Friday, February 16, 2018

Book Blogger Hop No. 123: Acting Like a Favorite Character



Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @


For more information, and 
to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.


This Week's Question

Have you ever found yourself
acting like a favorite character
in a novel? If so, which one?

(Submitted  by Maria @ 



My Answer

In my case, it's not so much acting like a favorite character, as it is coming across literary characters whom I have been able to relate to because I already shared some character traits with them, or already acted in ways that were similar to them (or wanted to do so).

I remember wanting to act like Tom Sawyer, when I was around 10 or 11 years old. Those were my "tomboy days", and oh, how I wanted to do all the stuff Tom did, and to have a friend like Huck Finn, to share adventures with! Alas, there was no way I could even hope to have such adventures....

Another of my childhood literary heroes was Jo, from Little Women. In fact, I even strongly felt that we were somehow related, or should have been, because I felt and thought the way she did, most of the time.  I, too, wanted to be a writer, and act as decisively as she did. I, too, wanted to march off to war, and act as courageously as she did. (That was before I knew about the harsh realities of war. I am now a pacifist. Lol.) And, of course, I was into books, too.

Then there was "Scout" Finch, from To Kill A Mockingbird. I must have read that book around the age of 13. Needless to say, I greatly admired her! However, I seriously doubt that my parents would ever have tolerated me getting into any fights at school, even if it was to defend a sibling. Lol. She was definitely another kindred spirit, though.

Around the age of 18, I met Jane Eyre for the first time. I was not that much of a tomboy anymore, so I fell head over heels in love with Edward Rochester, and, of course, I wanted to BE Jane! I wanted to be as forthright as she was, as well as just as firmly determined not to give up my own self because of a man. However, I also wanted to experience a passionate, turbulent love relationship. I wanted to have a man fall for me as hard as Rochester fell for Jane. I wanted the best of both worlds -- being my own true self, as well as having that passionate relationship. And it would have to be a relationship of equals, too.

Several years later, there was Bella Swan, from The Twilight Saga. I'm pretty much of a klutz, as I don't have any talent for sports, just like Bella. (But I can walk without falling, most of the time, lol.) 

I could relate to this character quite well, as I did tend to be insecure, even though I was well into adulthood when I came across her. I also still had a tendency to swoon over a guy I happened to have a crush on, just like a teen! I actually enjoyed reading Bella's descriptions of Edward's perfect physical attributes, and how he looked like a sculpted Greek god. And when I came across the famous meadow scene, in the first book, Twilight, well, I just about thought I had died and gone to heaven....sigh.... That line about the lion falling in love with the lamb, well..... it just did me in!

Ah, but I also admired the Bella who, transformed into a vampire, became a formidable force in her world! She nearly single-handedly dealt with the evil Volturi clan herself, and joined Edward and the other Cullens in a fierce battle of wills with these horrible vampires! She was also very protective of her daughter, Renesmee.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention another more recent literary heroine -- Hermione Granger. Sometimes I wish that the Harry Potter series had been the Hermione Granger series..... Hermione is someone to greatly admire. She's very smart, very bookish, and yet, she can think on her feet in a pinch. Plus, she's loyal to her friends, and doesn't flinch from any adventure, joining in with Harry and Ron as much as she can. I think that she's definitely a role model for young (and not so young) girls! 

When I put on my Gryffindor robe and wave my illuminated HG wand around, I can almost BE Hermione. Watch out, Voldemort! You have to deal with ME if you want to get to Harry! Hah! (I can see myself saying this to a mean boss, pretending that the boss is Voldemort....hee, hee!) Wingardium leviosa!!

I think I can not only relate to all of these literary heroes/heroines, but also learn something from each. That's why they all resonate with me so much. It's their inner qualities I admire, and want to emulate. I think that they all also reflect different facets of my personality, although these facets are not as well-developed in me as they are in these characters. 

It would be interesting to actually pretend to be one of these characters for one day. I have never done this, to be honest. I'm sure many of the people I deal with every day would get a huge surprise! Lol.






What are your thoughts on
this topic?
If you're participating in this hop,
I'll go comment on your 
own BBH post.
If not, I will then comment on one 
of your blog posts!
Thanks for visiting!!!  
 







26 comments:

  1. This is a great post Maria. As you point out, there are many literary characters who elicit admiration and who we relate to. I feel the same for many myself. Personally, I would like to think that such characters have also influenced me, at least a little bit. At the very least, I thought about the virtues behavior of characters during hard times that I have experienced.

