Yesterday I was thinking “Hmmm, what would life be life without books?”
Can you imagine a life without books? I fear that the electronic device called The Kindle (Which is also one of Oprah’s favorite things) will be the death of the novel just as the iPod has become the death of the cd. The Kindle allows you purchase books in electronic form, and it is scaring the hell out of me.
I can’t imagine never feeling the way I do when I go into a bookstore to pick out a new book, or trying to force a new book onto my crowded bookshelfs. My favorite moment that I never want to end is when I have a good book in hand that is an instant conversation starter with a stranger. I still mourn the loss of the album, and the loss of independantly owned record stores. Call me old school if you must. I just know that I enjoy holding my music and books.
I got to thinking, “Why do I like books so much?“ I think the answer is simple – I enjoy the adventure that books take my mind to. I actually believe that fictional characters in books are like real people.
These people have become my lifelong friends, anti-hero’s, mentors, girlfriends, boyfriends, and inspirations. I thought to myself “Hey, how fun would it be to list my 50 favorite literary characters?”
Here is my list and to make it even more fun, I’m letting you guess the name of the book(s) they come from. FYI, this list is in random order.
- Jay Gatsby
- Carrie Bradshaw
- Mr. Darcy
- Bridget Jones
- Lady Chatterley
- Ester Greenwood
- Tyler Durden
- Ramona Quimby
- Sally J. Freedman
- Holden Caulfield
- Emma Woodhouse
- Sherlock Holmes
- Jane Eyre
- Laura Ingalls
- Scout Finch
- Jack Ryan
- Davey Wexler
- Anne Frank
- Ponyboy Curtis
- The Lady Chablis
- Arthur Dent
- Homer Wells
- Tom Wingo
- Jo March
- Owen Meany
- Hannibal Lector
- Zippy
- Augusten Burroughs
- T.S. Garp
- Cannie Shapiro
- Elizabeth Bennet
- Romeo Montague
- Juliet Capulet
- Fredrick Henry
- Lt. John J. Dunbar
- May Dodd
- Black Beauty
- Fudge Hatcher
- Susie Salmon
- Nancy Drew
- Alex DeLarge
- Sal Paradise
- Ray Trivett
- Patrick Bateman
- Randle McMurphy
- Mark Renton
- The Merry Pranksters
- The Sundance Kid
- Westley
- Robert Langdon
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I recognize most of your top fifty. Definitely some of my favorites are there 15, 10, 13 , 21 to name a few. I own so many books it’s scary. My brother owned a used book store for 20 years and still sells books on E-bay. I love the feel and smell of books especially old ones. I used to read a lot more than I do now. Blogging seems to take up so much time along with cooking and grocery shopping. I really need to start reading more. I haven’t read #15 in a few years but it is still one of my favorite books and I could easily read it again.
I used to keep all my books until working in the moving business and then I decided to get rid of everything I could stand to part with. They took up so much space. It was hard, but I’ve learned to let go of stuff like that. I still like having actual books though, even if I don’t keep them forever. I also think that enough people feel the same way as we do that there will never NOT be books.
I don’t know how you can remember all those names like that. I can’t remember the names of the characters in the book I read like two books ago. My mind doesn’t work that way. I do recognize a lot of those you mentioned though.
Reading is my favorite “me-time” indulgence. Like you, reading a story always takes me on an amazing journey where I can forget about anything bad or stressful in my own life and escape into a mystery or a great love story. I love Ramona Quimby! I read them all. Another favorite is anything by Judy Blume. My son just read the Fudge series and I read them with him all over again. I don’t really have a vast book collection..I’m more of a library girl. I can get lost in a library for hours, I’ve actually thought about becoming a librarian(sp)! I agree with your choices of Bridget Jones, Mr. Darcy, and of course Carrie Bradshaw. I love a good mystery especially the ones with a humor to them, my favorites are The Bubbles series by Sarah Strohmeyer (Iactually find myself really LOL’ing) and The Archy McNally series by Lawrence Sanders And Vincent Lardo..ch-ch-check em out.
Joan – Oh, I knew you’d like Arthur Dent. Gosh, those books were so GREAT weren’t they? I met the author just before he died and he autographed his last book for me. And I agree, blogging takes away a lot of my reading time, which is a shame.
Birdpress – I could not remember all of these people off the top of my head, I had to look at my bookshelves and take notes. Heck, I have to leave a sticky note when its my day to pick up the kids from school, lol!
Shannon – My husband made me get rid of a ton of my books and I am heartbroken to say that I got rid of most of my Judy Blume’s. But we eloped, and there is NO SPACE in this condo. I have not read any of your mystery books.
I reconize none boy am I behind!
….Hey…I don’t have “BOOK FRIENDS” like you do…but I did used to have “RADIO FRIENDS” named, Howard, Stuttering John, Ba Ba Booey, Hank the dwarf, Robin, Cabbie, Benji, High Pitch Eric and MANY MANY more. If anyone saw me, they would not believe that I never missed a moment of that radio show…But hey, we all have our vices…Yours are books, mine WAS a radio show. It was a sad sad day when my friends went away, and my daughter said to me, “Mom, get a life, those people aren’t your friends, they don’t have a CLUE who you are.” LOL…brat…although she was right, in my mind, I had a real good time with that WACK PACK! LOL…your books will always remain with you, that’s a good thing!
PS I think the vinyl villager is really your husband….hahahahaha…LMAO
Of your list, Scout Finch is my fave – well actually it was her dad, Atticus, that I loved. Such a smart guy. I know a lot of the ones in your list but not all. Are they in order of who you like best to worst? Or just no order?
Kaylee – You better get reading!
Ange – Why would you think VV is hubby? Weird! Hey, get sirius radeo and you can have your old friends back!
Teeni – Oh, Atticus, too. I love him. I just identified w/Scout more. No order, just random.
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Great list. As a Lit major I am embarrassed I do not recognize them all! Google here I come.
I am a HUGH John Irving fan and #25 Owen Meany is definitely on my list. Not so sure about T.S. Garp.
Who else would be on my list? Now you’ve got me thinking!
It’s nice that you have such an interest in reading and that it does for you, what it does. You are lucky. I enjoy reading when I have the time. When I saw the “Kindle” I was so excited. Here’s why: My kids carry (lug) around 30-40 lb. (or more?) backpacks to/from school- it’d be so cool one day to just have that “one”. But, I can see if you are an avid reader, with a nice collection of all these books that have meant so much to you – you’d want them, to hold in your hand, to flip through the pages…. But, I’d love it for school. Great list and great post!
Fibro – Well, not all the characters are from famous books, some are more “cult” or “hip” books, no worries. I’m sure if you did a list of your own I would never get all 50 either, lol!
Java – Oh, my co-worker bought one, as her son is an avid reader, spends tons of money on it, and she thought it would be fun to have all the books on the machine rather than him lugging everything across the country. I see the ease it brings, but nothing makes me happy that something tangeble in my hands. I’m so sick of my ipod and digital tunes, I want the old school music back in my life.
me read? Not unless its a baseball book!
I just thought I was being funny about VV…I thought hubby could laugh…LOL…I guess you didn’t get it! BOO HOO
You missed ‘Uncorrected Proof’
though it’s only been out a short while so you probably haven’t got there yet..try the latest review
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/literaryminded/2008/11/07/uncorrected-proof-louisiana-alba/
or on site
http://elephantearspress.com
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