From books, we go to characters! Today is the second day of the Faves of TwentyEleven series hosted by Nomes of inkcrush. :) Characters are my favorite part in a book, and sometimes I think they may even be more important than plot. I believe strong characters can revive an overused or boring plot, so I always pay attention to them. Here are some of the characters that stood out for me in the books I read in 2011. :)
Day Two: The Characters
favourite female main character
Frankie Landau-Banks from The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. She may not be the most honest main character, but I love her for being so true to herself and being so indelible.
Tessa Lancaster from Protection for Hire by Camy Tang. Tessa is an ex-yakuza member who went to jail for her cousin and found Christ in prison. I love her for being so honest and vulnerable and still so tough and loyal to her friends and her faith. :)
favourite male main character
Thomas Mackee from The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta. Oh Tom. He’s so broken but he’s trying his best. I loved reading about him having a hard time putting his life back together but still trying. I felt like Frankie when she sent that message to their other friends, “Our Thomas is back.” (Or something like that, anyway) Aw. Plus, guys who play with kids – double aw. :) I also loved Dan Cereill from Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood. Such a cute and awkward but absolutely adorkable character. :)
Thomas Mackee from The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta. Oh Tom. He’s so broken but he’s trying his best. I loved reading about him having a hard time putting his life back together but still trying. I felt like Frankie when she sent that message to their other friends, “Our Thomas is back.” (Or something like that, anyway) Aw. Plus, guys who play with kids – double aw. :) I also loved Dan Cereill from Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood. Such a cute and awkward but absolutely adorkable character. :)
best couple <3
I really liked Lucy and Alex from Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones. Two characters from the opposite sides of the spectrum, but so. much. romantic. tension! Posey and Liam from Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins is also a favorite. I didn’t like their hook ups, but I really liked how the two of them turned out in the end. And finally, Jazz and Leo from Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. They’re not the main couple there, but I love them. A spin off please???
who i so want to be best friends with
Everyone in Saving Francesca and The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta. The bus rides, the movie marathons, the scene after Francesca returns from getting lost, the scenes at the restaurant playing in a band and hanging out in the kitchen. Ah, they’re the best group of friends I read in contemporary YA.
Everyone in Saving Francesca and The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta. The bus rides, the movie marathons, the scene after Francesca returns from getting lost, the scenes at the restaurant playing in a band and hanging out in the kitchen. Ah, they’re the best group of friends I read in contemporary YA.
who i fell completely in love with (new literary crush)
I have a ton of competition with him…but I may have fallen in love with Eugenides from The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. What’s not to love about him? He’s just so…sigh. And you have to believe that he can steal anything, and he won’t even need to buy gold online from Golden Eagle. :PÂ I’m sure other fans would agree. :)
I have a ton of competition with him…but I may have fallen in love with Eugenides from The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. What’s not to love about him? He’s just so…sigh. And you have to believe that he can steal anything, and he won’t even need to buy gold online from Golden Eagle. :PÂ I’m sure other fans would agree. :)
worst (best & baddest) villian
This is kind of hard, but I have to say John Chanler / the Wendigo in The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey. Talk about taking things personally.
This is kind of hard, but I have to say John Chanler / the Wendigo in The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey. Talk about taking things personally.
best kick-arse female
Last year it was Kate Daniels from the Kate Daniels series, but now I’m going local and say Alexandra Trese from the Trese series by Budjette Tan and KaJo Baldisimo. :) She’s like the Filipino version of Kate Daniels.
best kick-arse male
Pellinore Warthrop from The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey, particularly in The Curse of the Wendigo. I always thought he was an old guy but it was proven otherwise in The Curse of the Wendigo. Plus, I never thought he wanted to be a poet.
Pellinore Warthrop from The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey, particularly in The Curse of the Wendigo. I always thought he was an old guy but it was proven otherwise in The Curse of the Wendigo. Plus, I never thought he wanted to be a poet.
broke your heart the most
Conor from A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Ah my boy. *hug* Also Will Henry from The Monstrumologist also broke my heart several times.
Conor from A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. Ah my boy. *hug* Also Will Henry from The Monstrumologist also broke my heart several times.
favourite pet/animal character award
The Quarkbeast from The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde. It’s probably quite ugly (“Often described as one tenth Labrador, six tents velociraptor and three tenths kitchen food blender, the Quarkbeast’s razor sharp fangs and hideously frightening demeanour mask a quieter side that rarely, if ever, eats cats.“), but it was one of my favorite characters in the book. I’m so happy the next book is about a Quarkbeast. :) Quark! :3
The Quarkbeast from The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde. It’s probably quite ugly (“Often described as one tenth Labrador, six tents velociraptor and three tenths kitchen food blender, the Quarkbeast’s razor sharp fangs and hideously frightening demeanour mask a quieter side that rarely, if ever, eats cats.“), but it was one of my favorite characters in the book. I’m so happy the next book is about a Quarkbeast. :) Quark! :3
favourite sibling relationshipSpencer and Scarlett from Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson. Their relationship reminded me of my own relationship with my brother. :) Also, the Kambal from Trese. I love seeing them in the graphic novels and I love it when they joke around even when Trese is all serious.
favourite best friends/friendship award
Mattie and Weaver from A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. I love how they looked for each other in the novel, and their word duels (where they’d “shoot” each other with synonyms of a word that they set at the start of the game, and the one who fails to give the answer “dies”) were so fun to read.
Mattie and Weaver from A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. I love how they looked for each other in the novel, and their word duels (where they’d “shoot” each other with synonyms of a word that they set at the start of the game, and the one who fails to give the answer “dies”) were so fun to read.
I’m pretty sure I missed some of the other characters I liked in the past year. Alas, this is what happens when you read too much! I really should start taking notes about the characters I liked in 2012, yes? :)
I agree I like strong characters too :) I’m new to your blog found you at goodreads and glad I did
Mini Holiday Giveaway :
http://www.booknerds-are-pretty-too.com/2011/12/mini-holiday-giveaway-ebook.html
Hi Shantal! Thanks for visiting. :)
Saving Francesca is one of my answers in the favourite book read in 2011 and I think I probably will have the same answer as you under the who-i-so-want-to-be-best friends-with question. They are a great bunch, although I don’t think I can keep up with Tara and Siobhan. :) And I need to bump up A Northern Light on my TBR! :D
Frankie’s friends remind me of my own, that’s why I love their group so much. They’ve all grown up in The Piper’s Son, but I love how they still stick together (sort of). :)
Amen to Suite Scarlett and Save the Date! Oh I just LOVED the tension in Save the Date. If you ever find another book with that SAME EXACT TENSION I would put it at the very top of your priority list to let me know ASAP! ;)
What and awesome, awesome list! So many books here that I want to try: THE PIPER’S SON, all the books you list under the best couple award, the DISREPUTABLE HISTORY… And you’ve got me intrigued by the Filipino version of Kate Daniels.
Here’s a little preview of a story in Trese, if you’re interested: http://tresekomix.blogspot.com/2010/10/trese-cadena-de-amor.html :) This story is included in the latest book. :)