Top Ten Picks: Literary 'Crushes'!

Top Ten Picks is hosted by Jillian at Random Ramblings. This week, the topic is "Literary 'Crushes'".

To save you the disappointment, I'm going to say up front that nobody named Edward, Jacob, or Patch appears on this list. Okay... now that that's out of the way, here we go!

10. Howl from Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Let's be clear here: I like Howl from the book... not from the movie. Seeing the moviemakers turn such a fun, complex character into a brooding, effeminate emo was rather devastating. I must admit that I did develop a bit of a crush on Howl while reading the book; he was mysterious, funny, and occasionally sulky, but underneath it all he really did have a good heart.


9. Stephen from I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Stephen wasn't even one of the main love interests in this wonderful story, but he pretty much stole the show (and a lot of female readers' hearts). You can sum up Stephen in one word: sweet. And when it seems like all the leading men in today's books are of the "bad boy" type, it's refreshing to read about someone who's pretty much the opposite.


8. Tom from Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones

I'm a bit of a sucker for a tragic figure (as you can probably tell by this list). Tom was a nice guy... with one heck of a life-complicating secret. He's also a classically trained musician, so he gets extra points in my book. And, unlike many of today's older male love interests, he doesn't actively pursue the underage girl (it would have been rather icky if he had, considering he met Polly when she was only 10).


7. Josef Kavalier from The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

Here's another of those tragic characters. Joe certainly never had it easy. After all that happened to him during the course of the story, you just want to give him a big hug and tell him everything will be okay. He's a talented artist as well as an amateur illusionist (with Houdini being one of his heroes), and I thought that made him all the more interesting.


6. Silver from The Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee

Silver is actually a robot. A very lifelike robot. I'm not usually into science fiction, but The Silver Metal Lover is, at its heart, a romance. It's one of those stories that you can't stop thinking about... and Silver is a big reason why. He's got a better personality than most of the human characters in the story, and he seems a heck of a lot kinder, too... which ultimately makes you question what being human is really all about.


5. Frederick Garland from The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North by Philip Pullman

Oh, Fred. What can I say about Fred? He's a kind-hearted photographer who has quite a bit of respect for women (these books take place in Victorian England). I wouldn't mind having Fred all to myself...


4. Henry DeTamble from The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I know this book is not a favourite of some, but I loved it. And I really liked Henry. I thought he was a good, strong character. He had to be, going through life knowing what was to come (good and bad). The way he handled it all made me like him even more.



3. Argul from the Claidi Journals by Tanith Lee

Argul is mysterious, teasing, and a fierce protector. I quite liked this guy from the first moment he stepped onto the page. Unfortunately, Claidi spends much of the series separated from Argul and trying to get back to him, so we don't see all that much of him (which is kind of disappointing). He's such a neat character that it would be cool to see a story just about him (perhaps regarding his formative years).


2. The Prince from The Light Princess by George MacDonald

I don't think this character even has a name, other than "the prince". He came from a far-off land to try to find a wife... and instead found a princess with no gravity (literally or figuratively). This guy makes my list because he's willing to make a huge sacrifice for the woman he loves.


1. Eugenides from The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

I love this character! He's probably one of my all-time favourites, literary crush or not. He's just such a fun, cheeky character, and seems like he'd be an absolute blast to be around. Of course, as happens in real life, people change... and not always for the better. My literary crush only applies to Gen as he appeared in The Thief... and not in the sequels.