sky."  

May we all continue to discover the deep, deep love of Christ,  until we lose ourselves in wonder.

Off on an Adventure

My suitcase is packed, my book bag is stuffed, my forsaken cat is furious.

Yep, I'm heading out for a little while. A week of book reading, photo taking, and just resting.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!


~Amanda



Fine Print: Image not mine. Looked kinda like me today though.... :) I take A LOT of books! :)

February Song

"Where is that simple day, before colors broke into shades?"

The weather here can't decide if it is spring or winter.  Daffodil heads poke up, while wet snow falls and melts away. The world is very grey, muddy, and wet.

Everything is in shade, it is all mixed - like watercolors.

Life feels like that right now. Blurry, foggy, grey. With mixed emotions, and dim future lurking ahead.

Lean, my word for this year, has proved to be the one thing I most need.

All I can do is lean.

Throwing myself upon the strong arm of Christ, and allowing Him to hold me.

Life is tough, but He will always be there.

And you know something? When you are at you weakest, when life pummels you from every direction, when all you can do is grasp the hem of His garment. He gives strength, healing, and the most unbelievable peace. A peace beyond human understanding.

February skies are notorious for bringing depression. But with our Almighty God holding out His hands, we never need to despair. Just lean and keep your head up. His love for us is pure and bright, without any shade or murky grey.

Lean and wait, basking in the brightness of His glory, these February clouds will soon pull apart, and March sun will shine through.

Lean.

Fine Print:  Photo not mine. Title and quote at top of page also not mine.

The Hidden Hand ~ A Bookworm's Calendar

Heavy banks of thick clouds hover just overhead, the sky itself is hidden away. We won't see it until March. The world is painted in indistinct shades of white, gray, and brown, from the sky to the trees to the ground.

Most people hate February. But I like it. It's soothing, quieting, and the perfect time to curl up with a good book, some quiet music, and a nice warm mug of Chai. If you happen to think that February has to be gray and boring, then I suggest you check out this month's book. It was chosen just for you to cure the February blues.

The book for this month is The Hidden Hand. And I have to say, of all the books I've featured so far, this is my favorite. It's a complex, intricately woven historical adventure story. Featuring everything necessary to a really good adventure:  villains, the  Mexican-American war, Highway men, estranged relations, and deep dark secrets.

I guarantee you will not be able to put this one down. It's about 500 pages long, and every page is full of new twists and turns. I guess my favorite thing about this book is the realization that no matter how difficult and impossible things seem, there is always a plan. And behind the scenes there is an Almighty Hand, hidden, yet working for our greater good.

Please read it. I guarantee, you won't regret it. : )

Music is an absolute necessity on chilly grey days, or any day for that matter. But music is even more fun as a backdrop to reading. This CD is a perfect match to the Hidden Hand. It's been created just for Virginia, where our story just happens to be set. I love how they stuck to the original Appalachian style music, much of which contains remnants of the Celtic music loved by the original Appalachian settlers.





Grab your book, turn on your music, and brew yourself your favorite cup of tea. Look up at those grey February clouds and enjoy the peace.






Fine Print: All images of products are clickable, and will take you to the very best place to buy them. As for the other photos. they are not mine, but were simply too lovely not to share with you. 

January

Multitudes. The whole point of documenting these multitudes is to realize how small and special they are. They aren't anything huge or significant. Just the little splashes of happiness that touch our every day lives.


Sometimes this world looks pretty bleak. Depression, grief, and fear cover the sky like the heavy banks of gray clouds that cover the January sun.We don't see the tiny blessings. The little flashes of glitter in our lives.

What are some of your multitudes? Please join me in this!

~ Heat

~Sweet friend who created a sweet gift for me and my kitty.

~ Home.

~Craft supply stores.  (Ah bliss!)

~Panera Bread's Bread.

~ Little girls doing puzzles

~ Piano keys


~ Snow

~All you who are reading along on this months book!

~A Cat who chases her tail, then when she notices that she is being watched drops down and pretends to be the epitome of dignified cat-hood.

~ Late Christmas gift from my sister (a tiny "pocket watch" pendant on a necklace. :)

~ Giggling with my siblings as we all turn every last pocket in hopes of finding the one last quarter needed for the vending machine. :)

Want to join me in listing multitudes?  Just leave them in a comment below or send me a link to a blog-post you have written. :)
Amanda

Fine Print: Images are mine. But you knew that right? 

January~ A Book Worm's Calendar

Dear Fellow Bookworms,

I hope no one has had to survive even a day without something to read. I know I have been busy savoring my Christmas books. But I do apologize for waiting until now to announce the book for this month. 

This month's book is one of my top ten favorites. 

Esther Ried by Isabella Alden. 

Esther Ried is tired, overworked, and discontent. But when she visits her wealthy cousin her life will change, forever. Spiritually Esther had been asleep, apathetic, but  her awakening brings her to a new realization of her task in life. How will Esther find ways to serve God in her busy and exhausting world?

I can think of no better book to start out a new year with than this. It's a well written fiction story that will open your eyes and wake you up. If you like old fashioned stories, inspiring stories, and simply delightful stories you will enjoy this one. I cannot recommend it enough. :) 

And one of the great things about this month's book is that you can get it completely free. 

Find it here on Project Gutenberg (one of my favorite book places), read it either online or download it into your computer or e-reader. 

Are you like me and too busy crafting up a storm to actually read a book? Fortunately for you this book (and the rest of it's series) is on Librivox, excellently read, and completely free. 

But, if you would prefer to actually have a tangible book in your hands. Get it here.

Please tell me if you plan to read along this month or any other time. Have you already read this? Let me know what you think! 

Happy Reading

~Amanda 

Fine Print: Images not my own. And, yes, if you buy this book from the Amazon link I have provided, I will make a commission. Feel free to do so. :)