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I am massively into character-driven stories. It's my number one most important part of any fiction reading. Plot, world-building... I can happily toss it all aside for some good characters.
I want to know the books or series with characters that jump right into your heart and nestle in deep. The ones you can't stop thinking about when you put the book down. The ones that stay with you long after their written stories are over.
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Lonesome Dove
Gus, Call, July, Clara, Lorena, Newt, Deets, Jake... I remember them 25 years later.
Soupy, Pea Eye....
Don’t forget the hero of the story; Blue Duck.
Janey 😭😭😭
I love this book, and got the recommendation from Reddit too
Great film too. Now I’m feeling nostalgic 🥹
Yup. I'm missing my dad again now.. 💜
The first 80 pages were rough to endure.
great call! i suggested this book the other day, 1 of my favorites
Vimes and The City Watch.
Vimes is great. Granny Weatherwax is my favourite character of all time though.
Every Discworld book. I like publication order as it’s always like spending time with trusted friends when Rincewind shows up again, or Susan, or any of them
Is Lord of the Rings trilogy too basic here? Genuine question but that was my first thought
It’s the answer for almost everything, you’ll never be wrong.
Lmao when you're right you're right!
So true. Greatest story ever told.
Except for Bran the broken
I think the Gunslinger series by King did was this for me.
Oooooh. Yes.
The Dark Tower is excellent.
The ending. :'(
Oy!! ♥ I even have a soft spot for Mordred ☠
The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman- four old age pensioners with very different personalities deciding life isn’t done yet and solving mysteries. Funny and heartwarming.
I enjoyed all the characters in The Expanse books- Avasarala is a genius character but Amos is my favourite I think.
The Thursday murder club was so good. I have trouble finding crime stories with good characterization and this hit the bullseye.
I didn't realize the expanse was a book series. I loved the show, so I'll have to check them out.
I love the characters in Tana French's books.
about to start the likeness! loved into the woods.
Into The Woods is probably the weakest one, in my opinion, and The Likeness is my absolute favourite. You just have to suspend disbelief for the very improbable premise, and then it's a gorgeously written book.
The Likeness is one of my top ten favorite novels.
Me too! I just love the use of language.
Same! I have read it so many times. I go back to it often, because I know I can count on it.
Terry Pratchett's witches live in my head rent-free
I’m glad you don’t charge them rent, doing so might be dangerous to your wellbeing.
Not that I want any handouts, mind. Nobody can accuse me of taking any handouts, can they Gytha?
No Esme.
For me, since I was younger, it has been Harry Potter. This series comforts me when going through hard times. It’s like seeing friends.
Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home ✨
I just wish the characters weren’t so flat and two-dimensional… I feel like I’ve outgrown them when I try to revisit the series now :(
Hm, that's interesting. I think her writing style is very simplistic and can feel flat at times, but not her characters. They still feel real to me, many years later!
same, harry potter characters are still some of the best for me, I think i will always like them, they've shaped my personality and writing style
East of Eden
I want to have a sit down with Sam Hamilton- something about that fictional man just soothes my soul.
A night out with LEE AND SAM HAMILTON🍻😁
Currently reading!
Just finished last night. Good answer.
One of the best books I've read in a while got that recommendation from reddit💙
1000%
My favorite book. Lee is probably my favorite character in any book.
For me, The Stand has the best character cast. You've got pretty much everything there on the spectrum of 'good and evil' and it's yet to be beaten.
My picks (that include characters I will always love like family):
The Lord of the Rings -- Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo, Merry, Samwise, Pippin, Eowyn, Aragorn, the Fellowship, Smeagol, Faramir, Arwen, aw who am I kidding, basically all the good guys (and yes, poor Smeagol)
East of Eden -- Samuel, Lee, Abra, Cal. And Samuel and Lee again. Some more. Because I love them so much.
Lonesome Dove -- Gus, Call, Lorie, Deets, July, and Clara most of all
The Aubrey/Maturin Series -- Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Sophie, Diana, Sam Panda, Babbington, Bonden, Killick
The Queen's Thief Series -- Gen, Magus, Eddis, Sophos, Attolia
The Green Mile -- Paul, Brutal, Jan, John Coffey, Melinda
The Magicians Trilogy -- Quentin (eventually!), Elliot, Alice, Julia, Janet (eventually)
His Dark Materials -- Lyra, Will, Pantalaimon, Lee, Hester, Mary
Oooh the Aubrey and Maturin books are incredible picks for this.
War and Peace by Tolstoy features an impressive gallery of characters, many of which are historical figures. However, the characters from the main families (Rostov, Bolkonsky and Kuragin) stay with me vividly. So too does Pierre Bezukhov and the peasant Platon. Really epic stuff.
Dostojevskij’s trinity of brothers (Karamazov) keeps a place in me—I’d say they keep a place in the world inasmuch as I often see their traits manifested by people around me.
Also, Stavrogin, Verkhovenskij Jr. as well as senior from demons. Sjatov and Kirillov too of course.
No mention of my boys Levin and Myshkin?
These are great recommendations. I recently read War and Peace and it holds up.
“Holds up” is a euphemism in my reckoning haha
Did those last 48 pages of pure philosophy move you?
Pachinko
The Realm of the Elderings by Robin Hobb. I've read them over and over, and the characters are beautifully written.
i second this recommendation
Came here to say this!
Also came here looking for this - Fitz and the Fool stay in my head rent free! So many good characters in this and the stories are so cleverly woven. You might think this sad but I've still not read the final book. I've got the pristine, first edition hardback waiting for me since I got it when it came out. I'm not ready for it to end!
No, I can understand that.
After I read it, I had to go right back to the beginning again, just to deny that the series was ended (although she might be writing a new book in the same setting)
The crew from the 'six of crows' series, i adore them sm they feel like my real friends (not to sound crazy😭)
I was coming here to say this! I love the crows!
Oh good answer, love Six of Crows! Conversely, I hated Shadow and Bone, mostly because of the dreadful main character and love interest. Goes to show how much a good cast can do for a story that two series by the same author can offer such differing experiences.
I don't hate Shadow and Bone but it sure is underwhelming and I find Alina so annoying lol. SoC is so much better!
no mourners, no funeral 🔪 (there's no crow emoji?!)
The deal is the deal
my ghost won't associate with your ghost
It's not natural for someone to be as stupid as he is tall, and yet there you stand.
About to comment the same thing!
The first cast that came to mind was from the Outlander series. Jamie, Claire, Bri, Roger, Ian, Jenny, Young Ian, LJG, etc.
Reading the series for the first time now (just finished Voyager) and this was my first thought! Huge time commitment but the characters are SO good.
On the second, third or fourth read through the time just flies! My favorite books forever❤️
Funny how that happens once you’ve read it before! I’m already looking forward to rereading (but have quite a few pages to go on round 1 first lol)
I've read them twice except for Bees. Now I'm feeling inspired to re-read it, starting today!
Yes🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲 that was a huge heart break knowing the series would eventually end
This has long been my most favorite series. Diana Gabaldon is an outstanding writer
Warning: She uses sexual assault as a big plot driver, over and over.
The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guinn.
It has one of the best lines I read in a book: “Often I have wished I was as tough as a woman”, spoken by the memorable character of Dr. Shevek.
The Sabriel/Lirael/Abhorsen series by Garth Nix is excellent
Edit: just want to add that the audiobooks are narrated by Tim Curry, which is fantastic.
Definitely my favorite audiobook. Curry is amazing!!!
Beartown trilogy - Fredrik Backman