Tasha's Favorite Fictional Character --- Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert

I admire brains almost more than I admire any other attribute, I think that's the reason I enjoy Tasha and her blog, Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books, so much.  I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but I'm almost convinced that Tasha is one of the smartest bloggers I've come across.  She has a way of analyzing a book/movie/artwork that never fails to impress and instill a bit of envy in me.  The fact that those brains reside in someone who is so likable, is even better.  So if you don't know her, or her blog, please stop on by and say hi.

Rebecca and Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert by Léon Cogniet, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Although Walter Scott's famous historical novel Ivanhoe is titled after a noble Saxon knight and has several famous characters--including Richard the Lionhearted, Robin Hood, and Prince John--the real star of the book is the dark Templar knight, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert. Sir Brian is dark not only in his countenance, but in his heart:

They say he is valiant as the bravest of his order; but stained with their usual vices, pride, arrogance, cruelty, and voluptuousness; a hard-hearted man, who knows neither fear of earth, nor awe of heaven.

De Bois-Guilbert, in other words, is a total badass. And although there are many characters in Ivanhoe who are great knights, there's never any doubt that he's the one to beat.

Sir Brian sets the wheel of fate turning when he decides he wants the Jewess Rebecca for himself. Conspiring with Maurice de Bracy, they decide to kidnap the Lady Rowenna and Rebecca for themselves. Not heroic behavior, admittedly. But read Bois-Guilbert's declaration to Rebecca after he's absconded with her:

These pearls are orient, but they yield in whiteness to your teeth; the diamonds are brilliant, but they cannot match your eyes; and ever since I have taken up this wild trade, I have made a vow to prefer beauty to wealth.

Sigh! So romantic! I think, too, what Sir Brian isn't saying is that he admires Rebecca's selflessness and goodness. Sir Brian doesn't believe he is a good person, but there's a part of him that wants to be, and that part is attracted to Rebecca. A flawed and tortured hero! Who can resist? Too bad that Rebecca just isn't that into him. Because she's an IDIOT.

Ciaran Hinds as Bois-Guilbert

Sir Brian's past is mysterious; we never know much about him before his journey to the Holy Land, where he committed many sins in the name of Christendom. Yet the real question surrounding Bois-Guilbert is what separates him from the other Templar knights. They're ALL bad guys who throw their weight around and violate the rules of their order on a regular basis, yet Sir Brian is undoubtedly better than his Templar cohorts. What makes him so special?

For one, even though he admits to violating every precept of his order, he still respects the code of chivalry. Other than the initial kidnapping, which was more de Bracy's idea than his own, he never forces Rebecca into anything. For another, he's more upfront than the other knights. His friend, Albert Malvoisin, might pretend to follow Templar orders while doing whatever he wants, but Bois-Guilbert makes no secret of the fact that he's going to do what he do, and anyone who thinks they can stop him are welcome to try. He's not a hypocrite!

Sir Brian is also egalitarian: he doesn't discriminate against Rebecca because she's a Jewess, and his own personal guard consists of warriors of many different faiths from the Holy Land. 

Finally, Bois-Guilbert is willing to sacrifice everything he values--his place within the Knights Templar and his honor--to save Rebecca. Unfortunately for him, he chose to love the wrong person; Rebecca rejects his offer and he comes to an ignominious end. Still, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert remains the best and most memorable character in the large cast of Ivanhoe.

Blodeuedd's Favorite Fictional Character --- Rand al'Thor

I don't think there is another blogger quite like Blodeudd of Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell.  She shows such a passion for the books she reads and reviews.  I always know that if I want to read a review by someone who seems to put her heart and soul into a review, I can head over to her blog and dive into some amazing writing.  We don't always read the same kind of books, but I know that if she raves about a fantasy novel, I'm going to love the book as well.  The books she reviews are wide ranging and a few times she has came close to convincing me that a new romance book it just what I want.  On her visit today, she is going to talk about a series and a character that I love about as much as she does.  I think it's fitting that she chose a character we both love, it's almost like a birthday present.  So I hope you stick around, read the post, and go on over to her blog and let her know how awesome she is.

