A Princess Reading List

The marvelous Skye of The Princess Portal recently wrote up her list of "books that I find very touching and inspirational, that carry me to another world and evoke some of the essence of fairy tales and what it means to be a Princess. Not all of these stories contain Princess characters, but they all express some of the beauty and magic that forms my world view and in some way have influenced me over the years." Sounds lovely, no?

Go take a look over at 50 Books: A Princess Reading List. Other readers have added their favorites in the comments. Here are some of mine:

 

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M. M. Blume

Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

No Flying in the House by Betty Brock

The Little White Horse and Linnets and Valerians, by Elizabeth Goudge

Dancing Shoes, Ballet Shoes, and any of the Shoes books by Noel Streatfeild

The Girl With the Green Ear by Margaret Mahy (out of print, but not hard to find. All of her short story collections are wonderful.)

7 Facts, 25 Books

Sweet Penny Lane at Buttercup Kisses tagged me with the random things about yourself meme. Since I feel so bad about neglecting my awesome readers, I'm combining the facts with book recommendations. Enjoy!

 

1. I played with dolls until I was 13 or 14. In fact, I love pretending things so much that if you asked me to be a British wizard or girl detective with you, I'd still join in at the advanced age of 23.

My favorite doll books are When the Dolls Woke, The Secret in Miranda's Closet, and The Doll's House. I also love Changeling and The Egypt Game. One of the reasons Annie on My Mind spoke to me so clearly is because its main characters love pretending things, too.

2. I'm a little new-age woowoo, in a secular-pagan kind of way. Sera Beak is one of my idols; The Red Book speaks more to my spirituality than any other. (Okay, as well as Teen Goddess by Catherine Wishart--I don't agree with everything she says, but empowering yourself, spreading love, and dressing up to express your inner awesomeness are my spiritual trifecta.)

3. I love utopian/dystopian stories fiercely, especially those by Tanith Lee and Angela Carter--I like their decadent writing and struggling-against-the-crowd themes. The best are the Claidi Journals, Biting the Sun, The Silver Metal Lover, Burning Your Boats, The Book of Flying, The Garden, and The City, Not Long After. Of course, Ecstasia and Primavera play their part in this love as well. (P.S.--I'm always on the lookout for new recommendations!)

4. My personal heroes are Eugene Walter and Jeanette Howard Foster.

5. I have the inner personality of a theatre-chick and only crippling stage fright (and a love of books) kept me from that particular corner of the universe. How I Paid for College and Attack of the Theatre People help indulge that particular facet of my personality. I can't wait to read Dramarama and My Life: The Musical.

6. I'm also in love with fiber arts, even though I don't think I have any aptitude for knitting or crocheting. The Chicks with Sticks books let me live this out vicariously--as does browsing beautiful handspun wool on Etsy!

7. Macaroons are my favorite cookie. I may not have tried them if not for The Girl Who Ate Everything. (I get mine at Le Petit Belge on 14th St.)