What is the fascination with literary characters? I know I was completely obsessed with Edward Cullen when I read Twilight for the first time. They aren't even real. So why are we so infatuated? My husband, LD, thinks I am absolutely bonkers when it comes to reading and my love of literary men.
I have many favorite literary characters. I hope that my love of them says something about me.
Here's my list:
1. Katniss from The Hunger Games. She is strong and independent. She can take care of herself. She cares for her family and friends before herself. I hope I can be just a little bit like her.
2. Peeta from The Hunger Games. He is kind and good. He has integrity and a heart full of love. What's not to like?
3. Henry Tilney from Northanger Abbey. He is everything a man ought to be. He is stable, independent, funny, and polite. If we could only have one of those in this time period.
4. Jo from Little Women. She takes care of her family first and foremost. She could have married Laurie and been rich and set for life, but would she have been herself and as happy as can be? She went dwn her own path. Not all those who wander are lost. Jo certainly wasn't.
5. Edward Cullen from The Twilight Saga. I have to mention him. Seriously. He is the perfect man. We all know he is. He has the perfect mix of mystery and goodness to him.
6. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Come on, how could I NOT mention him. I love him because he like so many love stories out there. We don't know we are in love with someone until it hits us in the face. He is a good man for all the right reasons...including being rich.
I have SO many more, but I want to hear who YOUR favorite literary characters are and what that says about YOU. So TELL ME!
I think the characters we love say allot about our beliefs and the qualities we hold dear.
ReplyDeleteI am always (at any given time) able to produce a list of literary crushes and favorites.
To me it's funny how sometimes I'll love a character so much it pains me to close the book and walk away.
Days later I'll still be thinking about them.
I guess the fascination is that they're everything we dream of having, so I would say yes, your favorite characters do reflect who you are. In the sense of values, personality, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with everyone you have on the list! Jane Austen makes the most well-mannered, distinguished men. It's unbelievably hot. :)
Henry DeTamble from The Time Traveler's Wife. I wrote a post about it early on when I reviewed the book.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely my fave.
Joe Willard from Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace. Sherlock Holmes. (VERY interesting.) Mac from Louisa May Alcott's Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom. [sigh]
ReplyDeleteFor girls, I love Judy in Daddy-Long-Legs. Tacy from Betsy-Tacy. (Betsy, too.) Valency from The Blue Castle. (L.M. Montgomery) Cimorene from Dealing with Dragons.
DELIGHTFUL!
LOL... Sorry, but I don't know that Edward is the perfect man. I don't even think he's the perfect man. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've really come across "the perfect man" in literature. Good male characters have flaws... so they're not perfect, by definition. And guys who are "perfect" and have no flaws are not very good characters.
Love this post! I'm right there with you on Darcy, but I'm far more of a Jacob fan when it comes to Twilight. His sweetness and loyalty to Bella won me over immediately. My "other" thinks I'm nuts for having literary crushes, too. Bah!
ReplyDeleteNot Edward. Jacob is my choice if we pick from the Twilight series.
ReplyDeleteI also like Jo from Little Women...and independent and strong woman!
When I'm in a book I also get swept up in the characters, and now, on my lunch break at work, I cannot think of one that stands out.
But you have not mentioned Sam from Shiver and I'm sure he now surpasses Edward by a mile. But for me, it will always be Mr Darcy. He is my ultimate book crush. The one I've never got over.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Katniss from Hunger Games and Jo from Little Women.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite literary character is Anna Karenina. There's so much to admire about her, but in the end she just breaks my heart.
Am I the only one that found Edward overbearing with creepy stalker tendencies? Not romantic... but next time I want someone removing parts from my car so that I can't go anywhere, or to freakishly stare at me in my sleep, I'll know who to call.
ReplyDeleteOn a more positive note, I too love Mr. Darcy, although I think that Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings has my allegiance forever. And, of course, Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables was my very first literary crush. Hopefully I am not alone in that.
OK, great list but you will add Sarah once you read "These is my words." She is probably my favorite character ever, seriously. Well, other than Mr. Darcy and Edward.
ReplyDeleteI was totally in love with Edward Cullen from the very first time I saw him in the movie. I am one of the few who watched the movie, then read the books. Edward is why I couldn't put the book down. :) I'm also rather fond of Hunt in "Thirsty" too.
ReplyDeleteI loved Gilbert Blythe, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you mentioned my dear Henry!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gilbert Blythe, too. For others for me: Anne Shirley Blythe, Barney and Valancy Snaith, Captain Wentworth, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Raoul, Edmond Dantes, Meg and Charlie O'Keefe, Elizabeth Bennet, Isi...and I could do a lot more.
If I'm forced to pick someone from Twilight, it's Carlisle Cullen. No contest. Never once--even on his own--giving in to the natural man, er, natural vampire. Doing so much more than I ever see his "children" do.
Henry De Tamble from The Time Traveler's Wife - *swoon* I'm completely in love with him. <3 haha
ReplyDeleteThe Romance in The Hunger Games is becoming the Next Twilight
ReplyDeletehttp://themockingjay.vndv.com
I do LOVE me some Mr. Darcy!
ReplyDeleteI think Edward is perfect in his imperfections to me...just love him!
ReplyDeleteI like Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird...love his gentle integrity :)
ReplyDelete