This Is Me...

Okay, fine... that's not really me. It's my center of operations: my desk. Well, that's not exactly true either. It's my brother's desk, but he is very kindly letting me use it for the summer while he's not doing school (and yes, that's a sewing machine behind my laptop... I sew and write all at the same place). 

But this is what I'm doing: RESEARCH! I'm working very hard on the big magic post, and decided I'd let you all in on how everything is going. It's going... slowly. But going! This is a rather large project for me, and it's quickly getting bigger by the minute. I cannot tell you how much prayer I'm dedicating to this study. 


You see, to contrast the magic in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, I found it necessary to get right down to the core and get into the study of magic (yeah, I get funny looks when I tell people I'm studying magic...). 


I'm the type of person that, when I'm studying, I like to have hard copies of my resources and have everything out where I can see it all at once. As you can see, I've labeled with letters everything in the picture above so that I may be able to tell you what everything is (I used letters rather than numbers because five and six don't work on my keyboard, and I didn't feel like copying and pasting them). 


A. My most important resource: My trusty, KJV Bible. And yes, it's falling apart from avid use.


B. My dad's NAS study Bible, to compare translations.


C. Harry Potter, Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings by Richard Abanes. 


D. My clipboard full of notes.


E. Companion to Narnia by Paul F. Ford.


F. The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien. This is like the prequel to both LOTR and The Hobbit, depicting what occurred before Sauron settled in Mordor and more.


G. Printed notes written by David A. Padfield. He did a survey of the minor prophets and I find myself referring back to his study on Canaanite superstitions and the passage concerning magic in Deuteronomy 18.


H. American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster, for all the long, hard core definitions.


I. Scholastic Children's Dictionary, for simple definitions.


J. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, all seven Narnia books wrapped up into one volume. Quite spiffy.


K. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien included a h.u.g.e concordance in the end of The Return of the King and I find it most intriguing.


L. Last, but not least, my laptop, complete with 7 broken keys and access to the internet, from which I have read numerous articles to aid in my study. 


So, anywho, that's me right now......


................ *crickets* ......................


How's your day going? :)

Of Recent Days

Just a couple of things that have been happening recently in my life under the maple tree...


If you've noticed that I look different, then you've noticed correctly. My sisters and I did a quick photo shoot yesterday, and I uploaded one of the pics for my new blogger picture. It was a joint effort really, as this dress is one that I made for the movie we're making with our cousins, and my sister Jessa Bri took the picture, and my other sister Beth Grace did the posing and editing. So, what think ye? :)

And yes, that's me in the picture. That's really me. I just realized it's the first picture of me that I've put on Lianne Taimenlore. Random... okay, moving on...


AND....


I won 3rd place in Miss Laurie's Jane Austen Quote Photo Contest over at Old Fashioned Charm!! This is so swell!! Thank you ever so much, Miss Laurie!! I am quite elated!!!! :D

My award:

My photo that won:

AND...

I've also been adding a few new pages to my blog. Some of them are still under construction, but if you feel like it, you're welcome to look around! :)

I just noticed that my blog is mainly green. I really didn't plan that on purpose; it just happened. I like green, but it's odd because my favorite color is blue.... hmm... anywho...

AND...

Some not so great news. I apologize if my posts have been rather lackadaisical of late, but I haven't been much on blogger these last few days. I'm currently battling asthma and allergies, and every week, my younger sister Teddy and I go to the doctor to get allergy shots. It usually takes forever in the waiting room so we always bring books with us to kill time. The shots themselves aren't very fun, but other than a small prick in your arm, they're not that bad. 

Or so I thought.

But this last time we went, I got my first serious reaction to the shots. We usually wait about 20 minutes after getting the shots to make certain that there are no adverse side effects, however, this time we got a different nurse and she put the timer on for 30 minutes. I'm rather glad that she did. At 20 minutes (having just passed the halfway point in Nicholas Nickleby), I began coughing, and found myself unable to keep myself totally quiet in the otherwise silent waiting room. Then I noticed that my ears were really, really itchy. And extremely hot to the touch.

And that's when I had trouble breathing. My lungs constricted, and I couldn't get a good breath. Teddy looked at me with her eyebrows raised and asked me, "Are you wheezing?" When I nodded in the affirmative, she immediately turned and told our mom who, upon the news, told the nurse who immediately whisked me back and gave me a nebulizer treatment. I had to hold the mouthpiece to my lips and breathe in the "medicine mist" for what seemed like half an hour. It helped, and afterward, other than feeling a little lightheaded, I was breathing fine.

