Friday, April 27, 2018

Pen Pal Mini-Challenge

Greetings Read-a-thoners!  Welcome to the Pen Pal Mini-Challenge.

I am a big fan of old fashioned letter writing and I love having pen pals.  There's nothing like a hand-written letter for really getting to know someone.  So, my question for you is - what fictional character would you like to have as a pen pal, and why?

Leave your choice in the comments (or a link to where I can find your choice) and I'll select one at the end of the read-a-thon to win a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card.  Your answer can be humorous, sentimental, silly or serious.  It can include pictures, music, poetry or none of the above.  

Have fun and thanks for playing along.

103 comments:

  1. Anne of Green Gables! Her wonderful imagination and expressive vocabulary would guarantee fun, interesting letters and lots of laughing. I love her❤️

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    2. This is such a great choice! I recently read the book and I adore the way that she speaks and learns about the world!

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  2. Jo March, as she seems to be able to write beautifully and she is also somewhat of a feminist icon so i guess we would have lots to talk/write about.

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  3. SPOILERS
    I'd love to have Snape as my pen pal! I'd get to know him better and maybe he would grow fond of me and tell me some personal stuff. Maybe he could even forget Lily and fall in love with me. And not die obviously.

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  4. I would want to be Delilah Bard from the Shades of Magic series' pen pal. I wouldn't expect letters often, just maybe whenever she hit a port, but I would love to have firsthand knowledge of her adventures--and be her best friend because she is awesome!

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    1. I would never have thought of her, but I love that idea.

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  5. I won a prize from you the last readathon and a tried to reach out to you several times and you never responded...

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    1. I'm sorry, Jill. I made several attempts to contact you also, with no luck. I would be glad to honor the price if you will
      provide me with contract information. Again, I apologize that we were unable to connect.

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    2. Thank you. I will send you a message on instagram with my email.

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    3. I do not use Instagram, which may have been the problem with connecting previously. Please email me at hcl_tami@yahoo.com. Thank you.

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  6. Oh dear, I'm not being original. But, .i'd also like Anne of Green Gables as a pen pal. I'm just sure she would be a prolific letter writer painting a picture of her life and responding to mine. I'm old enough that my IRL childhood friends were before the Internet (or cell phones, heck not even multiple phones in a household and some relatives still on party lines). Military brat me lost touch with many by giving up after letters went unanswered or too seldom answered.

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  8. I would like Cormoran Strike as a pen pal. I think his life is incredibly interesting, from war, to somewhat famous life, to private investigation. There would never be a dull letter!

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  9. I'd like to have Malala as a pen pal. I know I would feel inspired by her work, her life, her travels, her accomplishments.

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  10. I'd like Mabel from The Snow Child to be my pen pal. She writes to her sister in the book but includes such lovely sketches, I'd love to see her artwork!

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  11. Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories-he's a great writer, and would have so many stories to tell, including all those cases he alluded to but never wrote about!

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  12. I’d like to have a Slytherin student as a pen pal. I don’t need to have a hero that is living through adventures as a pen pal. Letters take time to travel and I would never be able to catch up or finish a thought.
    I’d like to be pen pals with somebody as ambitious and proud. I want to talk about career choices and bitch about blockers and being misunderstood!😂😂😂

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  13. I'm reading together with my sister, mum and dad. I asked them the question and here are our answers:

    Rebekka: Hermione Granger... I don't believe neither Harry nor Ron would ever actually sit down and write!
    Mum: Laura Ingalls Wilder - wait! She isn't fictional.... Hmmm... Elizabeth Bennet then :) (we saw "Pride and Prejudice" on stage yesterday and it was AWESOME!)
    Dad: Does Aslan count?
    Maria: Anne Shirley. I know from "Anne of Windy Willows" that she's an excellent letter-writer.

    (Answers also posted at http://abookgeek.blogspot.dk/)

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  14. Alyoisus Pendergast from the Preston and Child novels. He's such an enigma and he has so many layers. I'd love to know more about him.

