Sadly, I admit to wasting away part of my holiday weekend with Facebook. (Never mind the piles of laundry which need my attention.) Eoin brought me our current bedtime novel to read, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. We are enjoying reading many of the classics together; I, reliving them from my childhood. Many of these characters are like old friends whom I am reconnecting with, much like Facebook is a source for people to reconnect with others. I then began to think about fictional characters I would like to friend on Facebook.
Here are a few. And why.
Elizabeth Bennett…one of the most complicated literary characters eve
r written. Pride and Prejudice is one of the great romances of all of literature but yet extra special because it seems so romantic and realistic. Elizabeth became attractive to Mr. Darcy when he discovered her true personality, despite not holding the same status as was required of couples in Victorian England. Jane Austen introduces a couple that is not glamorized by beauty but fall in love with the personality of the other. Austen created characters with contrast. Besides, I so love the Colin Firth movie version of Mr. Darcy.
Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables devilish curiosity, personal strength, helped her overcome the harsh hand life deal this orphan and as a result became a teacher. I so love her vivid use of imagination.
Charlie Buckett from Charlie and the Cho
colate factory. While this is a current read in the Potwin household, I am reminded of Charlie’s kind and gentle disposition as well as his honesty, despite being presented with the opportunity to profit greatly by deceitfully participating in industrial candy espionage. Besides, I would warn him to stay away from the nasty Veruca Salt. Not only is she a spoiled little girl, but has dreadful manners.
Nora Krank from Skipping Christmas by John Grisham, became multi million dollar grossing movie Christmas with the Kranks. Anyone who celebrates the Christmas holiday with as much vim and vigor as Nora has my undying appreciation. I can totally relate to her and teh demands of holiday preparation. Plus, I would love some of her holiday decorating tips.
Paddington Bear ( who, admittedly, is really not a person). Perhaps meeting up for coffee…or tea…would be a better initial meeting , before deciding to ‘friend’ Paddington. I am not sure about having an actual meal with a bear, though in the whimsical spirit of this blog, I would elect to have a proper British tea, including marmalade sandwiches, with the Bear from deepest, darkest Peru, most likely in Harrod’s Food Court..or possibly Fortum and Mason’s…or the like. Hold the cream …I know that Paddington would make a mess of the cream and then I would be responsible for wiping off his whiskers. And use paper cups, I do not wish to be responsible for broken china.
Edgar Allan Poe’s Raven, though I would choose when to accept this friend request…..distinctly not in the bleak December. Yes, I too choose to read as a form of escapism, though not for seek solace of Lenore’s lost. And yes, I too feel for the narrator’s sense of undying devotion, though perk up buttercup…madness is not the answer.
Colin in the Secret Garden. I would love to discuss his transformation from doom and gloom to being a sunny optimist.
Eloise…living in that New York hotel for so long, I am sure she has become accustomed to a certain level of service and a ” joie de vie” wh
en approaching life. Friending Eloise would be a must. When she returns from Paris, of course.
Babar…I want more tidbits of life behind the palace walls.
Birdie Boyers…the Strawberry Girl depicts Florida Cracker life, in lieu of a friend request perhaps a nice meal out on the town, perhaps a strawberry short cake desert would be welcomed. I would like to learn more about how she applied herself to har
d work around her. If there is one thing which I value above all else in this world, it is hard work and those who apply themselves to a challenge.
So many great books, so many great characters…many of them are like old friends. I look forward to revisiting them, perhaps not through Facebook, though through readings with my son as he grows to love the expressive written word as much as I do.
I will admit that I am addicted to my Ipad. I read ebooks off of it, connect with my email, Facebook and various social media, blog, take quick photos, utilize it for library duties, even give Accelerated Reader tests to my students on this device.
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