#The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

[elijah-loyal]

crying crying CRYING over The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

It was literally my favorite book as a kid; such a favorite that I wore the library copy to pieces and had to bring it back taped together. It was my first foray as a 2nd grader into the world of historical sailing and also with the idea that a girl could "pretend," to be a boy in a positive light (likely Avi really meant this only as a way to empower women, but it still feels like such an important part of my own identity as a trans man that i HAVE to cite it) and i remember always being starving for more

#there's literally only 4 fics of charlotte doyle on ao3 #one of thems a crossover #one of them is.... interesting #i guess i have to remedy this myself #the true confessions of charlotte doyle #charlotte doyle #avi #1990s #trans #ftm

[sanguinarysanguinity]

I'm reading The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and I am excited to report that Charlotte having joined the brig's crew and become a sailor, has learned to swear!

True, I heard -- and learned -- their rough language. I confess too that in my newfound freedom I brandished a few bold terms of my own -- to the amusement of the men at first. But after a while, it became rather second nature to me, and to them. I say this not to brag, but to suggest the complete absorption I felt in my new life. I came to feel a sense of exhilaration in it such as I had never felt before.

But alas! As always with these books, we are not told what the swears are! Give us the forbidden swears, you cowards!

#the true confessions of charlotte doyle #also things have gotten very gender in here #it has been noted in the log that MISS doyle was lost overboard #and MISTER doyle has joined the crew #where HE will work as hard as any other hand

[novelmonger]

For the Book Asks:

2. A book that was difficult to get into, but turned out to be good.

5. A book you love that it seems like no one else has read.

9. A book that you found yourself thinking about a long time after you finished it.

21. A book that improved upon reread.

Thank 'ee kindly! ^_^

2. A book that was difficult to get into, but turned out to be good

So I have this rule of thumb when it comes to reading a new book: You have to read at least the first hundred pages, and if you're not hooked by then, you're allowed to give up, but not before. That rule is in place because of Lord of the Rings. It's hard to believe now, since it's been my favorite book for the past two decades or so, but the first time I encountered it, when my dad read it to us, I thought it was rather boring until the first Black Rider showed up. That happened on page 100 in that publication, so I decided I had to give any book at least that much chance to grab me, because otherwise I might pass up on something as amazing as LotR!

5. A book you love that it seems like no one else has read

I never hear anyone talk about The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. I loved it practically from the moment I first cracked it open, and found myself identifying very strongly with the eponymous Charlotte Doyle by the end - even though I have no love of ships or sailing. I know somebody must have read it, because it's a Newbery Honor Book, but I can't recall anyone talking about it unless I recommend it to them first. It's about a girl traveling across the ocean from England, where she was in school, to join her family in America. She was supposed to be traveling with a family, but ends up being the only passenger on board. Along the way, she discovers that a mutiny is brewing among the crew, and gets caught up in it herself. The book is exciting, tense, and taught me so much about nautical terms and what life on a ship is like. I'm still bummed the movie adaptation never got made, and now Morgan Freeman is too old to play the role of Zachariah :C

9. A book that you found yourself thinking about a long time after you finished it

I don't think I'll ever forget Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse, which I wrote a paper on for an Asian lit class in college. It's about the effects of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, particularly in the early days immediately afterward. The stark descriptions of the suffering, both acute and long-term, the utter devastation, and the abject poverty of so many of the Japanese people haunt me to this day.

21. A book that improved upon reread

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. My mom read it to me for school back when I was 7 or 8, I think, and I hated it. I liked the beginning, but then her father died and she had to give up her doll and her pretty clothes and her tiger-skin rug, and I decided I hated it. But when I went back to the book as an adult, I realized what a lovely story it actually is! Sara Crewe is such a beautiful and inspiring character, and there's so much hope and joy in the story despite its tragic beginnings.

Book Discussion Ask Game

#ask and you shall receive #kraytwriter #ask games #lord of the rings #lotr #jrr tolkien #the true confessions of charlotte doyle #avi #black rain #masuji ibuse #a little princess #frances hodgson burnett

[damn-right-reo]

Charlotte Doyle: *exists*

Captain Jaggery:

#The true confessions of charlotte doyle #Captain asshole #Hadestown #i have absolutely no excuse for this #It just came to me #also that’s not actually a screenshot of that line cause I couldn’t find one

[boatmediatourney]

⚓Boat Media Tournament⚓

Round 2, match 14

#bmt2 polls #bmt2 round 2 #boat media #boat media tourney #the true confessions of charlotte doyle #assassin's creed black flag

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Currently thinking about how sixty percent of all the books I can remember willingly reading in school involved (in some way) girls disguising themselves/passing as boys……..

