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Who's your all time favourite fictional character?

75 replies

Thurlow · 17/07/2014 20:28

Not just who you think is the greatest, or the best written, but who you just warmed to for some reason, who you enjoy reading about?

After spending my teenage years devouring Bernard Cornwell, Richard Sharpe is an all-time favourite. I can happily daydream for hours about being rescued from the evil French by him Grin

I always liked Elizabeth Bennett. A bit of a cliche, I know, but she struck me as someone you could have a great evening with, especially if she got to gossiping after a glass or two of wine. I wanted her to get Darcy because I felt she was a truly decent person.

But I'm currently rereading Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy, so while this might be a bit of an obscure choice, I realised the other day that the main character, Billy Prior, in a way means more to me than any other character. I've re-read the book a few times and have never managed to actually read the last few chapters again because they leave me sobbing. I prefer to live in a world where Prior is alright Blush

There's something about the way Barker writes him - as if even she has no idea who this character is, what he will do or what will happen to him, as if he is the driving force behind his own character, not her, as if she is as surprised by things that he does as we are. That probably sounds a bit bullshitty but I can't think of another way to describe it.

Anyway, while I'll hold out a vain hope that at least one person might have read the books and know the character - who would be yours?

OP posts:
joanofarchitrave · 19/07/2014 21:47

Hazel from Watership Down. I love that he never for a minute thought about being a leader but by focusing on the wellbeing and advice of his friends, becomes one.

hoobypickypicky · 19/07/2014 21:51

Jane Eyre and Inspector Morse. I feel I 'know' them both and love them dearly!

From my childhood it has to be George from the Famous Five. I know the reasons why so many are anti Enid Blyton but I loved her spirit and always identified with her when I was small.

thegambler · 20/07/2014 00:12

Yossarian.

BaconAndAvocado · 20/07/2014 08:55

Theodore Decker from The Goldfinch.

MegTheCat · 23/07/2014 20:10

Boris from The Goldfinch

Takver · 24/07/2014 22:24

The Provincial Lady from EM Delafield's books - I first read them as a teenager, and even back then she was always the one character I really felt I'd get along with in RL.

Takver · 24/07/2014 22:26

If we're allowed a second, it would have to be Martha, Jill Tweedie's fainthearted feminist (who I reckon would get along a storm with the Provincial Lady).

ihaveabookaddiction · 02/08/2014 19:04

Josephine March from Little Women. I read it when I was a teenager (and a hundred times since) and I just love her.

WyrdByrd · 10/08/2014 10:51

Adrian Mole.

I have loved him since I was about 11 and I'll be 40 next year Smile !

My ultimate fantasy would be for a film to be made about grown up Adrian, starring Richard Armitage in the lead role.

WyrdByrd · 10/08/2014 10:53

On a more recent note, Uhtred of Bebbanburg in Bernard Cornwell's Alfred the Great series.

grumpasaur · 15/08/2014 23:37

Ayla from The Earth's Children series (clan of the cave bear, valley of horses, mammoth hunters, plains of passage, etc)...

And probably as a close second, Erik from The Phantom (the one by Susan Kay rather than by Gaston Leroix)

hackmum · 16/08/2014 14:29

A definite yes to Elizabeth Bennet.

But I love Morris Zapp in the David Lodge novels Changing Places and Small World. He has such great lines - and, coincidentally, he is an expert on Jane Austen, though a very unlikely one.

SarahAndFuck · 16/08/2014 17:52

I don't know about favourite character, I'd find it very hard to choose.

But I took to Lenore Doolan in Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, including Books, Street Fashion and Jewellery and liked her very much. She would make a good friend in real life I think.

MegBusset · 16/08/2014 17:58

Pete Bondurant in American Tabloid.
The Joker in the Batman comics/graphic novels.
Iago in Othello.

Can you tell I love a baddie Grin

MegBusset · 16/08/2014 18:00

Oh yes, and Tyrion Lannister!

EveDallasRetd · 16/08/2014 18:07

Lt Eve Dallas, of course Grin but also Jack Sawyer and Wolf from Stephen King/Peter Straub: The Talisman and Stu Redman and Frannie from The Stand.

Bslami · 16/08/2014 18:08

Patricia Highsmiths' Tom Ripley. Just such an pernicious, inventive, mixed-up guy. She must have had so much fun writing him.

I also love Jackson Brodie and the female copper in Kate atkinson's last Jackson Brodie novel. Such warmth.

0pheliaBalls · 18/08/2014 09:27

The Bishop of Digne in Les Miserables. He's only in it for a tiny portion of the story but his presence is felt throughout - his goodness and forgiveness are themes for the whole book and his influence on Valjean is responsible for ALL the twists and turns in Valjean's life and his ultimate redemption. He also represents God/religion which is another massive theme in the book. Without the Bishop there would be no Les Miserables Smile

CheerfulYank · 18/08/2014 09:35

So many mentioned here! Jack Sawyer, Anne Shirley, Scarlet O'Hara, Jane Eyre, Lula...hmm. I'd add:

Valancy Stirling
Marilla Cuthbert
Stu Redman
Ethan Quinn

Anyone, anyone? :o

But oh, Dick Hallorann. I loved him.

CheerfulYank · 18/08/2014 09:37

Oh, oh, oh! Rose Casson!

BaconAndAvocado · 18/08/2014 21:45

Holden Caulfield

HappydaysArehere · 22/08/2014 20:28

Another one for Jo March. I too have read Little Women and Good Wives a hundred times.
Also, Rhett Butler from Gone With The Wind. Another Peter Besoukov in War and Peace. He was a hero. Love that book.

notnowbernard · 22/08/2014 20:30

Any from To Kill A Mocking Bird

Scout or Atticus probably

Purpleflamingos · 22/08/2014 20:35

When I was 11 I read chances and lucky by jackie Collins. Not literature but lucky was my inspiration for feistiness. I didn't follow her lead sexually but for sheer feistiness and forging my own path she was always my hero.

Otherwise Emma, from Jane Austin. Like me in love, she rarely sees what is in front of her until George tells her he loves her. I was like that with my husband. Apparently a whole group of people had known for years that he fancied me!

ohmymimi · 22/08/2014 21:56

Anne Elliot and Lily Bart. Both proud women who remain, essentially, true to themselves and stalwart in adversity. Those characteristics lead them to very different ends. Lily Bart was brought wonderfully to life by Gilliam Armstrong in the film of 'The House of Mirth', and it made me love her even more.

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