The two 80 yr old lifelong friends from Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark and Missy Carmichael of Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey and the general from Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson. 5* books.
I found a copy of The Heart’s Invisible Furies recently in a Little Free Library & have meant to read it for ages. You know how our TBRs are endless! Along the lines of Irish authors: most recently Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn & Long Island gave us the secondary, but rich character of Eilis’s mother Mrs Lacey. Loved her sassiness.
Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain has another unforgettable character. Agnes Bain. She is not very likeable, but definitely memorable, along with her son Shuggie.
Others are:
Oliver Kitteridge
Mary Pat Fennessy (Small Mercies)
Elena (Elena Knows)
Annis (Let Us Descend)
Reverend Ames, Lila & Jack Boughton (Gilead series)
Corrine Shephard (Valentine)
Kit Crockett (Stealing)
Of course, Jamie & Claire (Outlander series)
Hope this list inspires, if you haven’t met them yet!
I haven't met most of these characters! Mary Pat from Small Mercies yes very memorable! Someday I want to read Olive Kitterage- I haven't read any Elizabeth Strout🙈
Oh wow! I highly recommend all her books. Olive Kitteridge & Lucy Barton books in particular. I think she has a new book coming out: Tell Me Everything.
Oh my gosh, YES to Rev. Ames in particular and Corrine from Valentine! I have to add them to my list. (Valentine to me is one of the most underrated books of all time. I hardly know anyone who has read it and it's probably in my top 20 books of all time.)
Valentine was released March 31, 2020 and we all know what was happening then! I am sure that did not help its circulation. I was stranded in Phoenix (with no books!!) where I’d gone for spring break & ended up in quarantine. Libraries closed. I actually joined BOTM at the time, to get a copy delivered. I was never so grateful for a book in my life! The book made a very circuitous journey to get to me. It was fun tracking it. Then when the package arrived I was scared to handle the box. I think I let the book sit in the sun, to kill any germs. True story. That will always be a memorable book for me.
So it wasn’t just me!! I became a member then & enjoyed it for a while. Then I eventually stopped my membership bc I could not justify purchasing once the libraries were going full force again. It was always fun seeing what the monthly selections were.
Will do! I haven't been able to get to so many books because ALL of my holds- paper and audio- keep coming in at once! It's like some kind of reader's curse.
Blackburn from The Caretaker by Ron Rash, Alex Larkin from Wolf At The Table, donald Sully Sullivan from Everybody’s Fool and Nobody’s Fool by Richard Ruso, Daniel Hawthorne from the Hawthorne and Horowitz series by Anthony Horowitz, Ted from The Class by Eric Siegel, and many more. Too many to list here.
Blackburn is very memorable, I think Alec Larkin will end up on my most memorable list in the future, I feel like he's one of those dark characters I won't forget
I still need to read Elizabeth Strout! I’ve debated on whether Lucy or Olive Kitterage will be my first read. Have you read both and find Lucy more memorable?
I have Olive waiting for me when I get home. She is a special character and she has a sequel book as well called Olive Again. I think you will like Strouts writing.
I read All the Ugly and Wonderful Things years ago and sometimes I think about Wavy and wonder how she is - she seems like a real character out there still living her life:) Ok, so I loved Piranesi- did you read that? I’ve wondered about Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
I have been thinking about the question of what makes a character one of my favorites a lot recently for an upcoming post I will be writing about one of my favorites. For me, I think it helps if I can get to know an interestingly complicated, honorable, brilliant, and likable character (preferably one who has multiple identities/personas/layers) over the course of a long series or a long book so that I can develop a slow burn relationship with that character over time.
My favorites are: Miles Vorkosigan from Lois McMaster Bujold’s science fiction Vorkosigan Saga, Stephen Maturin from Patrick O’Brian’s naval historical fiction series, Murderbot from Martha Wells’s science fiction Murderbot Diaries series, Cazaril from Lois McMaster Bujold’s fantasy The Curse of Chalion, and Count Alexander Rostov from Amor Towles’s A Gentleman in Moscow.
Oh, Ulysses from Still Life. My heart. I also really loved Cressy.
