Name a character and the book they are from that has stayed with you and why.
Name a character and the book they are from that has stayed with you and why.
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The Color Purple, character Cicely.
Aliena in The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. She is smart and fierce, and she never stops fighting in the face of adversity. She doesn’t always make the right choices, but who does?
Most of the characters in Catch 22. I’ve met most them in my life’s journey and been a few of them during stretches in my life. ?
Old Yeller… I think it was the first book I read that had such a tragic death in it.
Lou in Me Before You.
Harry Potter….
O-Lan from “The Good Earth”
The Count in Gentleman in Moscow ❤️
Jamie AND Claire…The Outlanders!
I absolutely love these characters! Those books, although very long, are some of the best books I’ve ever read.
Rue. She was an innocent
The Hunger Games?
A Man Called Ove because there is “no one you can’t love once you know their story” (Mr Rogers quote)
I always thought I was Scout from To Kill a M. because she ran around barefoot and slammed the screen door behind her.
Sula Peace from Toni Morrison’s Sula. The problem of good and evil women .
Katie John title hero of children’s book. I like to think she influenced how I approached life as a tomboy.
Alice from What Alice Forgot
Lucy she had pure faith? Chronicles of Narnia
Clara from What She Left Behind. She spent most of her life in an insane asylum, after being wrongfully committed, and managed to keep her sanity through it all. By Ellen Marie Wiseman, very emotional read, highly recommend.
The Bennett family and community in Pride and Prejudice
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
Have you read New York by Edward Rutherfurd?
Yes and I loved it enough to reread it!
Lauren Olamina from Parable of the Sower. She was a strong, smart black girl who developed her own philosophy and worked to help others after the country had pretty much collapsed.
Elphaba from Wicked ??
CeeCee from Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. A very sweet girl who was deeply affected by her early years with and then the loss of her mother – and then the extraordinary other women who eventually guide her.
Scarlet from GWTW she was able to overcome her upbringing she was shrewd and capable and oh so selfish
In spite of her short comings, I still felt sad for her when Rhett said I don’t give a damn.
Arya Stark from GOT…BAD.ASS.
Bennie Hogan from A Circle of Friends will forever be one of my favorites. She is strong and beautiful and didn’t comply with any of the stereotypes about “big girls.” She made me feel less alone in the world.
Harry potter all the books
Scarlet , selfish conniving and so fascinating. All for herself and Tara. GWTW
Gertie Nevels in The Doll Maker by Harriette Arnow. Such strength after moving from Kentucky to Detroit during WWII.
I didn’t realize that was a book. I watched the movie when I was a teenager and the character of Gertie stayed with me too.
She must have really resonated with me, as well. I read that book at least 55 years ago, had remembered the story, but not the title or the author’s name, and have struggled for years to come up with the who and what of it, but totally remembered Gertie.
I, too, read it long ago. Her devotion to her children has always been a role model for me!
Dane from The Thorn Birds…wanted to name my son dane but everyone talked me out of it!!
Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Evelyn Hugo from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Ann (of Green Gables) she was a foster child/adopted child and the love grew kind of slow with her new family. I work with foster children now but loved it even before as I was a kind of introverted kid who moved a lot.
@Bonnie Have you read the Emily of New Moon books? I always liked her better than Anne.
No, but I will check them out.
Wilbur – Charlotte’s Web
@Dawn my second choice!
my character is Charlotte! This quote has stayed with me since childhood:
Wilbur asks Charlotte why she is saving him and she answers:
“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing.”
Atticus Finch. From To Kill a Mockingbird
Holden Caulfield of “The Catcher in the Rye.” He was so desperate for human connection even as he seemed to push everyone (except Phoebe) away.
Atticus Finch and Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird.
Ponyboy The Outsiders- introduced me to Robert Frost
Jo March from Little Women! Her determination to be herself in a world that frowned upon women breaking the mold was everything to a younger me.
Flavia de Lucie – Alan Bradley
Love the humor in this series. Flavia
Any parent of a gifted child will recognize Flavia immediately.
Yes!
So I just read a book that reminded me of the Flavia deluce series. It’s called a brief history of montmoray. You might like is as well.
O-lan in The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. She went from slave to the great house but still remembered what was important in life.
My mother’s all time favorite book.
