Something New: First Tag – The Mystery Blogger Award-Tag

Posted on by CC

Don’t worry, folks! I have a real post-review coming up. It’s currently in the oven waiting for the yeast to work through and rise so we can all enjoy a properly done, soft, fluffy final product. 🙂

In the meantime, The (Awesome) Story Sponge has generously nominated me for The Mystery Blogger Tag!

Well, technically, she didn’t nominate me. She nominated whoever is interested in answering her questions in a blog post.

Which I’m sure, means me. Because her questions are just the type I like to answer. 😉 So thank you, Story Sponge, for this lovely opportunity.

1. Put the award logo/image on your blog.

2. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.

3. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well (this award was created by Okoto Enigmas).

4. Answer the five questions you were asked.

6. You have to nominate ten – twenty people.

7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blogs.

8. Ask your nominees any five questions of your choice with one weird or funny question.

9. Share a link to your best post(s).

My Responses to The Story Sponge’s Most Intriguing and Rather Mysterious Questions

1) If you were a vegetable, what variety of vegetable would you be?

A tomato.

Unsplash.com, by Slejven Djurakovic

I love them. You can make tomato soup with oyster crackers, barbecue sauce, taco sauce, Italian spaghetti sauce, and – lo and behold – pizza topping sauce!

All my favorite foods. 🙂

Not that I would actually want to be eaten. O.O The thought of which makes me wonder what it is that the originator of this question is trying to get at.

2) What is the best piece of entertainment you’ve consumed recently?

It may have had something to do with the fact that I had less sleep the night before than I’m used to, but seeing TEXAS starring William Holden and Glenn Ford made me laugh so hard I fell off the couch.

Confederate soldiers Dan (William Holden) and Tod (Glenn Ford) look to Texas for opportunities when the war ends. Upon witnessing a stagecoach robbery, the close friends ambush the outlaws and confiscate the stolen funds. Tod wishes to return the money, but Dan wants to keep it. After a sheriff gives chase, each man runs off on his own. They are reunited after some time, but with Tod now an honest ranch hand and Dan an outlaw cattle rustler, the two do not know if their friendship can survive.

from link below

Tip of my hat to Eva over at https://classicsandcraziness.wordpress.com/2017/09/29/some-thoughts-on-texas-1941/ for recommending this. Go check out her article for more info on this movie (it’s a quick read – around 3 minutes 🙂

Lots of laughs, good values, compelling conflict. And true to its times, mostly clean (there’s some violence in a prize fighting and gun fights but mostly dramatic, and maybe rare/light language). I also concluded that I should probably watch more Glenn Ford westerns. 🙂

If seeing a 1941 black & white Western is not up your alley (yet – though you really should give it a try, dear), I will say TOLKIEN (2019) is a worthy watch. I know I need to still post up a review for this but I will say here that 1) although it does not give me a full complete bio of Tolkien’s life, 2) I think what it does show is cinematically breathtaking and the actors are amazing and the story is bittersweet and inspiring and reminds me (once again) how much I like movies about authors. Good authors, that is. Great ones especially.

To all you artists: we need community. 🙂 It builds and encourages and holds us accountable. This movie conveys this message so well.

I just wish they’ll make another movie about The Inklings with a focus on Tolkien’s relationship with Lewis. And this world needs a better movie based on C.S. Lewis’ life.

3) What is a book that you dislike that everyone else seems to love?

In terms of the wide reader community, I would say the Twilight Saga and The Divergent Trilogy.

In terms of the reader community that I follow the most (you know who you are :), I must admit I dislike A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes – no, not hate (for that word would be too strong for this) but there is enough dislike here that I never finished the book. At the time I attempted to read this work, I couldn’t connect to the (I thought rather angsty) main character (who also happens to be the narrator).

Which does not necessarily mean I will forever dislike it, for I’ve had books that I disliked until someday I finally finish reading it or get it.

(And before one of your Nadine-fans decide to throw stones towards my window here, I shall say that I own a hardback of FAWKES and want to read it this summer. 😉

4) What is a book that you love that no one else seems to know exists?

This is hard. Because I have discovered quite a few favorites that I don’t hear talked about very often.

Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s Tales of Goldstone Wood Series is the first that my brain thought of. Especially Starflower and Dragonwitch (but I truly think all of them are extraordinary except the first one, mostly due to the author’s growth as a writer and storyteller).

