The Proust Questionnaire
So, via Ripped Knees and Capture the Castle, I give you the Rosemary Mac Cabe answers to the much-used Proust Questionnaire:
Your most marked characteristic? Physically, my hair – but personality-wise I’d have to say stubbornness.
The quality you most like in a man? A good (intelligent, witty, sarcastic – without overly relying on chauvinist humour) sense of humour.
The quality you most like in a woman? The same as in a man – why differentiate?
What do you value most in your friends? Loyalty.
What is your principle defect? Probably stubbornness, again. Often resulting in an inability to see past my own version of the truth.
What is your favourite occupation? Too many to count: writing, eating, singing, holding hands.
What is your dream of happiness? When I think of happiness I think of warm rooms, roaring fires and loved ones – or, in a less clichéd version, of good food, good movies and that dreaded, overused word, “feelgood” music.
What to your mind would be the greatest misfortunes? I have a recurring nightmare wherein I lose the use of my limbs. The idea of being trapped, reliant on others for the most basic of things – movement – is so tragic to me.
What would you like to be? Happy, free, loved.
In what country would you like to live? I’m happy where I am. I’m all for the travel but I don’t dream of living anywhere else; to me, Ireland is, and always will be, home.
What is your favourite colour? Deep, rich, cobalt blue.
What is your favourite flower? Sunflowers. So tall, so beautiful, so strong.
What is your favourite bird? I love miniature owls. So soft, so feathery, so fat.
Who are your favourite writers? Too many to count. Robert Fisk, Lee Child, JRR Tolkein, JK Rowling, F Scott Fitzgerald, Hadley Freeman, Jane Austen, the Brontes, John Banville, Colm Tóibín . . . the list goes on, and gets more eclectic. Perhaps for another post.
Who are your favourite poets? I’ve always been pretty “nyeh” about poetry. Blasphemous? Probably, but at least I ain’t pretending.
Who is your favourite hero of fiction? Dorian Gray – kind of an anti-hero, I know, but I love how he’s so real, flawed, tortured.
Who are your favourite heroines of fiction? Lisbeth Salander, from Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice, Rose Lacey (the main protagonist’s sister in Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn).
Who are your favourite composers? Eric Whitacre – modern choral music would be nothing without him.
Who are your favourite painters? I don’t ever really love painters, I love paintings; lately I’ve fallen for work by Irish graffiti artist Jor, Banksy, Edvard Munch, Fransisco Goya and more.
Who are your heroes in real life? Robert Fisk, drawing a blank on the rest.
Who are your favourite heroines of history? Emmeline Pankhurst, Simone de Beauvoir, Joan of Arc.
What are your favourite names? Alba, Isla, Leni – short names obviously, but mostly I like names of people I know or have met.
What is it you most dislike? Hypocrisy or, more accurately, two-facedness. Say what you mean.
What historical figures do you most despise? Most popes, most bishops, most priests – because really, their stories will be tomorrow’s history, sadly, and we may never get recompense.
What event in military history do you most admire? Have there been any events where the military settled a dispute peacefully? If not, I have none.
What reform do you most admire? Emancipation.
What natural gift would you most like to possess? Is it really shallow to say a high metabolism? I love eating, and I love fashion. They don’t often go hand in hand, which irks me.
How would you like to die? Quickly, and at a late stage. Not, if possible, of lung cancer. Maybe a single shot to the head. No, I’m not looking for volunteers.
What is your present state of mind? Relaxed, happy, contented. Like a fat house cat.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent? Stubbornness, which I should keep in check more often, gluttony, showing off. Just a little.
What is your motto? If you can’t live a good life, live a kind life. And if you can’t do that, why bother living?*
Capture the Castle tagged everyone – but I’m-ah be a little more selective. So who do I tag? Ciara, Blanaid, MissMilki, Laura Whiston, Adored Austin, Dena. Why? Not because I think you’ll learn anything in particular, but because I did it, and I am nosy, and I want to see other people do it too.
* Yes, I am THAT deep. Woah.
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1missmilki
wrote on 5 December 2009 at 13:38
I love reading these things – its nice to know a bit ore about bloggers but they’re such a pain to do! But i’ll definitely do it over the weekend. look out for it some time next week!
2Blanaid
wrote on 22 December 2009 at 15:37
Just saw this now, will get to work on it!
3Blanaid
wrote on 22 December 2009 at 15:40
Oh and great answers Rosemary….!