I love bookish characters because they are often the ones that I relate to the most!
Nora and Charlie from Book Lovers
I ended up having a lot of mixed feelings about Book Lovers (look out for my review on Thursday!), but the one thing that I really appreciate was just how bookish both Nora and Charlie were. It was fun to read about their publishing careers, with Nora being a literary agent and Charlie being an editor. Seeing them work on editing a book together was interesting- I wish we got more of it!
Nina from The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
I think the reason that I loved The Bookish Life of Nina Hill as much as I did was because of how much I related to Nina. Her whole life revolves around books, and I loved that she worked in a bookstore. Her admiration for books and reading leaped off the page, and I valued every second of it!
Dani from Love Radio
Dani from Love Radio is such a fantastic character who has a passion for reading and writing. There are many authors who she admires, including Roxane Gay and Tori Morrison, so their books are reference quite a bit. Dani is working through some trauma and finds comfort in writing letters to these authors. We get to read these letters and they are quite moving. There is also an adorable see that takes place at a bookstore!
Paul and Annie from Misery
I just had to include Paul and Annie from Misery! So many of the stories that include bookish characters are sweet and wholesome, so I know I needed something more sinister on this list. Misery is the only Stephen King novel I have ever read, and the only one I have ever been interested in, because I knew it was bookish! Paul is an author who kills of his main character and Annie is a superfan who is unhappy with this and has imprison Paul and is forcing him to write a new ending. It is intense!
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
No list like this is completely without mentioning Elizabeth Bennet. She is my number one favourite bookish character, or character in general!
Jo March from Little Women
Speaking of classics, you can’t forget about Jo March from Little Women. She is bookish in that she is a great storyteller. I also recommend reading So Many Beginnings by Bethany C. Morrow, which is a retelling of Little Women and that version of Jo is also bookish and incredible!
Cussy from The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
Cussy from The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek snuck up on me and has become of one my favourite characters. She realizes the importance of reading and joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky. Her role as a librarian takes her on a dangerous route but she meets some amazing people along the way. The sequel, which follows her daughter, just came out and I cannot wait tor read it!
Everyone from The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a book I have leant out to numerous people in my real life. I think it has mass appeal! A.J. Fikry owns a struggling bookstore and forms a connection with a publishing sales rep, but it is so much more than that. It is worth discovery it for yourself, especially since there is going to be a movie adaptation.
Liesel from The Book Thief
I read The Book Thief many years ago and Liesel still has a special place in my heart. Seeing her discover a love for reading during such a tumultuous time was quite beautiful.
Thursday from The Eyre Affair
The Eyre Affair is the first book in the Thursday Next series, and I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this. This is unlike any other book on this list. It follows Thursday, who is a literary detective and finds herself inside the pages of Jane Eyre in an attempt to stop a literary homicide. I know it sounds confusing and out there, but it works! I keep meaning to continue on with the series.
Who is your favourite bookish character?
YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads
Love Radio looks good! I don’t think I’d heard of that one before. 🙂
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-characters/
It comes out on May 31st!!
God, you have such great characters on this list. How did I completely forget Lizzie Bennett?
There are just so many bookish characters out there!
Liesel and Jo have to be MVPs of this week.
Not at all surprised! They came to my mind instantly.
I just finished Book Lovers – those are definitely book characters! Great list and I definitely want to read Love Radio.
I thought the book talk in Book Lovers was the best part!
I loved that part too!
The Jane Eyre Affair has been on my TBR for ages!
It was on mine for ages as well! It blew away an expectations I had.
So many memorable characters!
I am a sucker for a bookish character!
Same! 🙌💖
Nora and Charlie!!! Love them 💕
They had great banter!
I love this list!! Loved P&P and Book Lovers so those are obvious choices for me, but Liesel didn’t cross my mind even though it’s one of my absolute favorites!
Liesel is the best! She was on my mind because I rewatched the movie not long ago.
That movie was sooo good! Still sad about the lemon-haired boy 👦 🍋
Amazing list! Nora and Charlie are on mine as well!
There have been so many bookish romances lately. I want to read them all!
I adored Nora and Charlie!
They make sense together. I loved their mutual passion for books!
Jo March from Little Women! She’s perfect for this list!
Elizabeth Bennett and Liesel made my list too. I think it’s awesome that you included Paul and Annie. It makes me smile and laugh as far as you relating to them because I do too.
I’m going to be reading The Storied Life if A.J. Fikry this month!!
Amazing! I cannot wait to see what you think!
Thursday is one of my favorites!
Great list! I had Nina Hill on mine today as well and I’m surprised to find that it’s the book I’ve seen most on this week’s TTT (totally expected something different lol)! AJ Fikry is another popular one that I’ve seen and it’s on my TBR and I can’t wait to read it 😍
Aj Fikry is so so good!! I would love to hear all your thoughts on it. I have high hopes for the movie adaptation!
Haha, I love that you include Annie from Misery on this list! All the rest of the books and bookish characters have such positive relationships with books and reading… and then there’s Annie, fandom taken to the extreme! Great choices — I enjoyed reading this!
Haha I needed to add some darkness to the list 😂
I absolutely love Little Women! It’s quite the classic, still being praised to this day :-). Love Radio and The Bookish Life of Nina Hill sound interesting. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is on my TBR! After reading reviews on the parallels between that book and Jojo Moyes The Giver of Stars, which I have read, I am keen to read it at some stage! And seriously need to read the Book Thief already… ‘so many books, so little time’ (Frank Zappa).
I haven’t read The Giver of Stars but I have heard there are definitely similarities!
JKASDHGDSVD I AM LITERALLY OBSESSED WITH YOUR POSTS AND YOUR ENTIRE BLOG IS SO GORGEOUS AHHHH 😭😭❤❤ and omg i LOVE characters in books who love reading SO THIS LIST IS LITERALLY A LIFE-SAVER!! i can’t count the number of hours i’ve spent online searching for books/movies/tv shows featuring characters who love to read 😭 ALL OF THESE BOOKS ARE GOING ON MY TBR OBVIOUSLY AND THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH FOR THIS INCREDIBLE LIST!! and jo – i agree so much!! my most favorite book character of EVER (and trust me when i say there was TOUGH COMPETITION) and i’ve heard of So Many Beginnings before, but haven’t read it yet?? EXCUSE ME WHILE I RUN TOWARDS IT THOUGH, I AM DESPERATE FOR IT!! OH AND DID I MENTION I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS POST???? I LOVE IT SO MUCH 😭❤❤
Ah you’re so nice!! Thank you!
I’m always looking for bookish characters so I will definitely make another list soon!!! So happy you enjoyed it!
Really good reads here! I know it’s a trope, but I love stories where the main character is an author. Specifically a “failed” or struggling one. The successful ones just annoy me. But I’ve always found the struggling ones more inspiring. I guess because it’s an achievable goal.
That’s a good point. I love any kind of starving artist type character!