It was an adventure, to say in the least. It's not one that I'd like to repeat. I'm just thankful that the Lord kept me in the palm of His hand throughout the whole experience. But all that to say, I haven't been feeling clear headed this weekend and haven't been able to work on the magic post at all. This study is going extremely slowly, I do apologize, but I will do my best to get it up soon. I hope I don't sound as if I'm complaining and seeking sympathy, because I'm not. This was simply an explanation of where I have been and what's been going on.

Okay, I'm out of "AND"s now. :)

God bless you all! 

Happy Birthday To My Mother!

It's my dear, dear, wonderful mother's birthday!! So, I invited a few of her favorite "friends" to drop by my blog and help her celebrate!

I love you, Mommy!! :)

Love,

Guest Post By Miss Dashwood: Using Real-Life Experiences In Writing

As part of her blog tour for Only A Novel, Miss Dashwood has kindly agreed to grace my humble blog with her illustrious presence! I can't tell you how happy I am to be a part of this, and I think I have been looking forward to this post probably even more than Amy's other fans. 


But enough from me! Here, swell bloggers, I give you the words of wondrous author and beloved friend, Miss Amelia Dashwood:

Hello, folks! Kiri Liz has very kindly invited me to guest post on Lianne Taimenlore today as part of the blog tour for my book Only a Novel, and I'm delighted to be here!  Without further ado, I'll get right down to what I have to say.


"Write what you know."  It's the advice that every young writer hears at some point, the advice that many follow, the advice that many disregard. I've struggled with it, to be honest. I like the idea of writing what I know, writing from experience, writing from life. But what, exactly, is the definition of "writing what you know"? Does "writing what you know" mean that every piece of fiction has to be autobiographical, that each and every character must be based on someone of your acquaintance, that every scrap of dialogue must be at least paraphrased from something that really took place?


It does not.


If everyone wrote about nothing but what they had experienced for themselves, then there would be no such thing as fiction.  *horrified gasp from the audience*  Fiction means that the good ended happily and the bad unhappily--er, that is, fiction means things you make up.  (Sorry. I think I've had too much Importance of Being Earnest.)  Fiction, to be blunt, is a permissible way to entertain people with whopp--falsehoods. 


*crickets*


Um, that part about the whoppers that got cut off-- I was quoting Davy Keith from Anne of Avonlea, who likes to use the word "whopper" to describe a lie, but isn't supposed to say it because it's slang.  It was a joke.  Get it?


Never mind.  Back to fiction. However, all that doesn't mean that fiction is supposed to be something completely fabricated from the wildest corners of your imagination.  At the risk of confusing y'all even more, I'm going to try to explain how it's impossible to do anything but write from real-life experience.  *more crickets*


See, there's a fine line between writing your autobiography and drawing story material from real life.  Erica Jong once said, "I'm always waiting for things to be over so I can get home and commit them to paper."  When you stop and look around you--seriously, just try it--you'll find that there are thousands of stories right at your fingertips, just waiting to be committed to paper.  You don't need a special Place of Inspiration with absolute quiet and a cup of tea (although it sounds nice...) in order to get ideas.  You just need "eyes the better to see with, and ears the better to hear with."


So how can this be put into practice?  By doing what your teachers (or your mom, if you're homeschooled like me) have been telling you for years-- take notes.  I mean it.  If something funny or out of the ordinary happens to you, write it down.  Stow it away and who knows, it might come in handy sometime.  My grandfather loves to tell the story of how he cut himself shaving one morning when he was about twenty, and his little sister (ten years his junior) asked how he got cut.  He replied offhandedly that he had bit himself.  She pondered this, then demanded, "How did you reach?"  Unperturbed, he told her, "Oh, I stood on a chair."  I can't tell you how many times I've heard that anecdote, but one day it occurred to me to write it down in case I ever wanted to use it.


And in case you're interested as to whether I did use it or not, you can check the tenth chapter of Only a Novel.  :D


Naturally, you'll want to exercise some caution.  Don't base the villain of your piece on your little sister.  You might get sued for libel, you know.  But there's no harm in observing those around you and taking note of their personality traits and idiosyncrasies to help you in writing believable characters.   And like I said before, write down snippets of dialogue.  Keep a notebook for that express purpose if you care to.


