Great Fictional Characters: Lyra Belacqua

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

L is for Lyra Belacqua or, as she comes to be known, Lyra Silvertongue.

Lyra is headstrong, brash, rebellious and brilliant. Raised as an orphan in an alternative-reality Oxford, she drives Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy with her extraordinarily engaging and energetic manner. Deliciously feral, she resists every effort of her guardians to tame, tidy or educate her, and uses her quick wits and silver tongue to cheat and charm her way in and out of trouble.

Artist credit

I loved Lyra from the start, when she crept into the Retiring Room to spy on the Masters- just for something to do. She has a cheerful disregard for authority and obeys no one unless she thinks they are worth listening to or- in this case- eavesdropping on. What she overhears from the cupboard starts the adventure she's been yearning for, although she has to deal with a great deal of heartbreak along the way.

"“I wish...” she said, and stopped. There was nothing that could be gained by wishing for it. A final deep shaky breath, and she was ready to go on."

I also loved the idea of daemons, a visible manifestation of soul. Lyra's daemon, Pan, changes form to match Lyra's moods. Wouldn't life be so much simpler if everyone's true self was clear to the eye? Or maybe not...

Lyra has little trouble concealing her true self when necessary, and her ease when lying proves a useful skill during her adventures.

"It was difficult to tell them the truth when a lie would have been so much easier for them to understand."

Despite being dishonest when it suits her, Lyra is still a likeable character because of her innocence and lack of malice. Even her anger is honest: her strong loyalty to her friend sends her on a quest, first to rescue, then avenge him; her disgust at the lies and hypocrisy of the Church drives her to search for truth; her fierce love for Will forces her to do what is right, even though it almost breaks her. She is always true to herself and her beliefs, and is tenacious in fighting for what is right.

And I fought with her. Few books make me cry. These did. Twice. (For those in the know, I cried at the lake and I cried at the bench. You'll understand the reasons why.)

Great Fictional Characters: Katniss Everdeen

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

K is for Katniss Everdeen.

Another day, another BAMF.

In The Hunger Games, we first meet Katniss on her home turf, doing her thing- which, incidentally, is whatever she needs to do to look after her family. This is good. It sets her up as someone who is strong, resourceful, protective and proactive (all traits that serve her well in the arena). Someone I immediately identify with. Plus, she's a hot-shot with a bow.

Oh, what I wouldn't give to be able to let fly with an arrow like she does! I read the books first (as I usually end up doing) but the best parts of the films- the parts that are (gulp) better than the books- are whenever she takes aim.

Whoosh!

I tried archery last year. I have the upper body strength of a T-Rex but I tried it anyway. I was so excited! I just knew I'd be a natural- all those years of watching LOTR and the HG films must have rubbed off somewhere. I was going to be just like Katniss!

As I stepped up, the woods fell into a reverential hush, every living creature in a square mile watching apprehensively, ready to gasp in awe and wonder at my natural talent. I listened carefully to the instructor, positioned myself perfectly, pulled the arrow back and-

Twang!

- sent it somewhere off into the bushes.

It was powerful, even the instructor had to admit that- just nowhere near the target.

Oh well, I thought. Even Legolas must have missed a few times. I persevered and, by the end of the session, managed to hit the target more times than not and (by sheer luck, I'll be honest) score a bullseye! Unfortunately, I then managed to ping my boob on my next go (which hurt like hell) and my puny arms ached so much afterwards that I couldn't brush my hair. Maybe I should find a new hobby. Or get a NERF gun bow.

Yup. Totally me.

I don't mind admitting that I have a bit of a girl-crush on Katniss: she's my heroine. Smart, sassy, awkward, stubborn, comfortable in her own company and downright rude at times- we'd be great mates. We could go hunting together or, rather, she could go hunting and I could trail along behind bumping into trees and squealing over insects.

I don't think she'd let me have a bow.

It's probably for the best.

Great Fictional Characters: John Trenchard

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

J is for John Trenchard.

Moonfleet, by John Meade Faulkner, is a classic. The tale of smuggling on the Dorset coast may remind you of others, but there is something special about Moonfleet, something that sets it apart. The film and TV versions do not do it justice, and I urge you (even more so than usual) to read the book.

John Trenchard is a fairly ordinary fifteen year old orphan, living with his aunt and attending the local school, while lusting after the beautiful Grace Maskew, who is nothing like her revolting magistrate father. Smuggling is a part of the economy, despite Maskew's best efforts, and John is used to turning a blind eye to shifty-looking men muttering in corners (or maybe he is just really naïve). What is more fascinating to him (other than Grace) is the tale of Colonel John "Blackbeard" Mohune, a terrible scoundrel, who was rumoured to have stolen a diamond from King Charles I and hidden it away somewhere. It is said he haunts the churchyard at night, and John himself has seen strange lights there after dark...


The old Moonfleet church

At church one Sunday, after a major flood, John hears knocking from below ground. Convinced it must be coffins of long-dead Mohune's floating around in the crypt below, John interest is further piqued when he spots Mr Ratsey the sexton and  Elzevir Block, owner of the Mohune Arms pub, acting suspiciously in the churchyard. A week or so later, a sinkhole in the ground reveals a passage seemingly leading towards the crypt. Does it lead to Blackbeard's final resting place- and his famous diamond? Is John brave enough to look?

