You Know Me Like a Book Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Sea Wolf

The Sea Wolf was a psychological thriller written by London that reflected upon a man that he had known. Humphrey van Weyden was shanghaied into serving on a ship that was captained by a monster of a man, Wolf Larsen. The story follows the horrors that the entire crew endured under his version of leadership and ultimately pits van Weyden against him after many foul treatments that he and the rest of the crew endured. Others became his captives later and ultimately van Weyden is shown to have overcome the evil of the captain for good.

If you've never read this novel, prepare yourself for a great story!

Question by logcrawler

Answer: Strawberries

Queeg caught the seaman who stole his strawberries, and the rest of the crew caught hell. After several illogical and/or dangerous decisions, his officers became worried about his mental stability. Ultimately, they decided he was no longer fit to command the Caine, and so in a bloodless, but rancorous, coup they took control of the ship. The usurping of Queeg's command led to the military court martial of Lt. Maryk, the ringleader of the takeover. I don't want to giveaway the verdict, so you'll have read the book to find out if he was acquitted or found guilty.

This work was brilliantly authored by Herman Wouk, and is the only book I have read three times (over a 60 year period). He penned this novel of high drama on the high seas, in 1951.

"The Caine Mutiny" was made into a movie in 1954, starring Humphrey Bogart as Captain Queeg. Bogie was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, but lost to Marlon Brando ("On the Waterfront").

Question submitted by paulmallon.

Answer: New Moon

"Emily of New Moon" is another delightful book from the pen of Lucy Maud Montgomery. Published in 1923, this beautiful story follows the life of Emily Byrd Starr, who is left orphaned following the earlier death of her mother, Juliet Murray, and the later one of her father, Douglas Starr. She is taken in - somewhat reluctantly on the part of Aunt Elizabeth - to live on the wealthy Murray's farm, New Moon, on Prince Edward Island, with Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Laura and Cousin Jimmy. "Emily of New Moon", plus two other follow up novels, follows Emily's life as she grows to adulthood.

Emily has three close friends in her early life - Ilse, Teddy and Perry - and these characters weave in and out of her life for years. Highly imaginative and deeply sensitive, and constantly at loggerheads with Aunt Elizabeth in the first of the trilogy, Emily also has the gift, when under great distress, of periodically seeing beyond the veil separating the everyday and the unknown. This plays a part in her adult life as well, and ultimately results in the culmination of her lifelong love for Teddy. In the interim, she spins her dreams in her mother's old bedroom at beautiful New Moon, eventually becoming a famous writer. Many of the episodes in these books were actually part of Montgomery's life herself. I love those three books, and have had them since I was a girl, the same age as Emily herself.

Question and information by Creedy.

Answer: Cold Comfort Farm

'Cold Comfort Farm' was Stella Gibbons' first novel. A review in the Sunday Times stated "Brilliant ... very probably the funniest book ever written", whilst the Guardian simply said "Literary bliss".

The central character in the book is Flora Poste, who lived in London but was then orphaned at nineteen. She believes she is possessed "of every art and grace save that of earning her own living" and decides her only option is to descend upon relatives at the aptly named Cold Comfort Farm where the Starkadder family live.

A brief synopsis of the Starkadders ... cousin Judith is full of remorse for unspoken wickedness. Amos Starkadder, Judith's husband and hellfire preacher who continually rants, "Ye're all damned!" Their three children, Seth (lustful), Reuben (despairing) and Elfine (a child of nature). And then there's crazed old Aunt Ada Doom who has not left her bedroom for the last twenty years.

Flora herself loves nothing better than to organize the lives of other people, and after a lengthy and hilarious journey, the occupants of Cold Comfort Farm are taken to task and their demons banished forever.

Cold Comfort Farm is a book I was unable to put down until reaching the final page; it truly is an absolute gem.

