Ten Characters I’d Like to Befriend

Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl invited us to “Pick a relationship type and choose characters who fit that relationship as it relates to you. So, characters you’d like to date, be friends with, be enemies with, etc.” As a shy introvert, big personalities attract me and repel me at the same time. I admire the way they live out loud but there’s way too much attention in their orbit! I’m listing ten characters I’d like to befriend. To narrow my list down, I’ve chosen characters with pretty big personalities, listed roughly in order by their ages. Links go to my review (if I’ve written one) or Bookshop.org.

Lord Akeldama—Soulless by Gail Carriger (review)–I don’t know which is sharper–Lord Akeldama’s wit, his fashion sense, or his fangs.

Gus McCrae—Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (review)–Gus is comfortable with his own thoughts but he’s definitely the outgoing one in the pair of cowboys at the heart of this novel. Chivalry isn’t dead while Gus lives and breathes.

Cimorene—Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede–Cimorene refuses to be a stereotypical helpless princess and forges her own path, even when that leads her into a dragon’s lair.

Goldie Vance from the eponymous series by Hope Larson (review)–Goldie is the brilliant ringleader with an almost Sherlockian mind in these delightful graphic novel mysteries.

Jacky Faber—Bloody Jack by L. A. Meyer (review)–Jacky is the very definition of living loud. She turns up everywhere, has friends and enemies in every port, and no one ever has to guess what she’s feeling or thinking. If you haven’t, listen to these on audio. Katherine Kellgren really brought Jacky to life.

Leo Valdez—The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan–I could have chosen so many characters from Rick Riordan’s books but I settled on Leo today. He’s generally got a chill vibe but he delivers a lot of the humor in this series, despite having devastating personal tragedy in his background. Besides, who wouldn’t want a friend who can fix anything and build a mechanical dragon?

Rudy Steiner—The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (review)–Rudy, Rudy, Rudy. There’s so much to say about Rudy but I think what summarizes him best for me is that he vocally hero worships Jesse Owens, a Black American track star, while growing up in Hitler’s Germany.

Amari Peters—Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston (review)–Amari speaks up in defense of her friends and her missing brother and tries her best to do what’s right, even if that means going against her teachers’ orders.

The Incorrigibles—The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood (review)–Alexander, Cassiopeia, and Beowulf were literally raised by wolves. They’re trying their best to fit in with society now but sometimes you just have to howl at passing squirrels. Another series wonderfully voiced by Katherine Kellgren.

Ramona Quimby—Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary (review)–I’m a Beezus. I won’t say my younger sister is a Ramona but I won’t say she’s not either. I have to love the creative little mischief-maker.

That’s my list! Have you read any of these? Which books did/would you choose? Link up every Tuesday at That Artsy Reader Girl!

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