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apple_pathwaysDay 14 - Favorite character in a book (of any sex or gender)
I'm confused as to why the author of this meme felt to need to specify "of any sex or gender"? As far as I am aware, the term "character" contains no inherent sex or gender connotations. *shrug*
I'm not sure that I could pick my absolute favorite character! I think I love more characters than I do individual books. Also, I like characters for different reasons: some because I identify with them, some because they're funny or courageous or smart--some characters I love just because they're so incredibly unique and fascinating. Hannibal Lecter is one of my favorite characters, but I like him for different reasons than I like, say, Elizabeth Bennett.
So, rather than make an impossible decision about the one character I love above all the rest, I'll just briefly discuss one character I identify with and have not already mentioned in previous discussions of my favorite books: Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing.
Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite of Shakespeare's plays, and the BBC audio adaptation starring David Tennant as Benedick vies with my favorite songs for most-listened to track on my iTunes. The "merry war betwixt" Beatrice and Benedick is what makes the play for me, and I can't help but ignore the dishwater dull Hero and her dopey lover Claudio: their ridiculously tragic love story is just a diversion.
I identify with Beatrice because I'm a girl who likes to crack a joke. When I was young and socially awkward, I developed my sense of humor as a means to relate to my more successful peers, who found me bookish and odd. Learning to laugh at myself and make others laugh with me became a necessary survival strategy, and my best means of winning over friends. Now, even though I'm older and more confidant, I still use humor to relate to others, and it's become an invaluable tool of my profession.
Other ways I'm like Beatrice? I'm incredibly stubborn, and there's no better way to manipulate me into doing something than to suggest I should do otherwise; I love to be contrary. I've never been one to make any great efforts towards romance, and am practically incapable of changing myself to impress the opposite sex: I'm the same loud, gregarious, opinionated person whether I'm trying to flirt or not! By the time it might occur to me to "play dumb" with a guy I like in order to make him feel good about himself, I've probably already corrected or contradicted him half a dozen times. I generally mean well, and even though I might make a joke that's at someone else's expense, I genuinely expect them to see the humor in it and feel terrible if they don't.
And like Beatrice, I find these same qualities endearing in a partner: I like a man who's bold and funny and find it endearing if he occasionally puts his foot in his mouth due to a lack of caution. I need someone who can verbally spar with me, and give as good as he gets. I like a man who drives me just a little bit insane.
I love Beatrice for her flaws and her quirks and for everything I want others to appreciate in me. Is there any greater way to identify with a character?
ETA: I figured I'd add this on here since it's book-related and I don't want to make an entirely new entry. So: I am reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and enjoying it IMMENSELY. I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and should finish it tomorrow sometime. I just went to my library's website to put in a request for the sequel, Catching Fire.
As part of the entry for Catching Fire is a two-line summary of the sequel that SPOILS THE ENDING TO THE FIRST BOOK!. ARGHH!!!! I am so mad!
Please remind me that it's inappropriate to send death threats to public libraries...
I'm confused as to why the author of this meme felt to need to specify "of any sex or gender"? As far as I am aware, the term "character" contains no inherent sex or gender connotations. *shrug*
I'm not sure that I could pick my absolute favorite character! I think I love more characters than I do individual books. Also, I like characters for different reasons: some because I identify with them, some because they're funny or courageous or smart--some characters I love just because they're so incredibly unique and fascinating. Hannibal Lecter is one of my favorite characters, but I like him for different reasons than I like, say, Elizabeth Bennett.
So, rather than make an impossible decision about the one character I love above all the rest, I'll just briefly discuss one character I identify with and have not already mentioned in previous discussions of my favorite books: Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing.
Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite of Shakespeare's plays, and the BBC audio adaptation starring David Tennant as Benedick vies with my favorite songs for most-listened to track on my iTunes. The "merry war betwixt" Beatrice and Benedick is what makes the play for me, and I can't help but ignore the dishwater dull Hero and her dopey lover Claudio: their ridiculously tragic love story is just a diversion.