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  15. I'd choose to talk about books with Hermione she'd be a great pen pal!

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  16. Either Mercy (Mercedes) Thompson-Hauptman or Kate Daniels. Because they are both awesome. But, both have so much going on they probably wouldn't have time!

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  17. Caroline, mom from Little House on the Prairie. Just read a book from her perspective and it was amazing

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  18. I’d love to be a pen pal with Marius. I would love to discuss art, and history and time and love with him. Something about befriending a vampire who is over 1000 years old would be amazing and give a true perspective on the short years we enjoy as mortals.

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  19. I would love to be pen pals with Louis from Interview with the Vampire. I read this book as a teen and still 15 years later, I think an letters from an angsty vampire, would be a fun time.

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  20. I would love to exchange letters with someone in the Shire. Maybe Sam post-throwing the one ring into the fires. It would be really interesting to get a perspective of what happens to Middle Earth afterwards.

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  21. I would love to be pen pals with Captain Wentworth from Persuasion. Boy, can that man write a letter (all the heart eyes emojis)

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  22. I would be pen pals with River Song. She is one of my favorite characters from Doctor Who (TV & books). I've read some of her adventures and I could only imagine the kinds of letters we would exchange. Could you imagine the adventures and shenanigans she would share?!

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  23. I would love to be pen pals with Zoey Redbird from House Of Night series.

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  24. I would love to be pen pals with Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle - she's smart and funny and I admire so much how she grew into herself despite her curse!

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  25. My pen pal buddy would be Kaz from Six of Crows because even though the letters won't be long, I know that he would mean each word he wrote. Kaz is always thinking three steps ahead of everyone else, determined to achieve his goals and I find that fascinating.

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  26. This is a hard one.....I'm not a great pen pal to be honest but If I had to choose I would love to have Mercy Thompson from Patricia Briggs books. She's a coyote skin walker and her days would be interesting. I bet we could swap cookie recipes.

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  27. Elizabeth Bennett, i think we have the same sensibilities (see what i did there? ;) and a very outspoken character, i love debates and she seems like the type to enjoy it as well.

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  28. Hermione Granger :) Such a smart, delightful character!

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  29. I'm going to be a little lazy and pick the protagonist of the book I'm currently reading, Ivy Aberdeen. She's 12 and is processing her sexual orientation and I think it would be great to provide her with support and guidance during this time. She's also a brilliant blossoming artist who would probably include artwork in her letters!

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  30. I immediately thought of Elizabeth Bennet. She'd write some great snarky letters.
    This is what my family said:

    Spouse: Ford Prefect. Not so much to be pen pals, I'd just like to be on his mailing list. Maybe get a heads up and an escape route when Earth blows up.

    Child 1: Hermione Granger, because she's so smart and awesome! No, wait... Someone in Night Vale! Or no... pens are illegal there. Ok ok, I know, Lin or Rufus the mouse from the Twistrose Key, or Niklas or Tyst the Lynx from the sequel. We could talk about magic and talking pets.

    Child 2: Red from Pokémon Adventures, so he can tell me how to get into that world and become a Pokémon trainer. No, I changed my mind. Blaine! Because Blaine is a scientist, so he can help me get to the world of Pokémon.

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  31. This is a good question! I would have to say Marius from Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles!! He's ancient so he has a lot of stories, loves books too, and loves art, my kind of person (or vampire for that matter).

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  32. I would love to be pen pals with Eleanor from Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell. She loves music and comic books, and I could see us making and sharing mix tapes with each other and writing about our recent finds at the comic bookstore.

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  33. I agree with previous respondents about Hermione or Mercy Thompson but I think I have to go with Nancy Drew. You gotta love a girl who is always involved in mysteries.