Some of my favorites:
The Count from 'A Gentleman in Moscow' by Amor Towles — his ability to find joy in terrible circumstances makes me heart-eye emojis
Jane Eyre — a heroine for the ages. #WWJED
Crow from the novel 'Crow' by Amy Spurling — In our podcast, I described it as 'This is the funniest and most life-affirming book about a woman with brain tumors that you’ll ever read.' She's snarky and vulnerable and tough and sweet, all at the same time. (https://strongsenseofplace.com/books/crow_spurway/)
The two 80 yr old lifelong friends from Fellowship Point by Alice Elliot Dark and Missy Carmichael of Love Story of Missy Carmichael by Beth Morrey and the general from Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson. 5* books.
I was going to say the two from Fellowship Point but I kept not following from the past 6 month rule so I didn’t put them. I loved them.
Ohhh this is fun. Here are a few from the last few months...
Millie from The Housemaid is Watching
Gup from The Guncle Abroad
Margo and Jinx from Margo's Got Money Troubles
Frankie from The Women
Annie or Doug (ugh) from Annie Bot
Someday I'll read Annie Bot and Margot:) Frankie from The Women was a great character
This is really making me think! Off the top of my head:
Yes to Liesel, Rudy, Mama and Papa from The Book Thief!
I just read it, but I have a feeling Margo from Margo's Got Money Troubles will stick with me.
The Count from A Gentleman in Moscow
Katniss Everdeen
The father in The Road
Harold Fry
Marie de France from Matrix
Marx from Tomorrow x3
Bernadette!
Eleanor and Park
Adunni from The Girl with the Louding Voice
And if I keep thinking, probably way more!
It's fun to think about characters and ask which ones come to mind immediately. I've added The Road to the top of my tbr!
It's such a hard read! It's the only book that's ever kept me awake at night long after I'd put it down.
Hearing that makes me want to read it now! When I hear that a book made someone cry or stay up late into the night, I can’t wait to read it
Joe Goldberg 😂 I'd add Tilly Bradshaw from the Poe&Tilly series.
I found a copy of The Heart’s Invisible Furies recently in a Little Free Library & have meant to read it for ages. You know how our TBRs are endless! Along the lines of Irish authors: most recently Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn & Long Island gave us the secondary, but rich character of Eilis’s mother Mrs Lacey. Loved her sassiness.
Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain has another unforgettable character. Agnes Bain. She is not very likeable, but definitely memorable, along with her son Shuggie.
Others are:
Oliver Kitteridge
Mary Pat Fennessy (Small Mercies)
Elena (Elena Knows)
Annis (Let Us Descend)
Reverend Ames, Lila & Jack Boughton (Gilead series)
Corrine Shephard (Valentine)
Kit Crockett (Stealing)
Of course, Jamie & Claire (Outlander series)
Hope this list inspires, if you haven’t met them yet!
I haven't met most of these characters! Mary Pat from Small Mercies yes very memorable! Someday I want to read Olive Kitterage- I haven't read any Elizabeth Strout🙈
Oh wow! I highly recommend all her books. Olive Kitteridge & Lucy Barton books in particular. I think she has a new book coming out: Tell Me Everything.
Oh my gosh, YES to Rev. Ames in particular and Corrine from Valentine! I have to add them to my list. (Valentine to me is one of the most underrated books of all time. I hardly know anyone who has read it and it's probably in my top 20 books of all time.)
Love Olive
Valentine was released March 31, 2020 and we all know what was happening then! I am sure that did not help its circulation. I was stranded in Phoenix (with no books!!) where I’d gone for spring break & ended up in quarantine. Libraries closed. I actually joined BOTM at the time, to get a copy delivered. I was never so grateful for a book in my life! The book made a very circuitous journey to get to me. It was fun tracking it. Then when the package arrived I was scared to handle the box. I think I let the book sit in the sun, to kill any germs. True story. That will always be a memorable book for me.
That's exactly when and why I joined BOTM and Valentine was the first book I ordered! I've tried to push it on everyone I know.
So it wasn’t just me!! I became a member then & enjoyed it for a while. Then I eventually stopped my membership bc I could not justify purchasing once the libraries were going full force again. It was always fun seeing what the monthly selections were.
You definitely were not and I’m still at it! I probably skip 50% though.
