The Reading Lounge: Most Memorable Characters

My favorite fictional literary characters

Hello! We often talk about the stories that captured out hearts, but today I want to share some of the characters who’ve taken up residence in my mind. Notice that I didn’t say captured my heart because a couple of my most memorable characters are very bad people. I am who I am. I’ve read a lot of dark, gritty, murderful stories over the years, and every now and then a bad guy (or woman) is just unforgettable.

My only requirement for choosing today’s characters was that I had to have read the book at least 6 months ago. To me, characters are memorable if I’m able to bring them to mind quickly, remembering names and details as if they are real people who made a lasting impression. Because I read so many books each year, to remember these characters, often years later, is a big deal. They stand the test of time.

I know summer can be hectic and maybe, rather than thinking about what kind of story you’re going to pick up to read next, you choose a book because you’ve heard the character is memorable? Could be a fun change of pace:)

Most Memorable Characters

Since I’ve talked many, many times about three of my all time favorite books, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, One Day by David Nicholls, and The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne, I’m not including the characters from those books in today’s bunch. It goes without saying that Jude, Willem, and Harold (A Little Life), Dex and Emma (One Day) and Cyril Avery (THIF) will live forever in my mind:)

• Sally Diamond from Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

• Brady Hartsfield from Mr Mercedes (my favorite), Finders Keepers, End of Watch by Stephen King

• Efe from Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah

• Wavy from All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood

• Joe Goldberg from You, Hidden Bodies, You Love Me (my favorite), For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes

• Demon from Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

• Addie LaRue from The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab

• Mireille from An Untamed State by Roxane Gay

• D.D Warren from Lisa Gardner’s DD Warren series - Live to Tell is one of my very favorites in the series. I don’t think you have to start at the beginning of the series to enjoy these books.

• Annie O’Sullivan from Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

• Liesel from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

• Jende and Neni Jonga from Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

• Ulysses Temper from Still Life by Sarah Winman

• Rose and Pierrot from The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill

Do we have any favorite literary characters in common? Who are some of your most memorable characters, let us know in the comments!