I identify with Beatrice because I'm a girl who likes to crack a joke. When I was young and socially awkward, I developed my sense of humor as a means to relate to my more successful peers, who found me bookish and odd. Learning to laugh at myself and make others laugh with me became a necessary survival strategy, and my best means of winning over friends. Now, even though I'm older and more confidant, I still use humor to relate to others, and it's become an invaluable tool of my profession.
Other ways I'm like Beatrice? I'm incredibly stubborn, and there's no better way to manipulate me into doing something than to suggest I should do otherwise; I love to be contrary. I've never been one to make any great efforts towards romance, and am practically incapable of changing myself to impress the opposite sex: I'm the same loud, gregarious, opinionated person whether I'm trying to flirt or not! By the time it might occur to me to "play dumb" with a guy I like in order to make him feel good about himself, I've probably already corrected or contradicted him half a dozen times. I generally mean well, and even though I might make a joke that's at someone else's expense, I genuinely expect them to see the humor in it and feel terrible if they don't.
And like Beatrice, I find these same qualities endearing in a partner: I like a man who's bold and funny and find it endearing if he occasionally puts his foot in his mouth due to a lack of caution. I need someone who can verbally spar with me, and give as good as he gets. I like a man who drives me just a little bit insane.
I love Beatrice for her flaws and her quirks and for everything I want others to appreciate in me. Is there any greater way to identify with a character?
ETA: I figured I'd add this on here since it's book-related and I don't want to make an entirely new entry. So: I am reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and enjoying it IMMENSELY. I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and should finish it tomorrow sometime. I just went to my library's website to put in a request for the sequel, Catching Fire.
As part of the entry for Catching Fire is a two-line summary of the sequel that SPOILS THE ENDING TO THE FIRST BOOK!. ARGHH!!!! I am so mad!
Please remind me that it's inappropriate to send death threats to public libraries...
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no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 07:39 pm (UTC)Yes! I so get this!
I love Beatrice for her flaws and her quirks and for everything I want others to appreciate in me. Is there any greater way to identify with a character?
Love this - because I think as a writer, it can be tempting to try to keep your characters flawless...but the flaws are part of what makes them real to the reader, and therefore loveable.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-23 12:37 am (UTC)Yay! A kindred spirit! I get funny looks when I say that I love a man who drives me crazy. I attribute this to being a shy child and missing out on the pigtail-pulling stage of romantic development!
I think one of the hardest things about writing characters is not only giving them flaws, but giving them meaningful, believable flaws! That's what I love about Beatrice! She has so many amazing qualities, but they're balanced by equally weighty flaws that have real consequences for her.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-23 01:04 am (UTC)And yes - meaningful, believable flaws! Something that feels natural (and specific) to the character and has an impact on his/her life, as opposed to something generic that is just tacked on without a thought to the effect it could have on the character's life and story...
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 07:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-23 12:30 am (UTC)David Tennant is AWESOME as Benedick! Samantha Spiro (Beatrice) is very good. The rest of the cast doesn't really stand out, and as usual (for me at least) the parts with Don John tend to drag. Overall though, I highly recommend it!
No one totally gets my sense of humor either! Between MST3k and Whose Line is it Anyway? my head is full of comic references that no one understands!
no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 12:51 am (UTC)/is angry for you/
no subject
Date: 2010-09-25 01:17 am (UTC)Here's the summary:
"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark."
There was more, but I stopped reading after this.
Now, since I knew there were two sequels to the book, I could have guessed that Katniss was going to survive, so that wasn't a big shock. BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT PEETA SURVIVED AS WELL! At the point I read the summary I wasn't yet at the part in the book where they've announced that both tributes from a district can be crowned the victor.
When I put in a request for The Mockingjay, I couldn't help but read the first sentence of that summary (paraphrasing, since I don't want to go back and be spoiled further): "Against all odds Katniss has survived The Hunger Games twice."
THANKS FOR TELLING ME SHE GOES BACK TO THE HUNGER GAMES, ASSHOLES!
*fumes*