Tag: Harry Potter

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn’t Let Anyone Borrow

Holly

Happy Tuesday!! This week’s Top Ten Tuesday theme is technically about books we refuse to let anyone touch; however, I’m going to twist it a bit and share some books that I wouldn’t let anyone borrow. It occurred to me when thinking about the original prompt that there aren’t any books on my shelves that I wouldn’t show to a friend, but there are some books that I wouldn’t want to lend to someone just in case something happened to it.

My signed copy of BZRK by Michael Grant

Let’s flash back to Young Teenage Holly, shall we? In seventh grade, my best friend and I (who I met in a lunch book club group) were obsessed with Michael Grant’s Gone series. When BZRK came out Grant did a bookstore tour and came to a location within driving distance of where we lived. Since neither of us could drive, we both convinced our moms to take us to the bookstore to meet Michael Grant. My mom took an awkward photo of me talking to him, me in a Keep Calm and DFTBA t-shirt and him with his hands outstretched, trying to explain how the ending of the Gone series would be different from that of the television show Lost (which at that point I hadn’t yet watched, so I had no idea what he was talking about). Ah, good times.

My signed copy of the first printing of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

One of my most prized possessions. I’ve been a loyal Nerdfighter since I was in middle school and I think it’s safe to say that I’ll always be a loyal Nerdfighter. This nerdy faithfulness helps explain why I was so eager to pre-order a copy of this novel before I could even blink. I haven’t kept the inside of this book pristine at all–I’ve highlighted and annotated it and put sticky notes all over it. But despite all that clutter, I’d rather not let someone take it far from the vicinity of my bookshelf.

My signed copy of Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

One day while browsing the shelves of my favorite local independent bookstore, I noticed a copy of Why Not Me? that said it was signed. I was flabbergasted. A copy of Mindy Kaling’s most recent book that had been touched by the hands of Mindy herself?!?! Needless to say, I was Shooketh. Also needless to say, I purchased the copy immediately. I’m never letting it go.

My copies of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a big, big, BIG fan of Lord of the Rings. I have several copies of most of the books–most of them are used, although I did buy a new set of nice paperback editions when I was in Oxford. Because most of them are used and tattered and stained, they’re not worth much physically; however, they mean so much to me sentimentally. I would be so, so sad if I ever parted with them.

My copies of Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

My answer for this one is similar to that of Lord of the Rings: NOSTALGIA. SENTIMENTALITY. EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT. The thought of someone else reading my Harry Potter books makes me feel all weird. Not going to happen anytime soon.

Any books that were gifted to me

I feel like this one is pretty obvious–I don’t want to give away something that was given to me, so long as it’s a book that I really enjoyed. What if something were to happen to it?! Can’t have that happen.

I know this list doesn’t contain ten books, but these are all the ones that I could think of off the top of my head. What books would you not let people borrow? What do you think of the ones I’ve listed? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

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Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Dynamic Duos You Didn’t See Coming

Holly

Happy Tuesday!! This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic asks us to mash books together. In the same vein as my Classic Couple feature, I’m going to incorporate a classic and more contemporary book in each pair I make. Let’s see how weird this gets, shall we?

What do you think of the combos I’ve created? What books would you want to see paired together? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Study Abroad

Exploring Edinburgh, Scotland | Holly Goes Abroad

Holly

The time has finally come to share my Big Big Trip adventures (AKA the two-week trip my friend from Wheaton and I took around Europe during our spring break). After spending a few days in London, our next stop on the trip was exploring Edinburgh, Scotland, where my friend was studying abroad for the semester. We only spent a few days in Edinburgh, but we managed to see a remarkable amount in such a short span of time. Here are a few highlights:

The Elephant House

Before heading to Scotland, I had basically promised myself that I would not leave Edinburgh without at least seeing this famous cafe. Commonly known as “the birthplace of Harry Potter,” the Elephant House seems to always be bursting with eager tourists yearning to see where J.K. Rowling supposedly got the idea for her first magical Harry Potter novel. Fortunately my friend and I were seated rather quickly and I was able to enjoy a lovely cup of early grey tea in this charming, inviting, warm cafe. Strangely, the best part of this cafe was the bathroom– I’ve never seen so much Harry Potter-themed graffiti in one place before!! I would recommend the Elephant House to any and all Harry Potter fans visiting Edinburgh.

