Chachic, the wonderful presence behind Chachic’s Book Nook, graciously agreed to put together a guest post for me, and she took up the challenge of talking about one of my favorite things in the whole wide world: favorite characters. Specifically, how her favorite characters influence her reading choices. (Thank you, Chachic!) Without further ado…
I love well-written characters in the books that I read. Most of the books in my favorites list are there because of the characters. I’m an escapist reader so I feel like I live vicariously through the characters in the books that I read. When I fall in love with a certain type of character, it makes me more curious about other books with characters who have similar traits. I’m here to talk about how some of my favorite characters have influenced my reading choices.
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I make no secret of my love for Eugenides of the Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. He’s the character who made me more curious about gentlemen thieves and rogues in court settings. Through recommendations from the LiveJournal community Sounis, I’ve discovered other characters with similarities to Gen such as Miles Vorkosigan of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Series (fondly called by some Sounisians as Gen-in-Space) and Telemakos of the Lion Hunter books by Elizabeth E. Wein (who is Gen-in-Africa in my mind).
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Meliara of Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith and The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley made me itch to read more books with strong female protagonists in a fantasy world. Give me a book with a capable swordswoman with magic thrown in for good measure and I’m a happy reader. It wouldn’t hurt if there’s an equally fascinating love interest for the main character.
Beauty in Beauty by Robin McKinley, Ella in Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine and Isi in The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale opened my eyes to the wonderful world of fairy tale retellings. I love fairy tales. I was instantly sold when I discovered that there are books written based on fairy tales out there. I love discovering how an author can change the dynamics of the story using a fairy tale as its basis. Plus, these heroines are no ordinary princesses. They have all sorts of adventures that other meek and dainty princesses can’t even imagine.
It wasn’t until I discovered Taylor in Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta and Meg in Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols that I became interested in contemporary YA. Before that, I always used to think that I’m more of a YA fantasy reader. These two gals changed my mind as soon as I read about them and I’m still enjoying so many contemporary YA novels up to now.
Those are some of my favorite characters, there are more but I just wanted to mention the ones that I feel have influenced my reading choices. What about you, who are some of your favorite characters and have they influenced you in choosing the books that you read? Do you recommendations for me based on the characters that I mentioned? Thank you, Chelle, for having me over for a guest post. 
Thank you so much for having me over for a guest post, Chelle!
I really had fun talking about my favorite characters. Hey what about you, who are some of your favorite characters? I love hearing about other people’s favorites because it usually encourages me to read the books that they mention.
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Hey, those are my top 3 fairytale retellings too! Ella Enchanted is such an old favorite, loved that one as a kid and still do
Danya, I was a little late in discovering those three wonderful fairy tale retellings. I only found out about them back in 2007 but they’re the first retellings that I read and loved so they’ll always have a special place in my heart.
Wonderful post Chachic!! Love your choices. Although, I’d probably add Kate Daniels to your list of strong women who carry a sword and use magic
Amen to JELLICOE ROAD & GOING TOO FAR. Those two really opened my eyes to contemp YA too. Although I still find that I’m overly choosy when it comes to that genre – for some reason, I’m less forgiving than with other genres.
Michelle, I wanted to include Kate Daniels but then I found out about her much later than Mel and Harry.
Although that doesn’t mean that I love her less!
I feel the same way about contemporary YA. Maybe we’re like that because there are so many books that get published under that genre and they also get more buzz from the blogosphere.
I SERIOUSLY need to read Jellicoe Road. Been keeping an eye out for it in the bookstore.
Janice, I really hope you do read it!
Janice, really, you must. Chachic, I agree with ask your choices.
they remind me I nerf to try something by Elizabeth Wein sometime. Chelle, thanks for having her!
Holly, I’d love to know what you think of Elizabeth Wein’s books so I hope you get to read her stuff soon.
Hi! I love fairytales and wanted to take a shot at a fairytale retelling, among the three of your favorites which do you think I should read first? I also saw you mentioned Cameron Dokey on your most read authors post for his Once Upon A Time Series. The choices are too many!^^ Which do you think will get me hooked on retellings?
Great list! I like strong female protagonists as well like Katsa (Graceling), Katniss (Hunger Games), and Sabriel(Sabriel).
Hi Tin, any of the three favorites that I mentioned will do.
I’m not such a fan of the Once Upon a Time series because the stories are too short, I feel like they could use more development. I prefer fairy tale retellings that are stand alones rather than the books in that series. Hope that helps!
Gen! Could not agree more with the Gen-love! I love Gen and I absolutely cannot wait for Megan Whalen Turner to write twenty thousand more books with Gen inside them.
Yay with the Gen love! *high five* I’m really looking forward to reading MWT’s other books but I think I’ve gotten used to the waiting.