[When I read Maya’s recent post flotsam & jetsam | 5, I was so delighted that she mentioned her love for this series.]

This series truly is comparable to Tolkien and Lewis’s Narnia and she writes beautifully. Additionally, the amazing story concepts, while certainly are original, are deeply inspired by classical concepts and myths. Which I appreciate wholeheartedly.

Sit through the first book with patience. The rest will amaze you. I promise.

Honorable mentions:

Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses – translation of primary, original, historical documents from Joan’s allies and enemies about her extraordinary life. (Interesting historical fact: Mark Twain, a rather known anti-Catholic, spent twelve years of preparation and two years of writing for his work Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc.)

Joan of Arc, John Everett Millais (1829–1896)

Consider this unique and imposing distinction. Since the writing of human history began, Joan of Arc is the only person, of either sex, who has ever held supreme command of the military forces of a nation at the age of seventeen.

Louis Kossuth

The Scarlet Pimpernel – this fictional historical hero inspired Batman – need I say more? Scaramouche and Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini. Historical adventure with humor and even philosophy, which I think is quite a combined feat for the adventure genre.

5) If you had a sword, what would you name it?

Nightblood.

Because 1) Brandon Sanderson and 2) it sounds mysterious and eerie. Maybe a bit too eerie.

Second option would be, ahem, Excalibur. Because I’m like all things King Arthur related. 🙂

source

Three Facts About Me You Might Find Interesting

One. I posted a page on my site that I have not yet mentioned in a blog post, and I’ve been waiting to see if and when someone would mention that they noticed it. (A nod to this tag’s title “Mystery.”)

Two. If I can talk to three historical people who lived after The Bible timeline, they would be Joan of Arc, Thomas Jefferson, and C.S. Lewis. (There are too many Biblical times people I’d love to meet. 🙂

Three. Apparently, I possess the same MBTI as C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, Thomas Jefferson, Emily Bronte, Issac Newton, and Nikola Tesla. That’s quite a list to live up to – I admire and respect all of those amazing people. On the disturbing side, Hannibal Lector and Professor Moriarty. O.O
(According to https://www.personalityclub.com/blog/famous-intj/

My Five Questions

1) That is one vice you must fight against the most often?

2) Which fictional character can you relate to the most and why?

3) Pick three historical figures would you wish to meet and have tea/coffee with. What you would discuss with them?

4) What story world would you choose to live in until your dying breath? (Yep, there’s no goin’ back.)

5) What is one movie you wish more people would watch? (Or a book if you’re really not into films.)

My “Best” Posts

I guess when I’ve only written a handfull of posts, it’s really hard to figure out which is my “best.” Here goes:

Goodbye Christopher Robin ~ Movie Review

Mini-Reviews, Batch No. 1: Captain Blood, MIB: International, The Princess Bride, 49th Parallel, Spider-Man: Far From Home

Dead Poets Society ~ Movie Review

I’d better jump to it and review some action/adventure movies… or else you might get an inaccurate impression of my entertainment tastes. 😀

Thanks for Reading!

I heartily welcome any of your comments or questions concerning my responses to this fun tag! 🙂 I’m also interested in your responses! Feel free to take up this tag if you are a blogger, and if you are not – no fear – the vacant comment box awaits your presence.

Who I’ve Chosen:

Maya Joelle

the rain drenched writer – Evelyn

the happy hedgehog – Eden

The Story Sponge

Seven Billion Smiles – Emma Starr

chalicetheartist

R. J. Sheffler

writefury

The Sarcastic Elf

coffee, classics, & craziness – Eva

Jane Maree

Sixty-Something Trees

World of Chronicles

The Bookshop Barista

YOU! 😀

Published by CC

“Holy wisdom is not clear and thin like water, but thick and dark like blood.” ~ C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces Profile image is Enjolras from Les Miserables (2012, Directed by Tom Hooper).

54 thoughts on “Something New: First Tag – The Mystery Blogger Award-Tag”

      2. I once had Aragorn in his complete Strider-garb sitting in the corner at the Prancing Pony as my profile pic. It was awesome. I also was known as “Strider” for a short time, but that was several years ago. 😀

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          1. I’d love to see the movie of Les Mis, but I haven’t attempted to read the book yet… after reading David Copperfield last year I’m a little hesitant to attempt THAT huge of a book. 😅 I might at some point, though.