Scarlett O’Hara, Gone With the Wind, because despite how unlikeable her character could be, she remained a strong woman no matter the obstacles and over came them.
My choice also, and for same reason!
Ralph Touchett “Ah he was so simpatico.”—Countess Gemini, Portrait of a Lady
Katie Nolan—a tree lives in Brooklyn. My family grew up there, and we visited Williamsburg’s last year.
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. We were THISCLOSE to naming my DS after him.
Francie Nolan. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Perseverance and determination despite difficult circumstances
Mariam – A Thousand Splendid Suns
Yes….Layla and Mariam both!
yes it is
Charlie in Flowers for Algernon. ?
It’s a fundamental work that is not only interesting but nails the American experience in ways that still reverberate, what, 60 years later
Aurora Greenway, Terms of Endearment she is such a great character in all three books.
Tom Joad, The Grapes of Wrath. Helped me shape my politics and how I view the plight of the underdogs of this world.
Scarlet in Gone With the Wind.
Nancy Drew..she could solve everything and keep her Titian colored hair perfectly styled. I started with my Grandmothers books and still have all the ones I bought with my allowance in the 70’s
??
Aww loved those books ?
I tell my kids that Nancy solved mysteries without a cell phone or the internet….they were mystified! LOL!
Rudy Shneider from THE BOOK THIEF. I loved his determination and mischief. He just made me smile with love for that little fellow. How can you not love a little blonde blue-eyed boy who wanted to be like Jesse Owen? ❤
Yes! A great American story
Jane Eyre and Edward Fairfax Rochester.
1. Ramona Quimby
2. Charles Ingalls
3. Charlotte A. Cavatica
4. Scarlet O’Hara
5. Atticus Finch
6. Jane Eyre
Too many to list or explain why ??
Who is Charlotte?
@Cherisa From Charlottes Web by E. B. White. She’s the spider.
@Heather didn’t know she had a surname!?
@Cherisa It’s in the book ?
@Heather good Jeopardy question ?
@Cherisa ??
Atticus Finch
Go Set a Watchman might break your heart. Although I liked it, and found the story plausible, part of me wishes I never read it.
That’s why I don’t want to read it. I love Atticus
Scout. Love her spirit
Una the character in Ahab s Wife. I liked her because she was so adventurous.
Alexander Supertramp from Into The Wild
I’m no Spring Chickie, so I’ve read a LOT of books. It’s hard to just pick one. So I’ll pick 3… Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, and Hercule Poirot. I pick them because I grew up in a very small town. I’m a smart chickie also, and have an extremely good memory, with an eye for detail. These characters were the first I read about that I felt similar to, who were more than just nerds. They were the heroes and heroines of the story. They solved the problems.
Can’t even begin to choose, but LOVE this post and am getting great ideas for my TBR list!
Anne from Anne of Green Gables
Taylor Greer, The Bean Trees
A lot of people seem to have read it in high school, but my class never did. I had seen the movie a few times but never read the book until I was an adult. Sometimes I remember my reaction when I finish a book. When I finished TKAM my immediate response was, “wow, that was SOME book!”
Lina Hait Crowell I reread it just last year and it was even more significant today, I mean in these times
Ellery Queen I loved those stories.
May Boatwright. The Secret Life of Bees.
Hans Castorp – a hapless fellow who became decisive in the secluded Swiss Alps as the world swirled from philosophical chaos to war.
Just reread the Magic Mountain, but surprisingly it was a slog
Dovekeeper.
I have that book did you like it ?
@Paula Loved it. Still stays with me.
@Carol thank you!
Lizbet Salander, the girl with the dragon tattoo. Enjoying her brilliant revenge on the evil men who wronged her is one of my greatest guilty pleasures.
I loved that series!
I loved her too! Loved her revenge, but also loved how smart she was!!! She was a complete computer genius!
Love her. Reading Eye for an Eye right now
Ramona quimby, franny from a tree grows in brooklyn, Seymour glass from salinger’s stories
Ramona ❤️
I became a teacher because I read all of Mary Poppins in the 2nd grade
When I was a kid I wanted Harriet from “Harriet the Spy” to be my best friend. I still find her to be one of the most intriguing characters I’ve ever read (especially now that I am a mother).
