Happy Mother’s Day!

For Masterpiece Monday, I discussed the most infamous mom: Medea. But you didn’t think that I was done talking, did you?

As I have only five more days until my graduate commencement, I spent today reflecting on how grateful I am for my own mother’s love and support. Whenever I needed to practice a debate speech or read a rough draft of an essay, she was always there to listen. She’s been my inspiration and motivation, encouraging me to chase my dreams as well as keeping me grounded. I’m so glad that I’ve been able to have such a good relationship with her, and I can’t wait to make her proud when I finally get hooded.

As for moms of the literary sort, I’ll share my thoughts on the one I love and the one I love to hate. Of course, give a shout-out to your own mom and to any literary moms out there, good or evil!

Excuse the profanity, but this is hilarious!

Mom I Love: Molly Weasley (Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling)

Come on, this one was obvious! Molly would be the best book mom. She not only had her hands full with seven children, she also helped save the entire world from Lord Voldemort. Sure, she worries about you constantly and knits you hideous-looking sweaters for Christmas, but she’s fiercely loyal to her loved ones. She adopted Harry like one of her own and was devoted to all her kids’ best interests. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that one of the most anticipated scenes in “Deathly Hallows: Part Two” was when Molly killed Bellatrix in revenge with her beloved line, “NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!” Now, that’s a mom you do not mess with!

Let’s just forget that this movie ever happened, ok?

Mom I Love to Hate: Marisa Coulter (His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman)

Unlike her film portrayal, Mrs. Coulter actually had long, sleek, black hair, but her ice-cold personality was something not easily rivaled. First off, protagonist Lyra didn’t even know Mrs. Coulter was her mother, as she was brought up as an orphan at Oxford University. Marisa and her lover (Lyra’s actual father) Lord Asriel are so obsessed with power that they continually lie and kill to get ahead. At one point, convinced that her daughter was a modern-day Eve, she planned to murder Lyra to prevent another “Fall.” And, of course, let’s not forget her wicked golden monkey daemon!

However, Mrs. Coulter is an intriguing, multidimensional character with redeeming qualities. She saves Lyra from danger multiple times, and seems to experience maternal love every now and then. You don’t trust her as far as you could throw her, but her final action in the trilogy (which I won’t spoil) forces you to rethink your perception of her.

I highly recommend both fantasy series, if you haven’t already read them. Let me know what you think of these bad-ass moms, and be sure to come back tomorrow for the next Masterpiece Monday!!!

What’s the [Really Disturbing] Story, Wishbone?

The cutest Robin Hood! (Image via Buzzfeed)

Three days ago, comedy website FunnyOrDie.com posted yet another amusing video (And yes, those who know me remember that when this site was launched, I thought that it was pronounced “Funny Ordy.” I still stand by my thought that comparing adjectives to verbs is confusing, but whatever. Glad my friends and family enjoyed mocking me!)

Anyways, the video is called “Wishbone Reboot,” and since I can’t embed it here, click the link! It imitates the introduction to “Wishbone,” one of my favorite TV shows as a child which used classic novels to teach life lessons.

What’s hilarious about the parody is that it includes books which would never had made it on the kid’s show, such as Lolita, A Clockwork Orange, and The Road. It got me thinking just how many novels in the literary canon are simply too graphic for the elementary school demographic.

But what if “Wishbone” had an adult version? Which masterpieces would you love to see acted out by a Jack Russell Terrier?

Here’s my top 10 picks:

1.  Medea by Euripides
2. Bacchae by Euripides
3. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
4. The Stranger by Albert Camus
5. Lysistrata by Aristophanes
6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
7. 1984 by George Orwell
8. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
9. Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories: “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “Hop-Frog,” “The Cask of Amontillado”
10. Franz Kafka’s short stories: “Metamorphosis,” “The Judgment,” “In the Penal Colony”

Now I don’t read extremely horrific tales, so let me know what other stories could make the cut for an R-rated “Wishbone.” Go crazy!

Best and Worst Fictional Commencement Speakers

I just got back from celebrating a family friend’s graduation from culinary school, and while I was listening to the honorary speaker, I thought about who in literature would make the best commencement speeches, who can give inspiring words from the heart and incite passion in their audiences. On the other hand, who would make you just groan and look for the nearest exit?

Well, after giving it a lot a thought, I have made my decision!

Eric Bana as Hector--even better!

