Hmmmm. This is a tough one. It shouldn’t be – I know there have been hundreds of characters I’ve come across in books and wanted to know more about. But for some reason I’m blanking on this one, and given that I’ve been sitting with it for over a week now, that seems unlikely to change. So I’m giving you the best I’ve got, but it’s not going to be ten!
Rhoda, the mom from Black Dove White Raven, is such a wonderful character. She’s a single mom in the 1930s who adopts the son of her Black female co-pilot after her death. As if that wasn’t already pretty cool, she then moves with her daughter and adopted son to Ethiopia because she knows how hard life will be for him in the US with all the racial judgment, and she wants him to grow up somewhere he will feel less alone. She runs a charter company and sets them up in the middle of nowhere. She teaches her kids to fly her plane from a young age, and they grow up having crazy adventures. If that’s not the coolest, I don’t know what is. I’d like to know more about Bridie from The Pull of the Stars. She was such a firecracker of a character, so smart and capable, and full of life. I’d also like to know more about the female doctor – she seemed like a force.
My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward is a man’s account of his wife’s issues with mental health that, as the title suggests, land her in hospital. I loved this book. I loved that it’s written from the perspective not of the patient, but of the patient’s partner. That is not a perspective often shared, particularly not a male one. That said, I would really love to read his wife’s perspective. I assume that she was a big part of creating this book, but her voice isn’t part of it. I’d love a companion account from her viewpoint. Likewise I adored Durrell’s account of his childhood searching out animals and insects and learning all he could about them in Corfu with his large, loud, chaotic family. But I would love to hear his mother’s account. A single mother of four children who left England for Corfu. How did she make that decision? What did she think? Were there moments when she felt completely out of her depth? She is very much the centre of this family, and seems able to keep them afloat, even when it’s by a very narrow margin. But I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for her, and the moments of fear her youngest son probably didn’t see. Also the moments of joy and pride when her gamble had paid off and her children were thriving.
I can’t remember her name, but I’d love to hear more from the perspective of the mother in this book. Nina, the nanny and the title character (and author) is the main voice of the book. She’s entertaining, but the mother is intelligent, interesting and has a wicked sense of humour. I would love a book from her perspective – stories of motherhood and dealing with being a working mother with a demanding job. Her witty one-liners were my favourite parts of the book. And finally, the mother from If I Fall, If I Die. She suffers from agoraphobia, and the book centres on her young son, who has been raised stuck inside the house with her, beginning to sneakily venture outside. At first he is afraid, but he becomes emboldened when he meets another kid and eventually starts going to school. I believe Michael Christie’s own mother suffered from agoraphobia, and the result is a damaged character who is not demonized. She is not painted as the antagonist, but as someone who loves her son and wants him to have more from life than she does, however hard that is for her. I would have loved to see what she went through behind her closed door as this book progressed. Being a mother now, I know how hard it is to deal rationally with the huge fears being a mother brings, and it must be nearly impossible for someone dealing with something as severe as agoraphobia.
That’s it for this week, I’m afraid, I just didn’t have four more to include! Some of these were a bit of a stretch as it is. What about you guys? Which books did you select this week?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.
I haven’t read any of these, but I definitely feel you on wanting more page time for your favorite side characters. A lot of the time, they’re more interesting/entertaining than the main ones!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I agree! Though I am so frustrated because I KNOW there have been much better examples that I just can’t think of right now!
I haven’t thought of Black Dove, White Raven for so long. What a heartbreaking story. My TTT Characters who need their own novels
It was so good though. And I loved Rhoda’s courage. And the life she tried to carve out for her kids, particularly at that time. So much admiration!
You did better than I did—I gave up after five, for the same reason! My list: https://fiftytwo.blog/2021/08/10/ttt-secondary-characters
Have you read Love, Greg and Lauren, by Greg Manning? It tells the story of his wife’s 180+ days in the burn unit after 9/11. It’s beautifully written, and haunts me 20 years later.
Hahaha! I’m surprised I found any, TBH. I have not read the Greg Manning book! Oh wow, that sounds like a very intense story!
Oh Durrell’s mother’s account–now that would be fun. Similarly, I’ve twice asked author Hilary McKay to write a grown-ups novel of her Casson family’s parents’ marriage!
Haha! I have only read on of McKay’s books so far, but I keep meaning to read more! I’ll keep that in mind if I do get to the Casson books!
Black Dove White Raven sounds so good!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-secondary-characters-who-deserve-more-love/
It really, really is!
Black Dove, White Raven is one of the only Elizabeth Wein novels I’ve not read, I really need to get around to it someday.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/08/10/top-ten-tuesday-328/
I’m in the opposite situation – it’s the only one of hers I have read! I tried to read Code Name Verity but couldn’t get into it. I plan to circle back one day. I highly recommend Black Dove though, it’s excellent!
Ah that’s a shame! Maybe try Rose Under Fire, it’s a bit more straightforward in terms of the storytelling?
Honestly I think it was a me thing, not the book’s fault. Is Rose Under Fire a sequel to Code Name Verity? For some reason I thought I’d have to read Verity first! If not, then maybe I will start with Rose.
It’s more of a companion novel? There are a couple of characters featured who first appear in Verity, but you don’t need to have read Verity to understand Rose. There are obviously some spoilers for Verity in Rose though.
That makes more sense. Knowing that I may try Rose when I circle back, then! Thanks for the info!
No problem!
I love that updated cover for Durrell’s book. You’re right, a different perspective could add so much more! I’d heard there’s a show too out there on the Corfu trilogy, I wonder if that captures the side POVs.
There is (I think it’s just called The Durrells). And it does, but a lot is changed so I have no idea if any of the storylines in it are actually based on reality, and I really want to know what she actually thought, you know? I do recommend the show, though. It’s delightful.
Great list! I twisted the topic some, as I have trouble remembering secondary characters.
When you get the chance, I hope you stop by my post: https://readbakecreate.com/10-books-that-deserve-more-love/
Haha! Yeah, me too!
I think Gerald’s brother wrote his account of the family’s time in Corfu, too.
Did he? I didn’t know that, but honestly I’ve never been drawn to Lawrence. I have heard he is a bit pretentious. No idea if that’s correct, of course, but it did make me less interested in seeking him out…
Well I have not read any of these books so will take your word on it. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/ten-book-to-movie-adaptations-i-want-to-watch/
Hahaha! Love your honesty!