Booking through Thursday
You should have seen this one coming … Who is your favorite Male lead character? And why?
Sad to say, I should have seen this coming, but I didn’t till last night. D’oh!
While my heroine came right to me, this week’s question wasn’t as easy. For some reason, Killashandra aside, there aren’t many characters that are popping out in my mind. After a bit of thought however, (and a glance at my shelves) Henry from The Time Traveler’s Wife
On the first level Henry is unique because of the fact that he time travels uncontrollably. He is always having to adapt to wherever he finds himself, as well as the repercussions of where he finds himself when he comes back. But there is a second layer to Henry, and that is the in-depth portrayal of how he deals with the rest of his life around the time traveling - the death of his mother, his inability to have a healthy relationship, his marriage to Claire, trying to have a child. Then there is a third layer composed of his physical characteristics and actions, the way he always runs, his exhaustion, the toll traveling takes on his body, the way he speak, his sex drive. All of these layers are seamlessly intertwined, providing the reader with a rounded, complex character. The story succeeds because of the strength of character development the reader finds in Henry. He is flawed, he is human, and even at his worst he is a likable character. The reader is drawn deeply to him, and he turns was could have been a very bad premise into a compelling and engaging novel.
_Edited to add_
The Old Man from The Old Man and the Sea
Henry is my favorite too!
Comment by joanna — March 6, 2008 @ 11:03 am
Yes, I’m a big fan of Henry. A brilliant character in a great novel.
Comment by Lesley — March 6, 2008 @ 11:24 am
I have the book. Yet to read this. I will get around it after reading about Henry here!
Thanks!
Here is my BTT post!
Comment by gautami tripathy — March 6, 2008 @ 11:27 am
He seems to be a popular character. I’ll have to get cracking on reading this book!
Comment by trish — March 6, 2008 @ 11:40 am
I think Henry’s great as well. But The Old Man????? Sorry I had to study that book for ‘O’ level as good a way of killing it off for ever as I can think of.
Comment by Ann Darnton — March 6, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
Sorry, I just couldn’t take to “The Time Traveler’s Wife” although I felt sorry for Claire.
Comment by Margaret — March 6, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
Another Henry fan here. But can’t say the same for the Old Man.
Comment by Chris@bookarama — March 6, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
It’s been ages since I read The Old Man and the Sea, but I would classify the old man as a hero. I haven’t read The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Comment by Barbara H. — March 6, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
My husband would agree with your choice of the Old Man. I have to admit that I didn’t like the book when I read it; I think I was too young. One of these days I’ll give it a second chance. Happy BTT.
Comment by pussreboots — March 6, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
You are the 2nd person who named Henry from The Time Traveler’s Wife…maybe it sign that I should read it
Happy BTTs! Have a good Thursday!
Julia-Yen
Comment by Julia — March 6, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
I haven’t read The Time Traveller’s Wife but it’s definitely on my TBR list. I’ve heard so many good things about this book.
Comment by TrishaJ — March 6, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
The Time Traveler’s Wife is now on my TBR list too. What a wonderful description.
Comment by Idaho Gal — March 9, 2008 @ 11:20 am