I spent a lot of time thinking of who my favorite character is. One part of my brain said Rand, Rand, Rand! But the other part said, you are re-reading the series, and haven’t really fallen yet..but hey brain, it’s still Rand! And I adore him.

I was about 13 or 14 when I met Rand for the first time and fell in love, with the series, and him too. He is the main character in the Wheel of time series by Robert Jordan, and now it’s a series being finished by Brandon Sanderson as Jordan passed away. It’s the old school kind of fantasy, a young shepherd meets a mysterious woman and a warrior and soon he and his friends are going on an adventure. Well ok more like fleeing as baddies are after them. I always liked the farmer/nobody who finds his destiny and becomes something more, and the change is just so great in Rand. At first he is the fumbling farmboy who tries his best to be brave and look after his friends. But who also doubts as the realization of his true fate is bestowed upon him. He is made for great things. He is the Dragon Reborn. The reborn Dragon as the old one almost destroyed the world, and this Rand will do too and fight the big baddie. How will it all end?

And here I still am, many years later, still reading this series! We are finally coming to the last battle, or will in the book that is being published in 2013. And I tell you, if Sanderson kills him then I will throw that last book at the wall. Yes there is a big chance that my favorite fictional character will die and that will not be pleasant for anyone near me. I do fear this fate.

Back to Rand, and why I like him. It’s the change, he matures, he becomes the Dragon, he leads men into battle and he becomes a king. I also have a true weakness for Lews Therin Kinslayer, that’s the old Dragon and he does spend some time mumbling to Rand in his head. What can I say; I like crazy Rand, for Lews will truly drive him insane with his talking and memories. Not to mention that magic, to Rand, is poison that also will drive him insane. You see, he is a lost cause, I have to like him.

At the present I am re-reading the series and something strange has happened. I liked him first when he was naïve, but at the moment I am pretty neutral. Horrible isn’t it. But then again he has not gone insane yet so maybe that is the reason. He still is great through. A true fantasy hero, even if I could have him having less women around. I mean honestly, does he really need that many? Read and see what I mean as I do not want to spoil all things here at once.

I might just be, ok I am, as in love with this series as I am with the characters in it. They are flawed, idiots, real, too good to be true (those are the bigger idiots), and just great. And now I just hope he will live, because in the end you never know with authors and the craziness they will come up with.

Terri's Favorite Fictional Character --- Girl at the Window

Whenever I have a hankering for a well written review by someone who I admire and respect, I head on over to Terri's blog, Alexia's Books and Such.  I'm pretty sure I've been following her blog from the very beginning, though I could be off by a week or two.  I don't remember what brought me to her blog, but I've been grateful for it ever since.  Terri has become a good blogging friend, someone who's opinion I will take to heart. She has shown me nothing but kindness, and I thank her for it.  And for this post, she is breaking a boundary that has not been crossed before on this blog.  She is charting new territory when it comes to Favorite Fictional Character posts, and I have a feeling it's territory I will be visiting myself someday.  So please go by her blog and say hi and great job.

This is a Salvador Dali painting, most commonly known as "Girl at the Window."

Seems an odd choice for a Favorite Fictional Character post, doesn't it? A moment in time captured in a painting. An unknown character with an unknown story. How can this be a Favorite Fictional Character? Glad you asked!

When Ryan asked me if I'd be interested in doing one of these posts for him, he said that there were no limitations on where the character could come from and that books, movies, TV shows, poems, songs, or even artwork were all on the table. Artwork? Color me intrigued! And what better artwork to feature than one of my favorites?

I found a poster of this piece many years ago, lying on the floor, at a warehouse sale. Had no idea who he artist was or the title, but I knew that I had to have it!  It "spoke" to me (plus, it was blue and I knew it would look good in my bathroom).  It quickly became my favorite poster!