            Yes, he was. I felt so mysterious. XD

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            1. Gotcha! 🙂 The movie musical is wonderful!! The best album version is of course the 10th Anniversary.

              I have not yet read the entire Les Mis. I’m trying to listen to the audio reading of it on LibriVox.org (free public domain), and/or get an abridged version (because honestly I don’t need to read tangential information and essays in the first time around reading).

              Dickens. Yeah. He can be a bit intimidating to read through. 🙂 But Tale of Two Cities has no comparison. And his characterization can be so interesting, right?

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              1. Ooh, then I’ll have to check it out! Ah, that’s cool. I listen to a lot of books on audible, so I should try to find a Les Mis reading on there. Yes, Dickens has very interesting characters, plots, etc. *nods*

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  3. *raises hand*
    I NOTICED THAT PAGE. I was on your site the other day and saw it and explored it and thought about saying something but then realized that it was probably something you were going to introduce/refer to in a post or something. xD I guess I was right. 😉
    (Speaking of which, if you’re interested, Story Embers has a fun Easter egg page that I stumbled upon recently… good luck finding it. 😉 )
    (it’s actually kinda easy and looks a little out of place if you’re on the right page xD)

    Anyways… Tolkien is a movie I have really been wanting to watch, but haven’t gotten around too yet. 😛 I’ve never heard of Texas, but I enjoy a good classic western when I’m in the mood, so I’m going to keep it in mind. (:

    Last summer I read the first two books in Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s Tales of Goldstone Wood and I found them a little.. annoying? Maybe because I didn’t like any of the characters. The closest I got to liking or at least understanding or a character was the second one where the *no spoilers* traitor in the first is fleshed out a little more in the second. The first one, honestly, (and much of the second) was hard to get through. Like you said, I guess it’s due to the author’s growth as a writer. Maybe I should look into the other ones and finish the series! And maybe try her other one. 🙂

    (Oh btw, xD just a note, since you recently helped me with one of my posts, I think an image didn’t load around when you’re talking about the series? There’s a jpeg link. :))

    The Scarlett Pimpernel I got around to reading recently and really enjoyed! I hope to read some of the squeals soon – a friend told me they are just as good!

    Hahahaha the list of “people with same MBTI” always gets your hopes up first… only to stick someone like Moriarty in there. 😉

    Great post, thanks for the tag! 😀

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    2. *high five your raised hand* Yep. I actually was going to sit on that for, oh, a looong time. xD Was going to see if anyone Likes or Comments on it without my saying anything ’bout it.
      (Oh really?! That’s cool! I just poked around SE site and did not find it… oh well, may need to take more time. *unless thou art willing to offer my poor ignorant self some hints (?)*)

      Awesome! Let me know when/if you get to see either Texas or Tolkien! 🙂 I want to know your thoughts.

      Absolutely, Evelyn! I actually skipped Veiled Rose (No. 2) and Moonblood (No. 3) until after I read Starflower and Dragonwitch (which are closely related) and I LOVED them. I kept going because a reader friend recommended them and I really did appreciate Stengl’s prose and worldbuilding (and names – she really can make each nation’s names unique). Also two thumbs up for all the Christian themes that had much depth and yet was not preachy or cliched. I’m glad I did. So certainly really encourage you to pick up Starflower and Dragonwitch (and the rest, if you feel like they’re worth your time :). Rather fast reads and they’re amazing and full of humor and magic and I really truly wish they can adapt these into a miniseries because they will be visually amazing and thematically extraordinary… ❤ ❤ ❤

      (Oh really? Thank you for pointing that out. I shall take a look at the settings/link in a minute here. )

      "squeals"? I love squeals! It's such lovely word compared to sequels 😀 And yes, all the sequels that I've read so far are really great. Just nothing quite as amazing as that first reveal though. (No – I'm not teasing you. I honestly laughed when I read it and may just have to try out that word myself xD)

      I know, right? (What's your MBTI?)