    When a character displays foibles, such as insecurity, that we also share, I think that establishes a particularly strong connection.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi, Brian!

      Thank you so much for the compliment!! :) :)

      I think that there are many literary characters who are worthy of admiration, respect, and emulation. And yes, I do think that many characters -- especially the ones I've mentioned here -- have influenced me, too.

      Your observation of how a character's foibles, when shared by a reader, can help to establish a strong bond with that character, is spot on, as well! That's certainly been the case with me!

      Thanks for the nice comment! Happy Presidents' Day!! <3 :)

      Delete
  2. Loving this post, Maria!! :D I never really thought much about it until now actually but I'm totally a klutz too like Bella. Sometimes I'm thinking it's a wonder I don't end up with broken legs or arms every month. I could trip over air. LOL xD

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    1. Hi, Steph!

      Oh, thank you so much!! :D

      Yeah, I'm a klutz myself, lol. But, thank God, I haven't had any mishaps for quite some time now! LOL. Let me knock on wood, just in case!! LOL.

      Thanks for the funny comment!! xD ♥♥♥♥

      Delete
  3. Love the flash backs to your childhood.

    Great question, great post as always.

    You are funny and well read, Maria. Love to stop by.

    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi, Elizabeth!

      Thank you SO much for all the compliments!! ♥♥♥

      I ALWAYS enjoy your WONDERFUL comments!! Thanks again!! :D ♥♥♥♥

      Delete
  4. Great post! I like seeing the insight into each of the characters. I'm not sure I've ever strongly identified with a character - well except for Nancy Drew. I always wanted to be Nancy Drew. I think that's why I have such a fondness for heels when it comes to shoes! Nancy could do anything in her pumps!

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    1. Hi, Catherine!

      Thank you for the compliment!! <3 <3

      I'm glad you enjoyed reading all the insights into these characters! :) :)

      Oh, Nancy Drew! Would you believe I never read a Nancy Drew book? I did, however, read some of the Hardy Boys books.... Shame on me!! :(

      I haven't worn heels in several years. No more sprained ankles!! Lol. I envy Nancy's ability to do detective work in her pumps!!

      Thanks for the great comment!! <3 <3 :) :)

      Delete
  5. Great post. I identify with various characters too, although I answered this question in the negative as I interpreted it as actually going out of your way to act like them, and I don't do that.

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Nicki!

      Thanks so much for the compliment!! <3 <3

      Yeah, I don't do that, either. I did discover, though, that some of the things I either do, or would enjoy doing, or wish had happened, or would happen, to me, have been influenced by the characters I've mentioned.

      In the case of Hermione, though, when I put on my Gryffindor robe and wave that wand around, I DO feel pretty much that I'm actually Hermione! Lol.

      Thanks for the interesting comment!! <3 :)

      Delete
  6. Oh wow, you wrote an essay! This is a great post. I used to love Tom Sawyer as well, I actually dressed up as Huck Finn for Book Day at school once when all the other girls went as princesses. Scout is such a great character too and I agree that Hermione is a fantastic role model-she was the focus of my post.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi, Tizzy!

      Yes, I did! Lol. My answers do tend to be on the long side. I just enjoy writing!! :)

      Oh, you loved Tom Sawyer, too? GREAT!! And how AWESOME that you actually dressed up as Huck Finn for Book Day at your school!

      Scout is a truly TERRIFIC character! She's so AUTHENTIC. No fakeness there! And Hermione....Oh, she's just AMAZING!! I can't wait to read what you wrote about her!!

      Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 :)

      Delete
  7. What a lovely post! That is surely the art of the best authors - to pull us into their stories so that we strongly identify with the main protagonists. I identified strong with Katniss Everdeen - nope can't draw a bow and shoot an arrow if my life depended upon it, but her strong instinct to protect and nurture her family is an emotion I can completely understand...

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi, Sarah!

      Oh, THANK YOU!! <3 <3

      Yes, that is EXACTLY what the BEST authors do -- draw us into their books through our our relating to their main protagonists! So we DEVOUR their books!!

      I really need to read at least the first Hunger Games novel, to see what all the fuss is about! Katniss is held up as a hero by a LOT of bloggers!

      Thanks for the lovely comment!! <3 <3 :) :)

      Delete
  8. I like the way you have interpreted this question - I may borrow it for my own post, because, to be honest, I have never acted like a character from a book! I think we al, have characters we admire and relate to. In my case, yes, Jo and Hermione and Jane Eyre. Not Bella so much - I could never get past the first book, I’m afraid!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi, Sue!

