The good thing about reading fiction is that it makes us choose our friends wisely. However, the downside is that can make our standards too high, encouraging us to “reject” people who seem inferior to our beloved characters. To strike a balance, bookworms like me should try to get the best of both worlds. Writing this blog is a way for me to achieve that; I’m telling real people on the web about my favorite characters, particularly in fantasy and science fiction. If you find them appealing like I do, I suggest that you check out their respective source materials.
Grey from A Curse So Dark and Lonely
Grey was one of the reasons why I gave this book five stars. His quiet or melancholic attitude was very relatable. People often mistook him for a snob, not knowing that he was actually a gentleman. I have the same “problem” in real life. During conversations, my friends usually ask me if I’m angry. There must be something about my inflection or facial expressions. One of my relatives even told me that I didn’t have to state facts with a scowl. Hahaha. To break this misconception, I go out of my way to do “extroverted” things like greet my workmates whenever our paths cross. Still, I rarely contribute to group chats since they can eat so much time that I would rather spend on reading or writing. If Grey were a real person, he would probably have the same sentiment. I bet that it would be fun to hang out in comfortable silence. LOL
Lazlo from Strange the Dreamer
I was disappointed by this overrated novel because of the unrealistic romance, but I resonated with Lazlo. If my memory serves me right, it was my first time to see a carbon copy of myself in fiction. Lazlo and I are practically clones. Bespectacled, introverted, and helplessly in love with literature. However, he’s more outgoing and physically fit than I am. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t be strong enough to travel through the desert for weeks just to visit a mysterious city. I’d rather stay in the library and explore dangerous places vicariously. In this regard, Lazlo is a better version of me. Looking on the bright side, I’m becoming more interested in traveling to foreign countries. I went to Thailand with my parents last February, and my big brothers and I are going to Singapore next week. True to my bookish nature, I plan to visit some libraries and bookstores.
Hermione from the Harry Potter Series
I can’t talk about booknerds without mentioning this beloved heroine. Because of Emma Watson, Hermione became the epitome of “beauty + brains.” As far as I’m concerned, Hermione is pretty much girlfriend material. Just to be clear, I’m not objectifying her. Haha. I’m merely expressing my admiration. If I were a student at Hogwarts, I would love to be Hermione’s study partner. We would be obsessed with pedantic things, like enunciating spells correctly and taking lots of electives for extra credits. Like Hermione, I was quite a know-it-all when I was a kid. In Sunday school, I raised my hand immediately during recitation and impressed my classmates with my fluent English. Man, I sound so pretentious! xD
Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles
This is a case of “opposites attract.” To be frank, Thorne, a self-proclaimed sky pirate, can be too rowdy or talkative. He always has something to say even in situations that require silence or solemnity. Essentially, unlike me, Thorne is the life of the party. People like him often annoy me in real life, but I can’t deny that his humor and childlike faith are contagious. Also, when Thorne becomes serious about something, he is a force to be reckoned with. I would probably befriend him so that I could have someone to protect me from the dangers of pessimism.
Darrow from the Red Rising Saga
Darrow is the most revolutionary character on this list. Over the course of several years, he experienced a lot of challenges that changed the definition of “man up.” He lost his first love, discovered that his life on Mars was a lie, and almost lost his life in the process. In light of his strong leadership skills, many people followed him to the ends of the Earth. Literally. I’m more of a follower than a leader (I actually prefer to work alone), so I consider Darrow an appropriate role model. He was intimidated by the burden of leadership, but he took it nonetheless and learned from his mistakes. Humble figures of authority are quite rare, and Darrow is definitely one of them.
Ultimately, regardless of my reserved personality, this topic was quite fun for me. My social circle might be so small, but I have lots of fictional friends. I understand if you think that that’s pathetic. After all, humans were made for relationships. Still, I must say that sometimes, fictional characters, who are manifestations of our dreams or desires, are more interesting and likeable than real people.
High Literature 
YES Darrow!
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