Not entirely sure what to do with this information

#looking at you: #Leviathan #Sisters of the Sword #The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle #Bamboo Grove #and I’m sure there was something else but idk what

[theclinch]

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Art by Heidi Oberheide

Published in 1992 by Harpercollins

ISBN 9780380714759

#the true confessions of charlotte doyle #avi #heidi oberheide #harpercollins #damaged #incomplete #horse count: 0 #not romance

[nelson-riddle-me-this]

#if i ever have a daughter i get to name #i've loved the name #charlotte #since reading #the true confessions of charlotte doyle #in 6th grade #Youtube

[nepticmancer]

Shout out to The True Confessions Of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.

First chapter of Witch Rose with the ship scene is based off whatever I remember from when I read it.

(Quick word to those of you only interested in this post for the just dance tag, most of this post is actually about The True Confessions Of Charlotte Doyle until the last paragraph before my sign off)

(And to those of you who want to read The True Confessions Of Charlotte Doyle, this post contains HEAVY spoilers for the book, you have been warned)

It’s still one of my favorite books, I finished it in a few days and then half my class tried to murder me because I knew whether or not one dude dies and who murdered the other guy. I love that book so much oh my goodness gosh gracious. I want to get back into writing sailors and pirates and I would be interested in learning more. So if I come out with some random project on sailors, it’s going to be because of Charlotte Doyle. I actually disliked Charlotte at the beginning for her actions but with a new mindset it’s easy to see why she did everything she did. She was a scared teenager who’s status made her a bit distrustful of the crew and Jaggery used that against her.

I also have to mention my love for the round robin. It’s a circle with names on it that sailors sign to agree on overthrowing their captain after harsh and unfair treatments. The reason for it being a circle is so that it’s unclear who’s name was put first or who is leading the rebellion.

Some other characters that I feel I gotta mention because I adore them so much.

The first mate, Mr. Hollybrass. I love him so much. When he had his verbal dispute with Jaggery resulting in his demise I was so happy. Not because he died but because he was pissed off at Jaggery for being a rash dumbass. Bro got stabbed in the back, literally. I actually did a writing from his perspective and it was so fun, my teacher liked it too. I actually had to trade my paper to get Hollybrass but it was so worth it.

Rebellion man, Mr. Cranick. I don’t have much to say really since he died early on but I still loved him so much. I know captains are meant to be harsh on crew but Cranick didn’t deserve to be beaten as badly as he was by Jaggery.

New Captain, Mr. Fisk. Once again, not much to say but I love him all the same. I’m so glad he became captain and I know he’s such a big step up from Jaggery. I believe whole heartedly he’s going to be a strict captain but I think he makes a much better captain seeing as, he’s was a member of a Seahawk crew and he’s been through it quite a bit along with his crewmates.

Mermaid lover, Ewing. He was such a nice change from the rest of the crew to me. The crewmen are all understandably a bit distrustful and cautious of Charlotte but Ewing just talking with her whilst sewing was sweet. Now, I know he can still be distrustful of her but it was still a sweet scene.

Main character, Charlotte. Ok, I wasn’t going to do a review on her but, she’s got a very powerful arc. Her story is about a young girl finding freedom and taking her life into her own hands and making her own choices and I love her for that. She was so dislikable at times but I would’ve made the same choices as her. Her defending Zachariah from the whip after not trusting him for so long and then hurting Jaggery instead, even by accident. I applaud her. When she couldn’t turn to Jaggery anymore she turned to the crew who hated her just as much but still gave her a chance. She climbed the rat lines to prove she was sorry and genuine about her wanting to be a crew member. She’s so dedicated and I really admire her character for that. And the end when she tried to befriend her servant and then ran away from her house right back to the place that truly felt like home made me so happy.

And how could anyone forget Zachariah? Honestly, he was not the character I was expecting when my teacher first mentioned him but he is a great character. Him protecting and defending Charlotte? Kind of a fatherly move if you ask me. He made Charlotte a captain after Jaggery died and did most of the work. And his reunion with her was sweet. And let me mention that dagger, that was most likely his only weapon and he wanted Charlotte to use it to protect herself. He saved her too when she nearly fell in the storm. e how he puts her over himself so much and

Everything in the book was so worth while, a great read. I’m so glad to have read this book and have it help me write not only the storm scene in Witch Rose but also some short stories and I even wrote a short sequel that while unfinished was still so fun. It really helped me figure out what books I had an interest in, I would love to write more on sailors and maybe even involve those themes in Just Dance fics as well. I hope you didn’t mind my rambling on this book that I haven’t read in a year.

