July 19, 2022
10 Zany, Dynamic, Memorable, Eccentric, or One-of-a-Kind Characters
I’m linking up today with #TopTenTuesday: That Artsy Reader Girl: July Freebie.
I LOVE wonderful, quirky characters! Each one lives in my memories forever! And I love the opportunity to talk about them and share them!
In no particular order, let me introduce you to a few memorable “quirky” characters….
Eudora in The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons is
self-determined and one-of-a-kind
(Content Warning: talk of assisted suicide)
Margery and Enid in Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce are
fearless, adventurous, and determined
Hattie and Harold in The Great Escape From Woodlands Nursing Home by Joanna Nell are
fiesty, independently minded, and determined
Ove in a Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman is
quirky, lonely, grouchy, and loveable
(Content Warning: talk of suicide, grief)
Eleanor in Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gayle Honeyman is
hurt, brave, lonely, and quirky
(Content Warning: suicide attempt, child neglect/abuse)
Britt-Marie in Britt-Marie was Here by Fredrik Backman is
independent, quirky, and finding her voice
Cussy in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson is
determined, compassionate, a difference-maker, and a victim of racism
Hazel and Duncan in Love and Lavender by Josi S. Kilpack are
innovative and brave overcomers
Ryland and Rocky in Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir are
ingenious, sacrificial, and an unforgettable dynamic duo (IYKYK)
The Captain and Johanna in News of the World are
reluctant companions, brave, and a dynamic duo
There are sooooo many more (I must stop!), but these are the first 10 that come to mind. Fredrik Backman and Rachel Joyce are two of my favorite authors for their characterizations.
QOTD:
Who is one of your most memorable characters?
Happy Reading Book Worms
“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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Ryland and Rocky are great picks! Did you hear that there is a film version of Project Hail Mary in the works?
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-an-outdoor-adventures-reading-list/
So eager to see the film! 🙌😍
Love your choice of topic this week, what great books. . I have Love and Lavender on my tbr list and have read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.My post is here https://veganbookblogger.wordpress.com/2022/07/19/top-ten-autumn-books-im-excited-to-read/
Thanks Deanne! I hope you enjoy Love and Lavender!
Backman writes some of the best quirky characters.
He really does! Each one is memorable!
Fab choices Carol!
Thanks Nicky! Do you have characters that live in your head?!
Definitely when I’ve just finished a book I love!
I agree with so many of these. So many of my favourite characters on this list!
They continue to live in my mind!
Hi Carol! Another book that springs to mind is The Guncle by Steven Rowley. Patrick is definitely one of a kind!
I haven’t read that one yet! Thanks for the rec!
What a great idea for a top ten, Carol. I have read 7 of these, but I really need to read Miss. Benson’s Beetle. Thanks for the reminder. I loved all the characters that you mentioned that I have gotten to know through the books.
The Beetle book is really unique! I thought the end went off the rails a bit and was my least fav part.
Thanks for the heads up, Carol.
I love a quirky character! You have some of my top picks on your list. I would add Dorothy from the Dearest Dorothy series by Charlene Ann Baumbich and Mrs. Pollifax from the series by Dorothy Gilman.
Thanks for the recs! I need to grow my list!
I love your post title! What fun! You have some of my faves here, and I see a few others (like Eudora Honeysett) that I want to check out!
Thanks Lisa!
What a fun post for the freebie! I loved Eleanor Oliphant! I should be reading A Man Called Ove this summer.
I hope you enjoy Ove…then watch the old Netflix adaptation and the new movie with Tom Hanks!
What a great post! I still need to read A Man Called Ove…I have heard that you either love it or hate it…
Thanks Cindy! I hope you love Ove!
Brilliant choice of a freebie. I even read a few of them and have “Project Hail Mary” on my TBR pile now. Totally agree with your characters being eccentric.
My TTT is a Top Fifteen this week.
I hope you love PHM! Get audible format if you can!
Thanks for that, Carol. But I really can’t concentrate on audiobooks. And I bought the paper copy, old school. LOL
I usually prefer print as well…but PHM is an exception!
Thanks for that, Carol. Will I understand why once I read the book?
Yes 😉😉😉
Some of these would be on my list too!
Happy to hear we share some favorites!
I have only met Britt-Marie and Ryland and Rocky: awesome characters for sure
I’ll never forget Ryland and Rocky! 🙌
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