I wanted to be her. I wanted to spy on people and hide in dumb waiters — that sounded so cool
Me too. I remember going on my “route” like Harriet, which was nowhere as cool as her because I wasn’t allowed to walk more than three houses away from my own, and we didn’t have a dumbwaiter.
Britte Marie from Britte Marie Was Here. I chose this character because I’m at a similar stage in life. I understood her completely!
Jane Eyre. I’ve always loved her because she’s a very intelligent, determined and strong willed character. She wasn’t the prettiest of girls, but that was never important to her. She was more interested in being smart and moral than being the belle of the ball. And I always admired how she stood up to Mr. Rochester and spoke her mind instead of cowering the way other young women of that time period would have. I think she’s an amazing role model for young girls of this generation, who are concerned about taking the perfect “selfie.” Intelligence and self worth is worth more.
I agree, Jennifer Richardson. I have read the book over and over again from age 11 and am now retired. She was my role model.
Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, just because that was one of the first novels I read and fell in love with. I think her character taught me very early on that being a girl doesn’t mean you are limited. I named my son Nolan.
Connor Ford from The Smoke Jumper. I loved the complexity of the character and how he changed over time, from a wildfire fighter to a war zone photographer. Left quite the impression on me as a teen.
Elizabeth Bennett. She had strong convictions and they guided her. When she was wrong, she admitted it.
I have to say Jaime and Claire Fraser from Outlander series. They are strong, have gone through many sad events, but never lose the spirit that drives them. And I also have to say Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, from Louise Penny’s books, much for the same reasons and because he feels like a friend. I love to re-read the books because I feel like I could be in that place with those people.
John Ames in Gilead
Fern Arable from Charlotte’s Web.
Fern lived my dream life.
Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. She had spunk and a kind heart. She played with the boys, and she learned from her Dad.
Olive Kitteridge , from the book of the same name. She was one tough lady.
I really remember her also
Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird!!! She’s feisty!!!
Howard Roark-the fountainhead
Xxx-layer cake
Sam Hamilton-east of eden
Tom joad-grapes of wrath
Elvis from Rabbit Cake
Harriet Solomon Potter, a Texas pioneer. Her story is told in Love is A Wild Assault
Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
It was and is my favorite book of all time.
I want to read it again – I love all of Betty Smith’s books!
Scout as a child; Scarlett as a teenager; Elizabeth Bennet as an adult come to mind…
Una from “Ahab’s Wife”
Charlotte so loving gentle and wise in her web.
The Little Prince…all those travels and all the lessons he learned along the way…”it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye”
Hawkeye from Last of the Mohicans
Charlotte from Charlotte’s Web. It was the first time I was introduced to something/someone that everyone else was afraid of and made her a positive icon. to this day I am a capture and release airl when it comes to spiders 🙂
Scout-To Kill a Mockingbird
Anne fro Anne of Green Gables…
To name just one at the moment- Luna Lovegood – she is a “fellow Ravenclaw”, she’s a good friend, sees things others don’t, she knows and accepts herself even when others pick on her.
Seems unnecessary to specify, but I forgot to mention from Harry Potter.
There is great fan fiction out there on Luna.
.. Mrs. Pollifax .. from the series by Dorothy Gilman .. She’s an elderly widow who gets bored with just garden club meetings, so she joins the CIA and goes on secret missions.
The orphan from The Book Thief, also the grandfather, also the Jewish young man, also the grandmother, also the lady that left the window open for her to take books, and her lost friend.
I completely agree with this list!
The seven kids from the Because of Mr. Terupt series: Peter, Jessica, Luke, Alexia, Jeffrey, Danielle and Anna. Relatable kids from different backgrounds with a deep capacity to love.
Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser (time traveler & creative medical arts practitioner), Amelia Peabody (Egyptologist/detective)- adaptable, resilient & good role models
“Antoinette (Bertha)” From ‘ The Wide Sargasso Sea’ , by Jean Rhys.She’s also known as the first ‘ Mrs. Rochester’. She’s haunting because she ‘ s been a prisoner in her own home, and when you read that novel you understand what’s behind her midnight roamings and her fascination with fire.
