Scarlet Read-Along: Who is your favourite character?

Today's task for the read-along of A. C. Gaughen's Scarlet is the easiest yet - to name our favourite character. I hate to be unoriginal, but my favourite is hands-down the leading lady herself. Scarlet is caustic and unfriendly on the outside, but inside she feels deep compassion for others and puts the safety and survival of everybody else ahead of herself. She's been damaged by her past, one we don't have quite the full details of yet, but while it affects her, it hasn't made her cruel or selfish; it's made her want to save others from whatever happened to her. 

Scarlet would not be great company on a girls' night - she's too taciturn and introverted and well, she's pretending to be a boy. But I'd love to have someone like her watching out for me and would feel safe as houses if I had her around.

Scarlet Read-Along: Weekly Link-Up (2)

So my Macbook died on me Tuesday night and I was unable to post for the Scarlet read-along on Wednesday. Luckily, I'm back in business, just in time for the weekly link-up (I literally just got the battery replaced a half hour ago. Hello internet, how I've missed you). 

Chapters 6-9

The chapters we read this week made me realise just how much I've come to care about Scarlet, because I was hopping mad at the way another character treated her, and was hoping all the merry men would bring a world of pain down on him. It's also making me sad how Scarlet hard is on herself and I wish she would realise how awesome she is. She's so badly scarred as a person; I really hope she learns to love and be loved by the end of the novel.

Things are looking pretty grim in Nottingham and we've seen a lot more of the Sheriff's cruelty in action. Right now, it's difficult to think how things can get much worse.

On the lighter side, though, I've discovered how fickle I am when it comes to fictional boys. Because you remember how last week I was Team John? The chapters this week have swung me right over to Team Robin. The scenes Robin and Scarlet have...there's a connection there that I'm not sure she can create with another boy. Plus, Robin loving Scarlet would do wonders for her self-esteem.

Looking forward to seeing what the others thought!

Scarlet Read-Along: Favourite Robin Hood

I have a feeling this is going to be a popular choice in today's Scarlet read-along task, but my favourite Robin Hood is totally the Disney one. When I was a kid, my family would rent movies every Friday night and I always asked for Robin Hood. Finally my sister put her foot down and insisted on something different, so that weekend we got a Strawberry Shortcake video as well. Note I said 'as well' - actually going without Robin Hood for a weekend was out of the question; my sister was simply allowed something in addition to it.

Another Robin Hood from my childhood, which not many people outside the UK will have heard of, is Maid Marian and her Merry Men. This was a British comedy kids' show in the late 80's/early 90's where Robin Hood was depicted as a vain fool, the merry men were completely incompetent and the real hero was Marian. It was very funny, a nice slice of girl power and had a smashing theme tune:

Reading Scarlet has definitely sparked a desire in me to watch other Robin Hood portrayals. I have only vague memories of Prince of Thieves and Men in Tights, but I'm planing to revisit them as soon as possible. Any other recommendations would be much appreciated!