As you might have guessed from my avatar, there's something about staring out a window that I love....the longing for what's out there....wanting to explore new horizons...wondering if the grass is really greener over the next hill? I have spent plenty of time staring out windows over the years, so I identify with this unknown girl.

I love this picture. Who is the girl? Is she longing for far horizons? I think that she's been at the window for awhile and didn't just stop by to check the weather, as she looks like she's settled in. See how she's leaning on the sill and one of her legs is bent? Like she's shifting her stance to find a more comfortable position. Like she's spent hours at that window....

I think that she certainly qualifies as a FFC, in that I'm able to come up with my own stories for her. Has she had a rough day and wants to escape? Is she just a daydreamer? Does she have itchy feet and longs to travel? I see all of that....and more. Am I nuts and it's just a girl standing at a window? Can you feel her longing? What do you see when you look at this picture?

Gef's Favorite Fictional Character --- Leonard "Bones" McCoy

Horror is one of those genres that I really enjoy but for whatever reason I don't seek out when I'm picking new books to read.  Over the last few years of blogging I think I've only reviewed about twenty books that would be in some way classified in the genre. When it comes to movies though, I would say about half of what I watch are horror movies, the reviews I've done seem to back that up.  I really do need to start doing the movie reviews again, but that's beside the point.  My point is that as much as I love horror, I don't follow that many horror blogs.  I find most of them to be way over the top and almost depressing to even look at.  One of the few bloggers I do follow, actually the first horror blog I followed, is Gef at Wag the Fox.  You can tell Gef really enjoys what he reviews.  He is a horror fan and proud of it.  What I love about his blog is that he still has a sense of humor about the whole thing and it comes across.  He takes what he does seriously, but still has fun with it.  It's a trait that many of us could benefit from.  So even if horror is not your usual cup of tea, he does review other genres as well, please go by and say hi.  I think you will all enjoy his blog as much as I do.

When I sat down to write about one of my favorite fictional characters, the first name that popped into my head was McCoy. Out of all the characters from Star Trek, Bones is the most memorable by far. Now, I enjoyed the J.J. Abrams reboot from a couple years back with Karl Urban cast as McCoy, but there's only one man I picture when I think of the ship's doctor--and that's DeForrest Kelley.

While Captain Kirk had the swashbuckling air about him reminiscent of the Errol Flynn style of characters, and Spock had the robotic detachment you might expect from an alien in a sci-fi film, Doctor McCoy felt like a character that had stepped right out of a western. And as a boy who enjoyed watching westerns on the weekends with my Dad, Bones stood out from the pack. He was empathetic, but he didn't suffer a lot of bull from his patients, and he had no qualms with cracking down on Kirk whenever the captain of the Enterprise wanted to tear off half-cocked into a battle after having his ass handed to him. Bones also had a bit of complexity, with his aversion to certain technologies like the transporters, though he did rely on his tri-quarter pretty much all the time when he needed to diagnose a patient.

Bones was a bit of a racist prick, too. At least when it came to Vulcans. Or maybe Spock just knew how to push his buttons. That green-blooded goon could be a bit of a prick when he wanted to be. In fact, some of the best scenes from the show involved Bones and Spock arguing with one another over some dilemma or philosophical question. Sure, Spock tended to when those with logic and facts, but Bones appeal for humanity, instinct, and good old-fashioned gut feelings held a lot of sway.

Aside from steely glares and acting as Kirk's conscience half the time, Bones could sling catchphrases with the best of them, too.

"Dammit, Jim. I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!"

or how about: "He's dead, Jim."

The guy was a one-man drinking game.

I haven't watched an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series in years, but there are certain scenes and moments from the show that apparently hardwired into my brain now, because I can envision them with no effort at all, like the episode where Bones had to re-implant Spock's brain after it was stolen--yes, stolen. The show is one of my earliest TV memories, as the reruns ran every Saturday when I was a kid, and I never tired of them. And one big reason for cherishing the show so much is because of DeForrest Kelley as Bones.

