Friday Link Dump: Game of Thrones Costumes, Bunny Island and Drunk Amy Poehler

-I love this discussion of the hairstyles on Game of Thrones and what they indicate about the characters. Meanwhile, here are some how-tos on emulating those styles. And here is how the talented costume embroiderer created some of the iconic pieces.

-J. K. Rowling talks to Goodreads about how she crafts characters, and reveals more fascinating information on the Robert Galbraith website.

-BuzzFeed lists 19 book cover cliches that should probably go away now. 

-Tweeting Mr Thornton quotes and pictures all day, Thornton Bot is my new fave Twitter.


-Apparently, I am Hermione Granger.

-Expectations vs reality of being a writer. Ha.

-Abandoned mansions are both fascinating and hella creepy.

-I'm not a fan of Nicolas Cage, but I am a fan of memes. So this page makes me happy.

-Awesome nail art is awesome.

-There is a BUNNY ISLAND. I want to go to there.

-I also want to go to all of the theres on this page. Nature porn!

-And now architecture porn! Victorian houses, le swoon.

-I don't know whether I like drunk Amy Poehler better than sober Amy Poehler. I do know both are amazing. I want her to play with my hair.

-This YouTuber talks about the perks of being blind and it's both hilarious and touching.

-This story of a dog rescuing a kitten may cause your heart to explode from the adorable.

-ROFLZOO is my new go-to when I need a smile.

-This YouTube channel of celeb face mashups is both brilliant and super disturbing.

Top Ten Fictional Crushes

When I saw this topic I knew I just had to participate in Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) this week. I love me some literary man candy. I used to do a meme called My Book Boyfriend so I have whole posts devoted to my many fictional crushes, but I managed to get the list down my faves…

1. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Do I even need to say why?

2. Captain Wentworth from Persuasion by Jane Austen. The lady sure knew how to write amazing heroes who write amazing letters. Swooooon.

3. Westley from The Princess Bride. He’s actually the perfect man.

4. Etienne St Claire from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea because of the whole, er, cheating thing, but he sure got my heart beating. He has great chemistry with Anna, is obsessed with history and does things like give books with hidden messages as gifts. Sigh.

5. Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. He’s so broody but still has a great sense of humour. I adore the way he treats Jane with respect and meets her as an equal. Let’s just not mention the whole crazy wife in the attic, though…

6. Mr. Thornton from North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. He just wants to be a gentleman! And be loved. I could give him so much love.

7. Dimitri Belikov from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. He’s the strong, silent and sexy type, with badass fighting skills and a killer bod. Literally.

8. Eric Northman from the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. He’s a tall Viking vampire with a cheeky sense of humour and a lot of, er, talent. Ahem.

9. Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. He immaturely shows a girl he likes her by insulting her and spends the next five years trying to make up for it. Silly, adorable boy.

10. Alex Fuentes from Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. This book is totally cheesy but completely hot – just like its hero, Alex.

My Book Boyfriend: Mr Thornton

My Book Boyfriend, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader, is an awesome meme highlighting the many fictional boys who make us swoon. This week I'm drooling over the dashing Mr Thornton from Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South.

Why Thornton Rocks (My Knickers Socks)

• He owns a mill in Milton, a fictionalised version of ye olde Manchester. This means he's rich, but he uses his money to take care of his widowed mother and younger sister. 
• He's practical, honest and cares about people, despite his sometimes hard and stern demeanor and position as "master".
• He had to leave school to work and support his family when his father committed suicide after losing all their money. If that doesn't tug at your heart, how about the fact that he's doing everything he can now to read and learn, as an adult? He just wants to be seen as a gentleman (especially in Margaret's eyes).
• Don't let the stiff collar fool you - it contains a hella passionate man whose devotion to the woman he loves is unwavering. Even when she's a total biatch to him. 
• He's played to perfection by Richard Armitage in the 2004 TV adaptation.

Swoon-worthy Quotes (Spoiler Alert!)

"He shook hands with Margaret. He knew it was the first time their hands had met, though she was perfectly unconscious of the fact."

"He could not forget the touch of her arms around his neck, impatiently felt as it had been at the time; but now the recollection of her clinging defense of him, seemed to thrill him through and through—to melt away every resolution, all power of self-control, as if it were wax before a fire."

"'I choose to believe that I owe my very life to you - ay - smile, and think it an exaggeration if you will. I believe it, because it adds a value to that life to think - oh, Miss Hale!' continued he, lowering his voice to such a tender intensity of passion that she shivered and trembled before him, '...to think that I owe it to one... whom I love, as I do not believe man ever loved woman before.' He held her hand tight in his. He panted as he listened for what should come."

Photos don't do Thornton justice, though - especially as played by Richard Armitage, coz dayum his voice makes me swoon. Pass the smelling salts!