The Writers’ Museum

Tucked away in a little corner consisting of small passageways and winding staircases, the Writers’ Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in the literary history of Edinburgh. Not only is this museum thoughtfully curated, but the staff were also so friendly and knowledgeable. I particularly enjoyed the Robert Louis Stevenson parts, since he’s a writer who I was only vaguely familiar with prior to visiting this museum. I had no idea that he produced so much travel writing!

Victoria Street

Rumor has it that this curved, sloping street was J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. After walking down its wide, seemingly never-ending turn I couldn’t agree more! There are also some fantastic Harry Potter shops on this street, including one where you can put on a robe and take a photo pretending to be a wizard. This entire street makes you feel like you’re walking through a movie set–definitely worth strolling down (or up, although that might be more of a hike) at least once!

Tom Riddle’s Grave

Yet another Harry Potter sight to see in Edinburgh: the grave of Tom Riddle! Learning about Tom Riddle’s back story is one of my favorite aspects of the Harry Potter series, so I was ecstatic when I learned that I would be able to see this literary landmark in person. Unfortunately it was very muddy when we went so we weren’t able to get very close to it. Nevertheless, it was an amazing spot to visit!

Frankenstein Pub

If you are at all into Frankenstein, Halloween, or themed pubs in general, then this is the place for you! The spooky, fun decor is awesome and every so often an animatronic monster comes out from a top balcony. They also have plenty of Frankenstein-themed cocktails. I’m so glad that this happened to be one of my friend’s favorite places to go because otherwise I probably would never have even known it was there!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this taste of my Edinburgh experience. There’s so much to do in this city and I know that I merely scratched the surface–all the more reason to go back some day!

Click here to check out other posts in my Holly Goes Abroad series!

Have you ever been to Edinburgh? What are your favorite things to do there? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Awards

One Lovely Blog Award | 4

Holly

Waking up to see that I’ve been nominated for things like the One Lovely Blogger Award always brings a smile to my face. Thanks so much to Stephen @ Stephen Writes and Emma @ A Dreamer’s Library for nominating me!!

  • Thank the person who nominated you for the award;
  • Share seven facts about yourself;
  • Nominate 15 other bloggers and inform them.

Does being nominated twice mean I have to share fourteen facts about myself instead of just seven? If you insist…

1. I’m a morning person. Not only do I enjoy mornings the most out of all the times of the day, but I also tend to automatically wake up early (relative early, of course–around 7:30am).

2. Jurassic Park is my favorite movie. I even dressed up as Laura Dern in Jurassic Park for a bop that was movie themed. Dedication. 

3. I’m a pretty terrible cook. Why make actual meals for myself when I can just eat variations of breakfast (a.k.a. eggs, toast, and oatmeal) for every meal?

4. I like to bake. However, baking is different. What’s not to love about sweet treats at the end? I also feel like mistakes are less noticeable while baking than while cooking actual meals (chocolate hides pretty much everything).

5. I can touch my nose with my tongue. When I was younger I assumed that everyone could do this, but apparently that isn’t the case. Now I use it as my go-to fun fact during awkward ice-breakers at orientations, group meetings, etc.

6. I have no idea what Hogwarts House I should be in. This became an actual dilemma when I visited the Platform 9 3/4 sign at King’s Cross Station in London and the Official Scarf Waver asked me what House I’m in. I ended up saying Gryffindor because I thought the maroon scarf would stand out more in the photo AND because I just couldn’t decide in that short moment. WHAT AM I.

7. I’m allergic to MANY things, not just nuts. Dogs, Cats, birch pollen, ragweed, grass… the list goes on and on!

8. My favorite food is pizza. I could eat pizza every night for a week (or two! or three!) and still not complain. I am ALWAYS in the mood for pizza.

9. I rarely watch Netflix during terms/semesters. Some people turn to Netflix when they want to wind down after a long day of working in the library, but for some reason I usually don’t watch Netflix during term time unless I’m watching it with friends. Maybe this explains why I’m always so behind on shows?

10. I love listening to music while I work. Some people prefer silence when they read or write, but I’d rather have at least some background noise while I’m working.

11. I have a bookstagram. If you’ve followed this blog for a while I feel like you probably already know this already, but I thought I would throw it out there just in case. It’s so much fun!