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  34. I'd go with Simon from The Mortal Instruments. I feel like we would connect on so many levels

    ireneejensen@hotmail.com

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  35. This is a heart. I've have to go with the book im listening 2 right now which is Perks of Being a Wallflower. I'd like to be pen pals with Charlie funny he's funny and I think we'd have a lot to say

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  36. I would love to be a penpal with Lyra from the Golden Compass trilogy. It would be full of literary refrences and fun adventures im sure!

    fictionstateofmind@gmail.com

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  37. I'd love to have a hobbit for a pen pal! I love their philosophy of life, we could talk about food, gardening, poetry and all kinds of cozy things. And eventually, we could go on an adventure! I would also love to chat with Sunshine from Robin McKinley's book of the same name - and maybe, just maybe, she will share a recepe or two!

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  38. Oh, I'm also into the penpallling world; what a pleasure to write and receive letters from your friends! I also write from time to time to my grandmother, who lives near me, but I know she loves to see a letter in her letterbox!
    I'll be romantic in this mini-challenge and I'll go for one of my literary loves: I'd be penpals with Iñigo Montoya, from The princess bride, so he would write about his many adventures learning how to fight to avenge his father from his terrible death. He would also be devastated due to the years that have keep us separated, but I'd tell him I'm also learning swordplay because, in the end, we'll end up being pirates together :)

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  39. I'd love to have Mr. Tumnus as a Pen Pal. I think it would be fun to hear about Narnia through a fawn's eyes.

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  40. I am thinking, Bridget Jones. She would definitely keep me amused and be fun to compare shenanigans with. If I’m thinking more about a classic book character, Elizabeth Bennett, biting wit and a slightly cynical view would be fun in a pen pal.

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  41. Tracy Talbot, from Zombie Fall Out, by Mark Tufo. I'd love to hear the things that she says about her husband and kids.

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  42. I want to be pen pals with Hermione Granger! I can just imagine the detailed and informative letters she'd send. I mean, who wouldn't want the brightest witch of her age as a correspondent?

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  43. Verne's Phileas Fogg traveled the world in 80 days
    Travel writing and blogging continues to be a craze
    I want to learn of Fogg's experiences and travel tips
    To help me plan for my future worldwide trips

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  44. It would probably be Pippi. I think her letters would be fun, colorful, inspiring, with tales of girl power and pet pics. She's always been my idol, my totem.

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  45. I’m part of a fountain pen pen pal group and have thoroughly enjoyed the friends I’ve made! If I could have a fictional character as a pen pal, though, I’d choose Atticus Finch (the TKAM version; not the Watchman version!) He’d give incredible advice and would provide the best observations of his world, thereby opening mine. Maybe he’d include a note or two from Scout or Jem- hearing of their adventures would be delightful. I could drop a note to Boo in there, too, to express my admiration and support. I’m halfway tempted to write to him anyway!

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  46. I chose Four from the Divergent series.
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/deweys24hourreadathon/permalink/1693068430773361/

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  47. I would choose any of the side characters in A Court of Mist and Fury. All of the characters have so much history about them but we don’t get to hear it all. I would love to be able to hear about their lives, their stories, and all of the adventures that brought them to each other.

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  48. Well you know I honestly don't know that many characters since I never get anything read . . . so it's pretty easy to guess mine . . . But it would have to be Emily Evans a pioneer woman from the collections of Janette Oke. I've always said that it's my all time favorite book and then upon rereading it a second time it didn't have the same feeling for me . . . but I'm intrigued by the pioneer times . . . would not have wanted to live then . . . but love the simplicity and frugalness of those women.

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  49. I'd love to talk to Hermione Granger. She is so clever and writes long letters, which I would love to read and reply in the like!

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  50. Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables...

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  51. Taro from Spring Garden. I quite treasure my boring life as it is very interesting to me, but dull to others. I think that we could talk about boring things together and be really intrigued by what we had to say. There is a scene in this book that he becomes fascinated with a cocoon he finds in his apartment and I think that is the sort of thing we would write to each other about haha.

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  52. Probably Kate Daniels (from the series by Ilona Andrews) because I know she wouldn't have the patience to sit down and write lol. Yes, I am evil!

