TOP TEN TUESDAY | CHARACTERS THAT REMIND ME OF MYSELF

This week’s topic is hard because most of the characters I identify with are probably more because I see things in them I aspire to more than things I actually am. Or I see something in how they deal with things or see the world. I haven’t met many characters that really remind me of myself, so these are just ones in whom I caught a brief glimpse, and then a few I aspire to be like. Not quite ten this week, but close enough!

Characters I Relate To

Hermione from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Mostly the book thing, but also the intense drive to do well in school. I wish I had her courage, intelligence and work ethic, but I feel a kinship all the same.

Cassandra Mortmain from I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Growing up is hard on Cassandra. She is more comfortable with her head in the clouds than her feet on the ground, and she more easily sees the good in people than the bad. She believes in love, even though those around her have been deeply wounded by it. I can be guilty of the same.

Matilda from Matilda by Roald Dahl

I think what drew me to her was not only her love of reading, but her determination to remain curious about the world, to keep searching, even when the people around her put up obstacles and it would have been easier to give up. I have some of that same drive to learn, and though I don’t have her intelligence or resilience, I do understand what pushed her to keep on learning.

Circe from Circe by Madeline Miller

I only recently read this book. The best part of it, for me, was the development of the title character, and while she reminded me much more strongly of a friend of mine, there were aspects to her personality that I related to. Her betrayal by family and subsequent inability to trust easily. Her preference for her time spent alone and in the company of animals to that spent with people she shared nothing in common with. Her difficult learning curve when it came to seeing the true colours of those around her. And her fierce ability to fight through and hold up the weight of the world for the person she loved most. Life is tough. If you’re lucky, it makes you tough too.

Characters I Want to Be Like

Augustus Waters from The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

I have so much admiration for people who can face death and keep joy alive. I struggle so much with the weight of my own chronic illnesses, and they’re not terminal. I wish I could deal with that with even a modicum of the humour and determination to live for as long as possible that Augustus had. I think of him often on hard days, and sometimes he inspires me just enough to keep some joy in my heart.

Veronica Mars from the Veronica Mars series

I don’t think I really need to explain this one. She’s kickass, through and through.

Mark Watney from The Martian

I have so much admiration for Mark Watney. He is the very definition of resourceful, he retains information and knows how to parse it into an inspired idea, he is able to keep his spirits up in the most difficult situation I’ve ever read about someone facing and he does it with humour. I know that at the end of the day, we have very little control over bad things happening in our lives. What we do have control over is how we deal with them. he deals with them how I wish I could.

Molly Weasley from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

As a mom, I have intense admiration for Molly Weasley. Her ability to be both comforting and motherly and a total badass when it comes to protecting her kids is wonderful and inspiring. But more than that, I now know how hard it is to keep a household going, and while her husband was a sweetheart, he was also oblivious and not great at the day-to-day stuff. So she managed to hold the entire family together and make it work with very little money. Her home is cosy and inviting, her welcome extends to anyone who needs it, and she never breaks a sweat doing any of it. She is easily overlooked and underestimated, but she manages to make everyone around her feel safe even when the world is blowing up. That’s a superheroine right there.

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.