Question and information by moonraker2

Answer: Snow in August

In a tough neighborhood in 1947 Brooklyn, the boy's acts of goodness in the synagogue every Saturday is not something the Irish toughs who rule the neighborhood take kindly to. In fact they beat the tar out of Michael, trying to stop him from aiding the Rabbi. He is steadfast however, and each week he goes to light the Sabbath candles, and the Rabbi warmly calls him his Sabbath Goy (a Jewish name for a non-Jewish person.) :-)

Rabbi Hirsh and Michael become fast friends. The rabbi tells Michael mystical stories of ancient lore, while Michael teaches the rabbi about things in America. One of those things is the most American game of the time: baseball. Together they go to the grand ballpark of The Dodgers, Ebbet's Field. There they see another great and courageous man dealing with ethnic/racial strife, Jackie Robinson. The rabbi becomes an instant fan!

This is another book I've read twice, and it gave me goosebumps both times.
I encourage you to do yourself a favor and read it.

Question submitted by paulmallon.

Answer: Harry Flashman

The appalling but oddly likeable soldier character Harry Paget Flashman made his debut in George MacDonald Fraser's 1969 novel 'Flashman'. Despite fleeing in ignominy from many of the great battles of the 19th century, including the doomed Retreat from Kabul, the Charge of the Light Brigade and even the disaster at the Little Bighorn, Flashman's quick thinking and reliable good fortune usually see him hailed the handsome hero of the hour. Sent to the four corners of the earth, often on intelligence missions for the Empire, Flashman is able to establish a reputation which he in no way deserves. The books throw him into real historical events and up against real historical opponents, not to mention endless women to whom he is needless to say, irresistible. The books are brilliantly written and invariably hilarious, narrated by the self-confessed 'poltroon' Flashman, who is nevertheless always brutally honest about himself and others. He first appears, briefly, as the school bully in Thomas Hughes's famous 1857 novel 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'.

Question by JacquiD

Answer: Cattle

"Man-Shy" relates the tale of a young heifer in a herd of cattle in the Australian outback. We first meet her as little more than a newborn, when she is left an orphan after her mother is drowned in a flood. The defenceless little calf is then rebuffed by all the other cows as she tries to find an udder from which to drink, and is in danger of slowly starving to death until another cow, that had lost its own baby, let it suckle from her. The book takes us through the life of the young heifer from that time, to her life as a member of the man-controlled herd, her struggle to break away to freedom, and her ultimate achievement of that goal. The tale ends in a dark ironic twist as the heifer ultimately dies a terrible death from thirst in one of Australia's devastating droughts.

I've chosen this book, not because it was wonderful and inspired me, not because it tells a tale of love and passion, and not because it's a great historical epic - but because, even all these years later, I can't remove its images from my memory banks. In that then, the book was a success.

Question and information by Creedy

Answer: John Fowles

A British novelist (1926-2005) considered one of the best of the 20th century, John Fowles involved us - the readers - by inviting us to form our own narratives about the characters in his books, and what became of them.
His books are unique - and genius. His shorter works, like "The Ebony Tower" (one I quote from often), are exquisite. And his essays (one collection is called "Wormholes") are evocative.

If you haven't read his works - which, aside from all those mentioned already, include "Daniel Martin", "A Maggot", and "Mantissa" - I urge you to pick one up. They're perfect for a rainy day by the fire. Enjoy!

(question and information by VanCoerte)

Answer: Wyoming

I've gone on Shreve Stockton's website from time to time over the years to see how Charlie is doing. It is filled with beautiful pictures of him taken by Ms. Stockton. Sadly though, Charlie passed from this earth in October 2020.


Question submitted by Wanderess

Answer: Huckleberry Finn

The novel "Huckleberry Finn" was a natural sequel of sorts to Mark Twain's (Samuel Clemens') previous work, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". The other characters offered as possible answers were the names of characters in another of his novels, "The Prince and the Pauper".

While "Tom Sawyer" was a more light-hearted approach to a fictional character, which also featured Huck Finn from time to time, this novel was more of a social commentary on attitudes and norms of the American South during an era of Reconstruction following the U.S. Civil War.

Question by logcrawler