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  53. Jo March from Little Women or Jane Eyre...They both led interesting lives and I have SO many questions for both of them and their choices, professions, and especially the men in their lives.

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  55. I will say Hermione from Harry Potter i feel like if i need to ask her something she could answer it easily.

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  56. Oh great question! Hmmm. I've never thought about that. But since I'm currently reading Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas, I would chose Celaena Sardothien because she's so awesome and Maas did a great job portraying her strengths AND faults. She's human. Well, mostly. ;)

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  57. Posted mine in Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/BiIPfDPjVps/?taken-by=sammyloureads

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  58. Definitely Jane Eyre. Not only is she the heroine of my favorite novel, she's such an interesting character and way ahead of her time. I think any conversation with her would be fascinating!

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  59. This is hard for me because I read very little fiction so I don't know that many characters. I would say Dumbledore from Harry Potter because he's very smart and I could learn from him. I'd also enjoy hearing stories from when he was younger.

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  60. I'd love to have Anne of Green Gables as my pen pal. She always cheers me up!

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  61. Jane Eyre! She has such a great narrative voice :)

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  62. i think lizzie bennet would have the funniest, most gossipy letters ever, and that's what i'm all about!

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  63. I would write Pearl, Hester Prynne's daughter in The Scarlet Letter. I want her to know how much her mother loved her and sacrificed just so she could have a life. Plus, I think she might need a friend.

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  64. I would be pen pals with Remi Fargo from Clive Cussler's novels. Being able to read all about her adventures and mishaps with her husband would be incredible. Plus, I hear she's gorgeous and brilliant.

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  65. Since I read The perks of being a wallflower, I always wanted to really be the penpal of Charlie, I'd reaaaaally wanted to answer the letter to him and help someway.

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  66. I would love to be pen pals with none other than the Sherlock Holmes. I grew up reading his adventures and my love for mysteries and whodunits never left me from my young age. I would love to keep in touch with such an interesting character.

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  67. Hmm, probably Lucy or Peter Pevensie! They were my favorites of the quad, so being pen pals with either of them would be amazing!

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  68. Right now I'm stuck in the age of Alexander Hamilton, so I would have to say Eliza Hamilton or her sister Angelica. I would love to know exactly what they thought about everything they had the chance to witness throughout their lives.

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  69. A few different characters flitted across my mind. Anne of Green Gables...Cress, stranded on the satellite in the Lunar Chronicles...but I think my final answer is Christian Grey. Maybe not pen pal via writing but you know, those fun twitchy texts! Yeah! That's my pick! ;) ;P

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  70. Janco from the Study series, he's so funny. It would just ligthen everything up with his humour.

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  71. I have several real life pen pals, but if I could add a fictional one I would probably go with Robert Langdon (from the Da Vinci Code etc.). I suspect he would be a reliable correspondent, and also that his letters would be full of interesting trivia. :)

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  72. Short Answer: I would love to have Simon and/or Bram as fictional pen pals because they are SUPER ADORKABLE AND I LOVE THEM.
    Long Answer: https://wp.me/p7NkWD-um

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  73. Stephanie Plum for sure! I would never be bored by her letters and I'm sure they would always be interesting and make me laugh.

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  74. I agree with Anne of Green Gables. I just read the second book in the series this year and her description and enthusiasm for life is catching.

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  75. There are many characters I'd like to write letters to (the English teacher prompts...). Right now, I'll choose a book I recently finished, Gap Creek. I'd write to Julie Harmon because she is a teenager taking on the world on the frontier. I want her to know that her life is indeed hard, but it likens others of the day, and that she will make it. But I'd like to be her comforting voice while she seems to have none.

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  76. Lizzy Bennet. It'd be so much fun to have intellectually stimulating conversations with her. We would discuss books, a lot! And I can be rest assured she wouldn't abbreviate every single word.

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  78. I’d like to be a pen pals with Sara from The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. She’d probably give me really great book recommendations.