Best Fictional Commencement Speaker: Hector from Homer’s Iliad

Now most people associate Iliad with Achilles, but what the Greek warrior has in fame, he lacks in people skills. After all, he threw a major hissy fit during most of the war after Agamemnon stole his slave-girl Briseis. But Hector acted like the  noble Trojan prince he was, and although he was killed by Achilles, he possessed great power in motivating his troops.

Here’s one example from my Lombardo translation:

“Trojans, Lycians, Dardanian soldiers, remember to fight like the men that you are. Zeus I know has decreed glory for me and victory–and for the Danaans defeat. Look at this puny wall they’ve put up. It will never withstand the force of our attack, and our horses will easily jump this ditch. Once I get to their ships, get me some fire so I can burn the fleet and kill dazed Greeks in the smoke.” (8.176)

Confident, powerful, memorable–just what the class of 2012 needs to put a fire under their own butts. Hector was a leader with both military expertise and the respect of his soldiers. Graduates could use someone like him.

Runners-Up: Dumbledore from Harry Potter, Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird, Marc Antony from Julius Caesar

Hoom, boom, burarum...zzzz

Worst Fictional Commencement Speaker: Treebeard from Tolkien’s The Two Towers

Let’s ignore for a moment that a tree shepherd would automatically make an unusual graduation guest. I can’t think of anyone who would give a longer, duller speech than this Ent. When your catchphrase is “Don’t be hasty,” you know it’s going to be a long night! Check out the beginning to Entmoot, the gathering of the Ents:

“After a long time (and the chant showed no signs of slackening) [Pippin] found himself wondering they had yet got further than Good Morning; and if Treebeard was to call the roll, how many days it would take to sing all their names. ‘I wonder what the Entish is for yes or no,’ he thought. He yawned.” (Ch. 4)

Days??? No one in their right mind would listen to a commencement speeches lasting days. I love Ents as much as the next Ringer, but come on!

Runners-Up: Big Brother from 1984, Hamlet from Hamlet, Mersault from The Stranger

So anyone else you can brainstorm that would make one of these lists? Let me know! I’ll be counting down the days until my own commencement!!!

Top 5 Fictional Vacation Destinations

It’s finally Friday, and although I should be writing my comprehensive paper that’s due in two weeks, I wanted to take a break to talk about what’s really on my mind: vacation. (Or yasumi as the Japanese call it). My brother and I are so excited to visit the Pokemon Center and Studio Ghibli museum in Japan, my girlfriends and I can’t wait to party it up in Vegas–even my parents are busy planning their 25th anniversary getaway. So let’s just say senioritis is kicking in full force!

For fun I thought I would share my top 5 fictional vacation destinations: the places that don’t actually exist, but I would book a trip in a heartbeat if they did. And no, Narnia is not on the list–talking beavers and lion messiahs are not my idea of a good time, sorry!

5. Fowl Manor in Artemis Fowl

What Fowl Manor might look like

Boy genius Artemis Fowl lives in a 15th century castle on a 200-acre estate an hour from Dublin, Ireland. It is covered by oak trees and stone walls, along with a state-of-the-art security system. His great-great-great-grandfather added a ton of rooms in the 18th century, but the castle still possesses its original guard towers and walkways. It’s a gorgeous home, and did we mention it comes with your own Butler? That is, Artemis’ family servant Butler, who is a martial arts and weapons expert. Whether you’re trying to escape some evil elves or just have a private weekend with loved ones, Fowl Manor puts most five-star hotels to shame.

4. Howl’s Moving Castle

Perfect for hanging laundry!

Originally a 1986 novel written by Diana Wynne Jones, it was adapted by Studio Ghibli in 2004. Wizard Howl lives in a magical castle that appears to be made of blocks of coal since a fire demon named Calcifer holds it together. The door to the castle actually has a doorknob with four dabs of paint, one for each of its four locations. That’s right, this castle has secret portals to four other places! And Howl can change these destinations whenever he wants, so you’re always left guessing! In the anime, the castle was made to look very industrial, and although it doesn’t quite have curb appeal, you really get the bang for your buck with all its extra locations!

3. Ouran Academy in Ouran High School Host Club

Jealous, aren't you?

If you haven’t read this manga by Bisco Hatori or watched the anime or live-action drama, then you are simply missing out. Ouran Academy is a (fictional) private high school in Tokyo where only the richest students attend. Now although it might be weird to say you want to vacation at a school, just look at that photo from the Japanese drama! Talk about classy (pun intended!) But of course, the real reason to visit is to hang out with the Host Club, a group of insanely hot guys whose only job is to treat their clients like princesses. If all schools were like this, dropout rates would vanish, that’s for sure!

