Day 19: Favorite Book Turned Into a Movie

I'm taking part of the 30 Day Book Challenge.  Click the link to do it too (and add your blog to my meme)!

My first choice is obvious.  The movies are *almost* as good as the books.  In fact, the movies stick to the books much better than most books-to-film productions.  The casting was phenomenal too.  I am currently re-reading the entire series in anticipation of the final movie:

My second choice is a book I read after I watched the movie.  The movie was so great that I had to read the book, and the book didn't disappoint!

And my final choice is a book-turned-movie that I am in love with.  I don't know what I like better--the book or the movie.  I've read the book twice.  I've watched the movie twice.  I'm about to reread and rewatch both for a third time.  If you haven't read it then you should (or at the very least you should watch the movie):

Day 16: Favorite Female Character

I'm taking part of the 30 Day Book Challenge.  Click the link to do it too (and add your blog to my meme)! 


If you know me, then this one is a given.  You already know the answer.  There is only one possibility: 

That's right--it's Hermione Granger.  She is so much like me, it's frightening.  I was the bossy know-it-all child with her hand waving madly to answer every question the teacher posed.  Our personalities are very similar.  How could I not choose Hermione as my favorite female character?

The image above belongs to Warner Brothers and I cannot claim it as my own.

Characters That Define...

My twitter friend Gina writes a great blog called Fantasy Casting.  In a recent entry she posed an interesting question:  what fictional character(s) resonate(s) with you enough that  you could "be" them? 

I did not have to consider the question for long--I already knew the answer.  There are two characters that have always resonated with me. I have identified with these characters since the instance I came into contact with them. One of these characters is far more like me than the other, so it is she that will I discuss.

The character, and this is perhaps most obvious to those who know me well, is Hermoine Granger from J.K. Rowling's famed Harry Potter series.

Hermoine appeared in the very first book and here is what happened:

"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good is it? I've tried a few simple spells myself and they've all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, it's the best school of witchcraft there is I've heard - I've learned all the course books by heart of course. I just hope it will be enough - I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

The second I read that passage, I knew a kindred spirit.  Hermoine is very direct. Hermoine is a self-righteous, bossy know-it-all.  And so am I.  In fact, I've even written about my annoying know-it-all attitude and you can read that entry here. I frequently alienated my classmates in the same ways Hermoine does: pointing out when others are wrong (yes, even adults), waving my hand madly in the air because I KNOW THE ANSWER SO YOU NEED TO CALL ON ME NOW, and rolling my eyes in annoyance at other people's immaturity.  Yep, I did all of those things (okay, so I still do sometimes).

I was also frequently called a know-it-all, and like Hermoine it never really bothered me.  We share the same hubris.

We also like the same things.  For instance, when Slughorn brews a love potion and Hermoine explains that the potion smells differently to each person but it smells like something that appeals to them, Hermoine says she smells "freshly mown grass and new parchment."  I am fairly certain that if such a potion did exist, that is precisely what I would smell.  I love the smell of freshly mown grass and new paper.I would rather smell those things than perfume. 

Hermoine always has her nose buried in a book, and can frequently be found in the library.  Likewise, I always have my nose in a book and when I am in school you can find me in the library.  She is not popular, but she is respected.  I was never popular, but for the most part I was respected.

Hermoine loves books, history, and learning.  I do too.  She fell in love with Ron.  I did too (lol).  She is fiercely  loyal, brave, bossy, and yes, she is a know-it-all.  I am all of those things.

Hermonie is so much like me (right down to the bushy brown hair and the sarcastic quips) that I am fully convinced that J.K. Rowling is in fact a witch and must have based this character on me.  If not, well...Rowling captured the soul of bossy know-it-all children so very well that people like me instantly fell in love with Hermoine Granger.

So what character defines you?  Is there a character that resonates with you, a character that made you think "Wow! That's me"?