Rhonda's Favorite Fictional Character --- Spencer Reid

Have I ever told you guys how much I adore Oregon and just about anything that comes from there, especially filberts.  I used to live in that wonderful state as a kid, though only for a few short years, but it reminded me so much of where I'm from in Minnesota, that I felt as if I was home still.  I think that's part of the reason why I like Rhonda from My Life In Not So Many Words... so much.  For those of you who don't know her, Rhonda is a fabulous book blogger from the Pacific Northwest.  I don't remember who found who first, but I do know that I love talking with her on twitter or visiting her blog to find out what she's been reading.  I even love hearing her camping stories and seeing the pictures, though I do get just a bit jealous of all the fun.  So please go by her blog and say hello.  I know that if you do, you will find a new blogging friend to hang out with.

When Ryan asked me to do a guest Favorite Fictional Character post, I jumped at the chance and I knew right away who I wanted to do one on.  It’s on a character from one of my favorite TV shows, Criminal Minds.

The actor is Matthew Gray Gubler and he plays Dr. Spencer Reid.

He’s is a FBI behavioral analyst that is so smart that you want to throttle him at times but can’t because he’s right and too dang adorable to throttle. He literally knows everything and has no problem telling you as much. It’s amazing the brain they gave this character.  I got to say, Matthew is genius in the way he pulls the character off.  He plays the character so well in fact, that I sometimes wonder if the actor and character personalities are similar in nature.


I think the most favorite aspect of this character is how the group will be talking about one thing or another and he’ll just pipe up with some off the wall random fact regarding whatever subject they’re currently discussing. You’re never quite sure what you’ll hear when he starts to talk but you can be sure you won’t understand half of it, heh. I’ll post a couple of examples of his quips.


Here’s a quote from one of the shows that us bookies will know from Season 5 Episode 7:

JENNIFER "JJ" JAREAU

What was the password?

GARCIA

Cullen.

JENNIFER "JJ" JAREAU

Ah, of course. Thanks Garcia.

DR. SPENCER REID

Who's Cullen?

JENNIFER "JJ" JAREAU

The family from the Twilight books.

DR. SPENCER REID

What's Twilight?

Another example from Season 1 Episode 10:

DR. SPENCER REID

Melted wax?

JENNIFER "JJ" JAREAU

Candle wax?

DR. SPENCER REID

Candles are used in rituals.

JASON GIDEON

They're also used on birthday cakes.

DR. SPENCER REID

Actually, they were originally used to protect the birthday celebrant

from demons for the coming year. As a matter of fact, down to the

fourth century, Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a

Pagan ritual.

SHERIFF BRIDGES

What kind of a doctor are you?

It’s the quirky little quips like the ones in the quotes I posted that he does and the ways he portrays them that having me adoring this character. He’s that geeky, dorky guy you just can’t help but love and secretly wish you knew even a fraction of what he does and at the same
time thank God you don’t, heh.


I leave you with a YouTube video of funny moments:

Lydia's Favorite Fictional Character --- Anne Shirley

One of the most pleasant aspects of the book blogging world is the sense of community and how quickly another blogger can feel like an old friend.  You may never talk about the latest love of your life or how much you just paid for that new pair of jeans, but you share something more than that, a love of books and everything that entails.  Lydia of The Lost Entwife is one of the bloggers for me.  She is one of those reviewers to whom I look to before I buy a new book.  If I see a book at the store I'm not familiar with, I go to her blog to see if she has read it.  If she has, and did not like it, I will probably not buy it.  I trust her taste and her ability to put her reaction down in words, in such a way as to make me understand what my own reaction to it would be.  She is a gifted blogger, writer, and she is someone I hope to have around for many years to come.  Bloggers like Lydia, make the all the work worth it.  So go on by her blog, say hi, and I know you will be sticking around for a long, long time.

Hi folks!  My name is Lydia, and I blog over at The Lost Entwife, and about a year ago I discovered Ryan and his fantastic feature of Favorite Fictional Character and have loved reading each and every one of them.  So I was honored when Ryan asked me to contribute a guest post - and then the next day freaked out as I tried to pick one, JUST one, character I could talk about.  I mean - my latest favorite has definitively been Tyrion Lannister of Game of Thrones fame, but everyone loves that little dude, so I went to my bookshelves and looked and looked.  But then I realized there really is just one answer.

