Character Traits I Love

Hello! Welcome to another Tuesday. You know what that means: it’s Top Ten Tuesday! Every week we make a list, and it’s hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! Today we’re going to talk about character traits that I love.

Intelligence. I have a hard time dealing with characters that are dumb as a box of rocks. Hey, let’s go take time during my work day to snoop around the office of the guy that has already assaulted me! Um, no. If you do poke around the guy’s office, be smart about it, K? If there’s a chance he might come back, then be really quick about it. That isn’t a problem with The Kiss Quotient. The main character in the book is smart, and I’ve said before, this book “had me at math.”

Nice Boys and Their First Loves. I just love reading about boys and their first loves. Four is one of those kinds of characters. Before leaving for Dauntless, Tobias was abused and had such poor self-esteem, but after transferring to Dauntless the girls weren’t really his type. Enter Tris. I just love Divergent, and I think it’s going to need a reread in 2020.

Cinnamon Roll Boys. I just love all those boys who have been through so much and yet — still manage to have a heart in the end. They’re not necessarily in the previous category, but I love all of them. I just want to give them hugs and tell them that things will get better. They will, right? Maybe not if you’re Four. I don’t care what the short story “We Can Be Mended” says… but I digress. I just love Day (and his brother Eden) and want to hug them.

Nice Boys Who Push People Away. I seem to have a type: nice boys. The Infernal Devices was such a lovely series. I just absolutely adored Will, and ugly cried so hard when I read the end of Clockwork Princess.

Sympathetic Characters. Adelina Amouteru might have been evil, but I love her anyway. Why? Because she was sympathetic. She had such a sad story and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, even though she hurt a lot of people. I rooted for her to change and become a good person (because I believe anybody can be redeemed).

People Who are Into Computers. If a story involves characters that are into computers, I’ll probably be into that story. Since I majored in computer science in college, I always feel some sort of camaraderie with them.

Funny Characters. Dimple has a couple things going for her: not only does she like computers, but her story with Rishi is so funny. Plus she’s smart. What’s more to love? No wonder I adored this story.

Writers. If a girl writes, then I already have something in common with them. This is probably one of the reasons why I loved Fangirl so much.

People Who are Into Music. Again, since I was completely into music when I was in high school and college, I find myself having things in common with book characters that are too. Especially if it’s a big part of the story.

Strong Girls. Girls in the books I love don’t have to lead an army into battle (that’s kind of unrealistic?). But I like girls that overcome things and know what they want. Cyra from Carve the Mark might have been a good fighter, but one of her biggest strengths is that she was constantly in pain yet kept on living anyway. She kept on being a hero and fighting for her country even though things were against her.

So there are ten character traits that I love. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to come up with ten; it was a challenge for me. What are character traits that you love? I can’t wait to see your answers.

Next week we’re going to talk about Extraordinary Book Titles. I’m not sure what I’m going to do for that. We’ll see. If I can’t find ten book titles I love, maybe I’ll go in a similar but different direction. See you then!