Last month I was celebrating short stories and this month I want you to share your favourite fictional characters with me — they can be from novels, short stories, and/or movies — and what is so special about them for you.
Here are a couple of mine, the first in a novel that I’ve read many times, the other I’ve read only once but never forgotten.
Rachel Walsh in Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes. When I first read this book back in 1997 when it came out, I lived a drug-fueled party lifestyle just like Rachel’s (sadly not in New York City but my hometown of Reading, UK!) so I could relate to that. But it wasn’t just that. Rachel is funny, kind, and full of self doubt, which made her really endearing to me. She messes up a lot and runs away from the truth about herself until her loved ones stage an intervention and she finds herself in rehab, where she can run no more. I laughed out loud at many of the things she thought, said and did, cheered her on when she made breakthroughs, groaned when she fell back into old habits, and cried when it all came good for her in the end. Go Rachel!
His Grace in The Underground Man by Mick James. His Grace is an elderly, eccentric and reclusive Duke living on the estate he inherited, where he spends almost all his time entirely in his own head. He has pointless projects that he gets fixated on and as we join him the latest, the construction of an elaborate tunnel system running under the house and the estate, has just been completed. Then he decides to investigate phrenology. Alongside all of this, he is dealing with a "phantom" boy that he regularly feels the presence of and a recurring memory from his childhood.
What makes him such a great character? He is at once a caricature of the privileged upper class, who can spend their time and money doing exactly as they please, and a confused, flawed, sad and lonely man who has never experienced real love. He is often kind and generous, but he is self-absorbed to an alarming degree and many times is unconsciously dismissive of anything that isn't directly related to his wants and needs.
He's keenly aware that his body is failing and that his death is not too far away and this knowledge drives him to confront himself and his past, and be honest about the life he has led, in a way that he clearly has never done before. This willingness to uncover uncomfortable truths in an attempt to truly know himself, endears him to you and helps you understand, and be less judgemental of, the sides of his character that are a product of his cultural conditioning. And the narrative voice is AMAZING!
Hi Amanda, I am very much in tune with this as I love studying characters in books and films. Being a Dickens fan, one of my favourite films and stories was 'Oliver, ' espècially the portrayal of Fagin. As much as I dislike greed and meanness, which he epitomised, the acting ability and awful character of the man was strangely appealing. The 0TT Jewishness of Fagin earned him a gold star, despite the fact that Jews are most hospitable and kind and I love their wonderful humour. (It is said that humour is as Jewish as chicken soup and motzas...) Another appealing character is Atticus from To Kill a Mocking Bird. His very nature drew me in, and when Gregory Peck (the VOICE!) acted the role in the film, I was hooked. There are, of course, many more...Aren't we lucky people! Cheers.
A favourite character of recent years is Colm Toibin’s Eilis - Brooklyn and, now, Long Island - uncertain, ambiguous, conflicted, flawed. Toibin leaves lots of space for the reader to view, assess and run with Eilis. I also like his Nora Webster, more classic Toibin understatement.
I just went and looked at it and I have in fact already read it! I read on Kindle because of my nomadic life so I hardly ever remember the names of novels I read anymore as don’t see the cover all the time. It was really good. I shall definitely read more of his.
The sequel to Brooklyn (Long Island) was published last month. I think after the success of the movie, Saoirse Ronan, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent etc, Colm Toibin couldn’t resist. Long Island is very good and if you’ve read Brooklyn you’re already in the zone 👍
I’ve not read either of these but they sound great. I love eccentric characters… the novel I’m writing at the moment is full of them and it’s fun to do.
My favourites, from childhood and growing up are Alice (in Wonderland) and Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Strong female characters who are curious and independent. With their faults too!
My love for Inspector Well Actually from Alexander C Kane’s Andrea Vernon series was cut from a recent post. The Inspector’s superpower and weakness is being unable to correct people when they’re slightly off. “Well, actually…..” he’s hilarious and I’ve never felt more called out by a fictional corporate superhero. 🦸🏻♂️
In another vein, I always loved Yara Greyjoy from A Song of ice and fire. She was a fearless badass. (While not bad, and played by the illustrious Gemma Whelan, the show version ran from dogs in a really character demeaning way, imo.)
