Last week, I finished reading Ann Patchett’s Whistler (for the second time). As I was reading, I realized that . . . I kind of have a crush on Eddie Triplett.
Which lined up quite nicely with an article I read in a recent Literary Hub (LitHub) newsletter . . . Why We Still Love Mr. Darcy, 200 Years Later. (Here’s a link if you’re interested and want to nerd out a little bit about the whole Darcy-love thing.) (It’s an interesting article, actually. And especially for Jane Austen fans.)
So . . . if I combine those two trains of thought . . . the meld of Eddie Triplett and Mr. Darcy, basically . . . I get a topic for us to talk about here in the Read With Us LOUNGE this week: What characters from literature do YOU crush on??? I’m not necessarily talking about crushes in a romantic sense – although it certainly can be – but a broader definition of “crush” . . . as in what characters (men, women, animals, aliens, you name it) did you fall a little bit in love with while you were reading?
As for me, well. I’m not sure that Mr. Darcy would actually make it to my list at all (although he is certainly an upstanding guy and all). But I would include Captain Wentworth from Jane Austen’s Persuasion. And, of course, the aforementioned Eddie Triplett.
Who else would I include??? Well . . .
- Laurie from Little Women
- Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings trilogy
- Paul Atreides from Dune
- Beatrice from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
- Loyd (with just one L) from Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal Dreams
- Ponyboy from The Outsiders
- Count Rostov from A Gentleman in Moscow
And how about YOU? What literary figures do YOU crush on? And what makes a character “crush-able” for you in the first place? Join the discussion here in the Read With Us LOUNGE — and spill some tea.
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The Read With Us LOUNGE is open all summer long!
Grab a book. Find a comfy spot to read with us for awhile – and chime in with your thoughts and insight, too.
No rules!
Just fun!
And be sure to visit Bonny and Carole today to see what they’re talking about in the LOUNGE.
Ohhhh yes! I have several characters that I “fan girl” over! (Yes, to Count Rostov… sigh!) But I’d add in Vera, Benoît Courrèges (aka, Chief Bruno), and Kurt Wallender to name a few from mysteries. Ove from Fredrik Backman’s book, A Man Called Ove. My beloved Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.
Definitely. I’ll agree with Kat about Ove and Chief Bruno. Also Inspector Gamache as well as his wife, Reine-Marie and Emma M. Lion!
Two recent ones: Everett Lundt from A Good Animal & Thomas Flett from Seascraper….in addition to Eddie Triplett. It’s been a good summer for reading.
My fiction crushes are not really romantic, but based more on admiration. I’m with Kat as mine include Ove, Olive Kitteridge, and Bo from When Cranes Fly South. I don’t necessarily want to to be a curmudgeon but I do admire characters who do what they want and say what they feel.
I tend to really crush on strong characters who soldier on through adversity and exhibit resilience and wisdom. Certainly Count Rostov, Cal Hooper, Jefferson Kyle Kidd (News of the World), Tom Wingo (Prince of Tides), and Dominick Birdsey (I Know This Much Is True) just off the top of my head. If I thought about it, I could add many, I am sure.
I’m with you on Loyd and Aragorn, and would add Atticus Finch, and (good idea Vera) Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache.
Yes to Eddie Triplett & Count Rostov! I would also include several that others have mentioned such as Olive Kitteridge, Armand & Reine-Marie Gamach, Atticus Finch, Levin from Anna Karenina, & Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
This isn’t something I’ve really thought about before — what a great topic! I’d have to ponder some more, but I’d definitely agree with the others who have said Armand Gamache. He is intelligent and tough but also kind and caring.