Hello friends! Today is Tuesday, so you know what that means! Another episode of Top Ten Tuesday. It’s hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! Today we’re going to talk about characters that remind me of myself.
Cara: Divergent – Veronica Roth
When the Divergent movies were coming out, several quizzes went around where you could find out what faction you belonged in. If I had lived in the Divergent world, I probably wouldn’t have any difficulty figuring out what faction I belonged in. It’s always been Erudite. I have the first book in this series in four languages… and even though I’ve only managed to read the first 50 pages or so of Дивергент, I’m pretty sure that only book collectors and the Erudite (or people who are divergent with Erudite traits) do that. And yes, I have the Russian keyboard installed on all my devices and can touch-type on it.
However, I couldn’t have supported Jeanine’s efforts to overthrow Abnegation. I was in the military, so I have a smidgen (maybe) of bravery to me. Like Cara. So that’s why I identify with her.
June Iparis: Legend – Marie Lu
While I don’t have the knack for counting time or the eye for very specific details like June does, I do identify with her in a lot of ways. First, there’s that erudite thing again. I never skipped a grade, but I always found school to be easy. Sometimes I didn’t seem to have a lot in common with many of my classmates. And I did take Tae Kwon Do for several years, so I know how to fight. And we went to the same college (Drake University was modeled on the University of Southern California).
Dimple Shah: When Dimple Met Rishi – Sandhya Menon
When I found out that I was going to see Sandhya Menon at a couple of conferences in April, I wanted to read one of her books. When I found out that Dimple was into computer science, I knew what book I was going to read. Just as The Kiss Quotient had me at math, When Dimple Met Rishi had me at computer science (you might be noticing a theme here, LOL).
But it’s not just Dimple’s ability to manipulate code that causes her to remind me of myself. I could definitely identify with her when some boys were mocking her for her looks. While people didn’t overtly mock my looks in front of me (at least not since elementary school, when I remember coming home crying one day because people were making fun of my overbite when I was on the bus), I did have someone write “dog” over my picture in my copy of my eighth grade yearbook.
Stella: The Kiss Quotient – Helen Hoang
I did say The Kiss Quotient had me at math, right? I’m not a mathematical genius like Stella is, but we do have several things in common.
Although I didn’t pay for my husband to give me kissing lessons, I did meet him on the Internet. If it wasn’t for the internet, I probably would have ended up marrying my house or something like that. Not because I have any particular attraction to houses or anything, I just don’t think anybody else would have been interested. I never went to prom or anything like that… I felt like such a loser. The only thing I had going for me was my mind.
Stella and I have a few other things in common. Like Stella, I sometimes have difficulty interacting with people. I rehearse conversations in my head. I have to mentally prepare before contacting a stranger on the phone. I may work with the public in my job as a self-checkout host, but I’m almost always saying the same things to people all day long: “the computer got confused,” “you have to be old enough for that,” “thank you,” “have a good evening,” “I could ring up a dead fly if I had to.” When I’m asked to be a cashier I have more difficulty because most of the time I don’t know what to say outside of “did you find everything you were looking for?” and “how are you today?”
Scarlett: Caraval – Stephanie Garber
I don’t have a sister (and my brother and I weren’t really close as kids) but Scarlett and I do have a lot in common. Scarlett seems to be something of a rule follower who doesn’t take too many risks… and I tend to be on the neutral/lawful good side myself.
Alina Starkov: Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo
While I don’t have superpowers, I can see myself as Alina Starkov in a few ways. For one, she had to watch as the love of her life was interested in other people. She also wanted to do the right thing, which didn’t seem particularly clear at one point.
Clary Frey or Tessa Gray: Shadowhunters books – Cassandra Clare
I’m sort of torn between Clary Frey and Tessa Gray in the Shadowhunters universe. They both were something of rule-followers, but they had another, brave side to them that came out when necessary. Tessa really liked to read, but Clary sometimes would go out to the dance clubs with her friend.
They both have a few similar traits to them, so I’ll give them both a tie here.
Britta: Ever the Hunted – Erin Summerill
Britta lost her family, and then she did what she had to do. Life is like that sometimes… you just do what you have to do. She didn’t purposely go out to seek trouble, even though trouble seemed to find her. She also had her lost love that she wasn’t sure if she would ever have the chance to be with.
Cath: Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell
One of the reasons why I was such a big fan of Fangirl is that Cath is a lot like me. We both write fanfiction (although Cath has a much larger fanbase than I do). We’re both a little socially awkward. I have to admit though, I did find my way to the cafeteria when I was in college, whereas Cath did not.
Fiona: Frequency – Christopher Krovatin
One of the things that resonated with me about Christopher Krovatin’s Frequency was Fiona’s love for music in this book. I thought about majoring in music in college, although I ended up majoring in computer science instead. Fiona also had sympathy for the boy she found beaten up and left on the side of the road, and I hope most of us would have been like that.
So that’s my Top Ten Tuesday and characters that remind me a bit about myself. I can’t wait to see what characters you chose this week… this week seems to be a little more personal than many weeks, so it’ll be good to get to know some of you better.
Next week is a page-to-screen freebie. I think I’m going to do books I’d like to see made into movies. See you then!
