Author/Character Crushes

This was prompted by a similar thread I saw on a forum community I lurk on.

My author crush is Lord Byron. Now that is a man I would love, love, love to have a fling with. He'd likely drive me insane for a prolonged period of time, but I think he'd be fun for a month or so at most.

My character crush? I cringe to say it, but Jane Eyre's Mr. Rochester. I fought it so hard, feeling like a fourteen-year-old girl swooning over her first tall, dark, and handsome literary figure, but I couldn't help it! I didn't read it until I was in college! I was supposed to be immune!

Closely following him is Athos from The Three Musketeers. Hopefully having a thing for a drunken woman-hater balances out the Rochester-love.

Martha Nussbaum for an author.

I understand you so well, kabrahamson! I am having the same problem with Jane Eyre's Mr. Rochester. Me too, with my 30 years, shouldn't rave about this ambiguous guy. However, I'd like to mention that I successfully resisted Mr. Darcy, yepp.

Let me think about another one? Damn, Mr. Rochester is blurring my vision. Right now I am reading Jane Eyre for the first time, it's a quite strong schoolgirl crush.

I have a major crush on Russell Banks, the author.

I am a huge David Sedaris fan. Hi is both genius and hilarious -- also extremely courageous to put down on paper all the twisted stuff that goes on in his head. Lucky for us! I just had the pleasure of meeting him this past Wednesday after one of his readings. I found him extremely sincere and just as funny in person as he is on the page/audio.

If I weren't married and he weren't gay, it could totally happen between us!

*lol*! Pemberley and KAbrahamson, I hear you. I am currently reading Jane Eyre for the first time (btw, I am 10 years older than you, Pemberley), and he definitely is way up my favourite characters list.

Just sometimes, I want to kick him for being manipulative, and talking down to Jane. For the recent TV adaptation, they've toned him down quite a bit!

Author crush... at the moment: Chris Ryan, for making me sit down in the book shop with one of his books and devour the first 60 pages right there and then, because the characterisation was so captivating. He could not keep the high standard until the end, but still!

So many love stories start in a bookstore ...

Voilá, there comes another sweetheart of mine: Henry Tilney. As you see, not completely immune against Jane Austen's creations. Where can I buy "I adore Henry Tilney"-shirts?

Author crush: Neil Gaiman, because *hello*.

Character crush: Sam Vimes, from Discworld.

Character crushes: Aragorn (LOTR), Edward (Twilight), Henry (Time Traveler's Wife)

ZanKnits, thanks for having me check Neil Gaiman out. I mean, who needs
rock 'n' roll with writers like that?

Writer: Nelson Demille -- intelligent and witty, with a macho-sensitive complexity.

Character: French ambassador Simon Thibault, a minor character in Bel Canto -- his love and unrelenting longing for his wife during captivity has stayed with me as much as anything in the novel.

I developed quite a thing for Captain Blood. He can come to my rescue any day!

You can guess my author crush from my LT name, and for character crush it's obviously Jane Eyre.

Author crush: Dave Eggers. Swoon!

Pemberley: "who needs
rock 'n' roll with writers like that?"

May I quote you? :-D
(planning to do a section with literary/literature quotes on books and authors for my profile)

Yes, of course! I'm all giddy now. I think I have never been quoted before.

I used to have a crush on Calvin's mom in the Calvin and Hobbs comic strip. Does that count?

Authors : Primo Levi, Thomas Hardy and Albert Camus (who is yet not a real favourite of mine as a writer). But the artist I am fondest of as a person is probably Bela Bartok.

Characters : Pierre Bezukhov, the Micawbers (as a whole) and Dina Gronelv (Dina's Book).

Jasper Fforde. Oh, Jasper! Come to think of it, I should actually write an ode on him. Yeah, he deserves it, I'll do it right away ...

Oh my god! I thought I was the only weirdo who had crushes on fictional characters! My newest one is Locke Lamora from "The Lies of Locke Lamora", but I've always daydreamed of wandering dark New York streets with Holden Caulfield from "Catcher in the Rye".

As for authors, I will always love Hunter S. Thompson (and it's a happy coincidence that my real-life love looks like a 30-something Hunter!)

rocketjk: I totally had a crush on Jughead as a kid! Hahaha!