2. Hogsmeade from Harry Potter

I guess the amusement park will have to do!

Hogwarts would be the obvious choice, but there’s room for only one school on this list! Plus, Hogsmeade is just as fun. Nothing sounds better than sipping a butterbeer and shopping ’til you drop at Zonko’s Joke Shop. You can even stock up on all the wizarding essentials: wands, quills, cauldrons, and more! While some cynics might call Hogsmeade a magical strip mall, fans know that this destination exudes warmth and plenty of mystery too. If only travel websites could book the Three Broomsticks Inn, I’d reserve a room pronto!

1. Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings

Paradise, plain and simple

If you know me, my #1 fictional vacation destination is no surprise. Meaning “deeply cloven valley,” Rivendell is located in northern Middle Earth near the river Bruinen. Although it does snow there in the winter, the summers are warm–in fact, many allege that it’s on the same latitude as Tolkien’s Oxford and based on a real village in Switzerland where Tolkien had taken a hiking trip. It’s probably the most beautiful setting I’ve ever seen (on film anyway). Who wouldn’t want to mingle with elves among waterfalls and forests? Move over Heaven, because you have competition!

So where would you love to stay in your imagination? Any literary locations that you want to add to the list?

What I Read in 2011: From Best to Worst

Don't know who made this graphic, but it sure as heck wasn't me! Only thing I could find on short notice, sorry!

The time has come! Before I party the year away I wanted to rate the 20 books I read from best to worst. I’ll provide some brief pros and cons, but if you want more info about any of them, just click on the links to their full reviews. I’m also taking recommendations for 2012–hopefully, I’ll beat this year’s record with 25 novels!

*NOTE: Ratings are out of 5 and are listed after the authors in parentheses.

1. 1984 by George Orwell (5)
Pros: A hauntingly exquisite masterpiece of one man’s attempt to escape a warmongering, all-controlling government.
Cons: Takes some time to get going, but pacing is not that much of an issue.
Recommended to: Everyone who’s interested in a stimulating, mind-blowing, politically charged, timeless, life-changing read. And who wouldn’t want that? Seriously, why aren’t you dropping everything and reading it right now? Oh, you want to finish my list? Ok, fine, I’ll let you, but you better run/mouse-click to your nearest bookstore ASAP!

2. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (5)
Pros: Tragic romance in which two star-crossed lovers must decide between money or passion. Beautifully written.
Cons: Takes an acquired taste, and probably won’t appeal much to fans of action-packed plots.
Recommended to: Hopeless romantics; Fans of Wharton, the Bronte sisters, Austen, and other 19th c. female authors

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (5)
Pros: Dystopian tale totally worth its hype. Exhilarating read that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Cons: Fantastic beginning which will lead you down to a horrendous ending. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Recommended to: Thrill-seekers who don’t mind some graphic violence; People who have to jump on every bandwagon just because; Twihards who need another love triangle to obsess over; Dystopian YA fiction fanatics

4. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (4.5)
Pros: Excellent sci-fi novel which defined its genre. Entertaining yet critical look into militarism and war.
Cons: Coming-of-age story means pacing’s slow at times.
Recommended to: Sci-fi fans; Video game players; Scholars interested in the effects of violence on individuals.

5. Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison (4.5)
Pros: Fun story of a group of women bonding over shoes. Between debt, infidelity, and weight issues, anyone can relate to these characters.
Cons: Chapters are divided by character POV, and one woman isn’t introduced until about 100 pages in.
Recommended to: Chick-lit lovers; the shoe-obsessed; Anyone in need of a light-hearted read.

6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (4)
Pros: It’s almost as good as 1984, and slightly better than Fahrenheit 451. They’re the dystopian classic trifecta!
Cons: You have to be able to stomach little kids having sex. Major ick factor.
Recommended to: Those fascinated by genetic-engineering; People against reliance on anxiety medication; Readers who want an intellect boost.

7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (4)
Pros: It’s always nice reading a book about reading books. Down with censorship!
Cons: Confusing to understand the world at first, so have some patience.
Recommended to: Lovers of banned books; Anyone who wants to read a literary classic, but doesn’t have much free time to spare.

8. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (4)
Pros: Entertaining sequel to The Hunger Games, and there’s definitely more romantic tension.
Cons: Not as good as original, beginning is slow, and it’s just one step closer to disappointment.
Recommended to: Only those who’ve read The Hunger Games. Duh.

9. Matched by Ally Condie (4)
Pros: Mysterious, interesting take on the dystopian YA genre.
Cons: Yet another love triangle, hold your groans.
Recommended to: Poetry lovers; dystopian fans; practically any teenage girl.

10. Abandon by Meg Cabot (4)
Pros: Fun modern adaptation of the myth of Persephone.
Cons: Predictable plot, cheesy dialogue, and characters with moments of annoying behavior.
Recommended to: Anyone who enjoys Greek myth, YA chick-lit, or cliche romances between sassy girls and dark, handsome bad boys.

11. Gone with the Nerd by Vicki Lewis Thompson (4)
Pros: Hilariously sexy romp between a hot actress and her geeky lawyer.
Cons: Predictable plot with some cheesy dialogue.
Recommended to: Romance novel fans; Those who love nerdy men; Believers of Bigfoot

12. The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan (4)
Pros: Original, refreshing take on romantic literary fiction.
Cons: WAY too short to count as a novel!
Recommended to: Busy readers; Those who like learning new words; Anyone who wants a story not-so-obviously hetero-normative.

13. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (4)
Pros: Witty prequel to “Sex and the City” in which a teenage Carrie Bradshaw experiences love and betrayal.
Cons: Outside its fan base, it might be just a decent chick-lit story.
Recommended to: Carrie Bradshaw fans; Anyone from a small town who wishes for life in a big city.

14. A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane (3.5)
Pros: Interesting sci-fi tale about Martians with likable characters and much info about the red planet.
Cons: Don’t bother reading if you’ve haven’t read the last 8 books in the series.
Recommended to: Readers loyal to the Young Wizards series, of course.

15. The Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham (3.5)
Pros: Funny story about a girl getting married who’s secretly already someone else’s wife.
Cons: Definitely a character novel with little action.
Recommended to: Chick-lit lovers; Soap opera viewers; Anyone in need of a beach read.

16. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (3.5)
Pros: Beautiful prose; Tragic tale about a woman who commits adultery to escape her unhappy life.
Cons: Madame Bovary is difficult to empathize with, given her naive, often foolish behavior.
Recommended to: Readers who appreciate polished writing and morally ambiguous characters.

17. Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer (3)
Pros: Yet another story of the beloved boy mastermind and his friends of humans and fairies alike.
Cons: Outrageously annoying alter ego character, overly moral themes, stale plot.
Recommended to: Devoted fans of the series eager to get closer to the finale.

18. A Desirable Residence by Madeleine Wickham (3)
Pros: Realistic look into a group of Brits involved in the selling, buying, and living in a home.
Cons: Selfish, fame/fortune-mongering characters will little redeeming qualities.
Recommended to: Wickham fans; Those who gain pleasure from dysfunctional, miserable families.

19. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (3 overall, 1 for ending)
Pros: The suspenseful finale of an otherwise excellent series.
Cons: Oh, where to begin? Just click on the link!
Recommended to: Only those who are hell-bent on finishing the series or the truly masochistic.

20. Overbite by Meg Cabot (2)
Pros: It’s just what I call Cabot candy: sweet and simple.
Cons: Unfortunately, this book is like the sugar buttons of candy: not much better than the paper it’s made on.
Recommended to: Meg Cabot fans; Twihards or anyone else obsessed with all-things vampire.

Phew! So there you have it! Enjoy your New Year’s, and I’ll see you in 2012 (well, after a well-deserved break, anyway!) Now go read 1984!!!

Want free books and a Kindle? Watch this video!

The Guardian and Observer Books Season 2011 is hosting a contest on famous first lines in novels. You watch a video with six first lines, then provide your contact info below the video with your answers. Three winners will receive those six books, and the grand prize winner will also get an Amazon Kindle!

The catch is that you have to be a UK resident (sorry I tricked you fellow Americans!). But if you are one, the deadline’s Nov. 6. For the rest of us, it’s just fun to watch a beautifully animated video with some of the best sentences in the literary world. I personally knew 4 out of the 6 books, so I’m pretty pleased!

What are some of your other favorite first lines? Here’s my list from books I’ve read–Can you guess where they’re from?