      Thanks for reading! And I look forward to see if you shall take up the tag. 🙂

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      1. Aye, I see. I feel bad now, I should have said something or left a comment or something. Ooops. 😆
        (Hmm hint. I guess… go to the forum page and just investigate it closely? They made the link blend in as best they could… though the picture is what made me first notice it. Very non-writerly related subject I guess… I don’t know. xD )

        Oh interesting! Well, they will go on the list of books I will borrow from the library once it opens up again. 😛 (It’s a lonngggg list these days)

        Hahaha! I KNEW that I was going to misspell something in my comment after pointing out the link. This is what I get for that… As soon as I typed it out I thought “Yup, just watch me say something completely wrong” 😆
        Well it could have been worse and honestly I like of like that. “Oh yes I read the most wonderful squeal the other day…”
        I’m going to have to start using that. xD

        I’m afraid, I’m going to have to politely decline sharing my MBTI. 😛 Normally I wouldn’t mind sharing but in the past I’ve had a bad experience with someone who abused the knowledge and now I’m a bit more hesitant putting it out there, you know… for the internet and all its trolls to see. xD

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        1. Haha – no biggie – nothing to feel bad about, anyways. It’s all part of my little experiment?

          (Ahh… I don’t have the time right now to look for it, but I shall tomorrow! Much obliged, Evelyn!)

          Yep. Me too. 😦 But Safety First…

          Yes, you really should. You came up with it, after all!

          Gotcha – I completely understand. I suppose I didn’t hold it back mostly because I had followed a lot of blogs who included MBTI in their user profiles… but I’m careful with other info (and I appreciate your assistance, hint – complete name.) 🙂

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  4. I love your answers! I am honored that you liked my questions. 🙂
    I would really enjoy seeing a movie about The Inklings. I enjoyed some aspects of Tolkien, but I definitely missed getting to meet C.S. Lewis.
    I read the first book of both the Divergent series and the Twilight Saga, and I have no desire whatsoever to read anything more of either. I have seen a lot of bloggers praising Nadine Brandes, but I tried to read Fawkes last summer and I gave up. (Maybe I didn’t try very hard.) But the writing style irritated me, as did the main character. Then again, it doesn’t take much for a writing style to irritate me. I am the most irritable story sponge there is. I thought the idea was really intriguing, but other than that I found it uninspiring. (I saw that you are hoping to read Fawkes this summer, and I hope I don’t dismay you with my criticism. I would be interested to hear what you think of it.)
    I shall have to look into the Tales of Goldstone Wood series. I have never seen it anywhere besides here and on Maya’s blog. But if you both think it’s wonderful, I cannot ignore it.
    Nightblood. Love it.
    Wow, that’s amazing that you share a personality type with all those people! Haha, and Professor Moriarty. That’s hilarious.
    I would love to answer your questions, but since I just did this tag it might be a while before my post appears. Your questions look promising!

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    1. Thank ye, Story Sponge, for reading! 🙂

      Yes. That’s exactly what I felt. But I heard they’re making one or two other Tolkien movies so cross my fingers on that. 🙂

      I guess you already know that I read the entire Divergent trilogy. 😛 I have not read any Twilight because 1) vampires is NOT my thing, and 2) I have read The Host and I thought that was OK (premise was really interesting) and saw the movie and I have not anything against Meyer’s writing style so I stuck by my reason No. 1 whenever anyone asks me and I also tell them reason No. 2 just so they know I read something from her. 😀

      😛 I started to read Fawkes last year right after I got it in the mail but I didn’t go on because it was gripping right off the bat and I had other things going on. But I really plan on reading it more seriously this summer, and will let you know what I think (from a Non-Time to Die fan 😉 So no – you did not discourage me whatsoever. Because it looks like we both had the same impression…

      Yes, you need to. 🙂 Unfortunately, so many popular authors today have such informal writing style even in fantasy…ugh…. But I think you’ll love Tales of Goldstone Woods (if not the entire series, at least part of the series – since book 1 is really not that great, but the rest are a lot better, and I’ve already said my two favorites). And to be honest, I’ve never found another living author with a style and worldbuilding quite like hers and comparable to Middle Earth and Narnia. 🙂 The best part of it is that it’s Christian fantasy without being super preachy or run of the mill. Let me know when/if you get a chance to read it! 🙂

      Sure! 🙂 I look forward to reading your third round at this tag!