One of the first books I remember getting from my Aunt for Christmas is Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.  I've read the book, and all its sequels, and watched the movies so many times that for every event, small or big, that happens in my life, I can give an Anne quote to bolster my spirits or get me settled back on solid ground.  This is the book I give my nieces to read, it's the book that comforts me when it's raining outside and I feel as if the world is a dark and dismal place.  Gilbert was my first crush and when I was younger, raspberry cordial sounded like it would be the thing to drink.

Anne taught me what it was to be patient, to be kind.  She is a character who struggles with her temper and with saying the wrong thing, but she also is able to swallow her pride and seek forgiveness for her brash actions.  She struggles with her red hair (and boy could I relate to having things about me I didn't like), but ultimately comes to accept that hair and how much it sets her apart and makes her Anne-with-an-E.

Through Anne I experienced loss the first time when Walter Cuthbert passes away.  I cried into my tissues, and still do to this day.  I learned what it means to be a "bosom friend" to someone, how to love Tennyson and the spoken word in the form of poetry, and how important imagination is.

I'm going to finish this post with a few of my favorite quotes from the various Anne books, and I hope that if you haven't experienced the story of Anne's life that you seek it out and introduce yourself.  Trust me, she's been a good friend to me all these years and I'm sure she will be the same to you.

“We should regret our mistakes and learn from them, but never carry them forward into the future with us.”

“Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music; perhaps . . . perhaps . . . love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.”

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”

“Dear old world', she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.”

Listen to Anne's Theme here.

Beth's Favorite Fictional Character --- Miss Parker

Today's guest blogger is one of the first bloggers I met, and one of the kindest.  Beth from Beth's Book Reviews is one of the gems of the book blogging universe.  And I'm just not saying that because she sends along quite a few of her read mysteries my way after she is done with them.  She has sent along a few Rinehart books that I haven't read yet, and I appreciate that more than I could ever say.  It's more than that though, she seems to be everywhere I look.  She always seems to have a kind word or a helpful answer to any question.  She was one of the examples I looked to when I first started my blog, an example I wanted to emulate.  So I hope if you don't know her, that you stop on by her blog and say hi.

When Ryan asked me to write a Favorite Fictional Character guest post  my mind immediately went into overdrive.  Who did I love more?  Should it be Paddington Bear?  Mole from The Wind in the Willows?  Rose from Doctor Who?  The possibilities were endless.  I finally settled on one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite television shows - Miss Parker from The Pretender.

Why not Jarod, you ask?  Well, despite his sheer hotness, Jarod is just a bit bland for me.

In the age of the 90s Ally McBeal micro mini Miss Parker rocked her wardrobe with those fabulous legs (the actress was a former dancer) like Ally & Co. never could (well, except for Portia de Rossi and Dyan Cannon), but alas, I digress.

Miss Parker was the perfect blend of brains, beauty, and balls and men wanted to be with her and the women wanted to be her.  She was fiercely loyal to her friends and at heart a genuinely good person doing the best with what she had.

She really developed as a character throughout the show's four short seasons.  She started out as an uberbitch just trying to bring Jarod back so she could leave her job once and for all, to someone with true compassion beneath her gruff exterior.  The rare moments of softness she displayed, beautifully shown in the season 2 finale when Angelo was regressing and could no longer play the piano, were a heartbreaking glimpse into her soul.

Thankfully we also got to experience her lighter side in the fabulous dream scenes from "Cold Dick".  Sadly, there are no good clips of this on YouTube.  

She also had some of the most wonderful lines in the series:

Sydney:  How come you know so much about Greek lore?

Miss Parker:  I did a lot of frat boys in college.

***

Miss Parker:  (phone rings)  What?

Jarod:  Well, well, well, long time no see.  And how's life treating you?