1. If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.
2. If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book.
3. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
4. As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.
5. Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly ninety-eight million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea.
6. The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
7. There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.
8. I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids–and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.
9. Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know.
10. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. (Yes, I only read 50 pages of this one, but it’s still an excellent opening!)

Big Book Phonies: Buying Novels Just to Look Smarter

Pictured: Just one of my bookshelves, with stacks of manga up to the ceiling!

I just read an article posted yesterday on the Daily Mail’s website called “The books we buy to look more intelligent: How the average shelf is filled with 80 novels we have never read.”

A British survey found:

• 70% of books on people’s shelves have never been read
• 40% admitted their collection is for display only
• 57% only display literary classics, even if they haven’t read them
• 47% prefer “trashy” novels they would never show

               The books Brits pretend to read the most are Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Wuthering Heights. On the flip side, the authors they consider “guilty pleasures” are Sophie Kinsella, Jodi Picoult, Jackie Collins, Helen Fielding, and Danielle Steele.

               Obviously, this article has flaws, since it doesn’t include how many people were surveyed or their demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, education level, etc.). I don’t even know how the survey was given, whether by phone, online, or randomly asking people on the street. Thus, the results should be taken with a grain of salt.

               I found this article both depressing and amusing. The handful of books on my shelves that I haven’t read are the ones that I haven’t read YET–my to-read list is just backed up right now. But I will get to them eventually, because I could never spend money on a book without even attempting to finish it.

               I bet if this survey was conducted in my town, the results would be even worse. Most people here probably don’t even OWN 80 books! I could count all of my mine, but it would take forever: I’ve filled my two bookshelves to the brim, shoved piles of books in my closet, and stacked hundreds of manga on top of my largest bookshelf so that they reach the ceiling (see photo above). Packing these books when I finally move out of my parents’ house is a recurring nightmare for me!

               But I always tell my students that if you haven’t read a book, don’t pretend to know it. I can tell a mile away. Read it or don’t, period. What if someone strikes up a conversation about To Kill a Mockingbird with you, and you rant about the evils of animal abuse? You’ll just look dumber when your friend realizes you can’t talk the talk.

               That being said, I can understand the pressures to read literary classics and avoid popular fiction. The Jane Austen bandwagon is so huge, sometimes I feel like less of a woman for not finishing Pride and Prejudice. But while I might tell people I read it, I always clarify that I read only the first 50 pages before I got so bored I stopped. I might try it again, but if I don’t, that’s okay. Everyone has different tastes, and I think that as long as people read, it doesn’t matter what the books are.

               I also love Sophie Kinsella, and we should stop treating popular novels as “trashy” or “guilty pleasures.” There’s nothing wrong with reading, or writing, chick-lit/romance novels, and if anyone looks down on you, then screw them. Nobody likes a pompous reader anyway.

               So the moral of my story: be proud of what you read, and don’t waste your money on trying to impress your house-guests. Try to read some classics, but don’t beat yourself up if they’re not your cup of tea. Reading should be a reward, not a punishment.

               What do you guys think of this survey? Are you a big book phony? Do you feel pressure to read certain books? Are there books we “should” or “shouldn’t” read? Post your thoughts!!!

30-Day Book Challenge: The End!

It’s the last day of September! For once, I’m glad my birthday month zoomed by, because it means I’m that much closer to ending 2011, starting anew, getting my Master’s, and finally joining the ‘real world.’ But sadly, the end of September also means the end of the 30-day book challenge. It was a fun list to fill out, and I’ll definitely refer back to it when I’m mulling over what to blog on my slow days.

So here’s the end of the list!

Day 21: Favorite picture book from childhood = Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer

Day 22: Book you plan to read next = 1984 by George Orwell

Day 23: Book you tell people you’ve read, but haven’t (or haven’t actually finished) = Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Day 24: Book that contains your favorite scene = Wizard Howl’s meltdown in Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Day 25: Favorite book you read in school = Demian by Herman Hesse

Day 26: Favorite nonfiction book = On Writing by Stephen King (book-related), The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (unrelated)

Day 27: Favorite fiction book (That hasn’t been stated already) = Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Day 28: Last book you read = The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

Day 29: Book you’re currently reading = Shoe Addicts Anonymous by Beth Harbison

Day 30: Favorite coffee table book = Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers (I only have magazines on the coffee table, so I chose what’s in my bathroom instead)

As always, feel free to jump in and comment on my choices–or add your own!