The Book Thief – Liesel – So amazing to think how books brought her so much comfort in such unimaginable circumstances. The story had just stayed with me. ❤️
I agree I love Liesel…not to mention Rudy Steiner, the boy “whose hair would remain the color of lemons forever” that wanted to be just like Jesse Owens ❤️
Francie from a Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
She came to mind.
Livy from The Magic of Ordinary Days
Pi Patel from Life of Pi.
Scout… to kill a mocking bird.
Dolores Price from She’s Come Undone (by Wally Lamb)
Helen from Jane Eyre, a very minor character but her friendship to Jane and death affected me. She took abuse and still encouraged Jane.
Scarlett O’Hara from GWTW. A lifelong love with the character and the book.
When my oldest daughter was born, I named her Tara (my husband rejected Scarlett). As a gift my friend gave me a Madame Alexander Scarlett O’Hara doll – to start a GWTW collection for her. I kept it up for years (still do) but Tara has absolutely no interest in it! Now I have it all in a beautiful cabinet in my living room. ?
I have 3 sets of the GWTW plates by The Bradford Exchange. My daughters and I fight for the best ones.
Hallmark has one (or two) GWTW ornaments every Christmas. My birthday is also in Dec., so my mom always gets them for me every year!
Skeeter Phelan from The Help
Montag- Fahrenheit 451. He gave up His comfortable position as a fireman, because his ideas changed about the freedom to be able to read whatever you choose! He became a fugitive and certainly showed himself to be bigger than the circumstances! Hope I will stay a stand up guy in my life!-Randy.
Yes, a thousand times, yes!
So many stay with me but recently Benji in Beartown and Tony Loneman in There There.
Skeeter from The Help, she is me.
Scout/TKAM
Me too.
Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights
Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice
Lila from “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante series books! A smart character and very loyal to her friend Lena.
Arturo from Geek Love
Scout, Atticus, Calpurnia, Boo … love To Kill a Mockingbird. Family
Jude. A Little Life
Definitely! Such a heartbreaking story!
Atticus Finch will always be a part of me
Benji from Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Because I just read this book and he was my favorite. Troubled and trouble.
Great Expectations, Miss Haversham. I don’t know why except imagery
@Bonnie I always think of her when it’s time to do housework…I think “this place looks like Miss Havisham’s house”…
OMG, SAME
Atticus
Owen Meaney in “A Prayer For Owen Meaney”.
Robinson Crusoe, by same name
Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings.
Anne with an E Shirley. I want her for my best friend!! Anne of Green Gables.
Me too!
Love her
Jay Gatz
Francine Nolan, her love of books, learning and family. Atticus, his truth, kindness and strength, Scarlett, her strong will, her charm and determination
Morrie from Tuesdays With Morrie. So brave in the face of death.
Count Alexander Rostov from A Gentleman in Moscow. Despite being in lockdown at a hotel for the remainder of his life and never being able to step outside and enjoy the city he loved, he formed life long friendships and remained a kind hearted soul.
@Kimberly reading this for Octobers book club meeting. Thanks for the heads up(gentle sarcasm)?
@Catharine sorry ?♀️
Maryann Singleton from Tales of the City. I found this series of books long after I was a young woman, but I still wonder if I would have had the courage to move so far from home and start a new life in a wonderful city like San Francisco like she did.
Owen Meanie!
Scarlett. Because she could adapt!
I had to revisit this post, so much of what I read is character driven, therefore so many characters live inside my head. I am now haunted by any character with the last name of Stark, obsessed with Matthew Clairmont and I think Armand Gamache is my best friend?
@Sue same with me, so many characters in my head and heart they are like a shadow social cohort of my life
Gentleman in Moscow…. Count Rostov
Wheeler Burden in The Little Book – I dream of him often <3
Elizabeth Bennett in PRIDE & PREJUDICE
Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, because she’s a voracious reader like me, and takes pride in the written word.
Father Tim. Jan Karon’s Mitford series. His kindness to all in his community.
Jean Valjean Les Miserables1
“Stay gold Ponyboy” Johnny Cade….The Outsiders
Jo from Little Women….I was her.
The Little Prince for his abiding love
Anne from Anne of Green Gables – she had such a difficult childhood and never lost her sense of wonder and love of beauty (and learning!)
Absolutely!
Ayla from Clan of the Cave Bear. Because her obstacles were steel and she was the sword. She only became stronger and sharper, even all on her own.
