Rec me a...Character?!
Yesssss. A character, or several of them, to be specific.
I'd love to share this list of formidable, unforgettable, utterly controversial literature characters, and put it out here for my future reference.
And the reason for this little venture is, well, because I suppose I am not the only one who -when thinking about a particular book- immediately jumps to memories and quotes of her/his personal favorite character.
Now I will focus in those books, nay, in those characters who make me re-read once, twice, thrice!! always focusing in the paragraphs and chapters that center around them.
(Oh, and the order is irrelevant, it's just about which name comes to mind first and so on)
1. Claudio Frollo. From the book "Notre Dame de Paris/The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (Victor Hugo)
Well...interesting first choice. He's rather the despicable villain, by the end of the book, but his introduction and his backstory is amazing, and thus I love Father Frollo, with all his eccentricities and passion for the knowledge and science and the occult. Damn that Emerald for ...well...yes, forget it.
2. Altair Jones. From the books series "Angel with Sword/ Series Nights of Merovingen" (C.J. Cherryh)
This tomboy girl has a rather bland introduction, but I can't help but enjoy very much how she gets cockier and more intrepid and outspoken with the unfolding of the story, how one simple fisher/rogue girl gets involved with the Mondragon and the legend of the Angel of Retribution...just to save the as-usual-problematic noble man.
3. Inspector Javert. From the book "Les Miserables" (Victor Hugo)
This character I regard with fondness and certain sadness, and even admiration. I also happen to like a lot Jean Valjean, but still, Inspector Javert is who captures my attention in every re-read of the book. Prisoner of his morals and his principles, just a tad blind to human nature. But still....yes, marvelous character.
4. Hercules Savinien Cyrano De Bergerac. From the book "Cyrano De Bergerac" (Edmond Rostand)
I think he barely needs further elaboration. Noble and valiant and genius, but unable to overcome his own physical lack of appeal. In love -to death- with the rather flimsy Roxanne (without forgeting the homo references in regards of Christian...) But I adore his wit and lyrics and the sad irony of his life.
5. Andrew Wiggin. From the books series "Ender's Game" (Orson Scott Card)
The psychological approach used to develop this character is actually very strange, from my point of view. 'Far-fetched' was my first impression for these books. A group of kids raised in a spaceship-military-school, to save the human race from future allien attacks? However!! Ender/Andrew is intriguing, intelligent, sad and repressed, forced tactician and killer of thousands before turning 15 years old. Amazing continuous story for a simple 'third child'.
6. Eowyn. From the books series "The Lord of The Rings" (J.R.R. Tolkien)
She is by far my favorite character of the saga. I enjoy the hobbits and the elves and every wizard around, yes yes, but this noblewoman of Rohan completely stole the story for me, once the second book hit my hands. Her words and her beliefs, like her sword and her strenght, really stroke a cord of empathy in me.
7. Howell Jenkins. From the books series "Howl's Moving Castle" (Diana Wynne Jones)
The famous Wizard Howl or Wizard Pendragon, known both by the literature works and the japanese movie adaptation. I really prefer the book character, of course. I love depth and darkness in my characters, I love them with their flaws and their erroneous legends. Take Howl, for example, the ladiesman, the stealer of hearts...the one who sacrifices himself for a falling star and still...is just a foolish and endearing man. I love him to bits.
8. Severus Snape. From the books series "Harry Potter" (J.K. Rowling)
Oh dear heavens! If people only knew me in Real Life.I rant about this topic a lot. I am a sworn Snape fan, to death and beyond, the kind that detests the Marauders whenever they are mentioned bullying Snape, detests Dumbledore for his maquinations "for the greater good", and who thinks Harry is very much a spoiled, ungrateful and extremely lucky brat.
But I am willing to overlook all of that, as long as fiction works manage to get all of those people to be civil to Snape. Because he is a master spy, a corrupted sinner who actually turns his life around, a sad and lonely grown man, incapable of human skills but very much willing to get himself tortured and killed for the sake of all the people who despise him. Because he is witty and sarcastic and he is one of my two favorite magnificient bastards in my little corner of literature.
9. The Marquis De Carabas. From the book "Neverwhere" (Neil Gaiman)
Yes, indeed! He is the character who originated this post. Please do refer to my current icon. I could not let the opportunity pass, without introducing this marvelous character to my rec list of literature beloveds, I mean, my hall of fame.
He is detached but corteous, full of information and ironies, a trickster and a maybe a traitor, or maybe a loyal ally. It all depends on the cards destinity has dealt him and his companions...and whether he can gain profit, or not, from others. Fortunately, his convenience and profit usually go hand in hand with what is 'best -or at least not so bad- for the Underside'. Because he is the most appealing and controversial character you will find in London Below, a plane of existence where many worlds and many eras, many cities and many races live together, beneath our real world. The Marquis De Carabas is by far the best guide in such myriad of places, he is true to his title- he has no name and no story but the fake ones he constructs for himself. My second favorite Magnificient Bastard in my corner of books.
.....Ha, look at that, this post became rather long. But I cannot help it.....
Give me books, give me fiction, give me plot and smart stories, and great- intelligent- sad characters, and I will rejoice.
For now, though, I have to go. It is very late now.
And as De Carabas would say, "there are places to see and people to do, and time is of the essence..."
ETA: Oh my, I forgot to mention Agustin Saint Clair, from the book "Uncle Tom's Hut". He is also a superb character!