the bookworm tag

Hello friends! I’m back (momentarily) with the happy update that both essays I referenced in my last post went well (presumably — neither have been graded yet), I am officially a classics major now, and I have been tagged by Sarah to do this tag!

Hurrah (:

• What author has your favorite prose to read? Is this the same author whose prose you most aspire to emulate, or a different one?

The consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending; or more correctly of the good catastrophe, the sudden joyous “turn” (for there is no true end to any fairy-tale): this joy, which is one of the things which fairy-stories can produce supremely well, is not essentially “escapist,” nor “fugitive.” In its fairy-tale — or otherworld — setting, it is a sudden and miraculous grace: never to be counted on to recur. It does not deny the existence of dyscatastrophe, of sorrow and failure: the possibility of these is necessary to the joy of deliverance; it denies (in the face of much evidence, if you will) universal final defeat and in so far is evangelium, giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy, Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.

~ J.R.R. Tolkien, “On Fairy-Stories” ~

That ^^ is my answer to the first part of the question. As for whom I seek to emulate: Robin McKinley, Rosemary Sutcliff, Intisar Khanani, N.D. Wilson, Megan Whalen Turner.

• Opinions on ancient literature like Homer: valuable but not enjoyable, neither, or both? Why?

Both. Valuable, because they teach us to appreciate our cultural and philosophical heritage; enjoyable, because they’re so well written, and also PENELOPE AND ODYSSEUS (perhaps my favorite ship at the moment). But even when not enjoyable (as I am currently finding the Inferno), still valuable.

• What Rules do you have for yourself when it comes to buying books?

Rule One: Do not buy them.

Rule Two: Break rule one when desired.

Corollary to Rule Two: Desired (adj.) — less than $5 (or an exceptionally good deal), or something you have wanted to own/read for a significant period of time, or both.

Unlike other bookdragons I know, I don’t have a book buying problem. At least, I don’t spend too much money. I have acquired at least five books this semester, however (and spent less than $5 total on them). My poor little dorm bookshelf is overflowing.

• What books that you read as a little kid do you think had the biggest effect on your imagination?

Narnia and The Hobbit. My dad read them aloud to me when I was six and they are still some of my favorite books and greatest inspiration for my own stories.

• British- or American-based fantasy?

I mean, British fantasy has such a quaint and homey feel to it (I’m thinking Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Man Who Was Thursday)… but I aspire to write great American fantasy someday, in the tradition of N.D. Wilson. His fantasy is so rooted in place and time, and I think he’s done for the U.S. what Tolkien did for the U.K.

• What are your feelings on magical realism?

I’m not sure what the technical definition of that is… *goes to look it up*

Okay, it seems cool. I don’t know much about it but I’m a fan of most any form of fantasy when well done. I don’t think I’ve read any magical realism, though. Goodreads says Piranesi is magical realism, which is exciting because I do plan to read it! I will report back later.

• What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done in a library?

Oh, man, a lot of things over the past year. I mean, I basically live in the library right now. I drew a phylogeny on a whiteboard. I witnessed several guys attempt to sleep on the floor. I had a loud phone conversation with my sister across the room from someone I was talking about… (nothing bad, just it’s kind of weird if he heard :P) (also don’t worry, I was in the part of the library where you’re allowed to talk — the top floor, called heaven).

I don’t think I’ve done anything particularly embarrassing, but I certainly have lots of fun memories in the library.

• Any odes or sonnets to libraries you’d like to share with us?

I haven’t got any mental energy to write one at the moment…

• What almost-great book do you most long to rewrite and make it fully great?

Maybe Sisters of Sword and Song? It had so much great potential but really disappointed me.

• Who’s better, Lewis Carroll or A. A. Milne? (“Both” not an allowable answer)

A.A. Milne, because his pure whimsy and love of simple, foresty things makes me happy. I need to return and re-read the Winnie-the-Pooh books sometime. I remember being a little kid in awe of the college students on InterVarsity retreats who would sit in circles and read Milne aloud. I’m in college now. It’s my turn to read him aloud.

Lewis Carroll isn’t bad, but his whimsical writing leans toward the macabre and utterly nonsensical. I like Wonderland, but I wouldn’t want to live there. A house in the Hundred Acre Wood, though…?

Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering. ~ A.A. Milne

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That’s all for today, friends! I am not going to tag anyone because I am off to write an abstract for my music class.

I hope you are having a lovely end of March, and if not, I pray you will find comfort in the God whose image you bear.

Until next time, courage, dear heart.