Love seeing your picks and the way you give the explanations behind them. I skipped this week’s topic and did my April wrap-up instead, but even so the only one I could come up with was Molly from The Upside of Unrequited. Reading that one felt like reading about teenage me. But I can also see myself, in certain ways, in Stella (TKQ).
Side note: Color me impressed that you can read/understand Russian! I’ve always thought it was an oddly beautiful language.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books recently posted…April Wrap-Up
I need to read that book. I can probably relate to her too.
Great list. I’m more of a Scarlett too. It seems to be a more unpopular opinion to say that, but I def lean towards the law-abiding, do-gooder side LOL
I’m seeing a lot of Cath from Fangirl today.
I was surprised how many people are like Cath!
I’m sorry you were bullied. What an unkind thing to say to someone.
Nice list. I really need to read American Panda sometime.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
Astilbe recently posted…Free Short Story: Err on the Side of Caution by Kate Larkindale
After writing this list this week, I think I know why I’m into YA!
Great list! I’m so sorry to hear someone wrote that in your yearbook, people can be so nasty sometimes and I hate it. I love hearing how you relate to all these different characters – I need to give When Dimple Met Rishi a try, because even though I’m not science-brained at all, I love reading about women who are.
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Hello, is it me I’m looking for?
I guess it gives us something to write about, because we all have stuff that has happened to us, right? Otherwise we’d be Mary Sues in real life.
I met my spouse on the Internet, too. It seems to be more and more common over time which is awesome. How long have you two been together?
My TTT.
Lydia recently posted…Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: 5 Things I Wish More Books Talked About
We met in 1996. Meeting over the internet was very uncommon at the time.
I can relate to aspects of both Scarlett and Tella, Tella is very adventurous, which I definitely have aspects of but she probably takes far more risks than I do, so in that respect, I’m more like Scarlett.
Jo recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #210
I love how Scarlett developed over the series! And Tella has a great ending.
Great list! I’m seeing Cath a lot today and at first I didn’t understand it, but the more I read about her the more I agree. She is a relatable character.
Marti recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: A little cheating
I think a lot of book people have a little Cath in them since we are often introverts.
Dimple is amazing and definitely one of those characters I aspire to be more like.
She’s so smart!
I just realized her novella As Kismet Would Have It came out last week!
Aw bless you. I’m sorry you had such a bad experience with some mean people. I loved reading your list!
I had forgotten about a lot of these things before writing this list. Fortunately we can surround ourselves with whomever we like when we’re adults.
Great list! I loved Clary and Tessa! I’m just about to start reading Caraval, and I hope to get to Bardugo’s series soon. I loved Six of Crows.
I really want to read their series again. Ghosts of the Shadow Market comes out in less than a month; I’m looking forward to that. Chain of Gold was delayed until next March, but maybe I can do a reread before it comes out.
I almost put Cath in my list too! And all the characters you picked are so great!
Cath is really popular this week.
Oh I loved all those Divergent quizzes and stuff. I totally got Erudite too and was okay with that- they would probably be my Faction of choice for sure. Knowledge haha! And Cath is so relatable! Except for the cafeteria part lol. Food > social anxiety
Greg recently posted…Golden City The Harrison File
Or at least look at a map to find out where it was?
I like your list so much — especially bc it’s so diverse and filled with such a range of female characters !
Thank you!
I had a really hard time with this one topic this week. We ended up just taking a quiz to find our top three fictional characters that we’re most like. I can definitely say that I can relate to Cath. That one and City of Bones are the only two I’ve read.
Ash @ JennRenee Read
Ash recently posted…Bookish Banter: Just A Bit Of Hype
I’m surprised at how many people relate to Cath this week!
Great list! I love that Dimple is on your list. I adored her so much when I read that book. Cath from Fangirl made my list this week too.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Review: THE UNHONEYMOONERS by Christina Lauren
It was such an adorable story! I have to read some of her other books sometime.
I still haven’t read Dimple yet but I really want. Interesting that you feel you are Erudite, I feel like this weeks topic really gives us a glimpse at the person behind the blog.
Trish @ Between My Lines recently posted…Bookish Chat: The Benefits of Book Reviews
This week has been great for getting to know some of the bloggers out there better!
Several of these are on my TBR….great list! I LOVED Rowell’s Eleanor and Park but have had a hard time getting in to her other books.
I haven’t read that one yet. I’ve only read Fangirl and her short story “Midnights” which I also loved. I’m not sure if I want to read her Simon and Baz books. Not sure if it would be my thing.
Great list!
I was also in Erudite when I took the Divergent quizzes. XD
My TTT post!
I wonder if there’s a lot of Erudite people among book lovers… it would make sense.
I love that you included Stalla from The Kiss Quotient on your list. She’s such a sweetheart! And I loved Cath from Fangirl. I just wanted to wrap her up in a big soft blanket and tell her everything was going to be okay. Great list!
Thanks! There were a lot of great characters on people’s lists this week.
I haven’t read The Kiss Quotient but from the sounds of it I am quite like Stella too. And hey, I also met my husband online. 😀
Annemieke recently posted…Books for Riordan Lovers That Aren’t Written by Rick Riordan // #wyrdandwonder
Woo hoo! The internet was seriously one of the best inventions for people that have trouble finding love. I have a friend who’s single and would like to meet someone… only she’s not really good at computers. If something happened to my husband and I wanted to meet someone new… the internet would be the first place I’d go.