Miss Parker:  Like he caught me in bed with his wife.

***

So, Miss Parker joined all those other great characters of shows whose lives were cut short yet remain beloved by devoted fans.

I'm feeling all nostalgic now and must go fire up my Apple TV for a Pretender marathon!

Bev's Favorite Fictional Character --- Phryne Fisher

It's that time of year again, which amazes me by the way.  I can't believe it's July all ready, I really have no clue where time goes to anymore.  I don't think you guys want to hear my theories about age and time, so I will get to the manner at hand.  Because work is just crazy busy during the months' of July and August and my creative juices and brain just don't function as well during those two months, I'm once again inviting 9 different bloggers to share some of their favorite fictional characters over the next two months.  It's gives me a little breathing room and allows me to have some breathing room.

The blogger is who starting it off is one that I've come to really adore.  Bev at My Reader's Block is one of those bloggers who always seems to have more pans going than I can ever keep track of.  She hosts three different challenges, including The Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, which I take part in.  She participates in even more challenges and never fails to keep an engaging blog that keeps adding to my every growing wish list.  I've discovered numerous vintage mysteries reviewed on her blog and keep being introduced to some interesting characters.  She graciously accepted my invitation to discuss her favorite one, a character I know I'll be meeting for myself some day soon.  So when you are doing reading, please go by and say hi.

I am so excited to be guest-posting for Ryan!  I was very humbled to be asked to step in for him while he takes a little break from posting his Favorite Characters.  I didn't have to think more than two seconds before I was ready to say yes and I didn't have think more than two more seconds before my character pick popped into my head.  Not that I couldn't come up with a list longer than my arm of favorite characters....and that's just within my favorite genre: mysteries.  But over and over again, when the subject of favorite or memorable characters come up The Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher--rich, beautiful and smart child of the Jazz Age--heads the list.

The Phryne mystery series is set in Australia between the World Wars.  Phryne grew up as a poor relation in an aristocratic family.  There were several men between her father's branch of the family and the title, but World War I, as it did with so many families, reduced the number of male heirs and soon conferred the title of Honorable and quite a bit of wealth upon Miss Fisher.  After serving with a women's French ambulance unit in the Great War, she worked for a bit as an artist's model in Montparnasse. Upon returning to England, she found that British aristocratic life wasn't quite her cup of tea and when a chance to go to Melbourne and try her hand at unraveling a mystery comes along, she is ready to leave Britain behind and set up residence in Australia.  She finds that she has a good nose for investigation and her experiences in the war have steeled her nerves for any altercations she might encounter.  Thus, she launches herself as a private investigator.


Her first recorded investigation is brought to us in Cocaine Blues which hit bookshelves in 1989.  In it, she sets off on that above-mentioned adventure to Melbourne and never looks back.  Her initial foray into detective work finds her investigating poisoned wives, cocaine smuggling rings, corrupt cops and communism.  That's just the mystery part and doesn't include her erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse.  The adventure comes to a steamy conclusion in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.  From there Phryne works her way through 17 more cases--picking up additions to her household along way.  From Dot, who becomes her right-hand woman, to two girls, Jane and Ruth, who she winds up adopting, Phryne is continually rescuing people who have become entangled in upsetting circumstances.  She excels at liberating the innocent victims of the ruthless.


I have mentioned before that I consider Phryne the grown-up's Nancy Drew.  Like Nancy, she can keep up with the men and the boys and give as good as she gets. She has steel in her spine and a plethora of witty comebacks. She can handle a pistol and herself in a fight.  She can stare down anyone fool enough to mess with her socially and can take on some rather hefty blokes and come out "with hardly a hair out of place." She drives a beautiful, fast car and can fly an airplane. She swims like a fish and can dance all night. And she runs circles around any criminal who comes her way while making time to make time with the most eligible of available bachelors. She sounds (and probably is) quite improbable, but Kerry Greenwood writes such entertaining stories and writes them so well that you don't even notice.