CHARLOTTE ,HER LOVE & FRIENDSHIP
Anne Frank from Diary of Anne Frank
Yes!!
Kinsey Millhone or Anna Pigeon. I’d love to be that brave and able to solve mysteries?❤️
I still think about Kinsey and it’s so sad we won’t be reading about her any longer.
@Linda – I know. The Alphabet ends with “Y”?
Eleanor, The Haunting of Hill House
Eddie from The Five People You Meet In Heaven
Augustus Mcrae from Lonesome Dove…”The older the violin..the sweeter the music” ?
Kathy and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. Doomed lovers that I still think about now and then.
Harriet, Harriet the Spy. I always loved her independence.
Jo and Beth from Little Women.
Karla see my review at https://wp.me/p9PuNj-2r
Christy, from the book Christy – Catherine Marshall. Young and naive, she left for an adventure teaching in the Appalachian mountains. All of the people she met and life’s lessons she learned, really resonated to me as a young girl.
Rebekah Fairlight…there is a character in the book, the wife of a mountain man, named Fairlight Spencer.
Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird because she had a strong sense of equality…I have that quality too
Sidney Carton from Tale of Two Cities because he starts out as the throw away and becomes the most important character in the story.
A great character
Quentin Coldwater (The Magicians), Eleanor Oliphant (EO is Completely Fine), every HP character naturally, Jay Gatsby, getting away from book characters but “Pink” of Pink Floyd’s The Wall
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird
Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. And Katie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
Hans from The Book Thief, for his heart.
Sethe – Beloved
Atticus, because he lives by Do unto Others, As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.
Valentine Michael Smith from “Stranger in a Strange Land”, Robert Heinlein. I read the book when I was 15. It was the first time I fell in love with a character in a book.
“Once upon a time there was a Martian named Valentine Michael Smith”….the first line of an amazing book. I even loved Heinlein ‘s juvenile sci-fi books like Star Beast and Podkayne of Mars
Half pint/ Little House
Roland the Gunslinger from Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. He was heroic and tragic, and his story never ended.
Atticus Finch/ “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Captain Queeg from the Caine Mutiny, he reveals the way stress and absolute power can make someone disillusioned. The character is vivid and tyrranical at times and sympathetic at other times.
Scarlet OHara. She changed with the loss of the Confederacy
I love her too…responsibility and loss changed her…but nothing changed her spirit. A strong woman at a time and place where they weren’t supposed to be.
Jude – A Little Life
I can’t forget him if I try.
Atticus Finch
Ava…Ava’s Man
RICK BRAGG
Oakley Fox …Fair and Tender Ladies
Jo March
I so agree…her personal awareness in turning down Laurie, publishing her first story… I think it is too bad that Little Women is considered a children’s book. We could all learn from little tales of daily courage and character. Have you read Alcott’s Eight Cousins?
Yes. I read them all. Even have my mother’s copies of those books.
@Judy wow that is great. I had my mom’s Nancy Drew books. Of course there were just three or four then
She’s Come Undone,Dolores Price.
Renfield from Dracula. Just the flies….
Stella in “ A World Made of Fire” by Mark Childress the author made her so real.
Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus Finch from Mockingbird. Terrence McDonald from my own as-yet unpublished novel, What Death Taught Terrence. When that book comes, I do hope all the great readers here will consider reading it! Ten years of work. It’s so close now, I can almost feel myself holding it! I just need the agent and the publisher who will help me bring it into the world!
Good luck!
Santiago from The Alchemist- we are all on our own journey and should look within. Also, Eddie from The five ppl u meet in heaven- because sometimes we don’t realize how important we are to others until it’s gone.
Little Women. Jo
George of mice and men
David Copperfield; Ireni Forsythe
Ditto!
Dr. Frankenstein
Arthur Less, from the book, Less is completely memorable and lovable. His story reminds me that even the most brazen attempts to avoid our lives can backfire on us, leading to happiness.
I’m reading that right now. It’s so good! I’m at the part when he’s in Germany. So funny!
@Suzye I saw the author read the Germany chapter at a local bookstore and it was so amazing.
Olive Kitteridge, honest, somewhat brutal but very true
@Helen I have 50 pages to go in this book. ?
