http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/the-100-favourite-fictional-characters-as-chosen-by-100-literary-luminaries-526971.html
Hat tip to Dark Valentine's Ms. Tomlinson for drawing this to my attention.
Several things to notice in this list: how many of these are characters from childrens' books, how many I had never heard of; how many seem pretentious if not absurd to me, how rarely English writers choose American characters, how many came from Great Expectations, how few choices come from recent literature. I guess when you are going to have your choice printed in the newspaper, you are wary of selecting Mrs. Piggle Wiggle or Constance McKenzie.
Who is your favorite fictional character? Really. It is tempting to choose someone who appeared in multiple books because we know them well, but what about with one appearance?
I am thinking of Elizabeth Strout's, Olive Kitteredge. If you haven't read the book, Olive Kitteredge, as viewed by others in a series of stories, is complex and evolving.
I was going to choose Yossarian from Catch 22 but someone beat me to it.
31 comments:
Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby.
Detective Munch from Homicide and countless other shows, and Jesse Custer from the Preacher graphic novels.
I almost picked Nick from GG because he stands in for us, watching it all unravel.
Boy, Munch was a great character. Too bad he is wasted in Law and Order.
If I really gave it a lot of thought the answer might change, but just off the top of my head I'd say Gus McCrae from Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove".
Loved the book and series but I can't really remember character names from it. One good thing about novel titles with names in them. That's why we get Gatsby, Jane Eyre, Madame Bovary, Olive Kitteredge, Huck Finn, etc.
In a series, I'd have to name Willie Garvin (from the Modesty Blaise books) as my favorite. He's tough, he's tender, has a helluva sense of humor - and he reads. From a standalone (not really, he was in two books: Little Men and Jo's Boy's), I'd pick Dan. He was so wild, he had no boundaries, and it led to a lonely, painful life.
If we're doing the one-and-done route, I like Eddie Coyle a lot.
Smart guy but under the thumb of the law and panicking like a mofo.
Sometimes you just ain't smart enough, hey, Eddie?
Huck Finn or Oscar from The Tin Drum by Gunther Grass.
In crime fiction either Philip Marlowe or Harry Bosch.
ONE?
Your questions are worse than any exam. But perhaps Idgie from Fried Green Tomatoes (well, at least that is today´s best answer).
To pick one and be satisfied with the choice? Impossible.
hard to go against Gus McRae. The other that pops to mind is Al Swearengen. My wife had tee shirts and hats made for me a few years ago, with WWASD printed on them.
A quick addition: lest anyone claim Al Swearengen isn't fictional, he is the way DEADWOOD portrays him.
Phil picked up a coffee mug from the Nixon Library that said What Would Nixon Do. HA, Al is not so different. Eddie Coyle is a great one. OMG I haven't heard anyone mention Gunther Grass in years. What a great writer.
I am not sure I ever read Jo's Boys or Little Men. I wonder.
FGT-I remember how much my mother liked that book. Thanks for reminding me.
"Cotton" Played by Barry Robbins In "Bless The Beast and Children" The novel and movie were big-time influences on my as a kid.
Mattie Ross from TRUE GRIT.
Hannibal Lecter from Thomas Harris' RED DRAGON. All the charismatic serial killers (in book, TV, and/or film) of the last 30 years emanate from his creation, IMO.
Mattie Ross is one of the most original characters I've ever read.
Never read that book, Sean. Somehow missed it.
Hannibal shook me to the core. Good one.
I think you're allowed to pick someone that was already picked.
Did someone really pick Miss Havisham as their favorite literary character? That seems odd to me.
Flashman I can understand. He's a brilliant creation.
I also liked MP's pick of Gus McCrae. Also Old Lodge Skins (as played by Chief Dan George) in LITTLE BIG MAN.
As for Dickens, I still like Micawber.
If we're talking "most memorable" I'd probably go with Ignatius P. Reilly.
Jeff M.
Always makes me sad to hear that name. What a great novel and a sad ending.
Favourite characters at the minute - Emily Tempest in Adrian Hyland's Diamond Dove and Gunshot Road. Leonard Pine in Joe Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series. Bernie Gunther in Philip Kerr's series. Omar Yussef in Matt Beynon Rees' series. From way back - Hawkeye in MASH. That'll do for now.
I was going to choose Hawkeye, but the only Hawkeye I know is Alan Alda from the TV series, and I have heard Hawkeye in the novel is quite different.
Sherlock Holmes.
Some great picks here. Certainly Gatsby and Holmes are in my top five.
I'll take Spenser from Robert B. Parker's novels.
Memorable choice.
One-timer: Hugh "Hitch" Hitchcock, the hero of Elmer Kelton's THE DAY THE COWBOYS QUIT. (I had to think all day for this...)
If you think more than a minute, it turns into that. There are so many.
Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby. Gatsby is fascinating but Nick is like most of us, the observer rather than the observed. Just remember that Garrison Keillor pronounced The Great Gatsby as being a hopeful, positive novel. Which is why I never pay any attention to Garrison Keillor or his monotonous Minnesotan mlkange.
Because you need them as a pair I'd name Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin.
I agree, Ed. We see it through his eyes.
That's another good topic, Bob. Pairs in literature.
My favorite changes each day. Monday: Gideon Fell; Tuesday: Jack Taylor; Wednesday: Ned the Seal; Thursday: Freddy the Pig; Friday: Donald Lam; Saturday: Gully Foyle; Sunday: Huck Finn. It changes every week too, but that's enough for now.
Damn, how did I forget Jack Taylor? Good one, Jerry.
Jeff M.
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