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  6. What?? Batman was inspired by the Scarlet Pimpernel? I can’t decide whether that’s cool or not. 😂
    Also, I really want to read the Tales of Goldstone Wood Series now. 🙂
    Thanks for the tag! I’m looking forward to answering your questions. 😁

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    1. I know, right?! In all honesty, though, The Scarlet Pimpernel is not half as noir/dark as The Dark Knight. But there are certainly similar characteristics of these two legendary heroes 🙂

      Yes yes yes – I’m so happy to be able to get more readers to read Tales of Goldstone Wood – please let me know when/if you get to read them! (Technically I recommend the entire series for a complete understanding of the characters’ backstories/world’s history and etc, but if you dislike Heartless – the first book – please feel free to try either Veiled Rose or Starflower (they can be read as standalones – so you won’t be lost if you skip some, but I feel that the entire series should be read for a complete experience of her storyworld and characters etc. since some characters are Immortal Faerie and they pop up thousands of years in between 😉

      You’re very welcome, Chalice!!

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  7. Great answers, Purse Wisdom (yes, I still remember that typo 😂). This post was so fun and I quite enjoyed reading it!!

    That I don’t know which page you’re talking about is really driving me bananas! I’m pretty sure that I have clicked on every single page on this website but I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about. *whispers* Can I pleaseee have a hint? 😜

    Thanks for the tag, friend!

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  8. I don’t know what your name is, but from now on I shall think of you as Bob. (You know. Because you’re a tomato.) (The Story Sponge is clearly a cannibal and is trying to decide the most artistic way to cook all of us.)

    I love old Westerns. ESPECIALLY “the Civil War is over. hmm, what shall we do with ourselves now?” Westerns. Texas is hereby given a high place on my TBW.

    Okay, so. A Time to Die. I agree that Parvin is super aggravating (although not so much because of her angstiness. more because she does stupid things and is a bit selfish, for me), and the writing style is not my favorite, and I honestly didn’t even enjoy the first book, but I REALLY REALLY LOVE that series and here’s why: THE SECOND BOOK. Seriously. There is character growth and it’s amazing and the ending punched me in the gut in the most wonderful of ways. So I’m not saying it’ll be everyone’s favorite (though most people I know love it? you’re right that it’s popular in these circles), but it’s all worth it for me, because of book 2. And you can’t get to book 2 without book 1, haha.

    Hey, I recently read Starflower! It was lovely. I’ve heard all sorts of recommendations, so I will definitely have to read more of the series. Especially since you say it rivals Tolkien – although I wouldn’t, at this point, go quite that far, maybe further reading will heighten my already great esteem. (But I must admit I doubt it will heighten it THAT much. My love for Tolkien is perhaps extreme, though I prefer to think it is exactly as much as Tolkien deserves to be loved and no more. He just deserves to be loved THAT MUCH. :P)

    What book is Nightblood from?
    (also, I like that question. And if I had a sword, I’m almost positive I’d name it Durendal in honor of Roland. The first sword I was ever emotionally attached to. lol)

    I love your questions, by the way. Thanks so much for tagging me!
    (And apologies for this monstrously long comment)

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    1. Yay! I found someone who likes old Westerns 🙂 (But I had a feeling you would, given that you’ve read L’Amour 😉 Absolutely let me know when/if you watch TEXAS.

      I promised myself that someday I shall sit down and read A Time to Die and following books. So thanks for the encouragement 🙂

      I probably should not have said “rival” – more like super comparable to Tolkien 🙂 Just have to appreciate high quality writing in Christian genre.

      Nightblood is from Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. I’ve not yet read the book, but I heard about the magic system and it’s just SO COOL. (Durendal is also a fantastic-sounding name! I want to someday read all those old epics but I haven’t yet… 🙂

      You’re very welcome, Sarah! I can’t wait to see your responses.

      P.S. Long comments make my day. 🙂 It lets me know you enjoyed my post so much that you’re willing to invest the time/energy to leave a gorgeously long comment. ❤ Thanks for reading!!

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      1. 😂😂 oh yeah I didn’t even think about Bob not being a girl’s name. My brain just saw “I’m a tomato” and went “BOB!” I didn’t even grow up watching VeggieTales, so ??? But, my deepest apologies, Mademoiselle Tomato. 🍅

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  13. These answers were all so fun to read. YES for ToGSW!!! Now that I know you and I will both be a part of a fansite for that series, I can’t say I’m surprised you mentioned them. 😉 I am soon to read The Scarlet Pimpernel!! I am super excited, since I’ve heard it’s good. 😊

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