My friend Kim who writes Hiraeth tagged me for this short book meme. I’ve been fretting thinking about it since Wednesday. I have read several other bloggers who’ve been asked to answer these questions and they all have wonderful answers. I sat and said, “Yes, me too!” to so many of them. I wish I had some original answers, but I do not. It seems that I have read all the same books that so many other women have read, and we all seem to love and dislike the same characters.

The other reality that I must face is that I have not read very much fiction in a very long time. I have my favorite fiction books and I just read them over and over. For example, the only fiction book I read last year was Light from Heaven by Jan Karon. Wait! I take that back…I read the Harry Potter books. If you follow my blog, then you’ll know that this year I’m reading Jane Austen, and her characters are on my mind. I’ve also recently finished Tolkien’s trilogy again, so his characters are on my mind as well.

Even though I’ve thought through this meme for a couple of days I still haven’t decided on any definite answers. So, I’ll just read the questions to myself one more time and type the first three characters that come to mind at the moment. How’s that for live-blogging?!

Name three characters (from books)…

1. You wish were real so you could meet them.
I wish Hobbits were real. I would love to visit Hobbiton and be invited to one of the famous parties under The Party Tree where I could listen to stories and tales, drink a pint, and smell the pipeweed. My grandfather smoked a pipe, and, as a child, I loved the smell of it. That is how I imagine Longbottom Leaf.

I wish that Treebeard were real. I love the idea of plants being alive, having a story to tell. The possibility of being scooped up by the branches of a tree and going for a walk is just thrilling to me. Then again, some trees would probably be scary trees, and I wouldn’t like those.

I wish Anne Shirley were real. I’m sure we would be bosom companions.

Oh, and Puddleglum…he cracks me up!

2. You would like to be.
I would like to be Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.

I would like to be Emma. Well, I relate to her better than I do to Elizabeth Bennett. Like Emma (in the end), I am aware of my faults and want to experience a reformation. Besides, her family situation is more enjoyable than the Bennett’s. I think I can tolerate my own mother better than Elizabeth’s mother.

I would like to be Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web. She gave what last bit of strength she had to help Wilbur one more time.

3. Scare you.
Ungoliant and Shelob from Tolkien’s books really scare me. I’ve somewhat outgrown my fear of spiders thanks to these two. Now I just compare all spiders to Ungoliant to give me some perspective on all the real spiders I see. Just imagine a spider as big as a house and give her a stinger at the end of her body, envelop her in the foulest smell and thickest darkness you can imagine. I’m getting the shivers just thinking about them.

Voldemort in the Potter books really scares me (is it ok to type his name?). He’s so evil, cursing and killing people…and using people…he scary.

I can’t think of a third one.

I think I need to make a list of fiction books to read. I have created a short list just from reading the bloggers who have participated in this meme. Do me a favor and leave a comment with your favorite fiction books, please. What’s on your summer reading list?

I know I’ll get some good ideas from these bloggers: I tag Jane and Derek, Michelle, and Karl (he needs a topic).

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UPDATE: Karl posted his responses for this meme. I’m married to the guy and I was a
little surprised by his choices. The Jedi thing wasn’t a surprise, but I didn’t know he had ever read Great Expectations.