I definitely agree with you regarding Addie LaRue, I haven't been able to stop thinking about her since finishing that book 🤎
I would also say some others from the past couple of months would be:
- The Lisbon sisters from "The Virgin Suicides"
- Jude from "A Little Life"
- Cleo from "Cleopatra and Frankenstein"
- Donatella from "the Caraval series"
Cleopatra and Frankenstein is on my summer tbr, I want to read it before her new book comes out this fall
Cleopatra and Frankenstein has been on my TBR forever! I have it on audio but still haven't gotten to it.
If you start it let me know, I want to read it sometime this summer:)
Will do! I haven't been able to get to so many books because ALL of my holds- paper and audio- keep coming in at once! It's like some kind of reader's curse.
Blackburn from The Caretaker by Ron Rash, Alex Larkin from Wolf At The Table, donald Sully Sullivan from Everybody’s Fool and Nobody’s Fool by Richard Ruso, Daniel Hawthorne from the Hawthorne and Horowitz series by Anthony Horowitz, Ted from The Class by Eric Siegel, and many more. Too many to list here.
Blackburn is very memorable, I think Alec Larkin will end up on my most memorable list in the future, I feel like he's one of those dark characters I won't forget
Here I go: Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables.
Jake Eppig from 11/22/63.
Lucy from Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout.
Undine Spragg from Custom of the Country.
The Spider in Charlotte’s Web, Charlotte.
I still need to read Elizabeth Strout! I’ve debated on whether Lucy or Olive Kitterage will be my first read. Have you read both and find Lucy more memorable?
I also read Oh, William and loved it! Lucy by the Sea made me tear up At the ending.
I have Olive waiting for me when I get home. She is a special character and she has a sequel book as well called Olive Again. I think you will like Strouts writing.
Wavy! I very rarely see anyone talk about this book anymore and I loved it. One of the few good things BOTM ever did for me lol.
- Anne Wells, Valley of the Dolls
- Hermione Granger, Harry Potter
- Milo & Tock, The Phantom Tollbooth
- Merricat, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
- Will Trent of Will Trent fame
- Jonathan Strange, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
- Gillian and Sally Owens, Practical Magic
I read All the Ugly and Wonderful Things years ago and sometimes I think about Wavy and wonder how she is - she seems like a real character out there still living her life:) Ok, so I loved Piranesi- did you read that? I’ve wondered about Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
I loved Piranesi too! But Jonathan Strange is a HUGE beast. Equally weird but its a true commitment.
I have been thinking about the question of what makes a character one of my favorites a lot recently for an upcoming post I will be writing about one of my favorites. For me, I think it helps if I can get to know an interestingly complicated, honorable, brilliant, and likable character (preferably one who has multiple identities/personas/layers) over the course of a long series or a long book so that I can develop a slow burn relationship with that character over time.
My favorites are: Miles Vorkosigan from Lois McMaster Bujold’s science fiction Vorkosigan Saga, Stephen Maturin from Patrick O’Brian’s naval historical fiction series, Murderbot from Martha Wells’s science fiction Murderbot Diaries series, Cazaril from Lois McMaster Bujold’s fantasy The Curse of Chalion, and Count Alexander Rostov from Amor Towles’s A Gentleman in Moscow.
Love this list!
I forgot Emily Wild from Emily Wild’s Encyclopedia of Faeries.
Oh, Ulysses from Still Life. My heart. I also really loved Cressy.
Some of my favorites:
The Count from 'A Gentleman in Moscow' by Amor Towles — his ability to find joy in terrible circumstances makes me heart-eye emojis
Jane Eyre — a heroine for the ages. #WWJED
Crow from the novel 'Crow' by Amy Spurling — In our podcast, I described it as 'This is the funniest and most life-affirming book about a woman with brain tumors that you’ll ever read.' She's snarky and vulnerable and tough and sweet, all at the same time. (https://strongsenseofplace.com/books/crow_spurway/)
Madeline from '2 A.M. at the Cat's Pajamas' by Marie-Helene Bertino— an ambitious, trash-talking, cigarette-smoking torch singer who’s trapped in the body of a precocious 9-year old. (https://strongsenseofplace.com/books/2_am_at_the_cats_pajamas_bertino/)
Missouri Kite from 'The Kingdoms' by Natasha PUlley - a swashbuckling irascible, irresistible Royal Navy officer (https://strongsenseofplace.com/books/the_kingdoms_pulley/)