This may very well be the first time ever I've done a meme, though I've been tagged before. Anyway, here goes.
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your LJ along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
6. Tag five people.
"As she danced to the rhythm of the tambourine which her round, delicate arms held over her head, she seemed to be some sort of supernatural creature, with her billowy, multicolored dress, her bare shoulders, her shapely legs, which her skirt revealed from time to time, her jet-black hair and her fiery eyes.
"'She's a nymph, a goddess!' thought Gringoire. Just then a strand of the 'goddess's' hair came loose and a brass coin which had been attached to it fell to the pavement."
A semi-steamy excerpt that. It's from a copy of The Hunchback of Notre Dame that is nearest my computer only because I'm getting rid of it because I've discovered it's an abridged edition. Holly does not read Hugo abridged! It has come to my attention that several of my paperbacks are abridged editions, and it's hard to tell, because the word "abridged" is usually carefully hidden on the cover.
I'll tag ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
brukwurm, firebreatherjen, shadmere, acquana, and icarus_suraki.
And here's another meme on which I was tagged long ago by lauralyrics and which I'm finally posting.
Name 15 fictional characters you would date, or might consider dating against your better judgement, or otherwise find attractive (in no particular order, add reasons if you wish) and then tag 4 people to do the same.
1) Edward Fairfax Rochester from Jane Eyre, my number-one crush of all time. I stole another critic's epithet for another of my crushes (No. 2), and I refer to Rochester as "sex incarnate."
2) Mr. Knightley from Emma. Whereas Rochester appeals to my baser parts, Mr. Knightley is noble, admirable, the perfect gentleman. I refer to him as "the most perfect male ever formed in the mind of God or man."
3) Professor Friedrich Bhaer from Little Women, a close second to Mr. Knightley in masculine virtue, and with a cute German accent.
4) The Phantom of the Opera, whom I call Erik. (Yes, I'm on a first-name basis with a fictitious deformed homicidal maniac.) He's got the voice of an angel, the mind of a genius, the seductive power of a god, and a love undying. So what are a couple of murders between friends?
5) The beast from "Beauty and the Beast." I mean the traditional fairy tale, not specifically the Disney version. As my regular readers know, the beast exemplifies and has named my Beast Complex. For fuller details see my 1-2-2005 entry.
6) Sir Percival Blakeney, the Scarlet Pimpernel, from the novel or from the film starring Anthony Andrews. He combines the appeal of the superhero with that of the historical love interest, along with a cape and a British accent.
7) Aragorn son of Arathorn. Yes, like Eowyn (with whom I identify strongly), I have stars in my eyes for this tall, noble, destiny-burdened heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor. And he's much too far out of reach for either Eowyn or me.
8) Faramir son of Denethor. This man comes close to Mr. Knightley in masculine perfection. He's a skilled warrior who places himself in danger for his fighting men, his loved ones, and his country; but he hates war. He would rather study at Gandalf's feet and woo a wild shield-maiden of Rohan.
9) Dr. MacNeil from Christy. He's educated and eloquent yet fiercely loyal to his poor, rural homeland. He's dark, broody, and mysterious, with a tragic romantic past and a to-die-for Scottish accent.
10) Remus Lupin. Selfless and noble yet kind and accessible. His sympathy knows no bounds, and everyone is safe and cared for with him. Add to this his angst at being a werewolf (He's a beast!) and his resistance to putting the woman he loves in danger. Be still my heart!
11) Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing, especially as played by Kenneth Branaugh. A girl can spar verbally with him all day, and he'll finally stop her mouth with a kiss. Then he'll challenge the man who wronged her cousin and send chills up her spine with his masculinity.
12) Don Pedro from Much Ado, especially as played by Denzel Washington. This man is the perfect prince -- tall, handsome, royal, responsible, willing to fight, willing to play. He understands the importance of love, though he remains without.
13) Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility. He's the older, wiser, sophisticated man who wants to shelter his young love from the hardships of the world. Add to that his sad romantic past, his unrequited (until the end) present love, and his sizable fortune and estate, and we have a very attractive prospect.
14) Nicholas Nickleby as played by Charlie Hunnam. This man is everything I say I don't like in men -- young, cute, blond, naive, idealistic -- and yet he pulls it off so well that I can't help but like him. He does manage to look very masterful when challenging the man who compromised his sister.
15) Batman. Come on, every girl has her superhero crush. And Batman is great because his "powers" are natural, not due to being an alien or being bitten by a radioactive bug or doused in nuclear waste. He's a rich guy who decided to learn martial arts, build a lot of cool gadgets, and fight crime. He, too, is the only superhero I know whose alter ego isn't a dork. Batman -- cool. Millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne -- still cool.
For this one, I tag anyone who wants to, but specifically brukwurm, firebreatherjen, shadmere, and icarus_suraki.
tired