Love this post, Amanda! I'd say Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables is my favorite. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Quoyle from The Shipping News. etc.
Quoyle! There’s a character I’ve not thought of in years but I do remember I loved that book. Not read either of the others but a few people are saying Elizabeth Bennet. Maybe I should finally read P&P!
I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes. He’s so eccentric, and as flawed as he is brilliant. He’s arrogant and yet compassionate with a fierce sense of right and wrong. Breaks the rules spectacularly but always has the moral high-ground. I discovered the stories when I was thirteen or fourteen I think and have read the whole lot at least six times. My fat paperback of the Complete Works is exceedingly battered.
The audiobook read by Stephen Fry on Audible is absolutely fantastic too.
He sounds brilliant! I’m not really a reader of detective fiction but you’ve made me want to try one of these. Which one would you recommend I start with?
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a good collection of short stories to start with - there are some real corkers in there and some of my absolute favourites, The Red-Headed League and the Speckled Band. There are several short story collections, and four full novels. The Hound of the Baskervilles is a good novel to try. It’s pretty short, but full of rogues, romance, murder, mystery, hair-raising horror, evocative descriptions and brilliant characters. Enjoy!
Fun discussion! I'm going to out myself as a Bronte person here. Jane Eyre fascinates and infuriates me, often within the same scene. Pretty much the same about Catherine Earnshaw. And THEN there's Heathcliff. I've been in love with him for decades. He even gets a shout-out in my memoir...ha! I don't know what that says about me that I love such a flawed, complex, close-on-evil character. But I'll own it.
Haha own away! He’s an interesting character indeed. I had to read Wuthering Heights for a literature course and found it a tad histrionic! And I’ve never read Jane Eyre. Not really a classics person. Although I did have a Hardy stage and do like several of his books, especially The Mayor of Casterbridge.
Yes, The Mayor of Casterbridge was good! I also read Jude the Obscure (depressing) and Tess of the D'urbervilles (can't remember shit about it). Those were all assigned readings in school, so I can't take credit for plodding through them. And I think I loved Far From the Madding Crowd, too ... but mostly because that's the coolest book title ever.
(A little late to the party, but I'll share!) My favorite character of all time would be Revan. He's a character first introduced in a roleplaying game, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, where you play as Revan with his (or her if you make your character a woman) memory erased, and throughout the game you slowly regain your connection to the Force. Later, a book (Revan by Drew Karpyshyn) takes on a longer view with Revan wrestling with the long term consequences of the decisions you may make in the game. Between the game and the book, the story really becomes your own as you wrestle with the lines between justice and revenge, protecting and controlling, differing philosophies of war, and greater good versus personal bonds.
Hi Amanda, I am very much in tune with this as I love studying characters in books and films. Being a Dickens fan, one of my favourite films and stories was 'Oliver, ' espècially the portrayal of Fagin. As much as I dislike greed and meanness, which he epitomised, the acting ability and awful character of the man was strangely appealing. The 0TT Jewishness of Fagin earned him a gold star, despite the fact that Jews are most hospitable and kind and I love their wonderful humour. (It is said that humour is as Jewish as chicken soup and motzas...) Another appealing character is Atticus from To Kill a Mocking Bird. His very nature drew me in, and when Gregory Peck (the VOICE!) acted the role in the film, I was hooked. There are, of course, many more...Aren't we lucky people! Cheers.
Hi Joy, I’ve not seen either of these but you’ve made me feel like I should watch them!
I love Rachel Walsh, thank you for reminding me of this great character!
Yay another Rachel fan!
A favourite character of recent years is Colm Toibin’s Eilis - Brooklyn and, now, Long Island - uncertain, ambiguous, conflicted, flawed. Toibin leaves lots of space for the reader to view, assess and run with Eilis. I also like his Nora Webster, more classic Toibin understatement.
I’ve not read any of his books. I keep meaning to and like the sound of the characters he’s creating. Which one should I read first do you think?
Probably Brooklyn. In some ways it’s quite a light read. Entertaining as well as thought provoking.
I just went and looked at it and I have in fact already read it! I read on Kindle because of my nomadic life so I hardly ever remember the names of novels I read anymore as don’t see the cover all the time. It was really good. I shall definitely read more of his.