Sidney Carton from Tale of Two Cities… a unique character who made the ultimate sacrifice
Everett Chance – The Brothers K.
Forgot the why…..an amazing man in a difficult time I identified with him and would like to think if I went through what he went through, knowing myself, I’d a made many of the same choices: “Hats”, “Give Chance a Piece”. READ THE BOOK.
Ove from A Man Called Ove
I must say I did not like that book-I’ve gotten a lot of slack from saying this-lol-I kept waiting for something to happen and I felt like it never did.
I loved that book! Also, by same author, Britt Marie was here.
@Glenda I was hesitant for the first half of the book. I agree, kept waiting for something to happen. The last half, I saw that the book, like the main character began to open his heart and live. It really resonated with me.
@Susan I completely agree! I stopped reading it for a while but then went back to it and so glad that I did! I was tearing up at the end and in never cry! Ove is such a well rounded character with so much pathos. To the outsider he’s such a cranky old curmudgeon but we as the reader realize there’s so much more to him. And there’s a lot of humor as well!
@Suzye I also listened to it as an audiobook and it really brought him to life.
@Susan me too! ?
Alice from Still Alice by Lisa Genova. One of the most powerful books I’ve ever read. I felt her throughout the whole book.
‘Scout’ in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
Yossarian – Catch 22
Horse Badorties – The Fan Man
Natasha. War and Peace
The second Mrs. DeWinter (she has no first name) in Rebecca – perhaps because I was 16 when I read it. It was set in England and in a world I knew nothing about.
Trudi Stones from the River
Love that book!
Ponyboy Curtis.
Because When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house…
Scarlett from Gone With the Wind….oh fiddle de de I will worry about this tomarrah.
Scarlett From Gone With the WInd….she was fearless
I first read Catcher In the Rye when I was 13 and identified heavily with Holden Caulfield. I reread the book at least 10 to 12 times by the time I was 24, and each time I found something else that resonated with me and my life. He is still one of my all-time favorite characters.
LOVE that book!
@Annie Me, too! My favorite book!
Anne of Green Gables, her loyalty, her sense of humor, her determination.
Silas Marner
Franny and Zooey by Salinger. Related to both characters.
Sarah’s little brother from Sarah’s Key hasn’t just ‘stayed’ with me. He haunts me. I’m not going to say why because it would be a spoiler for those who haven’t yet read the book.
@Adele yes!
(Just a wee bit of an edit) ?
@Adele ?
Yes indeed, @Karol … whenever I think about it … which is probably too often.
@Adele that whole event…. 🙁
Owen Meaney from A Prayer for Owen Meaney
More than once.
Atticus…To Kill A Mockingbird
Aliena. The Pillars of the Earth. She was a woman before her time!
Scout in To Kill A Mocking Bird.
Walter Neff – Double Indemnity
Mayella Ewell from To Kill a Mockingbird. As Atticus says, “She is a victim of ignorance and poverty.”
Laura Ingalls. I loved her so much-I thought of her as my friend. Those books such a part of my childhood!
@Shanon adore her!! She is still my best friend, always and forever.
The unnamed narrator of The Historian. She had lost her mother and her father was a distance, unaffectionate, workaholic, so she was left to her own devices most of the time. But she’s never bitter or resentful, just a little lost.
Ender from Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow and, of course, Scrooge!
@Park it’s a perfect book.
Addison from To Kill a Mockingbird.
Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables
Precocious and positive. 🙂
Master Raymond!
I wonder if we will ever get his backstory.
@Hillary I believe Diana Gabaldon has said she is planning a Raymond book. Also, if you follow her on Facebook, she has posted one or two very interesting tales about him.
@Hillary https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDianaGabaldon/
Yay! Thanks so much for the recommendation.
I just joined it and it is great! I don’t watch the show (the characters in my head look too different, I can’t get past it), so I will skip those posts, but it looks like most are book-based. Love that she obviously does the page herself and joins in the conversation. Thanks again.
@Hillary I am one of Outlander’s biggest fans, I think! I’ve been reading her books (and rereading them) for over 20 years. I was convinced I would hate the show, but it’s really pretty good! You should try it, it is fun to see the characters come to life. Master Raymond was great. There’s a lot in her page right now about the show because it starts again pretty soon.
