Author Topic: Author! Author! (Read 359075 times)

PatH · « **Reply #240 on:** June 28, 2009, 10:16:13 AM »

Welcome to Author! Author!

This is a game in which the contestants match their wits with a challenger, who suggests a character in literature, non- fiction or fiction. The challenger may or may not provide more clues, his prerogative,, and never more than one a day.

Once a day the challenger will say if the queses are correct or not. The winning contestant gets lots of acclaim and the chance to pose the next challenge. If he does not want to post a new challenge he can say so and whoever does can begin a new game.

Of course you could look these up on google in an instant, what challenge is that? The idea is to rack one's brain to try to remember where this particular character appeared and who wrote about him/ her. Should be great fun.

The challenger also has the option not to mention the name of the character, but only a description.

First up: this character spent time on a mountain which he did not enjoy....

(may as well make it challenging). Who is he and who wrote about him?

Let's work out the kinks together!

The one that started out along the route of the other, and had a very serious purpose indeed.

PatH · « **Reply #241 on:** June 29, 2009, 02:07:34 PM »

Frodo Baggins is the character. He was the younger cousin of Bilbo Baggins, and the first part of his journey to save the world retraced the path that Bilbo had traveled in "The Hobbit". The "variety" of friends were three hobbits, one wizard, two men, a dwarf and an elf, who started out with him.

Tolkien was a professor of Anglo Saxon at Oxford, with a good reputation in his field. The first volume of Lord of the Rings was published in 1954, when he was 62.

Gumtree · « **Reply #242 on:** June 30, 2009, 11:11:26 PM »

Oops ! Have been blown off line by major storms the last couple of days - we've had successive cold fronts coming up from Antarctica - cold, wet and very windy - it's calmer today but there is more to come.

Here's an easy one -

AUTHOR I am something of an enigma. I began writing as a child and although renowned for my classic novel I also wrote poetry.

CHARACTER I too am an enigma - both hero and anti hero. I am passionate and have a dark side. My story will live.

Mippy · « **Reply #243 on:** July 01, 2009, 06:48:14 AM »

Wow, Gumtree, storms from Antarctica sound scary!

No idea on this one ... maybe easy for you, but sure difficult for me.

JoanK · « **Reply #244 on:** July 01, 2009, 01:42:28 PM »

I thought of "Moby Dick" and Captain Ahab, but don't find evidence thar M wrote as a child, or poetry.

When you say "hero", do you mean it to be masculine?

Gumtree · « **Reply #245 on:** July 02, 2009, 09:18:52 AM »

I see more clues are needed:

AUTHOR : I was always rather shy, preferred a solitary life and did not enjoy being away from my home. My poetry was originally published under a pseudonym. My literary reputation has grown with the years and today some regard me as having been a genius.

CHARACTER : I am male. During my younger days I was tormented and abused. Anger, hatred and jealousy feature strongly throughout my story. As does love. Tension is rife within my household.

PatH · « **Reply #246 on:** July 02, 2009, 10:17:21 AM »

My immediate reaction was J. D. Salinger and Holden Caulfield, but I didn't think Salinger wrote poetry.

PatH · « **Reply #247 on:** July 04, 2009, 07:57:28 PM »

Gumtree, I assume my guess is wrong, so I think you should give us another clue, since we are obviously stuck.

Gumtree · « **Reply #248 on:** July 05, 2009, 01:45:16 AM »

Sorry folks - I've had a couple of bad days - it's a bit of a struggle sometimes...

New Clues:

AUTHOR : I am a lover of nature and almost daily I take long solitary walks with just my dog for company. Sometimes my sister comes too. Once in the village I was bitten by a rabid dog and cauterised the wound with a red hot poker from the kitchen.

CHARACTER : My house is isolated and takes its name from the prevailing winds that howl across the countryside. My love and I were raised together and became inseparable however she married another and then died in childbed.

I think that should give the game away

Frybabe · « **Reply #249 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:49:22 PM »

Gee, Gumtree, hope things are going much better now.

I know entirely to little about most of the authors I read. The only author I know of that was reportedly bit by a rabid animal was Edgar Allen Poe. And that is debatable.

bellemere · « **Reply #250 on:** July 05, 2009, 09:52:00 PM »

The character sounds like Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights; but was author Emily Bronte bitten by a rabid dog?

PatH · « **Reply #251 on:** July 05, 2009, 10:09:39 PM »

Wow, Bellemere, I'm sure you're right, though I don't know about the rabid dog either.

Gumtree, I'm sorry if I was being a nag. I hope you're winning the struggle.