12. I am an avid list maker. Almost every day the last thing I do before heading to bed is make a to-do list for the next day. Even if I don’t check off everything on the list it’s still nice to wake up with a clear direction for the day. (Besides, what’s more satisfying than checking off tiny boxes?)

13. If I’m not drinking tea, I’m usually drinking hot water. Drinking plain hot water in a mug is something that people are either 100% on board with or think is the strangest thing they’ve ever witnessed. I love it.

14. I love mugs. Speaking of mugs, I adore them. I have far too many for one human being. But when will I stop acquiring new ones? (Never.)

Thanks again to Stephen and Emma for nominating me! ❤

What’s a fun fact about you? What do you think of mine? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Study Abroad

I visited Platform 9 3/4!! | Holly Goes Abroad

Holly

It’s happened, folks. I’ve become a wizard, which means I’ve officially peaked.

While my mom was visiting me in Oxford for a week during my spring break we decided to spend two days scurrying around London, trying to fit in as much as possible. When she asked me what I wanted to do during those two days, I immediately had one request: go to the Platform 9 3/4 sign at King’s Cross Station. I’ve wanted to visit this iconic location ever since learning years ago that such a sign actually exists making it the perfect first stop on our London adventure.

Interestingly enough, J.K. Rowling was apparently thinking of Euston Station instead of King’s Cross when she wrote her famous series. The platform sign is actually located between platforms eight and nine due to the fact that platform ten is in a different building and there would be no convenient brick wall on which to build this magical scene. There are attendants organizing the photo-taking process and even a photographer taking photos of each wannabe-wizard, although it is absolutely free to take your own photos. A cute Harry Potter gift shop is next to the sign with everything from small souvenirs to an impressive selection of fancy wands. We waited a little over half an hour to take a photo, so keep waiting times in mind if you’re planning a visit.

When it’s your turn to take a photo, the attendant asks you which Hogwarts House you’re in to determine which scarf you’ll where. You can imagine my dilemma as a self-declared Ravenpuff/Huffleclaw when I realized this was how it worked. I had to pick just one House?! The injustice! The indecision! As you can see from my photo, I ultimately went with Gryffindor on a whim. (I’m studying abroad for a year–that counts as courage and determination, right?) Who knows? Maybe this is the beginning of my Gryffindor identity?!?!

Waiting in line to take a photo in front of a random sign marking a platform that doesn’t even exist may sound ridiculous, and perhaps it is. But it is worth it. Everyone in that line was ecstatic to be there, grinning from ear to ear as the attendant wrapped a scarf around their necks and handed them a wand to take a photo. I couldn’t help but marvel at all of the people who traveled great distances just to celebrate a fictional world that they love. If this doesn’t speak to the power and importance of books–especially ones that so many of us associate with our childhoods–then I don’t know what does!

All in all, I’m so glad I was able to visit the Platform 9 3/4 sign like my eleven-year-old self always dreamt of doing. If you’re ever near King’s Cross Station and have some time to spare, I highly recommend checking out this incredible place!

Click here to check out other posts in my Holly Goes Abroad series!

Have you ever been to the Platform 9 3/4 sign? Which Hogwarts House do you most identify with? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Tags

My Bookish Identity Tag

Holly

It’s time for another tag, and this one is particularly fun: let’s take a look at my bookish identity! I love identity/personality quizzes like these, so as soon as I realized I’d been tagged for this I was very excited. Thanks so much to Fran for tagging me!!

What dystopian/fantastical world would you live in?

This is so difficult! For me, it’s definitely a tie between Hogwarts and Middle-earth. They’re both so different from each other but still so lovely in their own ways!

Who would your partner be?

Another challenging question… I’d probably have to go with Legolas from Lord of the Rings. Think of how great we’d be at getting past any obstacles in our way!

Who would be your godly mother/father? [Percy Jackson]

Thankfully Fran included a link to a handy quiz that tells you just this bit of info! Apparently my godly parent would be Demeter (goddess of agriculture, grain, and bread). I do like bread a lot…

Would you be a downworlder or nephilim? [Shadowhunter world]

Nephilim! I want to have those fancy faux-tattoos. (Also, I think the politics within the Shadowhunter world would be incredibly interesting to witness firsthand!)