Of course he is.


John Trenchard's conduit for the poor

Ita in vita ut in lusu alae pessima jactura arte corrigenda est (translated in the book as As in life, so in a game of hazard, skill will make something of the worst of throws) is an apt message for this book. As with all the most gripping stories, John is in control of his actions and, invariably, he chooses the most dangerous and exciting path. His skill in making the best of throws is a little hit and miss, but the outcome is always thrilling. He's a likeable character, with just the right mix of nice chap and daring rebel, doing bad things but only when necessary. He's very realistically written, with a teenager's mix of wanting to follow the rules taught by his elders and wanting to break them because they don't make sense. I found this a real page turner when I was a kid and, as an adult, it is still one of my favourites.

Part of what make the story come alive for me is knowing that Moonfleet is a real place! I've been there twice: once with my family, when I was about ten, and again on my own a couple of years ago. You can read about my last visit here.

Has this inspired you to read or reread Moonfleet? Let me know in the comments xxx



Great Fictional Characters: Isobel O'Sullivan

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

Today's character is one half of the famous O' Sullivan twins- Isobel O' Sullivan from Enid Blyton's St Clare's series- although it's practically impossible to discuss one without mentioning the other.

Isobel O' Sullivan, along with her twin sister, Pat, follows a character arc like no other. From spoilt brat to jolly decent gel in only one book! Throw in a wise headmistress, hysterical French teacher, sharp-tongued, warm-hearted school chums and a cat in a cupboard- and you've got a great story that is moral without being preachy.

Great Fictional Characters: Hermione Granger

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

On to H, and my second favourite teenage witch: Hermione Granger.

Hermione is annoyingly brilliant right from the start: one of those girls we all knew at school who made us feel stupid, but never on purpose. By the end of the books, Hermione's true brilliance is revealed: that everything she has, she shares. She completes the perfect triangle of Harry's courage and Ron's humour with her common-sense viewpoint.

Great Fictional Characters: Granny Weatherwax

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

G is for Granny Weatherwax- who else?

"Witches are not by nature gregarious, at least with other witches, and they certainly don't have leaders. Granny Weatherwax was the most highly-regarded of the leaders they didn't have."

Granny is just awesome. Imagine the meanest school nurse and the kindest aunty and the teacher who just "got" you and you'd only be halfway there to how cool she is.

Considered by many (including herself) to be the most powerful witch on the Disc, Granny Weatherwax rarely resorts to actual magic, preferring "Headology" to sort out most problems. That's not to say she can't wield magic when necessary, though. In order to save Lancre from the murderous (and frankly bonkers) Duke Felmet, she moved the entire kingdom forward in time by fifteen years, so as to give the rightful heir time to grow up and claim the throne. But turning someone into a frog is so much more effort than making them think they are a frog, which is also a whole lot more effective (and amusing). Granny's dry sense of humour makes Jack Dee look like Ken Dodd.

Here comes the sun...

...doodle doodle...

Today, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and it was just too glorious a day to spend cooped up in the house working/writing- so the boys and I went on a little adventure.



Out in the sticks and loving it.



Ahhh- the open road!



I think Harvey is enjoying this adventure!



So tempted to explore...



Naturally, Harvey wanted to go this way.



Tired out puppy.

After all our exertions, I think we deserve a snuggle on the sofa now.

See you tomorrow xxx

Great Fictional Characters: Frederick Clegg

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

F is for Frederick Clegg, otherwise known as The Collector.

Frederick is a loner, a socially-inept, class-obsessed weirdo who becomes obsessed with a girl he sees but knows he can never have. Like the butterflies he gases and pins, he wants to possess her and enjoy her beauty. Aided by a surprise football pool win, he buys a house in the country and makes his preparations. Soon, she is his, trapped in the cellar of his isolated home, part of his "collection". And it all goes downhill from there...

Great Fictional Characters: Eleanor Vance

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

On first impressions, there is little to admire about Eleanor Vance, the central character in Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. She's weak, hopelessly naïve and behaves like a petulant child trapped in a thirty-two year old's body. But it's not entirely her fault, which is why I have sympathy for her. As we are told:

“She could not remember ever being truly happy in her adult life; her years with her mother had been built up devotedly around small guilts and small reproaches, constant weariness, and unending despair. Without ever wanting to become reserved and shy, she had spent so long alone, with no one to love, that it was difficult for her to talk, even casually, to another person without self-consciousness and an awkward inability to find words.”  

So far, so boring- but not for long.

Great Fictional Characters: Dorothy Gale

Continuing with the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2015

Dorothy Gale, not quite the damsel in distress that she appears in the film version (which I still love), is one of my favourite fictional characters.

I love how matter of fact and inherently good she is, with none of the issues or angst that children's heroines often suffer from in order to appear relevant. Her only goal is to return home, so as not to cause distress to her beloved Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, even though they probably would get on fine without her.

“No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home.”