* I was low on ideas for posts these past few days, then I came across Markus & Micah’s post. I loved the idea and decided to do a similar post. Please visit their blog to read the post and give their blog some love.*
I have been reading since I was a young child – my mother made it a point that we inculcated this habit early on in life. From following the Famous Five on adventures to solving mysteries with Sherlock to waiting for my Hogwarts letter to flying dragons with Eragon to feeling like a feminist with Elizabeth Bennett – books were my window to worlds far far away. I have cried and laughed with so many fictional character as well as fallen in love with a few. Here is my first list of 10 Favourite Fictional Characters (from books) –
- Sirius Black (Harry Potter Series)- One of my biggest teenage crushes was Sirius Black – his enigmatic character, his hard life, his loyalty, his mischievous ways, his love for his friends – attracted me to him. I cried ALL night after reading ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’.
- Emma (from Emma by Jane Austen)- I LOVED Emma and her meddling ways. I am quite similar to Emma – always trying to get people together and making awful matches. Her adventures with love remind me of my own and hence, I adore her character.
- Gerry Clark (from PS: I Love You by Cecilia Ahern) – A dead husband leaving letters to his distraught wife helping her deal with his death and ultimately move on – how can you not love Gerry? He is fun, funny, an amazing friend and an even better husband. I am a huge romantic and I fell in love with him to the extend that I could almost feel Holly’s pain on losing him. (PS: please read the book before watching the movie)
- Sita (from The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee) – This book opened my eyes about how I was told and retold the great Indian mythologies from a man’s perspective but never from the perspective of the leading ladies. Reading Sita’s version of the Ramayan – really opened my eyes to the injustice meted out to the leading ladies in the story because of the patriarchal ways of the society – something that still hasn’t changed a lot in India. Always viewing Sita from the pedestal of a Goddess – this novel made her a relatable woman.
- Lisbeth Salander (from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (The Millennium Series) by Stieg Larsson) – how often do you come across a bad ass, kickass, unemotional girl lead? Stieg Larsson wrote the most perfect female protagonist of the millennium – making her win physical fights as well as be brilliant but yet be extremely realistic and relatable. If you haven’t read this book already, go pick it up – I promise you’re going to have your mind blown! (PS: please read the book before watching the movie)
- Tyrion Lannister (GOT Series by George R.R. Martin) – To be fair I haven’t read all the books in the series – but Tyrion’s character (as well Ned Stark) stood out for me out the many 1000s of characters in the Game of Thrones universe. He has wit that saves his life in many situations and despite the hand that life has dealt him – he still is humane. I truly think he deserves to sit on The Iron Throne!
- Jo March (From Little Women by Louisa May Alcott) – I read Little Women when I was 13 and I could totally relate with Jo. I was a sport playing, tomboy who liked reading and writing – she was a tomboy who didn’t care about her appearance and loved writing. She was the embodiment of feminism for the age when Little Women was published. She didn’t want to be married to a rich man and tend to children – she had bigger dreams and encouraged her sisters to have bigger dreams as well. I almost wish she was my best friend – running around wild in a world that wanted to control her. (PS: please read the book before watching the movie)
- Hamid (from Idgah by Premchand) – this is one of the first stories that my mum read to my sister and I. The story quickly made a place in our hearts as did Hamid. This is the only character on this list from a short story. Hamid is brought up his grandmother who tries her best to provide him with everything using the little money she has. It’s the little boy’s reciprocation of his granny’s affection that makes him such an endearing character. Definitely read this story and read it to your children as well.
- Ove (from A Man called Ove by Fredrick Backman) – Ove is bound to remind you of your grandpa. He is a grumpy old man who has lost his only reason to live – his wife. His struggles, his feelings will stir so many emotions in your heart and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. This book is one of the best books I’ve read in the recent past.
- Atticus Finch (from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee) – This was my first serious novel as a child and Atticus’s character really created an impression on me. He sets a great example as a father and as a person to always do what is right even if the world doesn’t agree with you. His patience with his children and how he doesn’t shield them from serious things like most parents do – made him a father figure to look upto. (PS: please read the book before watching the movie)
This list isn’t a comprehensive list of all the characters I love and I’ll definitely do a part 2 of this post. It was difficult to sit and think about all the characters that have made an impression on me over the 2 decades of me reading. I tried to pick characters from the different genres that I have read. Are any of these characters on your list of favourite fictional characters?
I loved doing this post – since it reminded me of the insane amount of reading I’ve done throughout my life. It also motivated me to find time in my (not-so-busy) schedule to read 100 pages everyday. 🙂 I want to thank Micah and Markus for the idea! If you haven’t already, go check out their post!
Take care and read on!