A word of warning, though-- if you happen to have a sister who writes voraciously as well, you may end up duelling her for "who gets to use it" every single time someone says something witty. Not, of course, that I would have any experience in that regard.  None whatsoever.  The thought is unthinkable.

Miss Amy Dashwood is a daughter of the King of Kings, a homeschooled seventeen-year-old and a lover of books, period dramas, chocolate, long bike rides, babies, teacups, historical costumes and fiddle music.  Only a Novel, her first full-length work of fiction, chronicles a year in the life of Elizabeth Markette, a young woman with a head full of books who takes on a job as a governess after the death of her grandmother.  Only a Novel is available for purchase on Amazon, and you can find Amy at either of her two blogs, Yet Another Period Drama Blog and The Quest for Stories.

Quoting Jane Austen...

Miss Laurie of Old-Fashioned Charm is holding a Jane Austen Quote Photo Contest!! Do stop by her blog and see for yourself!

Here are my entries:

Category: Sweet/Serious

Period Drama Photo: Bleak House

Jane Austen Quote: Mary Crawford, Mansfield Park

Category: Sweet/Serious
Period Drama Photo: The Scarlet Pimpernel
Jane Austen Quote: Willoughby, Sense and Sensibility

Category: Funny

Period Drama Photo: Wives and Daughters

Jane Austen Quote: Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice 1995

Category: Funny
Period Drama Photo: Cranford
Jane Austen Quote: Mr. Bennet, Pride and Prejudice

Category: Funny
Period Drama Photo: Ever After
Jane Austen Quote: Miss Bates, Emma 1996

Hope you enjoyed these!

Today I Am... {2}

{writing}

The much looked for post on magic in The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Harry Potter. I would have wished to post it today, but I haven't fully finished researching and writing it all out. Life has been very busy this last week/weekend, and I haven't been able to dedicate the time I would have wished to this post. 

{reading}

You probably already know from previous posts that I'm in the middle of Nicholas Nickleby. And then, in addition to that, I'm also currently reading (for the second time) Kingdom's Dawn by Chuck Black. Highly recommend the Kingdom Series and the Knights of Arrethtrae Series to anyone! They are a short read, but definitely worth it!

{listening}

To my siblings talk on the phone with our delightful CBCs. If, by now, you don't know what CBC stands for, I am horribly ashamed of you.... okay, not really, but go here to find out more. :)

{watching}

Pride and Prejudice 1995!! I believe a "SQUEEEEE" would be appropriate here! :D We recently watched the 2005 version, and laughed heartily at it, but then felt the need to redeem it with the REAL version. No offence to K.K. and M.M. fans... 

{sewing}

Not much. I'm supposed to be sewing a bunch of new skirts for my sisters from parts of old pants, skirts, and whatever else that had fabric that suited their fancies, but so far, I've only finished one of them. Perhaps when more are done, my sisters may indulge in a photo shoot so you may see some of the skirts. :)

{looking}

At my brother play chess with himself. If you've ever read the book My American Adventure by Amy Burritt, it's very much like her brother playing Monopoly against himself... how can he ever lose?

{learning}

That I am enjoying my hair up in a bun more and more. Because I have long, thick hair (which has been likened to Rapunzel's hair), it gets really hot and heavy in the summer laying against my back, so recently I've been trying to put it up. My "updos" aren't anything fancy, but they do the job. If you want to see almost authentic Jane Austen dos, my sister Beth Grace is an expert when it comes to hair. I'll have to make her do a photo shoot with fun hairstyles after the photo shoot with the skirts...

{feeling}

The pain in my stubbed toe. I'm not trying to invoke sympathy in my readers here, but it was just something that was on my mind... 

{anticipating}

Another epic win visit with our CBCs in August!!! Can't wait!!

{wishing}

That it was August already... why? See the answer above.

{loving}

THE AIR CONDITIONER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more? I love summer, but I've never been a huge fan of extreme heat (I prefer the cold... please don't throw tomatoes at me). Here where I live under the maple tree it's been over 80 for almost two weeks now, and we've had a few days topping 100. Especially since I'm asthmatic, I really, REALLY appreciate the cool air!

