The Tag of the Book Characters

Thank you Emily @ Emily Etc. tagged for the top ten book characters tag, thing. (Do you know how redundant I feel saying that I was tagged for a tag? There must be a more original way to say this. I feel like I'm betraying words.)

Sherlock Holmes

I love the BBC Sherlock Holmes. But you know what? I needed to read the books. It also helped that my guitar instructor is a Holmes fan. So I decided I had, had to read the books/stories.

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If you have not read them, then what are you waiting for? You are missing out. They are amazing! Everything about them. I love Sherlock in the books. His character is different. Very. He's still haughty, perhaps more so, but in a jovial, he-doesn't-seem-to-realize-it sort of way. Also, he is so complex more so than on the screen. Watson always talks about the different aspects of Sherlock. How he has so many various interests that he knows everything about. How he's both analytical and scientific but also artistic and creative.

He's also much nicer to John in general.

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I love seeing the original Sherlock and comparing it with the BBC Sherlock. I see what parts of his character Cumberbatch kept and what he dropped. I see the parts he emphasizes. And the twists on the stories in the modern world as well as how they run with it and stray from the original- It all just fascinates me.

But I am convinced that nothing can beat the original. Although I am anxious about reading The Hound of Baskerville. Because that's my favorite out of all the BBC episodes (all nine. . .). What if I don't like the original as much? What kind of traitor does that make me?!

Elizabeth Bennet

I think everybody who likes Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen likes Lizzy. She's hilarious. Even when she insults someone there's a "sweetness and archness" to her that makes her in a way adorable. Right? (So I am actually reading this book now.)

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Also I love how when she realizes that she was in the wrong, she immediately is ashamed of it. Jane and Darcy makes excuses for her and her conduct. But she does not excuse herself in the slightest. She is disgusted by herself and repentant. She also determines to be wiser and learn from this experience.

Jaron

This guy here from the Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielson is full of sass. He also has some serious trust issues. Sometimes, he almost seems paranoid! Except that usually his fears confirm themselves. So perhaps he's just very intuitive while suspecting the worst from most people?

 For some reason, I like characters with trust issues. Maybe I relate in some small way or another.

I love how he does not apologize for being himself. Although he does apologize that being himself causes him to hurt those around him, especially those he cares most about (Because he won't let anyone else get close enough). Jaron is not a nice guy. He's arrogant and likes very few people. But when he likes a person, he cares about them more than anyone else could. He cares for them above himself, though he does have a strange way of showing it. . .

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

Also, he thinks fast. I love smart characters whose minds work in half a blink. It's just refreshing. When I encounter a character like this I'm always, "Yes! Finally. Someone I can't keep up with. Someone who is a challenge!" I think this is also why I like Sherlock Holmes. Also, those books that leave you with half subtleties and just do not explicitly explain everything. Somebody, please, make me think!

Iko

Iko makes any scene funny. She's so cute. She's fluffy and romantic and nothing like me whatsoever. But she's so much fun.

"I was kind of brilliant."

What is hilarious and that I love so much is that it's a Cinderella retelling and the droid has the princess mentality.

Solvieg

She is from Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby. I related to her so much. I love how she's such a quiet, in-the-background introvert and yet she can still command the title of protagonist. She's a storyteller and I like that also.

She might have a few trust issues too.

Robin Hood

Who does not like Robin Hood?

Okay, perhaps Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Well, you know. You can't please everyone.

I love just about any Robin Hood version. I love, love Lawhead's Hood. Bran is just rough enough around the edges, and yet he grows to care so much about his people. Scarlet is just devastating at the end, the inevitable kind. And I really need to read Tuck.

 But I also like the classic the Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle. I cried at the end, people.

Gandalf

He's a novelty in the Shire. But amongst the other wizards and "greats," he's considered second rate. But I think the thing that labels him second rate is because Gandalf has different ideals than what is more traditional for the other wizards and "greats" to have.

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Gandalf looks out for the little guy. He wants to include everybody.

Also when things get comfortable, people turn a blind eye to danger. They think it will pass over and it's no big deal. They want their own comfort and peace and don't want to move to put the danger back in its place.

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Gandalf disturbes this peace. He doesn't get complacent. He tries to wake people up to the coming danger. He wants to do something about it. He won't sit quietly by while danger silently slips in between the cracks until it has a firm grasp around everyone's throats. Others think he's crying wolf but he's just calling out a very real threat before it takes over.

 

In this way, I want to be like Gandalf. I want to be a disturber of the peace. If I'm labelled weird or second rate because my beliefs aren't as conventional as those in the same profession as myself, then so be it. And I don't want to underestimate the little things (like good mornings).

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Okay, you all might know this. But I just now got this realization. At this very moment. Gandalf likes to give the small people a chance. The people nobody else sees anybody in.

Kind of like how God uses the little things, or foolish things, in the world to the big things. 

Also, Gandalf gave his life for the Fellowship.

Wow. I never realized that before.

Okay, I'll be done with abstract parallels. But my mind has officially been blown today.

Emily from Emily of New Moon

You've probably heard of Anne of Green Gables. But have you heard of Emily of New Moon? She also by L. M. Montgomery. I like her even more than Anne, and everyone likes Anne.

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Emily is just more relatable to me. I love how she writes. Her friends. How she resolves that since her love is to marry another, she just won't marry. (It is very strange him marrying another though, because the other and him were not a good match at all. I didn't get that, but aw, well.)

In comparison to Anne, Emily is a little more stable. Her emotions aren't so up and down and everywhere. Also there's something a bit more mysterious and dark about Emily than there is to Anne. Though it has been a long while since I've read Emily's books. (I can't find the first one. I must have the first one!) Emily will forever be one of my favorites.

Hans Huberman

From The Book Thief, Hans was my favorite character. He's very human and, humane. Does that make sense? I talked a lot about him here. You might want to skim to the end.

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Patrick Bowers and Tessa

This is a father/daughter duo. And they are amazing! Also I think books need more father/daughter duos (especially ones like Pat and Tessa). Just saying.

They aren't YA. They're from The Patrick Bowers Files by Stephen James. It's a mystery thriller and it's just- you need to go read it! Forget that it's an adult book. That has nothing to do with anything. Because you will love it all the same! 

 I love the mystery- the characters- the suspense.

Oh, I love suspense. Suspense is the best.

 Also I love Patrick and Tessa's relationship. They have it really rough at first and Tessa's kind of. . .  emotionally volatile. But she's also fascinating and very intelligent. She always surprises Patrick and they both have a dry, sarcastic side that either jives or clashes (though Tessa is a bit more acerbic).

"I'm going to take a quick shower and get cleaned up- I was almost burned alive this afternoon."

"Cool."

I stopped and stared at the door. "It's cool that I was almost burned alive?"

"That you were almost burned alive." The door opened a crack, and her head appeared. "If you had been, it would have totally sucked."

Oh. Well in that case. 

- The Knight