I just finished Cyrano De Bergerac and fell for Cyrano.
The depth of his love and his ability to express got to me. My first character crush. (this year)

Kurt Vonnegut, I love you. Or, as Woody Allen said in Annie Hall (I'm paraphrasing/misquoting, but the gist is accurate): "That doesn't even express it. I LURVE you. I LUFF you." Such a kind, decent human being. All that and funny, too! It would have been an honor to meet him--a chance I (alas) never had.

Then there's Sinclair Lewis. Definitely someone I would like to hang around with. We could sit in a restaurant and mock people. We could sit on a park bench and mock people. We could sit in a bar and mock people. We would have fun mocking people, because everything is there to be mocked and so much is genuinely mockworthy.

Not sure about an author, but my current character crush is on Clare Fergusson, the butt-kicking Episcopal priest of Julia Spencer-Fleming's mystery series.

Currently reading Kim Harrison's "The Hollows" series, but my crush is definitely on Ivy, not really Rachel.

My author crush is Mark Salzman. He writes with such intensity and humor .... and it doesn't hurt that he's a cutie too. ;-) Odd, touchstone not working here.

My character crush would have to be Steve Carella, a detective in the 87th precinct in Ed McBain's New York. He's a totally cool, calm and collected detective who signs fluently to communicate with his deaf wife.

Oh I just realized, how could I forget Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon??

Okay, this was a great thread to read. Good idea, kabrahamson.

Severus Snape. I know this is desperately unoriginal, but I just can't help it! I suppose that's what makes it a crush, maybe?

OMG - it has to be Jamie from the Outlander series...sooooo romantic and unjaded. Prince on the white horse we all dreamed about (ok, what I dreamed about, with burrs in the hair and all...)

@13 I was going to say Dave Eggers as well. I went to one of his book lectures and he was quite nice. The man has perfect hair. I also have a rather mad crush on Reza Aslan who wrote No God but God. I actually watched C-Span just to see him.

As for characters, I have to say I completely would have chosen both the classic Mr. Rochester (who will always be #1) and Jamie form Outlander who I swooned over for many years. But you really can't go wrong with Yossarian from Catch 22. I mean, he's a little crazy but what girl doesn't like a challenge.

I've always liked smart, smart-alecky men - how about David Sedaris? Somehow I don't think I'm his type, though.

Definitely Jamie Fraser - hands down, but Mr. Darcy is my 2nd choice.

I'd say Dennis Lehane is pretty hot.... ;o) I saw a short video clip of him discussing his new book recently, and he's got a nice way about him, yes he does! MMM Hmmm!

Well, I have to go with the Captain in Sense and Sensibility but I also love Severus Snape. Oddly, both were played by Alan Rickman in the movie versions (I loved the characters BEFORE the movies). I'm not sure if that's a good thing?

James Bond, especially as portrayed by Sean Connery, but probably also as played by Daniel Craig. Simon Templar, as played by Roger Moore.

The Scarlet Pimpernel, speaking of men who are blindly devoted to their wives.

Probably Captain Wentworth from Persuasion as my favorite Austen hero.

And the main character from The Gadfly by E. L. Voynich, poor tortured soul that he is. But brilliant, brave, and full of passion.

Okay, new character crush - Spade, from The Maltese Falcon. Sorta. Can I take the bad-ass and leave out the condescension?

David Foster Wallace, who sadly is gone now. His touchstone isn't working, but his author page is here: http://www.librarything.com/author/wallacedavidfoster&norefer=1

And oddly, both Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin from the Patrick O'Brian books. And maybe Tom Pullings from that series too, but the actor who played him in the movie is a hottie, so that might be coloring my perceptions.

I thought for sure I had contributed to this thread, but looking back I don't see anything.

My top fave fictitious character crush at the moment is Fai from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles which is a manga series. By default this crush also led me to kind of crush on Luthe from McKinley's The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown.

I've had a long time crush (since I was a teen) on Colin from Song of Sorcery/The Unicorn Creed and a much more recent one on Seregil from Flewelling's Nightrunner books.

For author crushes I have just one on an author I met a few years ago, Stanley Wiater. He writes books about horror writers and the horror genre. But, don't tell him I said that...it would be embarassing!

I have a huge crush on Archie Goodwin from the Nero Wolfe mysteries, especially the Goodwin as portrayed by Timothy Hutton in the TV series. *fans self*

Timothy Hutton as Archie Goodwin, his father Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen, and Parker Stevenson as one of the Hardy Boys are my of my favorite "real life" book charecters.

