The meme (and the Patrician)

[raven]

1. Name your ten favourite fictional characters of all time and what book, movie or tv show they came from. (in no real order)

1. Hawkeye Pierce - M*A*S*H
2. Remus Lupin - Harry Potter
3. Fenchurch (what was her last name?!) - So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish
4. Daniel Jackson - Stargate SG-1
5. Lord Vetinari - Discworld
6. Tobermory - yes, the Womble. Shut up.
7. Aziraphale - Good Omens.
8. Arthur Stuart - Velvet Goldmine.
9. Malcom Reed - Enterprise.
10. Angua von Uberwald - Discworld.

2. Name five fictional characters that you would like to have an affair with and/or marry, plus the source. You may disregard any pre-existing attachments for these characters. (in no real order)

A note - all of these except Carrot are "have an affair with."

1. Remus Lupin - what? Like you weren't all thinking it.
2. Nymphadora Tonks.
3. Daniel Jackson.
4. Captain Carrot. I can't spell his last name.
5. Crowley.

3. Name five books/literary works that you would like to live in.

1) Harry Potter.
2) Lyra's world in His Dark Materials. I want a daemon.
3) Discworld! Just so I can join the Assassins' Guild.
4) A Wizard of Earthsea.
Don't think there is a fifth one.

4. What classic/critically acclaimed work(s) of literature do you fully appreciate the artistic merits of but hate nonetheless?

Unlike everyone else in the world, I do not like Jane Austen. I understand how cleverly her books are written, the subtle digs at society and suchlike - but I don't like them. I do like Elizabeth Bennet. But that's it.


5. Name five books that you would recommend I read. (in the comments)
I'd be interested to see what you'll have me reading.

I have an overwhelming urge to slash Vimes and Vetinari. That is all.

Comments

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way about Jane Austen. I find her occasionally funny, but more often tedious.

As for reading suggestions....

Hmm.

1) Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising trilogy, since you seem to like sff. It's technically a children's series, but it's allusive and engaging and so good.

2) Again in the sff vein, Orson Scott Card's Ender books. Dunno if you've read them yet, but if not, you ought to give them a try.

3) Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy. I would recommend this to almost anyone, really (other than those people who would object strenuously to depictions of homosexuality). And you'd probably get more out of it than I do, since you would understand more of the cultural references.

4) The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by José Saramago is another one I'd recommend to almost anyone. It's a fairly difficult read -- not least because Saramago has an aversion to quotation marks -- but it's wonderfully complex and fulfilling.

5) And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts is one of the few nonfiction books I think everyone should read. It's a saga of the early years of the AIDS epidemic, especially as it was dealt with in the US. A little bit political at times, and probably the most distressing book I've ever read, but important.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I have read Over Sea, Under Stone, but none of the other Dark is Rising books. I ought to. I have also heard of the Ender books, and now you've recommended them I will hunt them down.

I hadn't heard of any of the others, so thank you. I do need to read more, I'm realising - I haven't been reading nearly as much lately.

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

In my humble opinion, Over Sea, Under Stone is one of the weakest books in the series (I'm not terribly fond of the Drew children) so yes, I would certainly say you should try some of the others.

Though I have innumerable books lying around that need to be read, I find that I'm not reading enough nowadays either. It's hard to find the time and energy to make the commitment. Which is horribly depressing.

[language-idling.livejournal.com]

I've got to agree with you on the "Over Sea Under Stone" being the weakest of those books... I read that one, didn't particularly like it, and thus never really got into that series. Perhaps I should try again.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I should, as well. *makes mental note*

[cucharita.livejournal.com]

Tipping the Velvet,
Fingersmith, - both by the same author; Sarah Waters I think.
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
and this is where my lack of reading ability shows. I can't think of any other books I've read and enjoyed. Also, I think you have already read these. Well memoirs of a geisha anyway possibly, that or tipping the velvet.

eitherway they are good books :)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Hannah also recommended Tipping the Velvet some time ago; I've never really read a femmeslashy book before, and I think that ought to be put round.

Memoirs of a Geisha is one I've been putting off for what seems like aeons. I've read the first chapter more than once, but have never had the book in my hands long enough to read the whole thing. I think I ought to(!)

[cucharita.livejournal.com]

would you like me to lend you the book? I bought it in the holidays. I could also lend you tipping the velvet as well if you liked?

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Once I've clawed my way through the Discworld, I shall certainly take you up on that offer. I'd love to read both those books.

[ex-danvers514.livejournal.com]

If you haven't already:

1) The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

2) The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler

3) The Illiad - Homer

4) Alexander Trilogy - Valerio Massimo Manfredi

5) Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier

[lilka.livejournal.com]

>1) The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
>5) Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier

I second those. Plus:

1) The Walled Orchard - Tom Holt
Very different from all his other books, but one of my favourites of all time.

2)The Sally Lockhart books (The Ruby in the Smoke, The Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well) - Phillip Pullman
Wonderful, wonderful stuff. A Sherlock Holmes type Victorian London, but with a female lead, (and Sally is one of the coolest heroines you are ever likely to meet). The Shadow in the North is quite weak, but The Tiger in the Well makes up for it a million times over.

3) The Foundation books - Issac Asimov
I've already told you why you should read these :)

4)Tommy's Tale - Alan Cumming
Sexy, funny, queer, outrageous, and with a real delight in language for its own sake. Who knew the boy was so multi-talented? Also features the only truly bisexual hero I have ever found in fiction.