One... Two... No, Three Things

Thing Number One:

The Mad Elvish Poet has given me the I Love Your Blog award! Thank you ever so much! I love hearing about how much people love my blog (and yes, I said that in a very humble manner....)! :D

Rules:

1. Award 5 people

2. Tell who awarded you

3. Tell the people you awarded them

4. Always put the picture above the post
5. Always show the rules

I won't be lazy and not award any like I did with the last awards I won. ;)

Beth Grace of The Musings of Me, Myself, and I... And Other Such Fantastical Nonsense

Jessa Bri of Life Of A Michigan Homeschooler

Anne-girl of Scribblings of my pen and tappings of my keyboard

Kathryn of Hidden Orchards

Eowyn of inklings press

Thing Number Two:

Is it too late to join in? I noticed that many of my cyber friends were participating in a Charles Dickens Reading Challenge over at Newly Impassioned Soul, and I wondered if there was still time for me to jump on the bandwagon. Since the event is going on until the end of the year, I assume it's safe for me to join. :)

So, I'm reading five Dickens books this year, my selection being (the first four already in my possession):

David Copperfield (already finished)

Nicholas Nickleby (in progress)

Oliver Twist

Hard Times

And then Little Dorrit, Bleak House, or A Tale of Two Cities (depending on which book I first get my hands on)

Thing Number Three:

Just a note on my LOTR/Narnia post which I published yesterday. The page views on that post SOARED yesterday, much quicker than I even thought they would. I took this screencap this morning: 

And actually, now the count is higher. It's currently at 54. That number, I must say, amazes me. I knew this would be a big post when I wrote it, but it's just going to get bigger still once I finish my magic research and publish that post. 

My study is going well, but as I've said to my family, this very well may turn out into one of those long research papers. There's so much more there than most people think. I was actually glad for an excuse to dive into this study, because for the longest time I have wondered about the magic in LOTR, Narnia, and Harry Potter. I knew somewhere in my mind that it was different, but how? Now, I know how. And I will share it with you all sometime soon, once I get all my thoughts organized.

As always,

Lord Of The Rings And Narnia... My Thoughts

Is it right for Christians to read/watch The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings books/movies?

The question of The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia is one that is quite largely discussed. Petie of Dirt and Dickens just posted her thoughts here, and that, coupled with numerous other posts I've read on many other blogs, has prompted me to write out my own thoughts. 

Lucy at the lamppost

Please understand that what I'm writing here is not meant to refute your opinions and challenge and attack you. I whole heartedly respect your opinion (I realize that's between you, your parents, and the Lord), and I only ask that you read what I say with an open mind. Don't take my word as golden truth, though. I encourage you to study these topics on your own. Discuss them with your parents. 




And of course, I will NOT say that not reading/watching LOTR or Narnia doesn't make you a Christian. That's just plain, old hogwash, and I don't give any credit to the idea. 

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gandalf

And please note that I am NOT one of those fangirls who idolizes characters and swoons every time the name of Aragorn, Legolas, Peter, or Edmund is mentioned. I enjoy their characters in the story, and when it comes to the actors, I don't care tuppence about them. The characters each have their own faults and virtues and are awesome in their own rights, but the only man who will be awesome and swoon worthy in my life shall be my husband. Enough said.

Now that all of that's out of the way, let's continue...

1. Magic

This topic is large in it of itself that I am forced to extract my comments here and address them in a later post. I am currently submerged up to my eyeballs in study, so please, please understand that I WILL write about the magic issue, but it will have to wait for a later post.

2. Paganism

The centaur, Oreius

People have often pointed to the centaurs in Narnia, saying, "Look! These are Greek gods! That's paganism! Narnia's evil!" Before you violently throw your copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe across the room, kindly allow me to say a little something on this subject.


Yes, Narnia does include mythical creatures such as centaurs, satyrs, and fauns. And yes, they are said to have a basis in Greek and Roman mythology. While the existence of such creatures is highly doubtful, I won't put God in a box and say that it was impossible for him to make them. He is the almighty God, the awesome Creator of the universe. Actually, the Bible does make mention to some creatures, namely the satyr (Is. 13:21 & 34:14) and the unicorn (Num. 23:22 & 24:8, Deut. 33:17, and more). It may just be that they are referenced to in a figurative light for a comparison, OR did God really create them? It's something to think about. He created dinosaurs, another type of creature we don't see nowadays. And the Old Testament was written far before Greek and Roman culture named those creatures as part of their mythology. In Narnia, these creatures (fauns, satyrs, centaurs, etc.) are not depicted as gods, but rather mortal beings living normal lives. Nor do they possess any powers of the supernatural nature.