@Julie , I will think about it. In the past, the movie/TV versions of the characters have supplanted my imaginary characters once I see them. I love the characters in my head so much from these books, I am scared to risk it. I would miss them. But, my mom said the same thing about the show, so maybe it’s worth it.
Hillary Lane Siragusa Never read the books but love the shows. Would not miss them. Great period costuming comes to life, scenery and homes. My sister in law is a curator of costumes at a national site and she just loves how that show is very authentic.
@Hillary yes, I totally get what you mean! But, the vision I have of Jamie of the books is so strong that the tv version seems kind of like a different version of the character. Like I’m seeing someone else’s version of Jamie and it’s ok. Not sure if that makes sense! I totally didn’t think I’d like the show, but I really really do! And I know it will be worth watching just to see Maria Doyle Kennedy play Aunt Jocasta this season because she is FABULOUS!
@Julie , I see your point. I am almost done reading all the books AGAIN so maybe the characters are “implanted”. I really like your idea of different versions. That’s a great way to look at it and my help me in the future when they totally screw up the casting, in my opinion (a la Twilight).
Claire from the Outlander series who was smart, strong, brave and romantic in 2 different time periods. I read all 8 books in the series and just loved them.
Tom Joad from The Grapes of Wrath.
The father, The Book Thief
Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. She has been a part of my life for many years. Laura Ingalls Wilder for same reason. Childhood friends who are with me always!
Charlotte from Charlotte’s web.
I have a repeat-web-builder out back. She builds in our way, we tear it down, she rebuilds. I have named her Charlotte for this very reason. Which is why I don’t have the heart to spray her web with insecticide. God love the persistent little creature.
Claire in the Outlander books. She’s courageous, smart, flexible, has strong morals, is not materialistic, is loyal and knows how to love completely
Gus from Lonesome Dove
@Pennie the man. I have never read the books just seen the whole series 10 and counting.
@Beverly The book is one of my favorites. I read it when it came out over 30 years ago and I reread it occasionally. The miniseries is good but the book is so much better.
@Pennie good.. I will get it
Antonia Zabinski in The Zookeeper’s Wife. Such bravery! And loves animals, too!
Harry Potter. I haven’t read those books in five years probably, but I will be forever obsessed because of all the merchandise, fan fiction and reading confessions about what people think of the books. Also, Fantastic Beasts- it’s nice to have more movies set in the Wizarding World and to explore the characters further.
@Nicholas I like Harry Potter too. My sister and I visited the Wizarding World last October and it really was magical.
Bigwig from Watership Down ❤️
OMG, me too! I was just about to say the same but thought I’d see what other people thought. One of the most admirable characters ever.
@Hillary I read that book for the first time this summer and in complete love with it! I re read the ending about 5 times before returning to the library. What a classic!! ❤️❤️??
@Amy , “My Chief Rabbit has told me to stay and defend this run, and until he says otherwise, I shall stay here.” Sigh.❤️
Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia.
Dumbledore from HP.
Peter Pan ❤
Jo March, Little Women, Visionary for her time
Isabel Archer from The Portrait of a Lady. Her thirst for knowledge and experience, her ideals and suffering, her strength
Sam Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings…
Jane Eyre – the book is Jane Eyre. The character embodies the ideals of early Victorian womanhood yet manages to overcome unbearable adversity, not once but several times in the story in order to triumph (by early Victorian standards) in the end.
Idgie – Fried Green Tomatoes. I named a horse after her
Atticus Finch … to kill a mocking bird …. why? My f introduction to the injustices in our world
Corrie Tin Booms book. Thank God for lice and fleas.
Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. She’s just such a strong character. I love her. ❤️
Icy from Icy Sparks – has Tourette’s and her family didn’t get her so she made her own family from other societal outcasts. Her voice and attitude were great.
Louis Zamperini in Unbroken. Such an amazing true story of courage and incredible resilience!!!
@Denise I think about this book ALL THE TIME! It rocked my world!
@Angela me toooooo
My kids know the author well. College friend of theirs. She’s fantastic at research.
Little Women….Jo…Amy… Beth… Meg…. family is everything… compassion is nessiary …and life is a gift…
Jo March from Little Women because she reminded me of myself.
