October 7, 2019

Traits that Help Me Fall in Love With Characters

 

 

***Some book titles are Amazon affiliate links; my reviews are linked for other titles

I’m linking up today with That Artsy Reader Girl for Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Character Traits.

My Favorite Character Traits

Do you have favorite character traits?

One of the greatest joys of reading is the characters we encounter! I admit that I have a difficult time appreciating stories with unlikeable characters unless there is significant character growth or a major redemption theme. When I look back at my favorite books, they all include memorable and unforgettable characters. I think my very favorite character traits are found in WW11 stories. But traits like courage, determination, sacrifice, and grit can be found in other genres as well. The following is only a sample of a few of my favorite character traits.  (listed in no particular order). 

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Bravery

to Live Your Best Life

Examples: Eleanor (Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine), Lovejoy ( The Lost For Words Bookshop), Harold (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry)
(find my post about quirky characters living their best lives here)

 

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Actions

That Make a Difference For Others

Examples: Caroline (Lilac Girls), Cussy (The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek), Grimke Sisters (Invention of Wings)

 

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Compassionate

(especially toward children)

Examples: the Captain (News of the World), Cussy (The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek)

 

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Perseverance

in the Face of Dire Circumstances

Examples: Cilka (Cilka’s Journey), Zlatka and Fania Paper Hearts), Dita (The Librarian of Auschwitz), Ma (Room)

 

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Loyalty

to Family

Examples: Kurc family (We Were the Lucky Ones),

 

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Courage, Determination, and Grit

Against the Odds

Examples: Tara ( Educated),  J.D. Vance ( Hillbilly Elegy), Jeannette (The Glass Castle), Bryan (Just Mercy), Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud (Refugee), Billie Jo (Out of the Dust), Louis (Unbroken), Augie (Wonder), Rahima (The Pearl That Broke Its Shell), Ada (The War That Saved My Life, The War I Finally Won), Bri (On the Come Up) …. so many more!

 

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Adventurous

Example: Fiona, Vivian, and Dottie (Beantown Girls)

 

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A Good Friend

Oh Goodness! I have an ENTIRE post on literary friendships here!!!

 

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Creative, Gracious, and Thoughtful

Example: The Count (Gentleman in Moscow)

 

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Resourceful

Example: Barry and Sophie (Castle of Water), Jack and Wynn (The River)

 

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QOTD!

Which are your favorite character traits?

Do we share any favorites?

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In Book News:

Especially interesting if you’ve read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek or are a Jojo Moyes fan. What is my opinion? For now, I will not be reading, reviewing, or promoting The Giver of Stars.

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Happy Reading Book Buddies!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

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***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.

Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.

Book Cover and author photo are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.