Friday, November 12, 2010

Friday Favorites: Main Characters

There are so many factors that go into loving a book: the plot, the word choices, the world it is set in. But a huge, huge part of what makes me keep reading is the main character. If your main character annoys me, your book is sunk. GONE WITH THE WIND is a fine example of this - I wanted to slap Scarlett O'Hara, but since I couldn't do this, I just put the book down.

So, let's talk about some of our favorite main characters in books! Some of mine are:

Olivia the pig. I like her spunk, I like her can-do attitude, and I like her energy. And she is JUST like my kid, which helps, too. *grin*

Edward Cullen from TWILIGHT. I can hear you gasping from my chair. I like him, okay? Yes, he was a little controlling, but he had the benefit of a hundred years of life experience that Bella didn't have. I kind of get where he was coming from, and I think he was actually a very very complicated character. I like that what he loved most about Bella - her humanity - was something that he had to lose if he wanted to be with her forever. Talk about high-conflict!

Ramona Quimby, because she got away with doing and saying all the things that I wished I could do and say as a child, but never had the nerve to do or say.

Jamie Fraser from the OUTLANDER series, because he is complicated and at the same time easily understandable. He is loyal and fierce and headstrong but at the same time reasonable. Just read the books.

And I have exceeded my usual three-item limit, so even though there are more, I'll hand the floor over to you.

Who are your favorite Main Characters in books?

8 comments:

  1. Honestly, the MC is seldom my favorite character in a book. I'll like the villain, the love interest or a secondary character. Usually, MCs are just too whiny or too boring or too good or too something. I think writers tend to go overboard with their MC. Harry Potter was good though. Loved him.

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  2. I kinda liked Edward too *hangs head*... I love Katniss though. She is so human and tough all at the same time. Love her.

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  3. Great picks (though I liked Jacob's personality better than Edward :)
    My fave characters:
    Ponyboy Curtis from The Outsiders
    Jake Brigance from A Time to Kill
    Fred Weasley from Harry Potter
    Junie B. Jones

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  4. I should have a million and they are all hiding behind the curtain. I guess they're shy. Do you know, I must admit, my favorite character ever was from a movie...oh no. Meg Ryan in When Harry met Sally. I just love her.
    Mary Montague Sikes has stopped by my blog with her blog book tour. Nancy N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  5. My favorite character of all time is Junie B. Jones. And a close second, is Farley Drexel Hatcher a.k.a Fudge. Love them! They are the funniest kid characters on the planet.

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  6. What a great list of characters. Have been trying to think of my all-time favorite, but I just can't come up with one :(

    Never mind, I like yours :)

    Rach

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  7. I like Edward too.

    This is a tough one for me. I like so many MC's, particularly in contemporary fiction.

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  8. Have to say... I might agree with Quinn... I love strong secondary characters. And, THE FIRE IN FICTION by Donald Maass does a great job of exploring this concept. :)

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