The 52 Book Club: 2025 Challenge discussion

WEEK THREE discussion time! Who are some of your all-time favourite fictional characters? What do you love about them?

I like Magnus Bane from The Bane Chronicles and other Cassandra Clare novels because he's magical and loyal and funny and well dressed. Also Phèdre nó Delaunay from Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey because she's strong and sexy and loyal and powerful. And I like Tank from The Omega Objection by G.L. Carriger because he's sad and lonely and just needs to be loved.

And there's probably so many more...

I love the Harper family from A.M. Heath's Ancient Words series. They aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in, and they always stick together as a family.

Believe it or not, my all time favorite character is Horton the Elephant in “Horton Hatches An Egg” by Dr. Seuss. I will never forget his motto: “I meant what I said and I said what I meant, an elephant is faithful 100%”. That message has really stuck with me pretty much defines who I am. Horton sat on the bird nest facing sleet and snow, people making fun of him as he was a circus sideshow, but when the egg hatched his faithfulness paid off with a baby elephant/bird.

Wow, this is a great question, and how can I possibly narrow this down? True, my favourite characters are a very small set as compared to the thousands and thousands of ones I have read, but there are still enough of them that I am going to forget some I really love. PLUS I have a migraine. I will probably remember some of my most beloved ones that rate even higher than these examples late tonight when I am in bed, or something.

A sampling of ones I love:
precocious children, Elsa in My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry and Flavia in the series she was in by Alan Bradley

other children include:
Marie-Laure All the Light We Cannot See, Alexander in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day but there are some others I just love as well

Eliza and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, Phineas in Phineas Finn and Phineas Redux, Jane in Jane Eyre, Horton in Horton Hears a Who! (thanks, Carol, for the reminder), Chet in the Chet and Bernie series even though it's mostly a 3 star read for me.

Now which ones from 5 star books am I missing (not all 5 star books have ones I would say are my favourites, though)?...

I've always liked Violet Baudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events. She is so smart and inventive.

And I have a soft spot for Newt Scamander. He is so adorably awkward, sometimes shy, but dedicated and compassionate.

I also like Sylvia Blackwell from The Librarian. She loves her job and takes it seriously. She made me want to read every book she mentions in the story.

Wow, what a tough question. I have several favorites from back in the day and also modern ones.

Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice

Sherlock Holmes from The Complete Sherlock Holmes

Lamia from Death-Coach

Sarah from Fais Do Do Die

Julie Ann from Death Southern Style

and so many more.

Characters who resonate with my overpowering Introversion. As they flit across my mind, they are driving alone down a rural tree-lined road. Or sitting in a dark office at 3AM, lighted solely by a computer screen. Even when they work with a partner or team, they have a specific sense of self and a complex backstory. Hyper-focused, driven, passionate individuals with a clear, consistent personal code and the desire to achieve their goal in an honorable way. Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone. Kendra Elliot's Mercy Kilpatrick. Marcia Muller's Sharon McCone. Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder. Thomas Perry's Jane Whitefield.

41. An endorsement by a famous author on the cover. The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan January

This one is fairly obvious :) there are some bestselling authors' blurbs on the back, including 2 from NYT lists.

It is extremely difficult to narrow this down for sure! There are so many wonderful characters to every book! I am so drawn to strong female characters -- Mercy Kilpatrick in the Melinda Leigh Detective novels. Eve Dallas in J.D. Robb's In Death Series. Those with down-to-earth, sarcastic, simple personalities. On the other hand, I enjoy the wit and positivity of characters like Peabody in the In Death Series. Ones that make you giggle out loud while reading.

Such a hard question! I'll take a stab at it:

1. Nicky Murdoch - from the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton - he's so uncomplicated, a sociopath who, through his metaphysical ties to Anita as her Bride, just does whatever makes her happy. You can be sure that whenever a book is Nicky heavy, he will not make things worse. I love that he's now Rex for the St. Louis pride, too, showing that he is a good leader (as long as Anita serves as his conscience).

2. Zsadist - from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series - he has such a tragic background and it basically destroyed him until he fell in love with Bella & they had a baby. He fought his demons (from all the abuse as a blood slave) and made himself get healthier so he could be what they needed as a mate & father.

3. Faramir - from the Lord of the Rings trilogy - despite his father's (Denefthor's) open hostility and derision, Faramir serves Gondor (and later King Elessor) with honor & bravery - he ultimately gets the girl, too, in Eowyn, so that's a nice HEA.

24. A book you think they should read in schools Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass January

I think it should be read in schools, along with
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, because they are primary source documents. However, whether they should be in high school or university is an important question to consider, I guess.

I just read a 4 star book for

3. A dual timeline Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes January

The two timelines are the present (over about 30 years) and a few hundred years ago (over some years as well, but not as many).

Storm Front

Harry Dresden is one of my favorite characters. He is just a gentleman and a scholar in a grimy world. Have read the entire series and would love more!