This is one of those prompts I expect to have a really hard time with. I’m sure there are tons of books with amazing dynamic duos. But I can’t think of any right now. So this is one of those posts that I’ll be slowly (hopefully) adding to as new books pop into my mind. Here goes!
What would Aziraphale be without Crawley, and Crawley without Aziraphale? Nope, you need them both. Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters are just…. I don’t even have words to describe them. They’re necessary. Aristotle and Dante are a bit more complex, and yet they bring out a new side in each other, and need each other for balance. I can’t really say anything about the duo in Project Hail Mary, so I will go no further. Let’s just say if you’ve read it, you should know who I’m talking about!
I can’t really talk about the duos I love in these two either, but I just adore them both!
A couple of real-life relationships I love:
Each of these relationships is unique – even though three of them are between husbands and wives. But they all have a tenderness, an openness, and even a humour that is magnetic. Helene Hanff’s relationship with her bookseller, though taking place entirely on paper, is such a strong connection that it feels stronger than many I’ve experienced in person.
And a few that are kind of big deals but also awful:
So Frida Kahlo is somewhat of an inspiration. She suffered from lifelong pain after a tram accident that broke several parts of her body. She was in pain, and yet she found such vibrance and resilience. It’s not hard to see why I, as a chronically ill person, find inspiration in that. But her relationship with Diego Rivera was tumultuous and inscrutable. The couple in An American Marriage are so difficult to spend time with. There are so many parts of the book that seem incongruous and that make this relationship one of the most difficult I’ve experienced. I don’t think Gone Girl requires much explanation at all. Romeo and Juliet is one of those age old stories that we all seem to just accept as being fantastic without thinking much about it. But really:
That was actually easier than I expected! What about you guys? Which literary duo is your favourite? Did any of my choices make your list?
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.
Ooh good pick with Jenny & Victor; their back and forth has always been my favorite part of Lawson’s writing (although he also seems like a super supportive partner when she needs it, which is important). I love all these choices, but the memoirs were a great “outside the box” idea.
https://rainbowstevie.livejournal.com/1315266.html
Me too! I think they have a great balance of humour over substance. From my experience, dealing with physical and mental health issues is a huge source of stress, conflict and frustration. Humour is so, so important as a pressure valve. Thanks! Honestly I just ran out of fictional ones (after spectacularly forgetting to include some epic duos like Sam and Frodo from Lord of the Rings) so I moved on past them! I’m glad it seems to have worked out okay!
I know exactly what you mean with Hail Mary! 😀
😉 YES!
Great list, I like your pick of dynamic duos and their different nuance, like in Gone Girl!
Here is my post: https://herseriallife.com/top-10-best-dynamic-duos/
Thanks! This week’s was harder for me!
Oh Amy and Nick from Gone Girl…..one of the most twisted couples ever.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2022/02/22/top-ten-tuesday-356/
Right??? To this day I’m concerned about their kid!
That poor probably messed up kid…..
Oh yeah. Therapy for sure. Or jail? Hard to call.
Probably both to be honest!
Hahaha! Yup.
I loved Ethel & Ernest. What a wonderful story that was.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday .
Aw, yes it really was!
Project Hail Mary is a great pick!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-dynamic-duos/
I knew you’d get it! It’s so hard to explain without, you know, explaining EVERYTHING!