30-Day Book Challenge Update

Cover via Amazon

Well, today is a day of celebration, because I finally reached 1,000 views!!! I’ve only been blogging for nine weeks, so I’m pretty proud of this little accomplishment. I love sharing my thoughts and reviews, as well as hearing from others. So before I jump into this long list, I just want to say thanks so much for reading!!!

Okay, back to the book challenge:

Day 9: Book that makes you sick = Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Unplanned vampire pregnancy, pedophilia, don’t even get me started!)

Day 10: Book that changed your life = His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman

Day 11: Book from your favorite author = Sally Lockhart series by Philip Pullman

Day 12: Book that is most like your life = *Not applicable*

Day 13: Book whose main character is most like you = Mia from The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Day 14: Book whose main character you want to marry = Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Day 15: First “chapter book” you can remember reading as a child = Kittens in the Kitchen (Animal Ark #1) by Ben M. Baglio

Day 16: Longest book you’ve read = Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (870 pages)

Day 17: Shortest book you’ve read = Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (77 pages)

Day 18: Book you’re most embarrassed to say you like = Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (NOT Breaking Dawn, see Day 9)

Day 19: Book that turned you on = Any book from the Nerd series by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Day 20: Book you’ve read the most number of times = The Epic of Gilgamesh (at least 3 times in college)

         Feel free to fill in the list yourself or ask more about my own entries! And thanks again for reading!!!

Best and Worst Literary Dads

Today’s my dad’s birthday, and in honor of him I thought I’d make a list of my most loved and hated fathers in literature. He can be compassionate or cruel, nice or nasty, but there are just some dads you can’t forget:

Give him a hug – Best book dads

Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch

Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Defender of the discriminated, Atticus was the perfect role model to kids Jem and Scout. Possibly literature’s favorite lawyer, he defended an African-American man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. He risked complete alienation from his Southern community, even suffered Bob Ewell spitting in his face, but he did so in order to stand up for what he believed was right. Definitely check out Academy Award-winning Gregory Peck in the 1962 film, one of the best adaptations of all time.

Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley (Bill and Charlie Weasley not pictured)

Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: Another dad who fights against racism, this time of the magical kind. Mr. Weasley loved all things Muggle, and was obsessed with learning how the non-wizards live. His empathy passed on to all of his seven children, even if a little late (looking at you, Percy!). When the going got tough, Arthur stepped up as a member of the Order of the Phoenix, battling Death Eaters while Harry could destroy Voldemort. But I remember the most was how warm and kind the Weasleys were, and how awesome it must have been to spend the holidays with them!

Kick him to the curb – Worst book dads

Ian McKellen as King Lear

King Lear from King Lear by William Shakespeare: Don’t let the title fool you, this king was royally messed up. The elderly Lear decides to give his kingdom to one of his three daughters–the one who flatters him the most. Goneril and Regan brown-nose excessively, but Cornelia refuses to do so and is disinherited. But when Lear lives with his other two daughters, they are still not grateful enough. After a series of betrayals, Lear goes crazy with paranoia. I won’t go into all the play’s details, but eventually tragedy befalls all three daughters, and Lear realizes his mistakes…too late, though, because he dies quickly afterward. Moral of the story: you have to earn love to receive it.

John Noble as Denethor

Denethor from The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien: Lucius Malfoy and Lord Asriel were close runners-up, but Denethor truly makes my blood boil. First off, he’s not even worthy of his throne, which actually belongs to Aragorn. Then, he treats his son Faramir like dirt, because his beloved son Boromir died on the quest to destroy the One Ring. I mean, take a look at this despicable conversation between father and son in the movie (courtesy of IMDb):

Denethor: Is there a captain here who still has the courage to do his lord’s will?
Faramir: You wish now that our places had been exchanged… that I had died and Boromir had lived.
Denethor: Yes.
[whispering]
Denethor: I wish that.
Faramir: Since you are robbed of Boromir… I will do what I can in his stead.
[Bows and turns to leave]
Faramir: If I should return, think better of me, Father.
Denethor: That will depend on the manner of your return.

But Faramir still fights for his father, trying to win his love. He gets gravelly injured, and Denethor–believing him to be dead–tries to burn himself and his son on a pyre. Luckily, Gandalf and Pippin save Faramir, while Denethor goes completely nuts, throwing himself aflame off a cliff. Well, good riddance!

Any other dads that should be on these best and worst lists?