Column: Tuffy’s Book Nook Highlights Characters Worth Reading | Way of life

No matter how many novels readers read, our favorite stories still have the power to stick with us after the last chapter. The solace that lurks between the pages of a story is something more powerful than we think, and part of that magic is due to the creation of unique characters who speak to us in a way that no one else does. ‘To.

Whether it’s their take on the world, their fiery sarcasm, or the complexity they bring to the narrative, the right characters are one of the main reasons readers fall in love with a book. . They keep the story alive, and often their roles in the novel can engage readers in a variety of ways.

A reader may see themselves in the main character or be perplexed when trying to determine whether or not they like the character or not, but whatever the reason, a character who is able to hold the reader’s attention for the entire plot is. an accomplishment that should be appreciated.

In honor of all the characters who made readers fall in love with reading, Tuffy’s Book Nook presents four unique protagonists who alone made their books worth reading:

1. “Lady Susan” by Jane Austen

It would be impossible to talk about captivating main characters without going back to a classic that laid the groundwork for non-traditional protagonists. Typically, when readers think of Austen, they think of Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice” or Marianne and Elinor from “Sense and Sensibility”, and although these characters are iconic due to their association with classical literature. , they leave a lot to be desired. when it comes to uprooting tradition.

“Lady Susan” breaks that traditional Austenian mold to give readers a morally ambiguous widowed wife who understands that wealth is power, and if it takes a bit of flirtation to get a wealthy husband, so be it. With a teenage daughter and a recently deceased husband, Susan sets out to secure a future for herself and her daughter in the best way she knows how – with a bit of charm, manipulation and gossip.

The novel is told in an epistolary style, which means that readers can follow the story through a series of letters exchanged between family members. Throughout these letters the scandal that is Susan shines through, and often times readers wonder if they really like her or not.

She’s an enigma, and for readers who like to overanalyze a morally gray and mysterious character, she’s the perfect new puzzle. However, don’t expect to have a final judgment on her by the end of the book, as Austen leaves readers with plenty of questions about morality, immorality, wealth, and privilege. Readers might love Susan for her ambiguity and feminine power, but they might also hate her for her quirk and tolerance for deception. But to solve the mystery of Susan, you will have to meet her first.

2. The Serpent & Dove Trilogy by Shelby Mahurin

Speaking of moral ambiguity, meet Lou – a fiery and stubborn witch whose escape from law enforcement leads her to an arranged marriage with a witch hunter named Reid. From the start, Lou’s personality is contagious as she sprinkles the narrative with jokes, sarcasm, slightly inappropriate bar songs, and sexual references that make her seem all the more savage compared to her religiously morally upright husband.

With a tragic family history and a mother wanting her dead, Lou’s journey is based on one key goal: survival. Now stuck in a marriage to a witch hunter, Lou relies on her survival instinct to trick everyone into believing she doesn’t have magic, a task that reveals just how stubborn and capable she is.

Throughout the trilogy, Lou fights against his mother,Morgane le Blanc, for her life. Fighting against Morgana means that she puts her family, friends, and her husband in danger, all while trying to figure out what she is willing to do to stay alive. Add some magic to the mix and Lou finds himself on a dark, windy path full of moral obscurities. The author specifies that while Lou is sympathetic, she does not always make the right decisions because she is human, and this infallibility makes her all the more interesting to read.

3. “The cemetery boys” by Aiden Thomas

This young adult novel already succeeds in mixing horror and paranormal fantasy to create a chilling murder mystery, but the narrative wouldn’t be complete without Yadriel, a transgender boy determined to prove himself in his community. The traditional Latinx family of Yadriel is part of the brujx community – a group of magical people who can see ghosts and are responsible for healing and sending ghosts to the afterlife.

Desperate to prove himself as a man to his family, Yadriel arranges the ceremony to become a real brujo behind his parents’ backs. And of course, it’s not going well. He succeeds in receiving his power from their saint, Lady Death, but instead of freeing a ghost, he summons Julian Diaz, a popular bad boy from school who was recently murdered.

Shortly after mistakenly summoning Julian, Yadriel discovers that his cousin Miguel has disappeared and the mystery begins. With Julian and his other cousin, Maritza by his side, Yadriel sets out on an adventure to find Miguel and prove himself to a community that rejects his identity and the change it represents in their culture.

As well as being funny, slightly anxious, and strong, Yadriel’s emotional journey throughout the novel is endearing and genuine. As he struggles with issues of forgiveness, identity, and courage, readers will find it easy to root for him or find a way to relate to him as a teenager trying to find its place within the limits of cultural traditions and family obligations.

4. “Nightwood” by Djuna Barnes

The spectrum of the various characters in literature is wide, and if readers were to place Robin Vote on that spectrum, she would fall somewhere in the confusion category for all the chaos she inspires in Djuna Barnes’ 1936 novel “Nightwood” .

Much like Lady Susan, Robin is a mysterious and confusing character, as readers won’t be able to understand exactly how they feel about her after just one read. Robin is technically not the main character, but rather the catalyst that destroys and haunts the lives of all the other characters.

As each character reveals their story with Robin, it becomes extremely difficult to decide who to believe. Readers might be inclined to believe the husband she abandoned or they might believe the two women, Nora and Jenny, who fell in love with her and were heartbroken when she left.

The mystery of Robin’s character depends on the interpretation, and by opening the novel it is as if the readers become like the characters. From the first chapter to the bizarre final scene, Robin remains a haunting presence that is sure to leave a lasting impression. It might not be a heartwarming character like Yadriel or even fiery like Lou, but there’s something interesting about being drawn to a character you don’t understand, and Robin is the secret every reader should try. to discover.