Which house would you be in? [Harry Potter]

SO CONFLICTED. Whenever I take House tests I always alternate between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. (I feel like outwardly I might be a Hufflepuff, but inwardly a Ravenclaw?) So maybe I’m a Huffleclaw? Ravenpuff? 

Which faction would you be in? [Divergent]

It’s quiz time again! Apparently I’m Divergent, even though I really though I would be placed in Erudite.

What would be your daemon [Northern Lights]

I’ve always wanted a daemon! According to this quiz, mine is a snow leopard!

Thanks again to Fran for this really fun tag!

What are your answers to these questions? What do you think of mine? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Fictional Crushes

Holly

Happy Tuesday!! I hope you’ve all been having a lovely week. Today I’m here to do another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is a fun one: fictional crushes! We all have those characters that we secretly wish were real, right? Time to share!

Harry from Harry Potter and the Sorcerors’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

Ah, the original book crush. Reading this series in second grade was probably the first time I had a fictional crush. (But it wouldn’t be the last!)

Jesse Tuck from Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

I feel like this one sort of goes without explaining if you’ve read the book. So sweet! So kind! So enthusiastic!

Jonah Griggs from Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

A thousand times yes. Is it a stereotypical tough-guy-is-actually-sweet trope? Yes. Does it matter? Absolutely not.

Gabriel Oak from Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

Oh, Bathesheba. Though you couldn’t appreciate the thoughtful, loyal, hard-working guy right in front of you, the rest of us certainly could!

Westley from The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The movie might help a little bit with this one… but there’s no denying Westley’s bravery, wit, and devotion. Princess Buttercup is a lucky girl!

Turns out this list was more difficult to make than I expected… I guess the books I’ve been reading lately have been lacking in the crush department?

What are some fictional crushes that you’ve had? What do you think about the books that I’ve mentioned? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Tags

Ultimate Harry Potter Tag

Holly

I’ve been in England for a few days now (eek!). What better way to celebrate with a quintessentially British series like Harry Potter? I was thrilled when I realized that I had been tagged in such a fun (and long!) tag about this beloved wizarding world. Thanks so much to Bridget @ Bridget & Books for tagging me!!

1. Favorite book?

Definitely Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It’s dark, mysterious, and you learn so much about Tom Riddle’s past. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gone back and reread this book!

2. Least favorite book?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This book is incredibly predictable– I felt as though I knew the entire plot the moment they mentioned there would be a tournament. (Harry would have to be part of it, of course!)

3. Favorite movie?

I’m a huge fan of the sixth movie because I love the book so much, but I also adore Chamber of Secrets. The trio is so young and adorable!!

4. Least favorite movie?

Goblet of Fire. It feels like such a transitional movie to me, almost as though its sole purpose is to bridge the gap between three and five in any way possible.

5. Favorite quote?

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

6. Favorite Weasley?

Okay, this is really difficult. Though I love them all dearly, I think I’m going to have to say that my favorite Weasley is Arthur. I feel like he’s such an important father figure for Harry and he has so many hilarious lines.

7. Favorite female character?

Definitely Hermione. She was such a role model for me growing up as a nerdy, school-loving bookworm.

8. Favorite villain?

TOM RIDDLE. I think learning about Voldemort’s past as Tom Riddle is absolutely fascinating, which is a huge reason why I love the sixth book so much.

9. Favorite male character?

Remus Lupin. If I could have an entire book written about the past of only one Harry Potter character, I would definitely choose Lupin. He’s so interesting and plays an immensely important role in shaping Harry.

10. Favorite professor?

Besides Lupin, I’d say that my favorite professor is McGonagall. Who doesn’t love this brilliant, courageous, strong, compassionate witch?

11. A, Wash Snape’s hair, or B, spend a day listening to Lockhart rant about himself.

Wash Snape’s hair– it’s quick and relatively painless.

12. A, duel an elated Bellatrix, or B, an angry Molly

Hmm…. probably an angry Molly because Bellatrix is absolutely terrifying.

13. Travel to Hogwarts via A. Hogwarts Express or B. flying car.

Hogwarts Express!! (Mostly because I want to know what walking through platform pole feels like…)

14. A, Kiss Voldemort. Or B, give Umbridge a bubble bath.

This is going to sound so strange, but I think I would rather kiss Voldemort. It would be so much quicker than giving Umbridge a bubble bath!

