That's Novel Trivia Quiz

Answer: Northanger Abbey

"Northanger Abbey", by the inimitable Jane Austen, was first published in 1817. The heroine, Catherine Morland, enjoys reading what are called "Novels", a term for Gothic novels or melodramatic romances. Given the opportunity to live in Bath for a time, Catherine soon becomes fast friends with both the Tilneys, particularly young Eleanor and Henry Tilney, and the Thorpes, especially Isabella Thorpe, a scheming young lady who tries to marry Catherine to her brother John while becoming engaged to Catherine's brother James when she thinks he has money.

When Catherine is given an invitation to visit Eleanor Tilney at the Tilney's grand home, Northanger Abbey, Catherine is thrilled, imagining that she is living the plot of a Gothic novel. Her imagination takes her a little too far, however, possibly even jeopardizing the affections of the kind Mr. Henry Tilney!

Answer: Fahrenheit 451

"Fahrenheit 451", written by Ray Bradbury in 1953, is a dystopian novel in which censorship has led to the mass burning of books. The central character is Guy Montag, a "fireman" whose job it is to burn these books. However, upon meeting his next-door neighbor, a young girl named Clarisse, Guy begins to question his job and the true meaning of life. He slowly begins accumulating a stash of books from the houses that he is ordered to destroy. When war begins, Montag has a special gift to give what is left of humanity.

"Fahrenheit 451" was based on several previous writings of Bradbury's that he combined and expanded upon. He cited political correctness and censoring as the primary inspirations of the events of the book.

Answer: Sylvester

In "Sylvester", the main protagonist is Pheobe Marlowe, a young lady who secretly writes novels. When she realizes that there is a chance of her being forced to marry Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, she runs away. It is only when her book "The Lost Heir" is about to be published that she realizes that a character in it appears to mirror Sylvester, and attempts to change her book, but it is too late. Can she ever win his approval again?

Subtitled "The Wicked Uncle", "Sylvester" by Georgette Heyer was first published in 1957. It continues in the style of her popular Regency romances, taking place between 1817 and 1818.

Answer: The Neverending Story

Bastien Balthazar Bux is a lonely, overweight boy who finds a books called "The Neverending Story" and sits down to read it. The book by Michael Ende itself, also called "The Neverending Story", mostly focuses on the story that Bastien is reading, set in a land called Fantastica. However, Bastien slowly begins to notice that the characters in the book are somehow aware of him, and that he somehow has a part to play in it.

First published in German as "Die Unendlich Geschichte" in 1979 by Michael Ende, "The Neverending Story" was also adapted into a film in 1984.

Answer: The Hobbit

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit..." So begins the classic 1937 novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The book is about Bilbo Baggins, a creature called a Hobbit who lives comfortably in his Hobbit-hole and has a strong aversion to adventures. Until one day the wizard Gandalf comes to visit, and Bilbo soon finds himself roped into a quest to help a group of dwarves win back their mountain and mound of gold.

Bilbo returns home to Hobbiton a changed hobbit, and writes his adventures in a book called "There and Back Again". This book is also mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's sequel series, "The Lord of the Rings".

Answer: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Juliet Ashton is an English writer following World War II when she receives a letter from a man on the island of Guernsey who has found her copy of Charles Lamb's "Essays of Elia". They open a correspondence, and Juliet slowly learns about the club that this man, Dawsey Adams, belongs to: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Woven through this is a tale of how the members of this little club survived during the Nazi occupation of Guernsey, and a further mystery yet to be solved...

Written in 2008 by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" was adapted into a film in 2014.

Answer: Miss Buncle's Book

Miss Barbara Buncle is in dire straits in 1930s England: she has tried everything to earn more money, even through keeping chickens. She finally decides upon writing a book to make money, and bases it upon her town and all the characters in it. After convincing a publishing company to print it, she begins to realize what a mistake it was to model everything on her town, as the townspeople begin to recognize the sometimes unflattering characterizations!

First published in 1934, "Miss Buncle's Book" is a comedic masterpiece by D.E. Stevenson, with just a touch of romance thrown in.

Answer: 84, Charing Cross Road

The 1970 novel "84, Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff chronicles her correspondence, beginning in 1949, with a book buyer named Frank Doel with Marks & Co. Hanff, who lived in New York City, was trying to find titles through this English bookseller, and Doel assisted her. Their correspondence lasted 20 years. Unfortunately, Doel died in 1968 before Hanff had the chance to visit him. The adress of the book's title referred to the address of Marks & Co.

"84, Charing Cross Road" has been adapted into many other mediums, including film, television, stage, and radio.

Answer: The Book Thief

"The Book Thief" follows the story of a young German girl named Liesel Meminger living in Nazi Germany. Narrated by a characterization of Death, "The Book Thief" follows Liesel's life as she steals books in an attempt to save them from the Nazi's book burning, and as she begins to write her own story.

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak was first published in 2005. A film version was also made in 2013.

Answer: The Princess Bride

"The Princess Bride" by William Goldman is subtitled "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, The 'Good Parts' Version". It is presented as a story within a story, making the reader believe that William Goldman has merely adapted an older, classic book. It is, in fact, a highly original novel, following the heroine Buttercup as she comes to realize that Wesley, her farm-hand-turned-pirate, is her true hero. And, of course, there are R.O.U.S. involved--Rodents Of Unusual Size.

First published in 1973, "The Princess Bride" was also made into a hit film in 1987, with the screenplay written by both William Goldman and Rob Reiner. It starred Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, André the Giant, and Christopher Guest.