A Few of the Characters (and the Endearing Traits!) I Love
Hey there, reader. If you’re here reading this, thank you for popping in. Visit anytime. Today we’re all about a popular bookworm meme, even though I’m expanding that because when it comes to favorite character traits, I tend to notice them more in “moving pictures” versus the paper and ink kind of stories. Here’s the official topic.
That Artsy Reader Girl | October 8: Character Traits I Love (submitted by Hannah @ Books Life and Other Oddities)
To be honest, the plan was to skip today’s topic altogether. This reason was twofold. One being I’m trying to skip some weekly posts (like Top Ten Tuesday) now and again so that I can still have fun with them (without the constant self-imposed pressure to post one every single week). Secondly, I just didn’t think this topic was a good fit for me. Here’s why.
Much as I love characters in certain stories, I don’t feel like I can always pinpoint the why I love these characters. Or to fit inside the box of today’s prompt, I cannot say what character traits I love best about them. I do however think I can say this with more confidence about characters I meet on my TV screen, most especially in TV shows that we get five, six, seven, eight (and on!) seasons of .
This means I’m bending the rules (what else is new??) of today’s ask to include some characters from TV, and I’ll try to find some of the bookish characters with traits I like to fit in, too!
Here we go with a mere four characteristics I like when it comes to characters. Or my best attempt at it since I likely don’t know what I’m talking about. (Also, my list is probably a bit… boring since I don’t like villains!)
Top Ten Tuesday October 8: Favorite Character Traits I Love
1: The Amateur Sleuth
I so enjoy the trope that is an amateur sleuth. Perhaps part of this is that I’ve seen a few too many shows with this as the lead character. Either way, I still like it!
A few of the favorites I’ve met along the way include Drew Farthering (from the ‘Drew Farthering’ series); Miss Fisher (from Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries); Herringford and Watts (from the Herringford and Watts series); Agatha Raisin (from Agatha Raisin); Matt Shade (from Private Eyes); and I’d guess others I’m neglecting because isn’t the cozy mystery genre fun?
See the Fun ‘Miss Fisher’ New & Exclusive to Acorn TV!
2: The Bookworm (aka one of my most favorite character traits!)
I mean, really, does this one need any explanation? When we meet people, even characters on a page, who we can relate to (aka the bookworm), it makes the experience all the more fun.
Just to name a few characters, these might include Juliet Ashton (from ‘Guernsey‘); Nora Bradford (from True to You); Belle (from Beauty and the Beast); Jane(from Austenland); Lara Jean Covey (from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before); Catherine Morland(ITV’s Northanger Abbey); and likely so many others.
A Few of the Characters (and the Endearing Traits!) I Love. Talking favorite character traits today; who made your list? #TopTenTuesday #BookNerd Share on X3: The Geek
I mean, really, who doesn’t love these characters? I always use this (or nerd) as a term of endearment, and find this characteristic produces some of my most favorite characters. To me, this doesn’t always mean the character is a “literal” nerd, or a science buff, it’s more of the studious, cute and sometimes bumbling characters. I love so many favorite characters with these types of characteristics.
Some of the characters I think of as fitting this description are Adam (from CSI: NY); Jessica Day (from New Girl); Harriet Manners (from Geek Girl); Oliver O’Toole (from Signed, Sealed, Delivered); Betty Suarez (from Ugly Betty); among others!
4: The Noble Protector
If you judge this one by my “definition,” some would probably call this characteristic “boring” because I also associate it with a rule-follower, and moral person. To me a person with a moral compass who doesn’t compromise is one of the best kinds of character examples. This doesn’t mean the character isn’t flawed or is never wrong, it’s just that they have a code, they follow it, and they live by these standards, which often also means they’re a kind of protector character.
Some of the characters I’m placing in this group is John Lawson (from True to You); Detective Mac Taylor (CSI: NY); Steve Rogers aka Captain American (from MCU); and plenty more I wish I could think of. (My brain is, for some mysterious reason, not engaged.)
OK, so now the comments are yours! Do you find yourself picking out character traits you love from books? Or like me, more from film and TV? What kinds of characteristics do you love best? How did you spin the ‘favorite character traits’ prompt today? Comment below with all of your thoughts. If you have a blog or joined in the Top Ten Tuesday meme, leave your links below. It may take me an entire week, but I’d love to come by and visit your bookish spaces.
Thank you for visiting
ps: please excuse the “disorder.” you can read more about these changes, new follow options and why archive posts are a royal mess in my “Disorder + Feedback” post!
I almost skipped this one too! I had the same problem- wasn’t really feeling the topic or how to do it justice- so I went a little off the rails with mine, but whatever haha. As for yours, I love an amateur sleuth! So fun, and with an amateur sleuth I can sorta pretend I’m doing the investigating, in a way. :)
Also I like Noble Protectors as well, and steve Rogers is a great example of that!