15. A, ride a hippogriff, B, ride a firebolt

I would rather ride a Firebolt because I’ve always wanted to know what it feels like to fly on a broom.

16. Is there a character which you felt differently about in the movies vs books?

I think I disliked Umbridge even more in the movies than in the books, if that’s possible.

17. Is there a movie you preferred instead of the book?

NO.

18. Richard Harris or Michael Gambon as Dumbledore?

Richard Harris. He’ll always be the best Dumbledore in my eyes.

19. Your top thing (person or event) which wasn’t included in the movie that annoyed you most.

PEEVES. Why would they ever leave out such a hilarious characters as Peeves?!?!?!

20. If you could remake any of the Potter movies, which would it be?

Probably the fourth one because it’s my least favorite.

21. Which house was your first gut feeling you’d be a part of?

Ravenclaw. Now I feel as though I might be a mix between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, though I think the former will always be the most dominant house in me.

22. Which house were you actually sorted into on Pottermore (or another online sorting quiz)?

Gryffindor, which I never expected. Maybe I’ve been wrong about my house the whole time???

23. Which class would be your favorite?

I have a feeling I would be that one student who loves History of Magic. I think the history of Hogwarts is so interesting!!

24. Which spell do you think would be most useful to learn?

Accio!! It would be perfect for when I’m too short to reach things on tall shelves.

25. Which character do you think at Hogwarts you’d instantly become best friends with?

Ideally, Hermione and I would be great pals. I feel like we have a lot in common– at the very least, we could spend a lot of time studying together!

26. If you could own one of the three Hallows, which would it be?

The Cloak of Invisibility!! Just think of all the cool things you could do with it…

27. Is there any aspect of the books you’d want to change? This can be a character, an event, anything.

I would change Harry’s relationship with Ginny. It seemed really sudden and almost forced to me in the books, as though they were the only two characters left that weren’t already paired up so Rowling just stuck them together. I would love to see their relationship develop more.

28. Favorite marauder?

Lupin!

29. If you could bring one character back to life, which would it be?

This has to be the most difficult question ever. My gut response is to bring back Snape because I feel as though there is so much left of his story to tell.

30. Hallows or horcruxes?

Definitely hallows! Horcruxes are just plain creepy.

What are your answers to these questions? What HP book is your favorite? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Tags

I Dare You | Book Tag

Holly

Happy Friday!! I hope you’ve all had a great week and are looking forward to an even better weekend. Today I’m here with an exciting tag I’ve never come across before: the I Dare You Book Tag. Thanks so much to Emily @ Mixed Margins for tagging me!

Which book has been on your shelf the longest?

In general, probably Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. I first read it in second grade and I’ve kept the same beloved, tattered copy ever since– I can’t bear to part with it!

What is your current read, your last read, and the book you’ll read next?

  • Current: Sartoris by William Faulkner
  • Last: The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
  • Next: VERY UNDECIDED (help?!?!?!)

What book did everyone like but you hated?

I’m going to use my go-to answer for this one: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. I feel like I talk about this a lot, but it was just SO disappointing because everyone else seems to really love it.

What book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read but you probably won’t?

Unfortunately, I’ve been telling myself that I’ll read J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion for YEARS but I just haven’t gotten around to it. I tried to start it once when I was younger but immediately set it aside because it was incredibly confusing at the time. I would really love to check it off my TBR list someday, but today is not that day. (See what I did there?!)

What books are you saving for retirement?

To be realistic, probably something huge like War and Peace. 

Last page: Read it first or wait until the end?

Story time: I’m someone who likes to know how many pages are in a book before I start reading it so I can keep track of my progress. Consequently, I always look at the very last page just to see the number. However, when I was reading Looking for Alaska by John Green years ago I accidentally read a HUGE SPOILER when I flipped to the back of the book. (Thanks reading circle questions.) Ever since then I’m always overly cautious when I flip to the back of a book.

In short: DEFINITELY wait until the end.

Acknowledgments: waste of paper and ink, or interesting aside?

I used to always skim the acknowledgments, but now I skip right over them unless I’m particularly interested in what a specific author has to say for some reason. I think they’re important and valuable for the author to include, but from a reader’s perspective I don’t usually give them much thought.

