Which Book Am I In? Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Great Gatsby

"The Great Gatsby" was written by American author F Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925. Fitzgerald had several titles in mind, "Trimalchio in West Egg", "Trimalchio", "Under the Red, White and Blue" and "Gold-Hatted Gatsby".

The character Nick Carraway returns home after World War I to start his career and decides to move to New York. He rents a house in West Egg, Long Island, next to the mansion owned by Gatsby. The book is the narration by Nick Carraway of his own friends, the mysterious neighbour Gatsby, and his circle of friends.

Answer: Lolita

"Lolita", was written by Vladimir Nabokov, a Russian, who originally wrote the novel in English, and later translated it into Russian. This book became one of the more famous and controversial novels of 20th century literature. The novel has been adapted into films in 1962 and 1997; adapted several times for the stage and for two operas, two ballets and a failed Broadway musical.

Humbert Humbert has had a long-time obsession with young girls, that he calls "nymphets", which he says was caused by the early death of a childhood sweetheart. He rents a room in a house owned by Charlotte Haze, where he meets her 11-year-old daughter, Dolores - or Lolita - and he immediately becomes infatuated with her.

Answer: Shogun

"Shogun", written by James Clavell, is set in Japan, when that country was not open to foreigners. It tells of the struggle for power between several War Lords in their aim to be the Shogun. Lord Toranaga, the daimyo in control of the territory where Blackthorn's ship landed, saw the great opportunity that the ship and Blackthorn's knowledge would bring him, and put Blackthorn under his protection.

After several struggles and adventures, Blackthorn saved Toranaga's life and, Toranaga awarded him with the titles of "hatamoto" and "samurai". Eventually, Toranaga does become Shogun, but Blackthorn is never allowed to leave Japan to return home to England.

Answer: The Handmaid's Tale

"The Handmaid's Tale" was written by Margaret Atwood and published in 1985. The book is set in the future in a totalitarian Christian theocracy that has overthrown the government in the United States. The book won the first Arthur C Clarke Award in 1987.

Offred is the protagonist and because she had a child before the Republic of Gilead was formed, she is placed in the home of Commander Fred and his wife Serena Joy, to bear a child for them. "Offred" is a slave name given to her because she is "of Fred", belonging to him as a concubine.

Answer: Watership Down

"Watership Down" was written by Richard Adams and published in 1972. The story is set in England and features a group of rabbits. This is a fantasy novel where the rabbits possess their own culture, language, mythology, poetry and proverbs. Their warren, Sandelford, is being destroyed and they need to establish a new warren elsewhere.

Hazel is the protagonist and does eventually become the Chief Rabbit. He is not very large or powerful but he is a quick thinker and is very brave. He and a small band of rabbits set out to find a new home and they eventually find Watership Down. After many adventures they establish their new warren there.

Answer: Oliver Twist

Bill Sikes is one of the main characters in "Oliver Twist", written by Charles Dickens, and he is also one of Dickens' most despicable characters. He is very cruel to his dog Bull's-Eye, and to his girlfriend Nancy, who believes that she loves him. However, when he thinks that Nancy has betrayed him he murders her by beating her to death. He is chased by a mob and while trying to escape, hangs himself.

"Oliver Twist", Charles Dickens' second novel, also known as "The Parish Boy's Progress", was originally published in a magazine as a monthly instalment serial from February 1837 until April 1839. It tells the story of an orphaned boy, Oliver Twist, who falls into the hands of an elderly criminal, Fagin, who controls a gang of boy pickpockets. One of Fagin's associates is the criminal Bill Sikes.

Answer: Gone With the Wind

Scarlett O'Hara falls madly in love with Ashley Wilkes, who is a quiet gentleman. He in turn loves Scarlett but does not have much in common with her, but is drawn to his distant cousin, Melanie, and he marries her. Unfortunately, he is still obsessed with Scarlett.

Margaret Mitchell began writing "Gone With the Wind" in 1926. It was published in 1936. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for this book in 1937. This was the only book of hers published during her lifetime.

"Gone With the Wind" was made into a very successful movie in in 1939. Directed by Victor Fleming, George Cukor and Sam Wood, the movie starred Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes, Olivia de Havilland as his wife, Melanie, Vivian Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.

Answer: Pride and Prejudice

Lady Catherine is the widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh and the sister of Lady Anne Darcy, the mother of Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy. She lives in a big, beautiful home, "Rosings" which has wonderful fireplaces, windows and stairs.

"Pride and Prejudice", written by Jane Austen, was first published in 1813. It tells the story of the Bennett family and their five daughters, especially Elizabeth, also known as "Lizzy", who eventually marries Lady Catherine de Burgh's nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy. The book has been made into several movies, adapted for the stage, and was a very successful BBC TV production in 1995.

Answer: The Jungle Book

Shere Khan, the Tiger, was nicknamed "Lungri" (The Lame One) by his mother because of his deformity, but he thinks of himself as "Lord of the Jungle". A toddler wanders away from his home and Shere Khan, wanting to hunt humans, chases after the boy, but unfortunately, when Shere Khan catches up with the boy, he has been adopted by a pack of wolves, who name him Mowgli. The wolves, Baloo the bear, and Bagheera the panther, all protect Mowgli as he is growing up, as they all know that Shere Khan is still after him. Some years later, Mowgli traps Shere Khan in a narrow canyon and causes a herd of buffalo to stampede over Shere Khan, and he is killed. Mowgli takes the tiger's skin to the wolf pack's Council Rock and dances upon the hide.

"The Jungle Book" is a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling, first published in 1893-1894 in a magazine. Some of the more famous characters in the book are of course Mowgli, Baloo and Bagherra, as well as Akela and Raksha (some of Mowgli's adopted wolfpack), the Bandar-log (monkeys), Kaa the python, Hathi the elephant, and Grey Brother, one of the wolf cubs brought up with Mowgli.

Answer: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is a book written in 1964 by British author Roald Dahl. It tells the story of the adventures of Charlie Bucket, after finding one of five special golden tickets hidden inside a chocolate bar. This ticket enables Charlie to enter the fabulous chocolate factory owned by Willie Wonka along with the four other ticket winners.

Each of the other four children who find the golden ticket, is "lost" in each one of four rooms, leaving only Charlie left. Willie Wonka tells Charlie that the factory now belongs to him!