Top Ten All Time Favorite Characters

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

This is probably more of a "Top Ten Characters I really, really love" list. I don't think there are only ten characters that I love. However, I am going to give you ten I especially love.

1. Cal Trask from East of Eden by John Steinbeck -- Cal is perceived as the "bad" brother throughout East of Eden, but in reality he is a symbol of the potential for mankind to overcome mistakes and grow into greatness. He has more potential for greatness than his favored brother, Aron, because he chooses. I need to reread this book, because it has been about seven years and the details of the greatness are fading from my mind. But suffice it to say, my husband and I are probably naming our first-born son after this character. That is how much we love him.
2. Will from His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman -- I have been in love with Will since I was about nine years old. He is one of the strongest, yet least arrogant, characters I have ever encountered. He is the strong, silent type, but he devotes his every action to protecting the people he loves.
3. Jean Valjean from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo -- This is another character that represents the human ability to change and overcome adversity. I wish he was real so I could hug him every day.
4. Virgil from Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly -- Virgil is, quite simply put, one of the coolest characters I have ever encountered. He is so unique, talented, perfect for Andi. He was my favorite part of that entire fabulous book.
5. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling -- Guys, Hermione is my soulmate. I actually got called Hermione in the sixth grade when the books were first becoming popular -- I am a bookworm with poofy hair and big front teeth. And yes, I always raise my hand in class. I love that she makes it cool to be smart and contributes just as much, if not more, to the adventures with Harry and Ron.
6. Harry Potter from the same... I am relistening to the beginning books of the Harry Potter series, and I love Harry so much. He's just so likable. He isn't arrogant, despite the fact that he defeated the Dark Lord over and over again. He is loyal. He tries at all costs to do what is good. Yet, he isn't annoyingly perfect. Which makes him all the more perfect.
7. Death from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak -- What a weird, crazy character, and one that I would never expect to love. However, the creativity and unexpected tenderness of this dark and strange character was awesome.
8. Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott -- She is so fierce and funny and AWESOME! Minus the fact that she says no to Laurie. Professor Baehr is sweet, but I don't think I'll ever get over the rejection of Laurie.
9. Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery -- Anne is so positive, willing to look on the bright side of every situation, and learning from her hilarious "scrapes." I would love to be her bosom friend.
10. Swede from Peace Like a River by Leif Enger -- This is another smart, awesome, precocious girl. Swede writes epic poetry and views ife with astounding insight.

This was an awesome Top Ten Tuesday -- it was so fun to revisit these characters in my mind. What are some of your favorite characters?

24 comments:

  1. I love your thoughts on Cal from East of Eden. He made me htink more than any other character. And, I love the whole timshel thing with his and Aron's characters especially. East of Eden is definitely a deep read, but it's well worth it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really loved it. I read it in high school and am hoping to read it again soon. My husband has laid claim to it for the moment, but I am next! I am excited to see how my experience with it changes now that I am a bit older.

      Delete
  2. Well, you know I love Anne, Jo and Death since they all made my list, too. But I also have some crazy love for Hermione and Harry - I could have filled an entire list of favorite characters choosing just from those books!

    I just got the Julie Rose translation of Les Miserables, and I'm really looking forward to reading it! I've actually never read it before, so it makes me more excited about getting to it soon whenever you post about it. I also just bought East of Eden recently - never read it before either but SO excited to start that if you love it that much. I think I've got some good reading in my future :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. East of Eden is such an amazing book! There are so many different types of characters. The best (meaning worst) villain I have ever read about is in that book. I also really love the religious themes in it -- it is very insightful and different without being preachy.

      I hope you love Les Miserables! I am kind of stuck right now -- there is a big chapter about Napoleon and Waterloo and so I am getting distracted by other books. You'll probably finish it before I do even though I started earlier, haha. You have some awesome chunksters coming up!

      Delete
  3. Ooh interesting choices - yay for Harry & Hermoine :-)

    Tanya
    Girlxoxo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Much as I love Ron and Ginny, I really would have liked Hermione and Harry to end up together. *sigh*

      Delete
  4. I also love East of Eden. And Anne Shirley. Jo March. Death. Swede. Hermione. Great list! East of Eden is a definite reread for me. Along with Gone With the Wind and The Book Thief. Hey...maybe these titles will be my reading during my birth month this June!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds like a fun project! I really need to reread The Book Thief, especially since I handed it out for World Book Night.

      Delete
  5. Death in The Book Thief! Now that's one I haven't seen on anyone's lists and one I would have probably forgotten myself had I done a list. Awesome, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I just love how he follows Liesel throughout the story and gets caught up in it in spite of himself.

      Delete
  6. I put one of the His Dark Materials characters on my list too...Iorek Byrnison! But I also love the human characters. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Iorek too! He is such a cool and unique character. I really need to reread those books.

      Delete
  7. I love Jo March! However, I don't think I could get over Jo turning down Laurie either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In some ways I guess it makes sense -- they were so volatile together. But it just seemed so wrong that they didn't make it.

      Delete
  8. I didn't even think of Steinbeck, but I wish I had. He writes such wonderful, tragic men.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know -- I haven't read anything by him that I haven't loved, except the Pearl. And I think that was because I was in high school and didn't have an appreciation for tragedy yet.

      Delete
  9. New follower. ^^
    Love the list. We have one in common.
    Also, I have Amy March in mine. :D

    Check out my top 10 here

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I have trouble forgiving Amy for ending up with Laurie, because he should have been with JO! Haha. But I do really like her in spite of it.

      Delete
  10. Great List! I have Hermione, Anne and Jo on mine too!

    My Top Ten Characters

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are such good girl power role models. :)

      Delete
  11. Anne Shirley made my list this week, too. So did a few other HP characters, but neither Hermione nor Harry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am curious to know which HP characters did make it! I definitely would have added Fred and George and Hagrid if my list was longer. :)

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...