Monday, February 18, 2013

My Literary Heroine Blog Party Answers

    I am taking part in another blog party that has some really lovely gifts associated with literature.  I love just about anything that has to do with books and reading.  There is still time for you to join in the fun.  
    Below are my answers to the Literary Heroine Blog Party.
     
  1.  Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!  My name is Xenia and I was born in Panama in Central America.  My parents were born and raised there and speak Spanish.  I was raised in America.  My Life's destiny is to bring forth fully the Christ in me on earth and then demonstrate it to the world.  I really dislike the use of profanity and it is a deal breaker for me when meeting men.  Smoking is also a deal breaker.  I became vegan a year ago.  This is something I thought I would never, ever do.  I had been mostly vegetarian for years but I considered being vegan taking things too far and that people who are vegan were nuts. Now I am one of them and I am glad that I made the choice to go vegan.  I never liked beef but I did enjoy poultry and it was challenging to give up chicken.  I no longer have the urge to eat chicken.  The same for fish.  I loved seafood, but the urge to eat it has also left me.  I love to read and I get such a thrill out of shopping for books on Amazon.  I don't read the newspapers.  I don't watch TV either but I do have cable only because my Mother likes to watch TV when she comes to visit.  If I don't pay for cable there are no channels to watch.  I used to be addicted to HGTV.  I refuse to put a TV in my bedroom and I believe that no one should put a TV in theirs either.  Read books instead.  I do not like being around people who are regularly negative and complaining.  I prefer to be positive about life and embrace life as a gift from God.  I am passionate about historic preservation.  At some point in my life I want to live in Italy.  I am afraid of dogs.  I say YES to life everyday.        
  2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?  A true heroine is one who embraces life to its fullest.  She has a very good sense of humor.  She is also kind, thoughtful and considerate of the feelings of others.  She loves being a woman and does not associate being feminine as weak.  She knows that the Mother-Feminine aspect of God is just as important as the Father aspect. She knows how to balance being feminine and being strong.  A true heroine is not necessarily beautiful in the conventional drop dead gorgeous Hollywood version and is any race or ethnicity.  She is pretty though in her own unique way.  A true heroine also loves the color pink.  :-)
  3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.   Elizabeth Bennett, Margaret Hale and Marianne Dashwood. 
  4. Five of your favorite historical novels?   North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell, A Heart for Milton by Trudy Brasure, The Tempest: A Guy of Gisborne Story by Charlotte Hawkins, My Lady Gisborne: A Love Story by Charlotte Hawkins, Miss Moseley the Matchmaker by Caylen McQueen.  The last one is more of a novelette.
  5. Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?  This is a difficult choice.  For me it is a tie between John Thornton and Guy of Gisborne.   I loved the transformation of Guy of Gisborne.  When Guy found true love his true kind nature came forth.  He was no longer a cruel person who wanted to work for the evil sheriff.  Guy became a true knight in shining armor.  He was strong yet so tender and loving towards his wife and children.  Guy began to truly care for people.  John Thornton lived his convictions and values.  John Thornton also loved from the depths of his soul and it was unconditional.  No matter what, the heroine always had John Thornton's love and loyalty.  I also admired that John Thornton was never a womanizer.     
  6. Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?  In A Heart for Milton I came to like Hannah Thornton.  It was hard for her to let go of her son to marry Margaret, but in the end she just really wanted him to be happy, and if Margaret was the woman he wanted she respected that.    
  7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?   I would go on a European vacation for 4 to 6 months.  I would spend extended time in Italy, France, England and Spain.  I would visit the Louvre, Monets house in Giverney, The Vatican,  the English countryside and other historic sites of interest to me in those countries.  I would also visit Austria, Switzeland and Holland.   
  8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?   The 19th century English culture but really only for love stories.
  9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?  Nothing; I would find a reason to get out of it.
  10. If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?   Elizabeth Bennett because I love the clothes from that time period.
  11. What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?   I love it when it is dark and semi sweet.
  12. Favorite author(s)?   Laura Ingalls Wilder, Saint Germain, Cheryl Bolen, Caylen McQueen, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Baird T. Spalding, J.K. Rowling, Elizabeth Gaskell but only the one titled North & South.  Miss Gaskell is usually too depressing for me in her story telling.
  13. Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land?   My Kindle Fire, a few of my spiritual books, a travel journal journal to write in.
  14. In which century were most of the books you read written?  19th and 20th century. 
  15. In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… Cotton mill owner John Thornton
  16. Describe your ideal dwelling place.   I live in my ideal dwelling place right now but when I decide to relocate to Italy, I want to live in a very old house from the 18th or 19th century that has huge fireplaces and lots of big windows.  The house is overlooking the sea and there are beautiful flowers in the front.  In the back is a lovely garden containing flowers and vegetables.     
  17. Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence.   I love the feminine and classic style of Coco Chanel.
  18. Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name?   No
  19. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... I don't have an answer for this one.
  20. Three favorite Non-fiction books?  The Little House on the Prairie books, Life & Teaching of The Masters of The Far East, The History of Art   
  21. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?  I would spend it having a picnic lunch with my very own John Thornton.  We would just be enjoying each others company, talking and getting in lots of affectionate hugs and kisses.
  22. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.  My dream hat would look very much like the Easter bonnets that women wore in the 1960's.  There would be lots of pink millinery flowers on it and ribbon.
  23. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.   Getting laid off in December 2012 from my job of 6 years.  I was surprised but not sad about it.  I embraced it as the Universe making way for me to prepare in depth for my destiny.
  24. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.  "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me" has always been my favorite Bible passage.  "Be still and know that I AM God" is a close tie.
  25.  

7 comments:

Hamlette (Rachel) said...

It seems I'm not a true heroine -- I don't love the color pink ;-)

Anonymous said...

a 4-6 month vacation in Europe sounds heavenly! I'd love to visit the English country side and imagine myself as a young Margaret Hale

Collar City Brownstone said...

You are not alone. Pink is my favorite color but I know lots of women who are not fans of the color pink so I may be in the minority. :-)

Kara said...

I haven't read North and South, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the mini series! It's fabulous! :D I keep thinking I really need to read the book. After clicking over to the West of Milton blog, I'm becoming more convinced.

Collar City Brownstone said...

Kara, I encourage you to read North and South. I loved the book even more than the miniseries. I also listened to the audio version.

Kellie said...

What a wonderful blog you have, Xenia! So glad you could join us!

North and South is a favorite of mine, too. So brilliant. John Thornton is one of my ideals...
Haha - pink for true heroines! :D

Anonymous said...

Hello there! :)
I love that you said that true heroines love pink! Hehehe. And a home in Italy sounds lovely.
Joyfully,
Whimsey Keith