Top Ten Tuesday : Characters that Remind Me of Myself

Visual Description: Simple, clear font writing. 'top ten' (in pink, no caps). "TUESDAY" (all caps, bolded, colors alternating between yellow, orange, and pink). "www.ThatArtsyReaderGirl.com" (smaller font, in pink, at bottom).

Anne Shirley of Green Gables

Visual Description: A fiery red head tween girl with very messy braids and a messy flower crown on her head turns around and lifts a basket to someone and smiles a enthusiastic toothy smile. She is outside and wearing a plain brown dress. (Note: this is from the Netflix Anne series)

I was reading Anne of Green Gables books since I was probably...I want to say eight. I was a fast reader and voraciously devoured the books. She was an expression of my inner self and the vast imagination that I held inside my heart. She was the version of myself that I didn't feel comfortable or accepted in being in my real life. She was and is my literary kindred spirit. 

Jane Eyre

Visual Description: Screenshot from Jane Eyre 2011. Jane is standing in a golden field, its dreary but clear out, behind her is a stone estate home. She is wearing a blue cloak with her hands holding the hood in place over her head. She is wearing a somber, modest but expensive gown.

Jane Eyre, oh Jane Eyre. She is a part of me. She really is. Here are two quotes that convinced me that I have been a Jane Eyre in a previous life: 

“’I am not an angel,’ I asserted; ‘and I will not be one till I die: I will be myself. Mr. Rochester, you must neither expect nor exact anything celestial of me–for you will not get it, any more than I shall get it of you: which I do not at all anticipate.’”

“No sight so sad as that of a naughty child," he began, "especially a naughty little girl. Do you know where the wicked go after death?"
"They go to hell," was my ready and orthodox answer.
"And what is hell? Can you tell me that?"
"A pit full of fire."
"And should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there for ever?"
"No, sir."
"What must you do to avoid it?"
I deliberated a moment: my answer, when it did come was objectionable: "I must keep in good health and not die.”

Emma

Visual Description: Emma (portrayed by Gwenyth Paltrow). A thin, golden haired beauty is sitting in a parlor (top half visible). She is wearing a pale sea green regency gown. She takes a sip from a teacup while turning her head to the left. It portrays a bit of sass and attitude. 

Ok so hilariously? I don't quite like Emma as much. She has always been one of least favorite of the Austen heroines. And, alas, according to the woman who gave birth to me and my very best friend - I am quite like her. Why? Because I'm a bit...bossy? Not bossy. No, never bossy. Just...I like to fix things and I express my opinions on how to accomplish the fixing of things very well. I also care a lot and I'm convinced that if my sisters just LISTENED to me then they would never have an issue. I'm also very independent and have a very close relationship with my father. 

Cath from Fangirl

Visual Description: Illustrated cartoon image. Salmon pink background. A redhead young woman in a green cardigan, red hair tied back in a bun, and glasses is typing on a laptop with the image of two cartoon men on its screen. One has long dark hair and the other has light hair. Hearts are around them. 

Cath is a introvert, a fandom lover, a fanfic writer who dreams of being published someday, and she and I have a lot in common. She can be taken out of herself but only by the best kind of people. Again, she's close to her Dad. Like I am. And she and I have very similar social anxieties. Kudos to my best friend Madie for pointing her out for this list. 

Jo March

Visual Description: Jo March (portrayed by Maya Hawke Thurman) is sitting on the floor of an attic. Dressed in a white nineteenth century gown, her messy light brown hair is pinned back at the nape of her neck, she is looking upwards and grinning at someone. 

Many times have my sister and I considered which March girl we were. I've always firmly believed she was a cross between Meg and Amy while I was a cross between Jo and Beth. However, over the years, I've become increasingly more Jo than anything else. Her feelings are my feelings, her desires are often my desires. So when I'm asked 'Which March Sister Are You?' - it's always Jo March. 

Caris Weaver from A World Without End

Visual Description: A long dark haired woman, her hair flowing down her sides, is strolling through a medieval market. She is wearing a plain off-white gown with a beige over-apron with flowers pressed into the fabric. A leather satchel is over her shoulder in a casual manner and a apple is in her hands and held in front of her. 

I love Follet's Kingsbridge Trilogy. Caris is a main character in the second one and she is so independent and driven. She is forced to become a Nun or be burned a witch and instead of giving up on her dreams she uses it to fulfill her goal to open up a hospital. Years later she defies everything and gives up the cloth to be with her one true love. Her legacy lives on the city. I might not be as fierce as she is nor as clever - I definitely am inspired by her and hope to have a small part of her tenacity inside of me. 

Agnieska from Uprooted 

Visual Description: A cropped and expanded picture taken from the cover of the book. A brown haired young woman with her eyes closed is leaning over a golden rose with vines growing from it. She has strong but gentle features and looks at peace. On either side of her are shelves. One has two green dragons poking their heads through. One has a open book with pages flying out. One has a hawk. And another had a golden haired lady in a white medieval gown with an outstretched hand towards her. 

Agnieska! One of my favorites! Her clumsy and emotionally based way of weaving magic and finding her way through dangerous ordeals with practical determination and intuition vibes with my own. She rather be comfortable than expensively clothed. She is the one person no one thinks would be chosen by the dragon or to have magic in her. But she is and she finds that she has a unique way of magic that ends of saving her home. And, while, I don't have a special kind of magic weaving ability inside of me - I do understand the way she sees and feels things out instead of subscribing to every letter and rule in the instructions. I work best that way too. 

This isn't ten but it's super late and I'm rather tired. So I'll leave it here. I can't wait to see what other people come up with! 

Until next time, 

Jess