Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

A few years ago, my book club read Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade. If ever there was an eccentric character, it is Mame. I think The Perks of Being a Wallflower would be great too. One of the secondary characters is definitely eccentric.

I need some ideas here! Other than Sherlock Holmes and Great Expectations, I'm at a loss!! (Going to look at Auntie Mame now ...)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Don Quixote
Alice in Wonderland
Harold and Maude
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

The term eccentric is too open for me! I'm such a rule follower that I struggle with hour to interpret eccentric. my first thought is The Professor and the Madman.

poshpenny wrote: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Don Quixote
Alice in Wonderland
Harold and Maude
[book:Good Omens..."

Thank you! I think it will be Good Omens for me - I didn't realize there was an eccentric character. I've been wanting to read this one.

I'm planning to read Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. I've seen the movie, but I hope the book is good as well!

Nadine wrote: "poshpenny wrote: "Thank you! I think it will be Good Omens for me - I didn't realize there was an eccentric character. I've been wanting to read this one"

I think a few of the characters are at least mildly eccentric. Agnes is pretty unique. I really liked this book. So much I read it and also listened to it. And it has two authors!

poshpenny wrote: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Don Quixote
Alice in Wonderland
Harold and Maude."

Going to take your suggestion for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

How about The Rosie Project? The main character is definitely eccentric, and it's a really fun read.

I just picked up The Autobiography of Howard Hughes by Clifford Irving. He was a rather eccentric character, wasn't he?

Don Quixote

I finally found a GR list

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/85...

Sherlock Holmes is tops on the list, so I should just stop looking.

If anyone is simultaneously trying to knock out Pulitzer Prize winners, I think that Ignatius J. Reilly from A Confederacy of Dunces is an eccentric character. The Goodreads synopsis calls him a modern day Don Quixote, remembering this book was published in 1980 but written prior to the authors death in 1969, so not quite our modern day but somewhat modern.

I think you could read any cozy mystery for this one.

Nadine wrote: "I finally found a GR list

http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/85...

Sherlock Holmes is tops on the list, so I should just stop looking."

I found The Glass Castle on this list, which has been on my TBR list for quite awhile.

I am reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It is short and he is definitely eccentric.

Would A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman work for this prompt? Curmudgeon old man???

I read The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg last year and the main character was definitely eccentric as are many characters in her books.

I love middle grade books and loved Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics - I think he would qualify as eccentric.

I plan on a random Hercule Poirot story unless something else grabs my attention

A Man Called Ove

Yay! City of Bones is on the goodreads list!

I've wanted to read The Museum of Extraordinary Things for a while, and the description sounds like it has a host of eccentric characters!

Ashley - that book is soooo great!!!

The Museum of Extraordinary Things sounds good. I may read that one for this prompt. Thanks for the suggestion!

I was thinking of one of the A Series of Unfortunate Events books. I've never actually read one of them before and Netflix releases the series soon.

I haven't seen them mentioned, but would anyone consider Dexter Morgan from Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas) as eccentric characters?

I don't like this category, because it's so vague. What is "eccentric" enough to qualify? Isn't everyone eccentric in some way? I decided to stick with a sure thing here and I'm reading Sherlock Holmes. But I think almost any book could be found to have an eccentric character.

Jennifer wrote: "I haven't seen them mentioned, but would anyone consider Dexter Morgan from Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Odd Thomas (Odd Thomas) as eccentric characters?"

Odd Thomas would definitely be an eccentric character. I loved that series!

I'm planning on reading a Hercules Poirot mystery by Agatha Christie. I finally read one last year and I'm on my third one. For suggestions: the first one in the series is The Mysterious Affair at Styles. There is Murder on the Orient Express, which had me guessing until the end. I plan to read The Murder on the Links for this one.

A man called Ove. A wonderful book and he is eccentric.

The Secret Keepers

If I could only use one word to describe this book, it would be CLEVER. It had great character development including a character I didn't really like at first turning into my favorite character by the end. The author has a knack for describing everyday things in a surprisingly insightful way. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this story was the witty dialogue found throughout it.

Note for the challenge: There is a character in this story whose eccentricities are central to the plot.

Merriam Webster: a person of unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior.

Kirsten *I support diversity in my reading and my world!" wrote: "Merriam Webster: a person of unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior."

well, yeah, I know the definition, but what is eccentric enough to qualify as "eccentric" here? I mean, I'm "slightly strange" - am I eccentric? Well, maybe I am, but that's not my point! It seems like every book I read has an eccentric character in it, just going by that definition. I don't know if EVERY book has an eccentric character, or if I'm just drawn to them because I, myself, am "eccentric."

This is too vague! I want more rigor!!

Kirsten *I support diversity in my reading and my world!" wrote: "Merriam Webster: a person of unconventional and slightly strange views or behavior."

Is this in direct response to my post or just a general observation?

Pick someone that's unconventional. Someone wears underwear outside their pants, only rides a unicycle, insists on talking like Yoda...

Those are just examples... after all, we all would have different definitions. A mullah in Afghanistan would have a different definition than a hippie in Berkeley, California.

Personally, any book by Alexander McCall Smith would be a good bet for an eccentric character IMHO.

I read Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmes by Maurice Leblanc for this prompt. Both Herlock Sholmes (yes, him) and Arsène Lupin can be seen as somewhat eccentric (and brilliant).

I'm thinking of Lauren Graham's new book, "Talking as Fast as I Can." I loved her work on the Gilmore Girls. But do you think this book would count for this category since it's a memoir?

I used Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free. One of the main points he makes is that America has always had cranks, who were harmless and eccentric, but that the modern world has overly embraced cranks and let them run things. There are a few great sections covering historical eccentrics.

Hi all, Would 'The Girl on the Train' qualify for this category - a book with an eccentric character?

Sharanya wrote: "Hi all, Would 'The Girl on the Train' qualify for this category - a book with an eccentric character?"

I don't think anyone in this book is eccentric - one of the women is an alcoholic, which makes her unreliable, but I don't think it makes her eccentric. But that's exactly what I was complaining about above: "eccentric" is very much in the eyes of the beholder! Maybe other people would find her eccentric.

The Deathsniffer's Assistant has quite unconventional main character.

I think Where'd You Go, Bernadette might work too ;)

I think Gertie from Jana Deleon's Fortune armed ding series would qualify as eccentric.

Would the Hannibal books count?

Carolina wrote: "I think Where'd You Go, Bernadette might work too ;)"

Definitely! I recently listened to an adaptation on BBC Radio 4. Quite a lot of eccentricity... plus Seattle is a city full of eccentricities!

would A Study in Charlotte work for this? A lot of people are saying Sherlock Holmes, and I think this is a spin off of it?

The Reader on the 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent would perhaps fit here. I read it last year, and it is certainly full of eccentrics, books, and joy of reading.

So I interpreted this prompt a little differently. Firstly, I struggled with what it mean to be eccentric. As I finished Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir I decided that Jenny could probably be considered eccentric! Although she isn't necessarily a "character" as it's her own memoir I'm counting it anyways. I would highly recommend for anyone thinking about reading her books. I've read both and loved both equally! I always end up laughing out loud! Definitely listen to the audiobook version if you're able!

I was thinking of using either a Dr. Who or a Torchwood novel for this prompt, since I would consider both the Doctor (10th in this case) and Jack pretty eccentric. And I have about a dozen of those unread on my shelves.

What do you think? Would those count?

Hi all, for anyone looking to this category and wondering if there are some different book methods to approach it I am reading Jim Henson: The Biography to fulfill this one.

Jim Henson, his colleagues, and his characters ALL easily fit this category, and it is a fantastic read!