Gumtree · « **Reply #252 on:** July 06, 2009, 12:59:08 AM »

BELLEMERE - A WINNER - CONGRATULATIONS

Yes, it is Wuthering Heights and Heathcliff. Emily Bronte was indeed savaged by a dog carrying rabies. It bit her on the forearm - she went straight home, into the kitchen and took up a red hot poker and applied it to the wound. That's the legend anyway.

Now I'm looking forward to Bellemere's quiz

Gumtree · « **Reply #253 on:** July 06, 2009, 01:00:47 AM »

PatH Thanks - I'm OK but sometimes it seems the 'struggle nought availeth'.

Gumtree · « **Reply #254 on:** July 08, 2009, 02:10:01 AM »

It looks like Bellemere is not taking up her prerogative at present so maybe someone else might like to start a quiz off. What say you?

Gumtree · « **Reply #255 on:** July 14, 2009, 12:12:27 PM »

WHO AM I ?

AUTHOR: I am a well known and prize winning author. Have written on many topics and in several styles both fiction and non fiction. I am also a poet and critic. I began writing as a young child and decided quite early in my life that I would become a writer.

CHARACTER: My story is the story of two sisters of whom I am one. It is a novel which contains a story within a story -in some respects it can be seen as historical fiction as major events in my country form the background to the novel.

Gumtree · « **Reply #256 on:** July 16, 2009, 01:21:51 PM »

Is anyone actually interested in playing ? It's hard to guess if anyone is out there so please let me know if you want to continue.

JoanK · « **Reply #257 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:04:56 PM »

I want to play, but I haven't any ideas about the book. Maybe time for another clue.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #258 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:10:37 PM »

Much too eclectic for me. I haven't had a clue about any of the previous ones. Suppose I'm not as "well read" as most of you on this discussion.

PatH · « **Reply #259 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:47:24 PM »

I'm back home now. Like JoanK, I'd like to play, but don't recognize the book yet.

Mippy · « **Reply #260 on:** July 16, 2009, 04:30:17 PM »

Me, either. No idea.

JudeS · « **Reply #261 on:** July 16, 2009, 06:08:09 PM »

Home now and still trying to recover from taking care of 2 year old Grandson in 100 degree weather.

I certainly want to play but need more clues.

Gumtree · « **Reply #262 on:** July 17, 2009, 05:27:15 AM »

How nice to see everyone again ! More clues coming up...

AUTHOR: My father was an entomologist and I spent part of my early life in the bush. Today I am an active greenie.
At times I have held a variety of academic posts. My works have been translated into many languages.
I write about strong, and sometimes enigmatic women often set in contemporary urban life though some of my novels are futuristic sci-fi.

CHARACTER : The novel in which I appear is a kind of family epic. I was born into a privileged family with all its inherent obligations and which threatened to stifle and enclose me totally. I suffered the tragic loss of those close to me - my sister, my husband, my mother, my daughter all died before their allotted span and even my granddaughter was taken from me.

You all know this one - so thinking caps on everyone !

PatH · « **Reply #263 on:** July 17, 2009, 09:40:34 AM »

AARRGGHH! I'm sure I know who it is. Got to think hard.

Gumtree · « **Reply #264 on:** July 17, 2009, 11:56:52 AM »

You surely do know this one PatH

PatH · « **Reply #265 on:** July 17, 2009, 07:15:58 PM »

I thought I had it with Doris Lessing, but the details don't fit. Back to the drawing board.

Gumtree · « **Reply #266 on:** July 18, 2009, 02:38:05 AM »

No, PatH it's not Lessing - but she would make a good quiz !

JudeS · « **Reply #267 on:** July 18, 2009, 04:03:04 PM »

Doris Lessing was knocked out so I'll try Pat Barker.

If thats wrong we need another clue.

Gumtree · « **Reply #268 on:** July 20, 2009, 02:14:45 AM »

Sorry ladies - Thanks for your patience. We've had heavy storms here for the last few days so have been avoiding the computer. Right now I'm just taking advantage of a lull in the weather after a really heavy hail storm this morning. The ice was banked up against the walls and trees etc. Unusual for here - anyway here's another clue or two.

Pat Barker was a good guess but she is not the one.

AUTHOR: Most of my novels involve the protagonists quest for truth and I often ask tough questions about women's rights. My work touches on political matters, nationalism, violence in society, abortion - in fact anything which pushes society towards more tolerance and understanding.
My novels are sometimes seen by the reader as being unpredictable but the critics say they show insight and a keen wit.
I am obsessed with words and read widely - if there is nothing else I will read the instructions on toolboxes - especially toolboxes manufactured in Japan "because the English is so interesting" - "As long as it is words"

CHARACTER: My author uses several plotlines to tell my story and the complexity of individual lives is played out against the country's history affected as it is by major events - WWI, the Great Depression, Communist witch hunts.
Now at the end of my life I must deal with loss, regret, memory, and yearning :

Quote

Nothing is more difficult than to understand the dead, I've found: but nothing is more dangerous than to ignore them

[/b]

Will come back as soon as I can - happy thinking !