Much love,

Neptic Mancer<3

#just dance 2023 #jack rose jd #just dance #witch rose #The true confessions of Charlotte Doyl

[speckledsolanaceae]

I look at a wooden sailing ship and my mind spins out of my grasp. I need. I want. Can I mend the sails. Can I lose myself in the ocean breeze. Can I wind my arm in the shrouds and sway. Can I. Can I. Please.

#anne speaks #ughhhh GOD. #first book I read with ships was the true confessions of charlotte doyle #and it bored me to no end but also the ship. the fucking ship. I could not forget it. #and now I’m rereading inda and losing my mind again #all these years I’ve not let myself info-delve because I CRAVE a lived experience #why learn the ship anatomy if I can’t stand on it #what am I doing here.

[historical-mg-ya]

#polls #1990s #booklr #bookblr

[bugbrain-90]

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

“A sailor chooses the wind that takes the ship from a safe port. Ah, yes, but once you're abroad, as you have seen, winds have a mind of their own. Be careful, Charlotte, careful of the wind you choose.” - Zachariah, AVI

[libracorpvs]

the true confessions of charlotte doyle was EVERYTHING TO MEEEEEEE

omg you've read it too?? i literally don't know anyone else who has!! i was obsessed with that book, i used to re-read the bit where the captain holds her trial over and over again (that guy was so evil) and i loved the gorgeous illustrations of the ship in the back of the book. i think i might have tried to recreate charlotte's outfits too at some point 😭 it says something about us that we were obsessed with a book about a young woman's indomitable spirit, insane determination, and rejection of social norms

#anon

[boatmediatourney]

⚓Boat Media Tournament⚓

Round 1, match 17

#bmt2 polls #bmt2 round 1 #Captains Courageous #the true confessions of charlotte doyle

[clairelsonao3]

Top 10 Character Essence

It's tag game time again!

@tabswrites and @hollyannewrites challenged (and I do mean challenged) me to name my top ten characters "decided by their essence or meaning to you."

  A challenge to give your Top 10 favourite characters, based on their ESSENCE. They have to be favourite characters that also have a deeper literary value, where you enjoy their specific role in the story, and this means that the list also should exclude characters that would normally count as favourites if for purely nostalgic reasons. They can be from film, tv, or written media, anything.

Thank you! I hope I fulfilled the challenge the way it was meant to be fulfilled!

Although TBH, I can't believe I'm even attempting to tackle this. I have to choose only 10? I think it goes without saying this list is not exhaustive, nor does it represent all of my favorite books/movies/media. I really did try to capture the question by focusing on "essence and meaning" (including how they've influenced my own writing and not just "random characters I like." I also have to attempt not to write an essay for each because we don't want to be here all night.

Charlotte Doyle (The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi) Rich girl in the early 1800s gets on a ship with a mutinous crew and an evil captain, joins the crew, defeats the captain using only her wits, miraculously makes it home, AND THEN DECIDES TO GO BACK TO SEA AND BECOME A SAILOR. I read this all in one sitting one night when I was about 15 (after avoiding it because I thought it looked boring) and then literally decided to reshape my entire life based on it (I'm not kidding). Yes, I actually took up sailing. Also, there's a hot sailor that she obviously has chemistry with but it's left unresolved, and no one has ever written a future fic about it to my knowledge, and that's a CRIME. So yeah, step right up.

John Bender (The Breakfast Club) He's not just the original '80s bad boy with a Dark and Troubled Past, but what most people forget about him is that he's also hilarious. It's a rare combination. Honorary mention to his love interest, Claire, and not just because of her name.

Fantine (Les Miserables by Victor Hugo) - Mostly the book version of her, though she obviously has a showstopping number in the musical as well. She was the sad, angsty character I needed during the most sad, angsty period of my life. She was a poor, lonely urchin who found fleeting love and happiness in the spring, got abandoned and pregnant in the winter -- and it only got worse from there. Also, apropos of nothing, at one point, I wrote a short story featuring a dog by the same name -- who, um, died.

The Artful Dodger/Dodger (Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens/Oliver & Company) - I'm including both the human version and the dog version of this character because I love them both (though I actually prefer the Disney movie, lol). They're both thieves with devil-may-care attitudes, with soft spots for those more vulnerable than themselves. Plus, the dog version is Billy Joel, wears sunglasses, and plays piano with his tail, which -- I don't care what anyone says -- will never not be cool.

