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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Lessons I learned from a book character


It’s time again for the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews.
Today’s topic is: Lessons I learned from a book character
Hmmmm…..
I’ve always admired Beauty in “Black Beauty”. No matter what happened to him, his temperament never changed. From Beauty, I learned to be kind and patient. He ran to get help with a stone in his shoe and nearly died from being overheated (and then chilled), climbed a steep hill with his neck reins too tight, and he never fussed. He was always steady, kind and gentle.
I loved the Oz books growing up, and Dorothy certainly grew and changed through them. But, in her first adventure to Oz she made friends in the most unlikely places, with the most unlikely people. From Dorothy, I learned to find the best (and expect the best) in people and to help them become the best “them” they can be. I always think of when, in the “Wizard of Oz” movie she slaps the lion on the nose when he tries to eat Toto and then goes on to explain why his behavior was unacceptable. She helped the lion turn a corner that day.
From Katniss in “The Hunger Games” I learned to do whatever it takes to protect the people you love, even at the risk of your own life or freedom. She was sometimes a tough character to like, but she never wavered in her loyalty to those she cared about, first Prim and the eventually Peeta as well (and to a lesser degree her allies like Haymitch and Finnick and even Joanna). She really wasn’t capable of duplicity either. I understood her, and admired her tunnel vision when it came to her deep commitment to protect those who mattered to her.
Kindness, gentleness, belief in others and care for those you love … the best kinds of lessons, don’t you think?

This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. Ooh, Katniss is a good choice! There were so many relatable parts of her personality.
    I haven’t read Black Beauty since childhood. Might have to give that one a reread sometime.
    My post.

    1. Katniss changes so much during the trilogy, but her priority is always the people she loves. Her edges just soften a tad and her heart opens beyond Prim as time passes.
      Re: Black Beauty–I read that book more than a dozen times as a kid. So much stuck with me. So, so good!

    1. You should definitely read the books.. the movies are good, but the books are much better, richer, detailed.

  2. Echo, I haven’t read the Hunger Games, either. You’re not alone.
    But I have to laugh about the patience thing… Just sayin’. Love you!
    I like the list. Great one.

    1. You should read the Hunger Games with your kid. Bet he’d like them, too! I have a set of hardbacks that are extra just hanging out on my shelf if you want them.

    1. Agreed. Also, I think sometimes the lessons we learn are the ones we need to, so each reader will get something different from the same book.

    1. Agreed. But that was likely because she was the POV character. Still, she was interesting, real, full of heart and stronger than she ever imagined she could be.

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