Which book character would you switch places with?

My immediate response is HERMIONE (obviously), but a more creative response would be Blue from The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. Can you imagine how amazing it would be to go on all of those adventures?!

Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life? (Place, time, person)

SO MANY. Some books I associate with specific songs I listened to a lot when reading them. For instance, The Fellowship of the Ring reminds me of the song “Even Flow” by Pearl Jam because I read most of it in the back of my dad’s truck the summer before sixth grade and apparently he played that song quite often.

Name an interesting book that you acquired in an interesting way.

I’m not sure if this necessarily counts as super interesting, but the first book that comes to mind is my copy of A Little History of Literature by John Sutherland that I bought at the Met gift shop last year when I went to New York City with my friends. The weird part is that we didn’t actually end up looking at art at the Met that day; rather, we had some time to kill before our bus picked us up so we decided to peruse the gift shop.

Have you ever given a book away for a special reason to a special person?

I’ve given a lot of people books for gifts over the years, but besides that I don’t think I’ve given books away for any other special reasons.

Which book has been with you most places?

Ooooh, what an interesting question! I take a lot of books camping with me every year when my family goes tenting for a week in the summer, but the books I bring change each year. I would probably say any of the Lord of the Rings books simply because I’ve read them so many times that they’ve probably been toted around to countless different places.

Any required reading in high school that wasn’t so bad two years later?

Absolutely!! To name a few: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

Used or brand new?

Ideally: new. Realistically: used, because they’re usually a lot cheaper.

Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?

Nope! I’m hoping to read The Da Vinci Code at some point, though.

Have you ever seen a movie you liked more than the book?

YES. I really loved the movie version of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. The book was great as well, but something about the movie has always stuck with me. (Also, it has a fantastic soundtrack!)

Have you ever read a book that made you hungry (cook books included)?

The first book that comes to mind is Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (especially the Italy section!).

Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take?

I always take my friends’ advice about books– luckily they have excellent taste in books!!

Is there a book out of your comfort zone (e.g., outside your usual reading genre) that you ended up loving?

Last semester I took a history class about Modern Spanish America that focused primarily on Argentina and Mexico from 1800 to the present. We read several monographs for that class that I expected to have to trudge through, but I ended up actually really enjoying the majority of them. The two that were the most interesting to me were Becoming Campesinos by Christopher Boyer and Lexicon of Terror by Marguerite Feitlowitz. They weren’t necessarily uplifting or enjoyable reads, but they were incredibly eye-opening, thought-provoking, and valuable ones.

What are your answers to these questions? What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

Bookish

5 Reasons Why Molly Weasley is the Ultimate Mom

Holly

Happy Mother’s Day!! When I thought about making a Mother’s Day post about fictional moms, one woman immediately popped into my head: Molly Weasley. Every year this red-headed witch tops countless lists of fictional mothers… but why? In an attempt to answer this age-old question, here are 5 reasons why Mrs. Weasley is the ultimate fictional mom:

1. She does it all.

My jaw basically drops any time there’s a scene with Mrs. Weasley doing housework. She’s the master of multi-tasking, even if she does have the help of magic on her side.

2. She doesn’t take any $h!t.

Exhibit A: the Howler. Don’t mess with Molly Weasley, folks!

3. She gives the best Christmas presents.

My goal in life is to receive one of Mrs. Weasley’s knitted jumpers for Christmas. A girl can dream, right?

4. She’s incredibly strong and independent.

I think my favorite scenes of Molly Weasley are in the epic battle at Hogwarts in the final book. Not only does she shout her famously bad@$$ line, but she also demonstrates that mothers (and people in general!) cannot be categorized in a single box. Mothers can be both sweet and strong, feminine and fighting experts.

5. You won’t find a more caring and loving witch.

Above all else, Mrs. Weasley is the ultimate fictional mom because she is endlessly caring, kind, thoughtful, and giving. She loves Harry as though he were her own son and always welcomes people into her home on holidays and when danger arises. She stands up for what she believes in and will stop at nothing to protect those she loves. ❤

Do you think Molly Weasley is the ultimate fictional mom? What are your favorite mothers in fiction? Let me know in the comments section below!

Happy Mother Day!!

Yours,

HOLLY