SAME! I just went ahead and put something together. Ideally, I’d have done something a bit better, but it still works – and so long as we have FUN, right? :)
RIGHT!? Gotta’ love a good sleuth. Do you have a favorite? (And Steve is always a favorite of mine!) Thanks for visiting, Greg.
I always liked Lady Emily a lot from from Tasha Alexanders’ Lady Emily series. She’s interested in antiquities and archaeology in an era when women weren’t really encouraged to do such things, and it’s a nice touch. Plus she travels neat places. :) Also Julie Mulhern’s Country Club mysteries are fun, even though they’re more modern.
I did read the first Drew Farthering mystery you mentioned, but I haven’t read any of the others yet. I need to get on that!!
I haven’t heard of Lady Emily, Greg, but I like the sound of the series – and I’m always about good travel settings!! Thanks for sharing some of your favorites. :)
Ooo! Fun. Hope you enjoy the rest of Drew’s adventures if you read them.
I love Steve Rogers! We need more good guys. Here’s my list: https://speedyreadercom.wordpress.com/2019/10/07/ttt-character-traits-i-love/
Well said, Cindy. We do indeed need more good guys. :) Thanks so much for visiting!
Oh the sleuth! Good one! Yes, def a huge one I love so much!
Right? They’re some of the most fun characters! :) Thanks for visiting, Melanie.
Great list! I love all of these traits in my characters. Particularly love the amateur sleuth (I am a big fan of the Agatha Raisin books) and the noble protector (Captain America is the BEST Avenger). :-)
*high five* Yay for sharing favorite character traits. :) YES! I love a good amateur sleuth. Haven’t read the ‘Agatha’ books, but the show is fantastic!
Captain America is forever and always the best. :D
Thanks so much for visiting, Jessica.
Great list! I love what you said about how a moral character doesn’t mean a character who’s never wrong – I also have a soft spot who stick to their own moral codes, especially if there are several characters with several different codes in a book or TV series that show just how subjective morality can be.
Thank you, Jess. Appreciate your comments and for stopping by. It’s always great to see a character with values, and what’s more if they stick by them, which doesn’t mean they aren’t wrong, it just means they’re committed to doing what they believe to be the best choice.
I almost skipped this week’s too because it’s been such a long and tiring day and my brain is absolutely pooped. I ended up posting but I don’t even know if it’s any good ? I love your list of four. Being bookish and a geek/nerd were on my list too. Gotta love those characters you can relate to hehe I’m glad you joined this week, Rissi!
My TTT post
Ooh, the noble protector is a good answer.
My TTT.
I do love a good protector character. Thanks for the visit, Lydia.
I love you’re list! I love an amateur sleuth as well, and I watch quite a few tv shows that fit that category well. Miss Fisher is such a fun show! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Aren’t amateur sleuth’s the best? Love so many of them, and Miss Fisher is a favorite of mine as well. She’s so sassy! thanks for visiting. :)
I love a good amateur detective and of course bookworms too, extra points if they’re both.
Ooo! Those two traits together would make an excellent character. :) Thanks so much for the visit, Carol.
I love your take on the theme this week :)
I love reading about bookworm characters too.
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
I couldn’t finish with my list this week either. So many good character traits and I don’t want all my characters to be the same. My TTT list
I enjoy a good character trait variety, too, Anne. :) Thanks for visiting.
You did a good job this week even though you weren’t feeling it. I’m interested in hearing what people say because I didn’t know if I’d be able to come up with ten either.
Thank you, Brooke. It was fun despite the dilemmas. :) Appreciate your visit.
Bookworms are so much fun! Probably because they’re super easy to relate to. xD The noble protector is a great one, too!
As far as I’m concerned, rules are made to be broken! Plus if you have Steve Rogers on your post, it’s actually impossible to be wrong ;) I just picked one trait and ran with it because sometimes lists are stressful and I’d rather read! :D
*high* YES! We’re operating on the same fangirl wavelength with Steve Rogers, Beth Erin. Thanks for that. :) Excellent strategy. That’s what I should have done too. :D Thanks for visiting.
Great list! I totally share your frustrations with posting every single week- but honestly I have only done 22 TTT’s in my whole blog span since 2016! Oh, well. *sigh*. Some topics just fit more than others. I only thought of 7: http://pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com/2019/10/top-ten-tuesday-top-character-traits-i.html
I might should have skipped this one. It took me way longer to get together than it should have. ;) I agree with ALL your choices, and I love the way you presented them. So creative!
Here’s my time consuming TTT!