My Antonia
Honestly Harry Potter because he always dug deep and found courage he didn’t know he had and grew into a leader he never thought he’d be.
Yay!
Bone Boatwright – Bastard Out Of Carolina
Pollyanna, she reminds be of what is important in life. Same for lion, witch and wardrobe- asland taught faith. I just finished the tattooist of Auschwitz. The tattooist showed me a lot of enduraning to the end.
Pollyanna was my first favorite book ?
Anne Shirley, from Anne of Green Gables. my heart broke with all her trials. Her heart was always in the right place❤️.
Atticus Finch—-what a wonderful man.
Annie LaMott-“Hallelujah Anyway, Discovering Mercy”. “What if we know that forgiveness and mercy are what heal and restore and define us , that they actually are the fragrance that the Rose leaves on the heal that crushes it?”
Einstein the dog from watchers, Atticus, from to kill a Mockingbird, oh geez too many!
Mr. Milgrom in Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli. He had an endless supply of love and patience in spite of losing everything in the Warsaw Ghetto.
Such a good question! I would have to say all the characters in the Athens Girl with a Dragon Tattoo series, Especially Lisabeth. I just can’t imagine living her life.
Liesel from The Book Thief
Lots, but Laurie from the book, “Don’t Hurt Laurie” from junior high. She was abused. It scared me and I will never understand how any human can hurt another like that.
Odetta Holmes/Detta Walker from The Dark Tower series by King. Mordred is hongry! Just a fascinating character with two very different personalities who merge to become the ideal female…IMO
The Little Prince from the book by the same name. His description of the man who counts his money all day is spot on.
Jane Eyre. Just love her. Confidence without conceit. An independent woman for all times.
Beth—Little Women. Complete selflessness.
King Lear of King Lear. He thought he knew it all but, in his 80s, discovered that what he ‘knew’ was wrong. It gives me hope for me and my blind sides and for others.
I stood in front of my bookshelves a long time before answering. So many great answers already posted. I am going to go with Henry Standing Bear (Longmire series) and Katniss (Hunger Games). As I think about it their characters are similar with traits of loyalty, honesty, inner strengthen, good with weapons, etc.
I love Henry too
Jo March from Little Women, because extraordinary people don’t lead ordinary lives.
Francine Nolan from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. In spite of poverty, an alcoholic father, and having too much responsibility for a child to bear, Francine always remained optimistic and hopeful, just like the little tree that persisted while trying to grow out of the crack in the sidewalk.
Lenny – from Of Mice and Men–
Such a tragic and precious and vunerable person- This book is one I never tire of- the first time I read it, I was angry at George– but through the years and many reads of this book, I understand George and appreciate Steinbeck’s honest portrait of Lenny–
2 of the most admirable characters in literature:
Arthur from The Once and Future King. He has a good heart, stays true to himself and is loyal to his friends and his cause. He is also willing to learn and is kind.
Bigwig from Watership Down because he took care of his friends and learned not to let his ego get in the way. He knows his role and fulfills it to the best of his ability.
I also love Jamie from Outlander because he knows what a man is for?
James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser. ???
Francie Nolan from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Constantine from The Help
Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. He was willing to not only stand on principle but was also willing to put himself and his reputation “on the line.”
Holden Caufield: ” The Catcher in the Rye” relatable teen…?
Scout, To Kill A Mockingbird
Always open to learning – Scout.
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. Humble, heroic roll model.
Will Tweedy from Cold Sassy Tree. I think he and Scout Finch would have been a great couple!
Frank from Be Frank With Me
Scarlet In Gone with the Wind, nobody was going to cr@£ on her.
Laura ingalls These Happy Golden Years..I love when Almanzo asked her to marry him, and she said it would depend on the ring.
Tom Joad, The Grapes of Wrath
Scarlett O’Hara. Because I relate to the “I’ll think about it tomorrow” denial.
Jamie because well….he is Jamie
Scout, To Kill a Mockingbird
Isabelle, The Nightingale
Nadia – existentialism personified.
Scarlet O’Hara, Gone with the Wind.
Ayla from the Clan of the Cave Bear series. Read them over and over.
Me too.
Jo from Little Women. I just identify with her on many levels. ❤️. But this was tough to answer. There are too many that have stayed with me.
Owen Meany and HIS VOICE!!!!!