If you'd like to learn more about Phryne, then you can check out the Official Phryne Fisher Webpage.   If you're fortunate enough to live in Australia, then you can catch Phryne in the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries series.

Favorite Fictional Character --- Sammy the Seal

Well it's my last day of vacation and I'm probably going stir crazy by now.  I'm probably wishing I had gone back to work today instead of extending my vacation to 6 days.  Now I could be completely wrong about that, but I doubt it.  After looking at the weather forecast I'm thinking my vacation will have been spent in really hot temperatures, which I don't like.  I abhor the heat and tend to avoid it as much as possible.  So while you are reading this, I'm probably staying in bed and watching a Buffy marathon.  I know it's an odd thing to do on the last day of vacation, but it's so relaxing too.  Who knows though, I may decide I love the heat and go for a run in the 100 plus weather we are supposed to have.  

I must admit that I'm feeling a little sad to be leaving some of my favorite children's book characters behind for a while.  This is the last Wed. of the month and next month I'm turning it over to some fabulous guest bloggers.  Once again I had to put some names in a hat and let fate decide who was going to be the last character featured this month.  Needless to say, I wouldn't have been unhappy with any of them, but I did get a little excited when I drew out the name of Sammy the Seal.  I loved him as a kid.  So with no further fuss on my part, I present to you Sammy, the seal who needed to know what was on the other side of those walls.

Sammy has been living a pretty content life within the walls of a zoo.  He gets fed on a regular basis and likes having the kids admire him.  But like most of us who are living the good life, Sammy starts to wonder what else is out there.  So one day our wandering hero decides he wants to see what else life has to offer.  He walks out of the zoo, with the keeper's blessing, and embarks on an adventure I'm sure he never forgets.

At first the world seems to be filled with sights and sounds the likes of which Sammy has never seen.  The fast moving cars, the tall buildings that tower above the streets, and even bathtubs.  You see, Sammy has never seen a bathtub before.  Though the bathtub is a bit smaller than his pool at the zoo, Sammy has to see what it's all about.  Of course the man who was running the bath wasn't all that impressed with the idea of a seal stealing the show.

It's when Sammy ends up at a school that he really starts to realize this trip may have been worth it after all.  I'm still not sure why the teacher would have allowed Sammy to stay in the class, but I think both Sammy and I are happy that she did.  Sammy got to do all kinds of things he's never experienced in the zoo before.  He joined the kids during their singing lesson.  He showed them how well a seal could play volleyball, he was amazing.  He even learned how to read.

Now you may be thinking Sammy had the time of his life that day and that he never wanted to go back to the zoo.  You would be part right.  Sammy, like a lot of us who stray far from home, realized something.  No matter how exciting or amazing new experiences can be, they still don't match up to that sense of being at home.  The world can be an exciting place, but it can't replace that sense of belonging and safety that being at home can instill.  So at the end of the day, a happy Sammy goes back home where he belongs.

Favorite Fictional Character --- Claudia & Jamie Kincaid

One of the great pleasure in life is finding a good book and falling in love with characters that you want to be.  They are the characters that makes you green with envy over what they get to do and see.  You wouldn't really trade them lives, but you would be willing to step into their shoes for the period of time the book details.  It could be a romance that you would want for yourself or the adventure you would do anything to go on.  It may even be the house they live in, the family that surrounds them, or their best friend that makes you want to be them.  Whatever the case, it's those characters that keeps us coming back for more, over and over again.

As a kid, I would have done anything to trade places with Claudia and Jamie Kincaid.  The eleven and nine yard old stars of the wonderful book, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Koingsburg, are two kids that got to live a dream of mine.  I haven't been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, but who wouldn't want to live in any museum.  I can get lost in a museum for hours, doesn't matter how big or small.  I may have seen every exhibit 50 different times, but the magic I feel when I walk through the doors, never leaves me.  I'm always in awe of what the human race can achieve, and I feel better about our future when I leave.