If you liked this post, give my other recent posts a read:
- Things On Dating Apps That Make Me Really Doubt My Generation’s Ability to Love
- Need A Serotonin Boost? Here Are Some Tips (Guest Post)
- Come To The Beach With Me: Goa 2023
- April Reads: Mini-Book Reviews & More
- Book Recommendations: Thrillers You Have To Read
Happy Panda 
I imagined myself to be Jo March, ever so more because I had a best friend whom I grew up with named Lawrence. I started calling him Laurie after I read Little Women. My obsession with Jo reached a breaking point when I used it as my mail password. Not anymore. I mean the password..not the obsession 😂.. Another set of characters that I can’t get out my head is from ” Gone With The Wind” and “Pride and Prejudice”
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I can so relate with you – Harry Potter was that character for me. I used to write a diary to Harry as a child. 🙂 So I wasn’t a fan of Gone With The Wind – but I loved Rhett Butler – he almost made this list. I love his last line to Scarlett – it just made me like him even more. And ofcourse, Elizabeth and Mr.Darcy were two other characters that almost made this list. Such amazing character.
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All the characters or for us the real people we grew up with are unique and inspiring in their own ways and I especially remember, Atticus Finch leaving a huge impression on me especially in this time and age when being good, honest and kind can be something you can be mocked, ridiculed or belittled for he reinstated my faith in human ethics and values which should always be upheld.
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Same, that book was an eye opener for me and Atticus is such a respect worthy character.
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Oh point 4 is so cool! I would be interested in Sita’s point of view. Is there an official name for this thing when the same story is told from another character’s perspective? Also I remember reading Emma but getting distracted and not finishing it. Now that you mention you identify with her, I hope to pick it up again. Love your descriptions of your choices. Well done.
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I’m not aware of the term, if there is one, for the same story being told from a different perspective. Forest of Enchantments is a beautiful retelling of Ramayana – definitely check it out.😊
Thank you for the idea for this post! ♥️
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I haven’t read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo but I heard it’s sooo good. I’ve definitely been missing out. I have to read it soon 😭
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So I got gifted the first two books of the series on my birthday (a decade back). Not being too big on this genre, I kept postponing reading it but when I did I was hooked. I finished reading all three books in the span of 2 weeks! Definitely give it a read. 🙂
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Omg I definitely will! I’m excited 🤗
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Awesome list, there were a few books I’ve never read, but I will try! 🙂
Atticus Finch was one of my first serious books too, I read it in the 7th grade!
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Same, I read To Kill A Mockingbird when I was in the 7th-8th grade and it left such a lasting impression.
Definitely give the other books a read – they are amazing! 🙂
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Of course, they sound very interesting and thought provoking 🙂
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As a fellow book worm, I loved this post. Definetely agree about reading the books before watching the film. Gerry in the film of P.S I love you just wasn’t how I imagined him in the book 📚
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IKR? Gerard Butler is HOT but Gerry was never meant to be super hot or cute. The movie didn’t do justice to their love story and made it weird by including her new love angle.
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I feel like seeing your favourite characters tells a lot about you. I see a lot of cunning/kind people.
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True! I really like mischievous, intelligent yet kind type of people. I strive to be that so I get inspired by such characters. 😊
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I love the character Emma! I recently read, A Man Called Ove, and found it pretty good, and I agree, Ove remind me of my grandfather.
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Emma is such an adorable character – wanting to do good but ending up making a mess.
A Man Called Ove was such a nice, feel good read. ♥️
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I read the first GoT book before the series and love it. I fell in love, like you, with Tyrion, but I also adored Arya Stark. But after watching the series, it was Sansa that won me over – her story line. MWAH. The girl went to hell and back.
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My sister hasn’t watched the last two seasons of GOT so last night I was showed her the season where Lord Baelish is executed. For me that was the scene when Sansa finally grew into a Stark Lady. Her growth was phenomenal! Arya not getting to kill Cersei was a huge bummer! But definitely my favourite was Tyrion – through all the craziness that was his family – he emerged as a sensible, level headed, super intelligent yet empathic human.
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I loved this post on Markus’ and Micah’s blog and I love it here too! It’s so interesting to read about other people’s favourite characters! I definitely had a crush on Sirius Black too ahaha 😁 From Harry Potter though I think my favourites are Hermione and Luna !
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I love the post idea too. Knowing someone’s favourite characters can help you understand what kind of a person they are. 😊
I had THE biggest crush on Sirius. Luna is such a great character. I have far too many characters I like in the HP world. I also love how amazingly well JKR has written the characters of Bellatrix, Snape and Wormtail.
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Yes, absolutely! And they have so much more depth in the books as well!
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