I am CONSTANTLY falling in love with book characters! Classic-wise, we've got Rochester, Aragorn and the devastatingly sexy Dorian Gray. I liked the intelligent, aloof Henry Winter in The Secret History, and of course fell head over heels for Edward and Jasper in Twilight only a few weeks ago. I had a major crush on Byron, obviously. I've probably missed loads already... :-)

41: Dorian Gray? Really? My friends often drop his name at random if they're bored and want to hear five minutes' worth of vitriol pouring out of my mouth.

New character crush: John Thornton from Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. He made me cry (because he allowed himself to cry)! Kiravk has written down all the reasons to like him in her review.

Author crush: Saul Bellow, hands down. He has fascinated me for years. From the past: J.D. Salinger. For my first two years in college, I actually thought I was Holden Caulfield! But I had a real crush on his character Seymour from Raise High the Roof Beam and Seymour: An introduction.
Great thread!

ohmygod, i'm completely in love with byron right now! (as you can guess from my name!)
i also, of course, love mr. darcy, along with mr. rochester and septimus hodge from tom stoppard's play 'arcadia'....does that count as a book?

Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, Murphy in The Dresden Files, and Katsa in Graceling. None of them will suffer nonsense. ;-)

I shall now blush crimson with utter embarrassment as I reveal my "character crush"...

both Eragon and Murtagh... they can share me. I'll be starting Brisingr in a couple days, and I fear I may not have a peaceful night's sleep again for a while ;-)

Characters? Cyrano de Bergerac, like #20. What's not to love about that guy? And several of the good guys from the Redwall series. And Spencer Tracy as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...what a performance! Every detail of movement changes from character to character... (Trails off dreamily).

Gertrude Bell for a non-fiction character crush.

Robert

My author crush is Mark Helprin, but I'd have to add Robert Service and Jack London in there, too.

My character crush is Francis Crawford from Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond series, followed by E. C. Gordon, "Oscar," from Glory Road by Heinlein.

Well, first off, my longest-standing character crushes are on Aragorn from Lord of the Rings and Gwydion from The Chronicles of Prydain. Which tells you something about middle school me, I guess. (I also liked Eomer and Faramir and, who am I kidding, if The Lord of the Rings were a person I would go around carving our initials into trees.)

Then there's the multitude of 19th century literary figures: Mr Darcy (Pride and Prejudice), Mr Thornton AND Margaret Hale (North and South), Mr Rochester (Jane Eyre, and, I know, the cliches keep rolling on), Jo March (Little Women), Enjolras (Les Miserables).

God, I have way too many. Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables. Henry from The Real Thing. Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. Sebastian Flyte from Brideshead Revisited.

Do I have any surprising ones? Oh! Newman Noggs from Nicholas Nickelby! I blame the RSC production on that one.

I love Captain Wentworth from Persuasion.

I have a huge crush on Bertie Wooster lately.

I am embarrassed to admit that I have a 'thing' for John Rebus. There must be something about the dark and difficult that appeals to me. This is a guy that would say he had a good night if he woke up in his chair, where he passed out the night before, and had managed not to spill his drink that was in his hand at the time! I am hanging onto Exit Music, the last book in the series, not wanting to see the end.

My author crush of the moment is Jose Saramago. Someday we will get married and have beautiful postmodern babies, who will never figure out how to use a quotation mark.

He has a blog, but it is in Portugese and I can't read it.

#55 - So sad about the unreadable blog. Maybe he's saying really similarly nice things about you and family planning and you don't know.

Author/character crush combo: Henry Miller. And not for obvious banned-book reasons.

Non-fiction character: Arnold Schoenberg, from The Rest is Noise: Listening to the 20th Century by Alex Ross.

Fiction character: Maximillian DeWinter, from Daphne DeMaurier's Rebecca, especially when done by Laurence Olivier!

Authors: Shakespeare, J.D. Salinger and Jack London is very cute.

My Author Crushes: Bill Bryson & Nick Hornby (and a platonic girl-crush on Sarah Vowell

Character Crushes: Mr. Darcy (of course!), Severus Snape, and the father from The Book Thief (that man deserved a much better wife!)