3. Christ Figures

Now what of the Christ figures? It is vastly important that we don't set up something other than the Lord Jesus as first and foremost in our lives. There is a slight opinion going around that Tolkien meant for Aragorn to be a Christ figure, but I quench that rumor. Aragorn is a king, and that is basically the only connection to Christ. Reading and studying it, I can see no possible way that Aragorn could be set up as a god figure. Gandalf, also, is not set up as a Christ figure, but resembles a figure more of that like an angel. Indeed, Tolkien himself compared Gandalf to an angel. So this issue comes mainly down to Narnia. 

Aslan

Aslan is a god figure, in a sense, and he represents the idea of monotheism (belief in one god). Jesus is called the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah, and I'm certain that the latter was where C. S. Lewis pulled the idea for Aslan. Lewis also expressly wrote Narnia for the purpose of an allegory. Aslan was supposed to be a Christ like figure. Not Christ Himself, but merely a figure. Please also take into account, Jesus likened Himself unto Jonah (Matt. 12:40). Does that mean Jonah was a god? Jonah? The rebellious runaway? I highly doubt that. And what of the brass serpent in the wilderness (Num 21:9)? God commanded Moses to make that and hang it where all Israel could see it. It was a picture of their suffering and of His mercy. God used many pictures throughout the Bible. Therefore, using a picture is not bad, just as long as we don't worship the picture. 

4. Violence

Another big argument that many people level against mainly LOTR is the darkness of the story and all the violence. “Chirstians shouldn't read about all that fighting and evilness!” I agree that we shouldn't dwell on that which is evil, but darkness is in the world whether we like it or not. Consider this: The last book in the Bible, Revelation, is quite dark and violent. Does that mean we're not to read that book of the Bible? No. It is a picture of the end times. When the world ends, it will be dark and violent, that's what God says, and that's what the world will come to, whether we like it or not. LOTR is, in a sense, an allegorical picture of the end times. Good vs. evil, and good prevails in the end.

Orcs marching to Helm's Deep

Other Thoughts...

You may not enjoy fantasy, and that's why you stay away from LOTR and Narnia. That's okay. That's your preference, and I respect that. Fantasy is a genre that you must learn to like, just as people learn to like romance and adventure and whatever other genres are out there.

Edmund battling Telmarines

I do want to say this: LOTR and Narnia have not, in my life, replaced my Bible. I spend time every morning in the Word of God, and am doing my best to meditate on it day and night. And no, no, no, it is never right to read Narnia and LOTR, in fact ANY book, to treasure it above the Word of God. Our own enjoyment of these stories should never take precedence above the time spent with the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, what think ye of this question? Is there another point that should be mentioned and I have missed talking of? I listed several Bible verses in my post here, and I would encourage you to look them up. Please comment and let me know!


And yes! I will be posting (hopefully) soon a large post on the issue of magic! Please, please keep a watch out for it!

Thanks for reading!

Guest Post By Kathryn: Third From The Throne Blog

About a week ago, I asked my dear friend, Kathryn, to guest post on my blog on the topic of her new blog, Third From The Throne. And she very kindly consented. :)


So, my dear bloggers, I give you the first guest post on Lianne Taimenlore:

Thanks, Kiri Liz, for this opportunity!  I am pleased to be able to gather publicity for the newish blog of Prince Niklas of Astolte.  You see, I am being very obvious about it all.  This is a publicity-gathering post.

And just who is Prince Niklas?  Well, may you ask, but I am not going to satisfy one teensy little speck of curiosity here.  You’ll simply have to head over to check out his blog, Third From the Throne.  I am his translator, as only Astolteans and a few others can speak his native language.  Why he asked me to translate for him, I have no idea.

Okay, so Prince Niklas is really a fictional character invented by myself, and Astolte is a fictional nation also invented by myself, but the blog is definitely real.  In a new story, The Felnarbl Murders, which I am working on, Prince Niklas really does have a blog, and he keeps it a secret from his family.  The real blog is the Prince’s online journal of daily events, as well as a vast storehouse of modern Astoltean culture.  This blog will eventually provide tidbits from the story, a murder mystery, as the title should have told you.