      Thanks for the compliment!! <3 <3

      Well, I thought about it, and I don't think I've ever really acted exactly like a favorite character in "real life". Lol. But I have greatly admired the characters I mentioned in my post, and do relate well to them because I happen to share some traits with them. However, they are exemplars of these traits to a greater degree than I am.

      I was able to relate to Bella because, I, too, tend to be insecure. However. Bella proved herself to be very much of a STRONG character once she became a vampire. And ALL of her former klutziness was gone! So was her insecurity!

      Thanks for the great comment!! <3 :)

      Delete
  9. A lot of people are mentioning Hermione in these posts. Makes sense as we are all bookish and so is she! I also never really acted like any characters but I could relate to some.

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    1. Hi, Edel!

      I'm not surprised that a lot of us are mentioning Hermione! She's such an AWESOME character!! I wish Rowling would do a spinoff series on HER!! Forget New Scamander! I want to read ABOUT HERMIONE GRANGER'S adventures!!!! YAAAAAASSSS!!!

      And oh, BOOKISH characters are the BEST ones!! :) :)

      I was able to relate to all of the characters I mentioned above. There are more of them, but these are the main ones!

      Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 :)

      Delete
  10. Great response! I love that you wanted to be Tom Sawyer as a kid. Ironic, as I just finished a retelling of Huckleberry Finn called The Ballad of Huck and Miguel.

    Here's my link: https://wp.me/p6C2DX-1qc

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, J.!

      What a WONDERFUL name you have? Is it a pen name? An alias? Whatever it is, it sure ROCKS! :) :)

      I'm glad you like that I wanted to be Tom Sawyer as a kid! Well, I really wanted to have the same adventures he did! But yeah, I guess that, in a way, I wanted to be him, too.

      Ooooohhhhh!!! A Huck Finn retelling? I'm rushing over to Goodreads to find out more!!

      Thanks for the nice comment!! <3 <3 :) :)

      Delete
  11. Fantastic answer!!! There are many characters that I relate to and share traits with. I can't say that I ever act like a specific character now . . . but when I was a kid, I did act out Nancy Drew-like mysteries.

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    1. Hi, Chrissy!

      Thank you so much!! <3 <3

      Yeah, there are many WONDERFUL characters in literature that are worthy of admiration and emulation! The ones I mentioned are the ones I felt most affinity for.

      WOW, you acted Nancy Drew-like mysteries? How very creative of you!! it would be GREAT if you decided to write one out and get to publish it!

      Thanks for the interesting comment!! <3 <3 :) :)

      Delete
  12. I think II could have answered tis better when I was younger and had a wild imagination. I was Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown. I lived in a little house on the prairie and wanted to be able to explore magical worlds via my closet, but I cannot recall doing any of this in my adult life. I love your answers though!

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    1. Hi, Sam!

      WOW!! I LOVE your comment!! I've never heard of Encyclopedia Brown, but that SURE sounds like a totally FAB combination!! I need to look up this character!

      Several people have mentioned Nancy Drew. I regret to say that I have never read a Nancy Drew mystery....:( I used to read and actually prefer the Hardy Boys. Shame on me!!! I need to get a hold of some Nancy Drew mysteries and start reading them!

      Thanks for the compliment on my answer!! <3 <3 And thanks for the WONDERFUL comment!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

      Delete
  13. Ah Maria, I love your answers! My answer to this (even though I didn't participate this week) would have been that I've never acted like a book character although I have tried some things a character did and that I sometimes see myself in characters.
    However, you added a new dimension to that by talking about Potter, for I too have donned the robes, waved my wand and gallivanted around Harry Potter world (and anywhere else I can get away with!) wishing I had really disappeared into the Wizarding world for a day or two...

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    1. Hi, Nicola!

      Thank you so much for the compliment!! <3 <3

      I see myself in some characters, too. With others, I can only admire them, as well as wish to emulate them.

      It's such a GREAT feeling to put on that robe and wave that wand around, isn't it? YEAH!!! My most fervent wish is to visit the Harry Potter World at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. I live down in Miami. Sadly, I haven't been able to go yet.... It would just make me ECSTATIC if I were able to go soon!!

      How I wish that Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and all of the WONDERFUL characters (except Voldemort!!) in the Harry Potter series REALLY existed.....

      Thanks for the WONDERFUL comment!! <3 <3 :) :)

      Delete

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