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  79. This is a fun question! I would love to exchange letters with Bilbo from The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings. I imagine he would write delightful letters in his later days in Rivendell.

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  80. Amelia Peabody from the Elizabeth Petersseries! She’d be a fun pen pal

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  81. There is a character named Mary Bundle in “Random Passage” and its sequel “Waiting for Time” by Bernice Morgan, both of which I read in the summer of 1996. I still miss her, even though I recently watched the miniseries based on the books. So I’d be Mary’s penpal, though she was always very busy with survival and all on Cape Random in the earlier decades of the 1800s, so l don’t know if she’d make time for letters! But I could try:

    Dear Ms Mary Bundle:

    You don’t know me, as you are a fictional characters and we’re from different centuries. Do you know that there are two books and a television miniseries about you? I went to visit the filming location at Bonaventure, Newfoundland! ‘What in the world is a television miniseries or film?’ you will probably wonder. And now that think on it, you weren’t big on books.... Hmmmm. I’m not sure we’ll get on well after all....

    #readathon

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  82. I’m going old school to my first heroine of interest: Nancy Drew. She had the most interesting adolescence!

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  83. Ooooo, I love this idea! Some many people to choose from, this would be super tough! If I had to pick just one though, I think I would go with Thursday Next, from Jasper Fforde's books. She seems like someone I could get along with, especially her grandma version of herself. Plus! There is the slight chance that while reading her letters, I could be whisked off into the book world!

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  84. Jo from Little Women would make the best pen pal! She's so full of passion and she's already a writer. I would love to see the world through her eyes as we exchanged letters!

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  85. Klaus Baudelaire so we can talk about books.

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  86. Any one of the Chrestomancis from Diana Wynne Jones' Chrestomanci Chronicles. They essentially oversee the use of magic in all of the connected worlds -- so wouldn't they constantly be seeing the most amazing things? I'd love to be pen pals with a person who could give me the gossip from alternate universes. Yes, keep me up to date on that mermaid gossip, Chrestomanci! Please bemoan your troubles with the warlocks from a world with stubborn magic!

    Admittedly a lot of the Chrestomancis are kind of high-maintenance people (my favorite is Cat) but I am 100% willing to put up with that. I'll be your shoulder to cry on, now gimme the deets!

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  87. Fun challenge Tami! I chose Louisa Clark https://stacybuckeye.com/2018/04/28/deweys-24-hour-read-a-thon-2/

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  88. I would love to be pen pals with Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. I think we could learn a lot from each other.

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  89. When I was younger I always wanted to have Lyra from His dark materials series by Phillip Pullman. This readathon I have read his new book La Belle Sauvage, and I have fallen in love again with his universe. So I think maybe a older version of Lyra would be a great pen pal. She has so many amazing adventures to describe, and at the same time she is a very thoughtful person.

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  90. Jane Eyre! Before I read it, I was terrified of classic literature, but I wanted to watch a modern day retelling of it! I was surprised to see how powerfully I connected to Jane. Her problems with caring *about* herself (vs merely *for* herself), her bravery, her difficult childhood, her journey to forgiveness, her journey to friendship. I'm still in awe of her. I even got a tattoo to honor the book!

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  91. I'd love to be pen pals with good ol' Bertie Wooster. All of his stories sould be entertaining, to put it mildly, even on such mundane topics as cow creamers or lost umbrellas

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  92. i would love to be pen pals with luna lovegood from harry potter, as a character she just fascinates me and i am sure her letters would be filled with all sorts of strange and intriguing things.(might be slightly biased because am most definitely a ravenclaw.)

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  93. I would love to be pen pals with Death, from the discworld series. He is such an interesting character, and perhaps he would spill me some of the secrets of the universe.

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  94. I would like to have Geralt of Rivia as my pen pal so he can tell me all about his adventures and magical creatures he meets and lessons he learns. What amusement.

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  95. I would love to have Cinder from the Lunar Chronicles. She is really cool and interesting!

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