Frybabe · « **Reply #269 on:** July 20, 2009, 09:02:00 AM »

I almost feel like I should know this one. Is the author one whose book we have discussed?

Gumtree · « **Reply #270 on:** July 20, 2009, 10:16:25 AM »

Frybabe You DO know this one - as does everyone else (or so I think).

And YES it has been discussed on the old site.

Still stormy here and the weather people say we're in for another rough night - lots of mighty trees were uprooted last night - 'gumtrees' at that!

JoanK · « **Reply #271 on:** July 20, 2009, 02:25:36 PM »

Reading instructions translated from the Japanese sounds sooo familiar. But I can't call it up.

PatH · « **Reply #272 on:** July 20, 2009, 06:57:20 PM »

This is driving me CRAZY! I'm sure I'll kick myself when I learn (or figure out) who it is.

Gumtree--it's awful when trees are uprooted--I hope the weather dies down.

Gumtree · « **Reply #273 on:** July 22, 2009, 06:07:40 AM »

Yes, it will seem easy when someone gets it right...maybe this lot of clues will give it all away.

AUTHOR : I've won lots of literary prizes including the Booker and am regarded as one of my country's leading literary figures. I am known for having a strong sense of humour (some call it wicked), as well as a caustic tongue. I've been labelled a 'Medusa' an 'amusing duchess' and the 'quiet Mata Hari'. I'm also an environmental and political activist.

CHARACTER : The novel I appear in has been described as postmodern metafiction - there are three narratives - the novel within a novel within another novel which my author blends with newspaper clippings and society announcements. The frame narrative refers to more than 100 years of history. It's a complex work.
I am 82 years old and so as narrator I live simultaneously in three time periods. As I tell my tale the reader learns of a love affair where the lovers meet in seedy rooms - that my sister died in a car accident - that my husband was a distinguished industrialist who was found dead in a sailing boat.

The weather here is calming down so I should be able to come in tomorrow to read your answers - including the correct one.

Mippy · « **Reply #274 on:** July 22, 2009, 06:57:55 AM »

Oh, good, no wonder I can't get this ... I never have been able to read postmodern metafiction

Frybabe · « **Reply #275 on:** July 22, 2009, 11:40:30 AM »

Ok, gang, how about Margaret Atwood? She got a Booker Award for A Handmaid's Tale and she is into the green movement. It is the only book of hers I have read. The book discription doesn't fit.

PatH · « **Reply #276 on:** July 22, 2009, 07:46:17 PM »

YES, Frybabe!

It's got to be Margaret Atwood, and the book is "The Blind Assassin".

Gumtree, that might have looked like an inactive topic to you, but from my standpoint it was a very successful one. My computer room is littered with handfuls of hair as I was tearing it out trying to think of the answer. I love it.

Gumtree · « **Reply #277 on:** July 23, 2009, 12:58:21 AM »

WINNERS ! WINNERS !

FRYBABE & PAT H - YOU'VE GOT IT RIGHT -

Which of you will lead off the next one ?

There were such good guesses though - Doris Lessing and Pat Barker - both terrific writers for different reasons. Barker's Regeneration trilogy is one of my all time favourites dealing with WW1 and Lessing'sChildren of Violence sequence can't be beaten. - let alone The Golden Notebook

Mippy I thought the bit about the metafiction was pretty cool but didn't mean to frighten you off.

JoanK I was sure the clue regarding Japanese instructions rendered into English would give it all away. - I've come across that particular remark Atwood made several times. Just proves that everyone reads different things.

PatH -I did feel as though I was in limbo and talking to myself at first so it might be an idea to post a few words to let the challenger know we're there.
BTW your computer room isn't the only one that's littered as a result of this one - mine is covered with notes and books and references - and bits of hair too as I scratched my head trying to form up the next lot of clues.

JoanK · « **Reply #278 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:47:09 PM »

WOW! I've read "The Handmaids Tale" but nothing else of hers. Probably saw the bit about Japanese instructions in an introduction. Trust my sci-fi-reading sis to know it.

Gumtree · « **Reply #279 on:** July 24, 2009, 01:08:06 AM »

I was sure just about everyone playing would have read ALL of Margaret Atwood. Her work is very popular here and my reading friends devour her work as it comes out - I don't read much sci-fi and have to admit that Oryx and Crake defeated me though I've still got my copy just in case. I've been trying to get hold of her latest (I think?) The Penelopiad - title is intriguing.

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Author Topic: Author! Author! (Read 359075 times)