Satine (Moulin Rouge) - She was the beautiful, sparkling, singing, dancing tragic sex goddess I so badly wanted to be. So much so that as recently as five years ago when I reluctantly dressed up for a Halloween party, I chose her silver-dress-and-top-hat ensemble.

Rick Blaine (Casablanca) The most endlessly quotable character from one of the most endlessly quotable and romantic movies of all time. He sticks his neck out for no one. Except, oops, wait, he does. The OG Hollywood antihero with a Dark and Troubled -- whatever, you know the drill. Plus, he's also my dad's favorite character in his favorite movie (and I discovered it because of him), and so this pick has sentimental meaning for me.

Leah Price (The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver) - When we read this book in high school, she was the least popular character, probably due to her unwavering love and support for her dad, even though he was a singular-focused religious zealot who destroyed his entire family by dragging them into the African jungle in an ill-thought-out missionary trip. And then she married a guy with some of the same qualities (but he was better, thankfully). But for whatever weird reason, I related to her most. Anyway, for class, I wrote and tried to perform a monologue where I played her but forgot 90 percent of my lines. Oh well.

Mary Lennox (The Secret Garden by France Hodgson Burnett, I found the movie version fairly meh) There were a lot of spunky, iconic childhood book heroines to choose from, but she was Mary, Mary Quite Contrary, and so I choose her. (I got told to "smile" a lot as a kid). Also, as I mentioned in a previous post, I was a Mary/Dickon shipper before I even knew what shipping meant.

Neal Caffrey (White Collar) - Does anyone remember this show? I have no attention span for TV, and this is probably the last scripted show I remember watching every episode of during its original run, which is saying something. Everything I know about being a con artist (in fiction, lol) I learned from this charming, charismatic art-forger-turned-FBI-consultant. I think he also has the honor of being the subject of the first actual fanfic I ever wrote.

Iris Chase Griffin (The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood) I also had to pick one character of my favorite author, so Iris gets the crown. She starts off the story as an old lady looking back to when she was forced to marry some rich asshole instead of the science fiction writer (with a past that was -- wait for it -- Dark and Troubled) who BOTH she and her sister loved, and meanwhile, her sister became a writer and when she died it was discovered that -- oh, just read the goddamn book, I won't spoil it for you here.

Honorable mentions, in no particular order:

Violet Westing (The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin)

Jack Kelly (Newsies the movie, NOT the stage musical)

Turonga Leela (Futurama)

Vicky Austin (The Austins by Madeleine L'Engle)

Jack Dawson and Rose Dewitt-Bukater (Titanic) I can't decide between them, so they're getting an HM.

Palaestrio and Milphidippa (Miles Gloriosus by Plautus) Same as above.

Michael Furey (The Dead by James Joyce) Who is, in fact, dead throughout the story -- but being alive wasn't one of the requirements.

I wish I could include a Star Wars character, but could never decide, so let's say, oh, all of them, except that one you hate.

In case the following people want to do what I did and spend several WEEKS on this fascinating but life-ruining (in a good way) tag game: @mysticstarlightduck @enne-uni @kixngiggles @obviousknife + OPEN TAG because you don't even have to be a writer for this one, so I'd be interested in hearing from anybody who wants to chime in!

#tag game #top 10 character essence #characters #writeblr #writeblr tag games

[loveourfuture-c]

*Starting my own post because I hate adding onto tag game posts.

List 5 books that made you The Way You Are (got this idea from another old post). You don't have to explain why if it's cringe/too personal, but I'm curious about how old you were when you read it, if you're comfortable adding that!

I was tagged by @daydreamingandprocrastination thank you! 💗

1. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (I think I was like 11 when I first read this). I was absolutely OBSESSED with this book and desperately wanted to have my own “pirate” adventure. I literally read this book all the time.

2. Beloved by Toni Morrison. I was 17, I read this book as a senior in high school and I honestly think everyone should read it. It’s absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful, it’s extremely difficult to read at parts, and when I finished it I just sat there letting what I read sink in.

3. The hunger Games. I was 13 (I think) when I first read these books and they consumed my whole brain until I was well into high school. I actually wrote an essay about the hunger games for my AP lit class.

4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë I read this when I was about 15. It’s amazing, I am actually planning on rereading this soon.

5. Educated by Tara Westover. I read this when I was 23. It is one of my all time favorite memoirs and I highly recommend it to everyone.

Tagging @basiltonpitch @the-paris-of-people @montygreen

#tag games #whenever I do this I always have to really think because i suddenly forget every book I’ve ever read