So, please head over to Third From the Throne and enter Prince Niklas’ world.  It’s very exciting.

And while you’re at it, you could stop at Hidden Orchards.  *Ahem*  Anywho, thanks for reading!

Kathryn

Kathryn is an eighteen-year-old Christian girl who loves to write. She also enjoys cooking, baking, and, above all, reading. She seeks to glorify God with her life and please Him in every way that she can. You can find her on blogger here at Hidden Orchards and here at Third From The Throne. 

Two Posts You Simply MUST Read

A little while ago, my sister Beth Grace wrote a lovely, lovely post on her blog, Modestly Stylish. I would definitely recommend for ALL ladies to read this post!!!


Click here... Reflection of the Inward Character.


If you haven't read it yet... that's just inexcusable. Go back, click on the link, and READ IT!


Don't continue on in this post. Please go read it.


Read it? Swell. And now moving on...


And, I'm certain you all know by now that I have two wonderful sisters on blogger, Beth Grace and Jessa Bri. HOWEVER... did you know that I have a cousin on blogger as well? Indeed, I have a CBC. And if you want to know more about her, drop by THIS BLOG and read THIS POST! :)


Did you read that one, too? Okay, good. That's just swell.


Yours obviously,

"With Her Nose Stuck In A Book..."

Yes, I know I'm continuing the Belle theme from Miss Dashwood's tag, but I couldn't help it. Besides, I thought the theme very appropriate for the content of this tag. :)

That's so me... except for the fact that I'm a blonde. I mean, I have
blonde hair, not the fact that I *am* blonde and ditzy... oh, bother.

I read this swell tag here, here, and here, and then decided that it was high time I followed suit. So, here are my answers! Enjoy!


Do you snack while you read? If so, favourite reading snack: I usually don't snack while I read, mainly due to the fact that I once ate cheetos while reading and left an orange thumbprint on the beautiful white page of a book. I was mortified! 


What is your favourite drink while reading? Water. Yes, I know... boring.


Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? I usually don't write in books. The idea is not so much horrifying as it is just a bother to find a pencil to make the marks. That, and I have no need to write in books for there is never an excuse to change what the author says due to the fact that I enjoy it. In those cases which I disagree with the writing, I put the book down.


How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open? No, no, no!! Never, never leave the book flat open! Just think of the damage one can do to the binding! I always do my best to use a bookmark, or if none are at hand, I memorize the page number.


Fiction, non-fiction, or both? I've read mostly fiction, so I'd have to go with that one.


Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere? I like reading until the end of the chapter, but life doesn't ever want to wait for you to finish the chapter. Dash it all!


Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you? I've never thrown a book, although I have felt compelled to do so once or twice when the mood took me. 


If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away? Shamefully, no. I don't. I usually try to guess the meaning according to the context and continue on. Sometimes I'll look up the word later, but it's rare that I remember to find the dictionary. 


What are you currently reading? Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. It's a swell book, especially the copy I have! Not only does it have the immortal words of Dickens contained within the covers, but it has been "reproduced in facsimile in two volumes from the original parts of 1838–9 with an essay by Michael Slater and extra illustrations." In between parts of the story, there are numerous pictures by "Phiz" and articles and advertisements from the paper Nicholas Nickleby was originally published in. Yes. Envy me. It's swell.

This cover is on my copy, minus the No. 27 in the corner.

What is the last book you bought? Nicholas Nickleby. I gave my mother money as a just in case precaution when she went to our library's used book sale, and lo, and behold! there was Dicken's beautiful work just waiting for a purchase!


Do you have a favourite time/place to read? I like lounging on my bed to read, but as to time, I read whenever I find a spare moment. Actually, in reality, the most reading I've done recently is in the car. Not that we're traveling a lot, but that's my free time. :)


Do you prefer series books or stand alones? Both. But it really depends on the type of story. I like long stories, whether they be split into a series or an individual book, but they must be well worth my time. 


Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over? Austen, Dickens, Alcott, etc. I'm very much into the classics right now, and that's what I want everyone else to read. 


How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.)  My sister (Beth Grace) keeps our bookshelves (and I say bookshelves, for there are several) in good order; I just read all the books. But I think the volumes are all organized by size. Authors we tend to keep together naturally, and genre is attempted to keep together, but I can never recall to replace a book exactly where my sister shelved it. And yes, it drives her nuts. :)

Yours respectfully,