Of course the fact that they got to live in a museum because they ran away from home never seemed to bother me.  Claudia is one of those kids that is probably too smart for her own good, and thinks her parents don't show her enough respect.  She doesn't think they appreciate her or her intelligence so she comes up with a plan to runaway.  She ropes her brother into the scheme, because unlike her, he saves his money.  He has a little over $20 on him, which Claudia knows she will need.  So they set out to visit the museum, and hide in the bathrooms in order to stay overnight. 

This is where the book hooked me, they got to play in the fountain and used the money to buy stuff they needed.  They got to sleep in an antique bed, that my brain always assumed a king slept in.  But most of all, they get to wander around by themselves and see the museum in a way that the rest of us don't get to.  They live with the art and antiques in a way that I'm still jealous of to this day.  When the stumble upon the statue of an angel, Claudia is determined to solve the mystery surrounding it.  So not only do they get to live in a museum, they get to solve a mystery, how frickin lucky is that.

The rest of the book details their search for the identity of the artist who created the statue and how it came to be in the museum.  It takes them out into the real world, which they do hesitantly.  They know once they leave the museum for good, they will be sent back home soon after that.  The mystery and the secrets it holds are worth the risk, so they set out to find Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the woman who donated the statue to the museum.

I'm not going to ruin the story for those of you who haven't read it, but once they arrive at her house, the fun gets started all over again.  I would have done anything, at 12 years old, to dig through those files.  Of course the fact that my parents missed and worried about me would have nagged at me, as it did the kids, but I'm pretty sure the mystery would have had me engulfed as well.  I will say that the family is reunited at the end, and everybody lives happily, and wiser, ever after.

I couldn't find a clip of the 1995 TV version of the movie, which is the picture I used, but I did find a clip of the Ingrid Bergman movie.

Favorite Fictional Character --- Curious George

There is a certain phenomena that I'm sure you are all award of, though you may not have thought about it.  It's one of those rarities of life that make it all worth it.  There are just certain characters that seem to be pop culture icons.  They are characters you are familiar with, even if you have never read a book, watched a movie, seen a TV episode, or looked them up on line.  They are characters that you can have no actual experience with, but you still know who they are.  You will recognize them by sight and may even have a vague sense of their adventures.  They are part of the culture, part of whom we are, even if we don't know them personally.  Some are probably more famous than others, but either way, they are loved and cherished by millions.  Curious George is one such character, a character that is beloved by everyone who knows him and will be loved by all those who have yet to tag along on his adventures.

I can't remember how old I was the first time I read the first Curious George book and met for myself one of the most interesting primates to ever grace a page.  I quickly fell in love with the little guy as The Man with the Yellow Hat brought him out of the jungles of Africa and back to the big city to live in the zoo.  I don't think poor George knew what was going on at first, but his good nature and open curiosity allowed him to settle in, well at first anyway.

It wasn't long though before George was escaping from the zoo and getting into all kinds of trouble.  He gets into a restaurant, eats a pot of spaghetti, and made to do the dishes by the cook.  He was so good at it, the cook brought him to a building and got him a job as a window washer.  Now George being George, it didn't end there.  While washing a window, George saw some men painting a wall.  It looked like so much fun that George snuck in and painted the walls with a jungle theme.  Well you can imagine the painters surprise when they come back and see the trees and leaves all over the walls. They chase George down a fire escape and the poor guy breaks his leg.  When he comes to, he is recovering in a hospital, though things don't go that smoothly there either.  But the day is saved when The Man with the Yellow Hat takes him home to live with him.  Of course our hero has a movie made about his exploits and he gets to watch the movie for the first time with the cook, window washer, painters, and all his other friends.

George has had some other amazing adventures through the years.  He even got a job as a newspaper boy, but turned the newspapers into paper boats.  He joined an animal show as a bicycle riding monkey who played the bugle, and rescued a bear cub in a tree.  He has been pulled through the air by a kite.  He has even flown into space and wrecked a dinosaur exhibit.  He got to do the things I wanted to do as a boy, and I was jealous of him for it.  I learned to love living vicariously through him, and his adventures are still great fun to read when I'm feeling a bit out of sorts.