Kimber here. Nestled all snug in my bed,
While visions of bacon strips dance in my head;
And Mom in her …
Wait. What?
“Wake up, Kimster” chirps She Who Shall Remain Nameless.
Can’t she see I’ve just settled down for a long winter’s nap?
“C’mon! We need to come up with a snappy Top Ten Tuesday post. Today’s theme is Best Books I Read in 2021.”
That’s like asking me which puppy I like best. So Mom and I? We’re doing Top 20 Literary Heroes and Heroines instead. (Well, it was mostly me. Mom helped. A little.)
To make the list, characters must be a cut above. As in, they’re memorable. Radiate personality like a neon sign. Have a splash of sass and spunk. They’re also fresh. As in, not recycled cardboard cut-outs.
So here, in no particular order, are our Top 20 Literary Heroes & Heroines from 2021. (They may or may not be main characters. See above.) How many do you recognize?
Top 20 Heroes & Heroines From 2021:
1. Large Marge from The Great Alone (Kristin Hannah)
2. Gemma Alcott from Sanctuary (Raena Rood)
3. Aslan the Sheltie from Aslan: Running Joy (Kristin Kaldahl)
4. Hayden Falling Into Magic/ the Destiny Falls series (Elizabeth Pantley)
5. Hette from Heartless Hette (M.L. Farb)
6. “Co-hanna” from News of the World (Paulette Jiles)
7 & 8. Isabelle and Viane Rossignol from The Nightingale (Kristin Hannah)
9. Belle Endicott from The Red Button (Keith Elred)
10 & 11. Diane and Robin Marsh from The Captain’s Daughters (Doreen D. Berger)
12. Mari Sandoval from Spies Never Quit (M. Taylor Christensen)
13 & 14. Roxy Silva’s loveable golden retriever, Buddy, and Detective Kyle Ransom‘s black lab, Clyde from Hunt for a Hometown Killer (Mary Anne Dodge)
15. Quanah Parker from Empire of the Summer Moon (S.C. Gwynne)
16. Maud Baum from Finding Dorothy (Elizabeth Letts)
17. The dog from Muzzled: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (David Rosenblatt)
18. Mira from The Red Thread (Rebekah Pace)
19. Samuel Sooleyman from Sooley (John Grisham, review forthcoming)
20. Susan Pohlman from A Time to Seek (Memoir, Susan Pohlman)
Hey, Mom. Can I go back to bed now?
Now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl
December 28, 2021 at 8:29 am
Love this twist on the post! I have read the Kristin Hannah books and loved them!!
My Top Ten
December 28, 2021 at 9:41 am
She’s a great writer. Thanks for commenting Leslie!
December 28, 2021 at 10:29 am
Large Marge WAS awesome!
December 28, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Wasn’t she great? 🙂
December 28, 2021 at 2:03 pm
Yes!
December 28, 2021 at 11:40 am
I haven’t read any of the books that you named characters from, but I love your adjustment to the prompt!
December 28, 2021 at 12:14 pm
It just kinda came to me. 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
December 28, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Great list. I like the direction you took this week’s topic. It also reminds me that I still need to read Finding Dorothy.
Wishing you a new year filled with good health, happiness, and wonderful books. Thanks for visiting my blog.
December 28, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Thanks Cheryl. FInding Dorothy was fascinating. Happy New Year!
December 28, 2021 at 3:31 pm
Fun twist on the topic! I’ve read two of these books (News of the World and The Great Alone), and I agree that the characters you’ve chosen are fabulous!
December 28, 2021 at 4:10 pm
They were strong and sturdy, for sure. Thanks for commenting!
December 28, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Large Marge is such a great character!
December 28, 2021 at 7:34 pm
The Best! 😊
December 28, 2021 at 7:12 pm
I don’t think I’ve read any of these, but The Nightingale is on my TBR!
December 28, 2021 at 7:33 pm
Thats a great choice, especially if you like historical fiction!
December 29, 2021 at 8:48 am
I haven’t read anything from your list but Finding Dorothy looks like something I’d be interested in checking out.
December 29, 2021 at 12:58 pm
It was a fascinating read. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for commenting Louise. Happy New Year!