The sequel to Brooklyn (Long Island) was published last month. I think after the success of the movie, Saoirse Ronan, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent etc, Colm Toibin couldn’t resist. Long Island is very good and if you’ve read Brooklyn you’re already in the zone 👍
I’ll check it out!
Hi Amanda
I’ve not read either of these but they sound great. I love eccentric characters… the novel I’m writing at the moment is full of them and it’s fun to do.
My favourites, from childhood and growing up are Alice (in Wonderland) and Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Strong female characters who are curious and independent. With their faults too!
Yes I loved Alice in Wonderland too. Never read P&P. Strong, curious, independent and flawed sounds good!
What a fun prompt!
My love for Inspector Well Actually from Alexander C Kane’s Andrea Vernon series was cut from a recent post. The Inspector’s superpower and weakness is being unable to correct people when they’re slightly off. “Well, actually…..” he’s hilarious and I’ve never felt more called out by a fictional corporate superhero. 🦸🏻♂️
In another vein, I always loved Yara Greyjoy from A Song of ice and fire. She was a fearless badass. (While not bad, and played by the illustrious Gemma Whelan, the show version ran from dogs in a really character demeaning way, imo.)
Hi Logan! Thanks for joining in. I don’t know either of these characters but they both sound great. Hilarious and a badass - you can't go wrong!
Mr. Toad from the Wind in the Willows.
Ah he’s a brilliant one!
Love this post, Amanda! I'd say Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables is my favorite. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Quoyle from The Shipping News. etc.
Quoyle! There’s a character I’ve not thought of in years but I do remember I loved that book. Not read either of the others but a few people are saying Elizabeth Bennet. Maybe I should finally read P&P!
I am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes. He’s so eccentric, and as flawed as he is brilliant. He’s arrogant and yet compassionate with a fierce sense of right and wrong. Breaks the rules spectacularly but always has the moral high-ground. I discovered the stories when I was thirteen or fourteen I think and have read the whole lot at least six times. My fat paperback of the Complete Works is exceedingly battered.
The audiobook read by Stephen Fry on Audible is absolutely fantastic too.
He sounds brilliant! I’m not really a reader of detective fiction but you’ve made me want to try one of these. Which one would you recommend I start with?
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a good collection of short stories to start with - there are some real corkers in there and some of my absolute favourites, The Red-Headed League and the Speckled Band. There are several short story collections, and four full novels. The Hound of the Baskervilles is a good novel to try. It’s pretty short, but full of rogues, romance, murder, mystery, hair-raising horror, evocative descriptions and brilliant characters. Enjoy!
Fun discussion! I'm going to out myself as a Bronte person here. Jane Eyre fascinates and infuriates me, often within the same scene. Pretty much the same about Catherine Earnshaw. And THEN there's Heathcliff. I've been in love with him for decades. He even gets a shout-out in my memoir...ha! I don't know what that says about me that I love such a flawed, complex, close-on-evil character. But I'll own it.
Haha own away! He’s an interesting character indeed. I had to read Wuthering Heights for a literature course and found it a tad histrionic! And I’ve never read Jane Eyre. Not really a classics person. Although I did have a Hardy stage and do like several of his books, especially The Mayor of Casterbridge.
Yes, The Mayor of Casterbridge was good! I also read Jude the Obscure (depressing) and Tess of the D'urbervilles (can't remember shit about it). Those were all assigned readings in school, so I can't take credit for plodding through them. And I think I loved Far From the Madding Crowd, too ... but mostly because that's the coolest book title ever.
It is cool. I like Tess, and yes Jude was really depressing!
(A little late to the party, but I'll share!) My favorite character of all time would be Revan. He's a character first introduced in a roleplaying game, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, where you play as Revan with his (or her if you make your character a woman) memory erased, and throughout the game you slowly regain your connection to the Force. Later, a book (Revan by Drew Karpyshyn) takes on a longer view with Revan wrestling with the long term consequences of the decisions you may make in the game. Between the game and the book, the story really becomes your own as you wrestle with the lines between justice and revenge, protecting and controlling, differing philosophies of war, and greater good versus personal bonds.
This sounds great! Is it a video game?
Yep! The video game is based off of a tabletop game similar to dnd, though. It's all very circular now that I think about it. 😆