Which character from fiction would you like as a friend?

[CromartyForthTyneDogger]

If you could have any character from a book as your best friend who would you choose?

Adult me- Bridget Jones

Child me- Lucy Pevensie

Harriet Vane

Harriet is very cool, but you’d probably be stuck with Peter Wimsey some of the time as well if you were friends.

Jackson Lamb

Marty South. Strong, resilient and loyal.

I think Harriet would be only too glad for the excuse to get away.

Alan Breck
Demelza Poldark
Black Beauty

Great list there.

Definitely Bridget Jones.
And maybe Anna Karenina's Oblonsky - I know he's not good husband material but could be fun at parties.

Min from the wheel of time.

Anne Shirley
Michael Tolliver
Dr Smith and Dr Jakes from Ballet Shoes
Murderbot

Looking at the Rather Dated thread, I think I would pick Dinah from The Fancy. Kind, fun, straight-talking, practical, and with enough of her own life that she wouldn't be on your doorstep every five minutes.

As a bonus I might have Betsey Trotwood as a next door neighbour, to see off undesirables.

I came on this thread to say Cormoran Strike!

Janey Lloyd-Foxe, even at her most appalling.

And the Grand Sophy.

Flora Poste. She’d give good, no-nonsense advice and be unshockable.

And Mercy Garrett from Ann Tyler’s French Braid.

Bagoas , Alexander’s lover, servant and devoted friend, : ‘ The Persian Boy’

( although he did exist, but no one knows what he was really like, so I think he counts as fiction)

I’m just about to start this book!

Nancy Blackett! And Madeline Dare in the books by Cornelia Read. Both would be amusing, brave, loyal and have Adventures.

@HarpyRampant I started reading the thread unable to think of a character. Then you posted Prue Sarn and I thought yes, she’s one of the kindest, sweetest characters I’ve ever come across. Precious Bane is my favourite book ever and I’m so glad she found her true love.

Magdalen Vanstone from Willie Collins' No Name. That girl was a dedicated schemer.

Samuel Hamilton, of East of Eden.
Hagrid and Hermione from HP. Oh, and Molly Weasley. A whole bunch from HP, actually.

I don't know about as a friend friend iyswim but I like the idea of Sherlock Holmes having to get out a Bradshaws, look up the time of the next train to wherever, and go scooting of on an adventure. The rest of his proclivities might become tiresome.

I don't want Bertie Wooster as a friend really but always keen on the lifestyle that I might get invited to join in with. Meeting up at The Drones for lunch and a bread roll fight. Taking in a new show in the evening. Going off to the weekend at some country pile (especially if Anatole is the chef), sorting out some pals love life when they accidentally get engaged. Accompanying them to the magistrate's court the next morning when they've been done for stealing a policeman's helmet during a midnight treasure hunt etc. A life of idleness but with few monetary worries.

Also maybe Miss Marple? Hmm. Think she'd be interesting and comforting too.

@IsadoraQuagmire @PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle I just discovered there are more Susan books than I knew of in my youth (charity shops bargains) including Susan's Trying Term which I found online - I had only heard of the first 6:

• Susan Pulls the Strings (1952)[8]
• Susan's Helping Hand (1955)[9]
• Susan Rushes In (1956)
• Susan Interferes (1957)
• Susan at School (1958)
• Susan Muddles Through (1960)[10]
• Susan's Trying Term (1961)[11]
• No Trouble for Susan (1962)
• Susan's Kind Heart (1965)
• Where is Susan? (1968)
• A Job for Susan (1969)

I am also a Midge fan!