I currently have a massive crush in Jack Barak in the C J Sansom quartet (though he only appears in the last 3 novels). He's so 'manly' and lovely too. Also really fancy Tom Builder from Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Wish my crushes were as exciting as Byron but my rock'n'roll lit days are way behind me, sadly. (btw - I don't just read historical fiction only - am just having a bit of a pash on it at the moment)

Everyone has such highbrow crushes ... and now I fully intend to bring it down :D

> 37 Someone else loves Fai from Tsubasa Reservoir! I adore Fai ... *happy place*

lol. I had a crazy crush on Will from His Dark Materials when I was younger, but right now I have to say there's something about Biff from Lamb, even if he is kind of an asshole.

Also, all the lead males from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series, especially Acheron, Vane, Kyrian and Zarek. They're called guilty pleasures for a reason.

And I agree with everyone about Neil Gaiman. If he wasn't already my favourite author, the fact that his leather jacket appears to be surgically attached to him would swing it for me :D

>60 narcissus_in_theory: Since you like McKinley and you also like Fai :-) I have to ask if you also see any resemblance between Luthe and Fai. I read The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword after I had already started the Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle series and Luthe REALLY reminded me of Fai. I know any resemblance would be absolutely coincidental but it really struck me.

>59 MrsS: Aww Tom Builder!! I really liked him in Pillars of the Earth bless me i cried so much after the priory fair *mutters random curses* oo bugger have you finished it yet?

Currently sighing after Valek in Maria V. Snyder's Study trilogy - for all that man is a bit of heartless killer he sure is wonderful in my eyes. Also liking Po from Graceling sure he's got a bloody daft name but he seems so sweet !!

#61 Wow .. how much do McKinley and Clamp clash, lol, about as different as can be :P

I actually do get what you mean, now I think about it .. they both have the wizard/sorceror vibe going on, and although Fai's a bit more Stepford smiler in parts I can see the resemblance. God, it's been such a long time since I read H & C and Blue Sword, I tend to re-read her fairy tale books pretty periodically though lol.

my first book crush was Calvin from A Wrinkle in Time

I was geeky like Meg & wore thick glasses and SOOO wanted a boy like Calvin

>64 theretiredlibrarian:: Oh, seconded on the Calvin front! I think I loved him as far back as age six.

............Jasper Hale.............................

Mr JLB Matekoni. What a gentleman - and he reminds me of my husband!

I am really glad I found this thread and thrilled to see all the comments about Snape. I once casually mentioned he was my favorite HP character and got bizarre looks. What if I had admitted all my dark sexual fantasies involving capes and dusty dank corridors!

Serious character crush: Mike from Twelve by Nick McDonnell.
Medium character crush: Naturally, Snape, but also Sherlock Holmes and Dexter.
Minor character crush: Will Trent in the Karin Slaughter thrillers.

I have a hypothetical future love-hate relationship with author Hiruki Murakami. I'm convinced that we were meant to be and would understand each other to the dot, but equally certain that any rendez-vous we'd ever have would end up with stuff-throwing at each other. Also we would probably never touch.

Dude, Snape rules this thread

All right, this reminds me that I have to confess to my adoration of Lucius Malfoy--as portrayed by Jason Isaacs, not his character in the books (evil, after all). But I've kinda got a thing for Jason since his (also evil) character in "The Patriot"--long hair, uniform, Brit accent, what's not to love?

From Armageddon to Harry Potter, the Patriot to Passionada, I've cherished some fantasies about the guy.

And for the icing on the cake, there are some fabulous pictures on his IMDB page of him with Viggo. I'm just saying.

I have to concur on Jason Isaacs. "Tell me about Ohio," was one of his lines that stuck with me from the Patriot. I would love to tell him about Ohio and anything else he wants to know.

I loved Jason Isaac's Captain Hook in the most recent Peter Pan remake.

Peter was definitely the first literary character I ever fell for. I was so obsessed that my preschool teachers thought I had developed some sort of schizophrenia. They should have known better than to push the matter. You're just not allowed to say that Peter Pan doesn't exist. Fairies die and you can never fly away to Never Land ever, ever again. You can't put that on a six-year-old.

Not trying to sound like a Harry Potter freak but I have a crush on Ron Wealsey ;)

Also Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, if only I could find my own Mr. Darcy...

Many thanks ejj1955 for the reference to the pix of Jason Isaacs and Viggo, those guys are perfect fantasy characters, both on film and otherwise.

You are quite welcome!

Thought I would throw in my support for Snape - though he isn't so much a crush. I like Alan Rickman as an actor in general, but Snape was also my favorite book character before I'd seen the movies.

My favorite would have to be Aargorn from Lord of the Rings - of course picturing him as Viggo Mortenson just makes it perfect.