Hello! As you know, it’s Tuesday again, so it’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl). Today’s topic is “Character Freebie”. Am I the only person that has trouble coming up with topics for the freebie days? I found a topic that I wanted to do for the freebie at the end of this month, but what to do about characters? I searched around and discovered that today was the Call of the Horizon Day. So I decided to celebrate this (very) minor holiday by highlighting characters who have traveled or who have gone on journeys, answering to that call of the horizon (or perhaps being forced on that journey).
The first character that came to mind when I decided on this topic was Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings. I once did part of one of those “virtual walks” which was supposed to cover the distance walked on this epic journey. I didn’t get very far though.
A real person that traveled a lot was Laura Ingalls in The Little House on the Prairie series. She was born in Wisconsin, made the trek to “Indian territory,” then moved to Minnesota, and then finally settled in Dakota territory for the remainder of the books.
A lot of things can make you decide to travel. Perhaps you’re running away from something. Maybe you have to move due to poverty. Or perhaps you’re traveling across the country because you think your little brother needs to be rescued, as Free did when she took a road trip across the country with Cole in Into the Hollow.
Perhaps a lot of people like to hang out in their comfortable homes and avoid the call of the horizon unless they are forced to make it. Maia in Spin the Dawn probably wouldn’t have chosen to leave her family and travel as far a she did if she hadn’t felt compelled to do so as a way to protect her family. It’s this beautiful story’s book birthday today, by the way.
I thought this topic would be a lot more difficult than it seems to be. Maybe because traveling and avoiding enemies can make for an exciting book. One of the books that I’ve read recently that involves an epic journey is Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox.
I don’t talk about The Iliad much because Gareth Hinds’s graphic novel representation was just okay for me, but you can’t deny that the journey taken by these warriors certainly was noteworthy. Even more so would be the journey taken in The Odyssey, which I might have enjoyed more, but I haven’t read that one.
The characters in An Ember in the Ashes and the following books take quite a long journey. Like many of the characters here, I’m sure they would have preferred to stay at home. Nevertheless, struggle strengthens a person and also makes for a more interesting book.
The Throne of Glass series certainly takes you on an epic journey. Over the course of these books, Aelin and her allies travel the world in order to defeat their enemies and save the world.
A Song of Ice and Fire covers the lives of many characters across a vast world. Like most of the characters answering the call of the horizon today, most of them aren’t embarking on their journeys for the fun of it. Their survival is at stake.
While they don’t travel particularly far in the first book of The Mortal Instruments, the characters in this series do quite a bit of traveling. These books take you from New York City to Idris to Paris… and even to an alternate world. Life as a shadowhunter evidently involves quite a lot of travel.
Well, there you have it: characters who have answered the call of the horizon. Next week, we’re going to talk about my auto-buy authors. I actually only have two actual auto-buy authors, but there are several that I will read most of what they write, so we’ll talk about them.
Great list! I always think of LotR when I think of characters going on a journey – I haven’t read the books (yet), but the films always make me feel so nostalgic.
If you’re interested in The Odyssey, I’d recommend the recent translation by Emily Wilson! 🙂 It’s the first translation by a woman and it’s so fresh and well written.
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | My recent OTPs
Thanks for the recommendation!
This is a very inventive take on this week’s TTT! And you’ve reminded me I still need to read Shadow of the Fox!
Thanks! I had the hardest time thinking up a topic (the older character topics were just meh to me) but it worked out.
I love your inspiration for this week! Definitely agree with Game of Thrones, those characters are always going somewhere!
It’s a huge world!
LOTR for sure is an epic journey, great picks!
Lotte | http://www.lottelauv.blogspot.co.uk
It was either that or The Hobbit, but same world, LOL.
You did a great job with this freebie! When I think about epic adventures, I definitely think of LoTR so I’m glad you chose that as your first one.
Leelynn @ Sometimes Leelynn Reads recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Character Freebie
Thanks! I didn’t realize there were so many wandering characters until I did this topic.
Ooh Laura Ingalls- good one! I loved those books as a kid! And frodo- he did some SERIOUS walking! Same with Game of Thrones- at one point I thought Arya was going to walk a groove through the Riverlands haha!
Greg recently posted…Tuesday Tagline #148
The Honest Trailer on LOTR talks about how they spend so much time hiking, and strolling, and walking…
Ooh, great topic pick! Frodo is the first one that comes to my mind as well! Maia is also a great pick, as well as the Iliad.
The Iliad seems to be the classic traveling book.
I like your take on the topic, and such a wide variety of characters you used. Nice list!
Thank you!
LotR definitely is all about traveling and adventure.
🙂 definitely.
I love so many of these and the others I can’t wait to check out. I love that you chose the travel element for your TTT. An Ember in The Ashes is such an amazing book. It’s so well thought out and written. I am so excited for Spin the Dawn and still have to read Shadow of the FOx but keep hearing so many good things about it.
I love the Ember books! I’ll have to reread the series before the fourth book comes out next year.
I love your take on this week’s topic and all of your picks are just perfect for it.
Thank you!
Love what you’ve done with the list this week! Very unique!
Thank you. I’m glad it turned out since I had a hard time figuring out what to do.
Fun take on the topic! I do love when characters travel 🙂 Spin the Dawn is on my TBR.
Oooh I hope you like it!
ASOIAF had so muhch travelling. I recently read The Gods of Jade and Shadow where the mc travels through Mexico. So great to read about!
Annemieke recently posted…Book Shelf Tour 2019 // Part 1 / TBR Shelf
Oooh that sounds interesting!
Literally *just* ordered “Spin the Dawn” today because of all the hype! Hopefully it’s a grand read. 🙂 Also, so fun to see Laura on your list. There’s a childhood memory. Thanks so much for visiting Finding Wonderland last week! 🙂
Rissi JC recently posted…5 of the Auto-Buy Authors I Hope to Enjoy! | Top Ten Tuesday
You’re welcome! I hope you love Spin the Dawn.