Lizzie Venetidis is confident in her decisions. Moving to Seattle with her sister Jane after she graduated from Stanford, for instance, was a no-brainer. Adult life, however, turns out to be more difficult to navigate than she expected.
What career should she pursue with a bachelor’s degree in art history and no marketable experience amongst a tech-heavy job market? How responsible is it to drink that fourth cocktail while out with friends? And what should she do about Darcy—the aloof yet captivating guy she met her first night in town?
All the Things I Know is a one-mistake-at-a-time retelling of Pride & Prejudice, set against the backdrop of modern-day techie Seattle. Full of wry observations, heartache, and life lessons, All the Things I Know shares the original’s lessons of correcting ill-conceived first impressions and learning who you really are.
In my post yesterday on My
Jane Austen Book Club, I
featured a scene that used the Proust
Questionnaire as a device to start a conversation. I’ve filled it out
myself – it’s like the original internet quiz! Fascinating also is the fact
that Vanity Fair has, for years, given it to celebrities to feature at the last
page of the magazine and even has a book out of featured answers.
I thought it
would be fun to have my main characters fill out the questionnaire, so I give
you the Proust Questionnaire, as completed by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Venetidis.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Mornings at an art gallery with
fresh coffee
What is your greatest fear?
Failure
What is the trait you most deplore in
yourself?
I wish I didn’t compare myself
so much to “the perfect woman” – I know she doesn’t exist, but sometimes I have
to remind myself
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Arrogance
Which living person do you most admire?
Yayoi Kusama
What is your greatest extravagance?
I mean, if I had money, I would
buy original pieces by artists I admire. Wouldn’t that be amazing? I don’t
really feel like I’m extravagant right now. I guess the coffee I buy is expensive,
although if I go to Café Longue, they hook me up
What is your current state of mind?
Hungover. JK – that’s Katrina
and Lydia! I guess probably nervous/excited/anticipating. There’s so much to
figure out right now
What do you consider the most overrated
virtue?
Ambition
On what occasion do you lie?
I only tell white lies on
occasion to spare people’s feelings
What do you most dislike about your
appearance?
My hair in the humidity
Which living person do you most despise?
It’s not polite to discuss
politics, but I vote left, if you get my drift…
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Sincerity
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Chutzpah
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
LOL. I’ve even said it out loud
accidently, lol.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
To be determined.
When and where were you happiest?
At the flea market with my dad
on Sunday afternoons digging for books.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Artistic abilities. Or
invisibility if it’s a superpower.
If you could change one thing about yourself,
what would it be?
See above. I wish I could make
art as well as appreciating it
What do you consider your greatest
achievement?
Graduating from Stanford
If you were to die and come back as a person
or a thing, what would it be?
The pet of an artistic genius.
Like Picasso’s cat or something. Then I could nap all day and watch them work
whenever I wanted.
Where would you most like to live?
Seattle! Right now at least. I
would love to go back to Prague someday.
What is your most treasured possession?
My memories. I don’t have a lot
of stuff because I recently moved, but I guess the tattoo I got to commemorate
my term in Prague means a lot.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Getting stuck in a life you
hate. Like living in place you hate or stuck as an office zombie. Basically,
having no choices.
What is your favorite occupation?
I admire artists and wish I had
the talent of a painter.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Physically? Probably my big
curly hair. My dad says I’m funny tho.
What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty and sympathy
Who are your favorite writers?
I should probably read more, but
I really like The Agony and the Ecstasy,
a biography of Michelangelo.
Who is your hero of fiction?
Jo March. Heroines count!
Which historical figure do you most identify
with?
I’m not sure. Frida Kahlo,
maybe? I admire her a lot.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Uncle Eddie and Aunt Mai. And of
course my dad.
What are your favorite names?
Kai for a boy and Ophelia for a
girl. Not that I’m having kids anytime soon!
What is it that you most dislike?
Pickles. Or passive
aggressiveness. What kind of dislike are we talking about here?
What is your greatest regret?
Ian Price. What a douche.
How would you like to die?
In my sleep when I’m old. How
else?
What is your motto?
“Art is a line around your
thoughts.”
Gustav Klimt
Audrey Ryan is the nom de plume of Andrea Pangilinan: daydreamer, wife and step-mother, and obsessive story consumer. She studied writing in college, dreamt about becoming a novelist and slowly forgot about it when real life took over. With a particular affection for contemporary retellings, adapting Pride & Prejudice to modern day has always been a dream.
When she’s not reading and writing, Andrea is a marketing slave to the internet industry. She enjoys talking crazy to her weirdo cat, consuming copious amount of wine and coffee with her girlfriends, and record shopping with her husband. Oh yeah, and there’s that small Jane Austen obsession. That doesn’t take up any time at all.
Contact Links:
Audrey’s Goodreads is just as a reader, but it’s here - Goodreads
Buy Links:
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Some words make an interview come alive. "Douche" is one of them. Thanks for the entertaining guest post, Audrey. Thanks, Ceri, for hosting this. Thanks, Janet, for organizing the blog tour.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the post, Suzan! Thanks for commenting :).
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the post Suzan. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteLoved that Lizzie was the one to answer the questions, it was a great way of getting to know the character. She seems to have lots of chutzpah herself.
ReplyDeleteChutzpah is a great quality, isn't it? I'm glad you enjoyed reading Lizzie's questionnaire -- thanks for commenting!
DeleteChutzpah isn't a word we use over here, I'm trying to think of what we'd say instead, maybe cheek or face, but I don't think they're quite the same. Not sure we have a direct equivalent word, although of course people have the quality :)
DeleteFun survey to get to know Lizzie.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the post Sophia!
DeleteWow! Anna, what an interest post. I loved the questionnaire. They really made me think and I was hard pressed to come up with my own answers. The fact our author could answer in the head of her character was such a hoot and very creative. Thanks Anna for hosting, and thanks to our author, Audrey Ryan, for the generous give-a-way. Blessings on the launch of this book and much success.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment -- so glad you enjoyed Lizzie's questionnaire! It was fun to write! It's been a while since I was in her head, so I enjoyed getting back in there for these questions :).
DeleteI know what you mean, Jeanne, so great that authors can get into their characters' heads so completely, whereas I struggle just to get into mine!
DeleteReally enjoyed this inventive post and am looking forward to reading this book.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with it!
Thanks, Mary! I look forward to you reading this book too ��. I'm glad you enjoyed the post and I appreciate the comment too!
DeleteThanks Mary. I hope you enjoy the book when you read it.
DeleteFun questionaire! Have heard so much about this book would sooo love to win it!
ReplyDeleteI hope you get your wish! Glad you enjoyed the questionnaire :).
DeleteGlad you enjoyed it Priscilla!
DeleteI have not heard of the Proust Questionnaire before you mentioned it on My Jane Austen Book Club. And also celebrities writing out their answers to be published in Vanity Fair. I guess I don't read those kind of entertainment magazines. I must find out who is Yayoi Kusama after this comment.
ReplyDeleteI first heard of it when a cousin brought blank questionnaires to a family reunion. We all had so much fun filling them out! Emmeline (the Caroline in my novel) brings it to the groups' attention -- it seems like just the sort of thing she would like ;).
DeleteI could have written your comment, Luthien, I had heard of Vanity Fair but never read it, and the questionnaire and person mentioned were new to me.
DeleteLove the Lizzy survey!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad -- it was lots of fun to write!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed, Becky!
Delete