Taggishness :: favourites and other things

Many many moons ago, the lovely Bethany tagged me for this foray into favourites. I give you fair warning: I can never pick favourites. So this will, instead, be more of a first-thing-that-comes-to-mind or a reflection on my current favourites than my all-time, forever and ever best beloveds.

Who is your favourite author and why?
Let me give you about a million -- or six. I love John Piper for his wisdom and godly coolness. I love Elisabeth Elliot for her commonsense amazingness. I love Rosemary Sutcliff because her flawed characters are always easy to love. I love Ethel Turner because her little Australian people are just so beautiful, and they offer an amazing insight into upper-class Australia of a hundred or so years ago. I love Ellis Peters because her characters are as awesome as Rosemary Sutcliff's. I love Gene Stratton Porter for the pure deliciousness of her words.

(and Dickens! and Angela Hunt! and Laura Ingalls Wilder! and Ivan Southall! and SE Hinton! The list could, quite possibly, be endless)

What is your favourite book?
Again, there are too many to list. Let me offer one from each of the authors I just mentioned:
John Piper's When I Don't Desire God
Elisabeth Elliot's Passion and Purity
Rosemary's Sutcliff's The Lantern Bearers
Ethel Turner's Little Mother Meg
Ellis Peters's The Scarlet Seed
Gene Stratton Porter's Keeper of the Bees
(oh, and The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare needs to be in this mix, too)

What is your favourite Bible verse, passage, or chapter?
These always change depending on what work God is doing in my life. Currently I've been clinging to many of the most basic Scriptures -- the promises of His unconditional love and salvation, the reminders that it's all Him and none of me.

What is your favourite animal?
I know it will pain some of you, but I'm really not an animal person. Shall we rephrase it to Favourite Living Thing Other Than A Human? In this case, it would be my little water bamboo plant, Bambi.

What is your favourite girl's name?
These always change, too, and -- probably quite happily for any possible future children -- I tend to use them up on story characters. Just now, one of my favourites is Aspen.

What is one of the silliest things you've done?
Taken a great running leap to swing from a semi-detached palm tree branch. I'm sure you can imagine the rest of the story.

What is your earliest memory?
I'm tempted to say "womb surfing", but I didn't make that up myself. I remember lots of things from when I was about four or five: my grandfather driving a ute (with Santa in the tray) onto the street where we lived; my uncle giving me a little yellow Care Bears suitcase; our dog Jasper jumping all over me and licking me half to death; crashing my bike in the middle of the road and being paralysed with fear when I saw a car coming.

I'm not going to tag anyone because I'm so late in chiming in, but if you feel this out, do share your link because I want to read it.

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conversations:

Staish -- mm, Jerry Bridges! I may have to request a loan when I am finished with the current mammoth pile of books I have of yours. (Looking forward to tomorrow evening! xox)

Melody -- it's amazingly encouraging knowing someone else can relate. I've heard of that book; I'll have to look out for it. Finding my identity in Christ is something I could learn a whole lot more about. *hugs*

Sarah -- it's so lovely to be in contact with you in this way! I'll add your family blog to my sidebar so I can keep checking back. And, oh, leave loooong comments whenever you want: they make my day! (especially if we're discussing books) Isn't Laddie delicious? It's one of the best EVER. And are you liking Freckles? It's delightful, too, in a very lovely Porter-ish way.

Beth -- your blog post is in my favourites for when I can stop and read and digest. You can expect a comment when I'm done! Thank you so much for sharing that.

Caitlin -- oh yes; I love the parcel man, too! I hope your day was delightful!