Top Ten Favorite Characters in Books

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. There is a new subject each week and this week's topic is "Top Ten Favorite Characters in Books".

Rather than going with "all time favorites" which would be difficult for me to choose, I am just going to pick ten characters I really enjoy reading about.

My list, in no particular order:

1. Albus Dumbledore (The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling)

In some ways, Albus Dumbledore seems to be that typical character in fantasy novels: the wise wizard/mentor who helps prepare the young hero for his quest. Albus Dumbledore is very wise and sometimes seems to be all knowing and he is a father figure/mentor for Harry Potter. He is kind and funny and compassionate and he loves his students to the point of putting their safety and well being ahead of his own. Yet Albus Dumbledore is not perfect as Harry finds out to his great disappointment. Dumbledore sometimes appears to be too trusting, especially of dodgy characters like Severus Snape. He also has the flaw of keeping secrets and as it turns out, he has even bigger flaws which Harry discovers in the final book in the series. Dumbledore may be far from perfect but he is still an honorable and admirable person. His flaws make him even more so because it shows that he is human and he has learned from his mistakes. 

2. Cammie Morgan (Gallagher Girl series by Ally Carter)

Cammie Morgan from Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series is an incredibly talented and smart teen but when it comes to social interaction with boys, she is lost. I like that she can speak so many different languages and she has these mad spy skills but in the end she is someone that any teen girl could relate to. Cammie is loyal to those she cares about like her mom, her aunt Abby, and her three best friends, Bex, Macy, and Liz. She even refuses to believe that one of the people she loves could be on the wrong side. Cammie is brave and funny and a lot of fun to read about. She makes me wish I could have gone to spy school too, even if it meant wearing a plaid skirt :)

3. Lady Julia Grey (Lady Julia Grey mysteries by Deanna Raybourn)

Lady Julia Grey is the protagonist of Deanna Raybourn's historical mystery series. Just because she is a titled lady does not mean that Julia is above getting her hands dirty when it comes to solving crime. Her unwilling partner in investigations is Nicholas Brisbane, a man with a mysterious past. I love their interactions (and the sparks between them!) and the way Julia's well meaning interference often helps to crack open the case. Julia's family is also a lot of fun to read about. They are very eccentric and Julia is very modern in her sensibilities but that just makes the books more enjoyable.

4. Alexia Tarabotti (The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger)

While the later books in the Parasol Protectorate series are not quite as good, Alexia Tarabotti is still one of my favorite characters. She is highly intelligent and considered a "bluestocking" by her family. She is also "soulless" as a preternatural-someone who can temporarily nullify supernatural powers by touch. There is a humorous scene at the beginning of the first book where a vampire is trying to bite her and suddenly realizes that he no longer has fangs. Alexia is very funny too even when she isn't trying to be. I pick up the Parasol Protectorate books when I am in the mood for a laugh and it never fails to disappoint.

5. Mary Quinn (The Agency series by Y.S. Lee)

Mary Quinn had a rough young life but things change when she is saved from the gallows and given the opportunity to get a very unusual education. Mary is now a spy, part of an all-female agency. Mary is very smart and resourceful. She does have her flaws and she struggles with her identity as someone who is part-Chinese in Victorian England, something she keeps secret. Mary is a character with depth and in addition to figuring out the mystery, I enjoy learning more about her in each new book in the series.

6. Becky Bloomwood (The Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella)

Becky Bloomwood can be an annoying character but I love her for being such a dreamer. She is also a shopping addict and finds ways to rationalize her crazy purchases. She is endearing even when she is being stupid and I can't help but root for her anyway. Becky is a fiercely loyal friend and people often don't take notice of her intelligence and creativity.  When I read a Shopaholic novel, I know that Becky's latest adventure will make me laugh out loud.

7. Percy Jackson (The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan)

Percy is like a normal young teenage boy who just happens to be a demigod. I love his sense of humor and his bravery. He is a boy who is protective of his mom and his friends and he isn't afraid to take on nasty monsters, evil Titans, or badass gods and demigods with too high opinions of themselves, like Ares, the God of War and his daughter Clarisse. She'll never make the mistake of trying to stick Percy's head in the toilet again...

8. Rose Hathaway (The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead)

Rose is one of my favorite paranormal fiction heroines. She is tough as nails and not afraid to say what she thinks. She likes everyone to know how tough she is but that toughness hides her vulnerability and rarely does anyone see that side of her except maybe her best friend Lissa. Rose is fiercely protective of Lissa and she is a brave and determined person. Rose has a tendency to get herself into trouble because she acts without thinking but usually she can also find a way out of it. Rose is definitely not the typical teen and her character seems much older for her years. I admire Rose for her strength and her flaws. It was sad to see the end of the Vampire Academy series but she does have cameo appearances in the spin-off series.

9. Sookie Stackhouse (The Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris)

While I am no longer a big fan of this series, I still like Sookie as a character. She has flaws (like falling in love with guys who are trouble) but she is smart and she looks out for her friends and family. Her ability to hear people's thoughts has made her an outcast but people who look past her strangeness find a good friend in Sookie. I hope that she will make the right choice for herself as this series comes to a close. I will keep reading just to find out what happens to her. (Pick Sam! Pick Sam!)

10. D.J. Schwenk (The Dairy Queen series by Catherine Gilbert Murdock)

I picked up Dairy Queen, not sure that it was a book I'd be able to get into. I know next to nothing about football so the idea of reading a book about a girl who loved football didn't seem like something I'd enjoy. Boy was I wrong. D.J. is such an amazing character. I like her personality and how determined she is to do something that many think she won't succeed at. She is so hardworking and loyal to her family. I loved learning about life on the dairy farm and I even gained a greater appreciation for football (though I still refuse to watch the Super Bowl). D.J. is the kind of character that readers root for.  She is up against some prejudice for wanting to join her school's football team and she also faces difficulties at home but she still perseveres. I love that D.J. stays true to herself and doesn't give up.

What did you think of my list?

What characters would be on your list?