5)Extra(ordinary) People - Joanna Russ
Everyone who likes SF should get in to Joanna Russ - her books are dense but brilliant. These five short stories are probably the best introduction to her work and all its baffling brilliance - The Mystery of the Young Gentleman is especially good.

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

I'd be interested to see what you'll have me reading.

Gods, my reading level tends to be rather low. Anyway:

1. The Day Of The Triffids No, it's not just about plants. Read it, it's actually pretty disturbing.

2. I, Robot cos it's another mind-trip. Plus, you need to read it before the horrific film version comes out. They've masaccared Susan's character...

3. Lord Of The Rings. Go on. Stick with it.

(It's worrying that all my choices are SF based, isn't it?)

4. The Ragged Trousers Philantropist if only to say you've read it. And it's not SF! Yay!

Okay, I can't think of anymore to balance out Ragged Trousers I was going to suggest animal Farm but I think you've already read it...

I have an overwhelming urge to slash Vimes and Vetinari. That is all.

So does everyone! Resist it. Sybils a lovely woman. *grins* I just read Guards! Guards! again, so I've rememebred why she's so fricking cool again.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

It seems we have similar taste! The Day of the Triffids is creepy, but hugely enjoyable. I loved the idea of it beyond reason. Blind people and moving plants? What more could you ask for?

I, Robot is being made into a film? Ye gods. And when you say Susan, you mean Susan Calvin? I love her, they can't destroy her character!

Lord of the Rings... *sighs* I've tried. For your sake I've tried.

And I have never heard of Ragged Trousers. *mental note*

Where was I up to? Yes! Vimes/Vetinari! So plausible, because Vimes is always thinking about the Patrician. Always. And I just finished Feet of Clay, which screams it.

Not that I don't like Sybil. Far from it. But still... *wistfulness*

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

Yes. Susan Calvin. And it gets worse. She will be "a younger character, and a possible interest for Will Smith's character..."

Oh, my book. Thank god that Asimov's dead, that's all I say.

Vimes/Vetinari... well, yes. That's what's worrying. It's so damned plausible. Hell, I stopped on the Frodo/Sam slashing because it was to damned obvious and I liked Rosie too much. Ho hum. The head is a strange, strage place.

[lilka.livejournal.com]

>I have an overwhelming urge to slash Vimes and Vetinari. That is all.

YES! I was going to try and convert you, but then I thought I'd wait and see if you came up with it on your own. I'm so happy now....

P.S. FanFiction.Net's discworld section is surprisingly good, and has a couple of nice V/V stories. I recommend 'Long Dark Night of the Soul' purely for the whump content.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I just finished Men At Arms and Feet of Clay. In the latter particularly, Vimes is always, always thinking about the Patrician! And when Vetinari's poisoned, Vimes gets positively obsessive. And you say there's fic! *bounces*
*goes off to see*

[language-idling.livejournal.com]

Five books I think my dear friend Raven should read. Let me think (and check my library!)...

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies.
Magic shows, and fool saints, and businessmen. It's a murder mystery and a bildungsroman and so many things. It's really difficult not to love Dunstan Ramsay. A favourite of mine.

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!" by Gordon Korman.
A kids book, very light and fluffy and quick to read, but absolutely hilarious. Especially if you're looking for boarding school pranks. Bruno and Boots, and their friends Cathy and Diane at Ms. Scrimmage's Finishing School for Young Ladies across the road are brilliant. Perhaps part of the appeal of these books to me is that they are so realistic; they're not *that* exaggerated from the boarding school life I knew. You'll want to read the entire series. They're all good.

The Wars by Timothy Findley.
This book is about the "War to End All Wars." Robert Ross is a nineteen year old Canadian officer who likes to read, and likes animals, and wasn't really interested in joining up but did, because he didn't really have anything else to do, after the death of his sister Rowena. It's a really sad, sometimes horrifying, touching story.

Sexing the Cherry by Jeannette Winterson.
Interesting, strange book. I just couldn't put this one down. I can't really explain why it's good, it just is.

Hrm... that's all I can think of for now, and I'm really stretching it, as I couldn't even justify why I think you should read Sexing the Cherry. Oh! You need to read John Bellairs' books if you haven't already. And Libby on Wednesday by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (no relation). They're fabulous childrens books.

I don't like Jane Austen either. And I've tried So. Hard. I've pretty much arrived at the conclusion now that she is an author whose books are much improved by being made into movies.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank you. I hadn't heard of any of these, though I had heard vaguely of Jeanette Winterson - I'll be sure to try and find these.

And you do realise what a gloriously backhanded compliment that is?
"She is an author whose books are much improved by being made into movies" - *giggles* Perfect description. Becca has watched the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice enough times to quote the dialogue.

[language-idling.livejournal.com]

Haha... that's exactly what Duckie and I spent Friday evening doing - watching P&P. It was delightful.

[donnertheim.livejournal.com]

If I might suggest a book? Or rather, an author? I would suggest Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein. Given the current world events, this book is relevant all over again - especially with your government as close as it is to mine. Anything by Heinlein, however, is quite good.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendation. I have so far refused to see the film; with the book, however, I am close to being persuaded!

[donnertheim.livejournal.com]

The film and book are not even in the same genre. The film is sci-fi/action; the book is philosophy.