What are those traits I like in characters?
1. Spunkiness--- The urban dictionary defines this as a person with presence and/or has attitude.Think Pippi Longstockings, Katness Everdeen, or Lyra Belacqua.
2. Vulnerability--- We care about characters when we see their vulnerabilities and what caused them. Think Harry Potter, Marianne Dashwood, and Pip.
3. Relatable---Characters don't have to be me for me to relate to them, but I need to be able to find something of me in them or the issues that they confront. Think Bridget Jones, Ramona, and Simon Spier.
4. Capable of growth---flawed characters are interesting if, in the end, they show some growth. Think Elizabeth Bennet, Matilda, and Neville Longbottom.
5. Kindness---I like it when characters are kind and thoughtful to other characters. Think Amber Appleton (Sort Of Like a Rock Star), Jane Bennet, and Samwise Gamgee.
6. Have a unique voice--- the voices of characters help make reading enjoyable, those characters with unique voices doubly so. Think Anne Shirley, Scout Finch, and Mattie Ross.
7. Humorous or funny--- I like to be laugh. Who doesn't? Even in the most serious books, the comic relief can help make a book bearable. Think Huck Finn, Gonzo (Going Bovine), and Shakespeare's Falstaff.
Ooh, spunkiness is a great choice!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT.
I definitely like characters with a good sense of humor, or that make me laugh. And spunkiness is a good one too- definitely makes a character more relatable, I think, a lot of the time.
ReplyDeleteI seem to like books best when the characters become better people by the end. I think characters have to be able to risk being vulnerable in order to become better people.
ReplyDeleteSpunkiness and humor! I so agree with you on both of those. :D
ReplyDeleteGreat choices! I struggle most with books with unlikeable characters, especially if it's the main one(s) or in some cases, all of them. (Gone Girl for example)
ReplyDeletevulnerable is a good one.
ReplyDeleteSO many good traits, Anne! Love spunky (makes the characters more fun, right!?) and growth, too (if we ever think we've learned all there is to know, we're in trouble). Thanks for visiting Finding Wonderland last week.
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