Here we are, already approaching mid-February. Can you believe it? February 14 is right around the corner, and the perfect time for me to put finishing touches on Book #1 (two books to follow) of a contemporary romance/women’s lit series I’m working on. Between this project and the approach of Valentine’s Day, I’ve been thinking a lot about literary heroes.
Like many avid readers, my bookish love affairs started with fairy tales. Prince Charming from Cinderella, and the “Beast” from Beauty and the Beast, are among those who prompted girlish dreams. Yet others soon supplanted them. Characters who linger in my mind long after I’ve finished the book.
What makes certain heroes so memorable? In an effort to answer that question, I tapped into my reading history and made a list of the fictional fellows who still leave me a little weak-kneed.
Here are my top 5 favorite book boyfriends:
#5 Laurie from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Witty, playful, and generous, all he needed was a little guidance in the romance department. When he chose Amy after Jo declined his offer, he still made his bride the treasured love of his life.
#4 Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. What’s not to like about a man who raises a sword for justice? His love for Lady Rowena remained true, even though he had to journey forth as champion for Rebecca, the woman who saved his life. Bonus! This book even mentions another candidate for book boyfriend – Robin Hood.
#3 Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. This novel is about as Gothic as they come, and Heathcliff isn’t the most stable fellow around. However, his single-minded passion for Catherine makes him totally unforgettable.
#2 Mark Langley from The Moon-Spinners by Mary Stewart. Every single one of Mary Stewart’s heroes have spectacular appeal, but if Mark doesn’t make you swoon, there’s something wrong with your swoonability.
#1 Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. There’s a reason Rhett is number one on my list. He’s smart, handsome, doesn’t take guff from anyone, and determined as can be. Yet he has the most lovely core of decency. Quite a challenge, even for a stubborn woman like Scarlett O’Hara. Sigh. What a man.
My list is pretty eclectic, I think. Now I need to figure out what on earth this says about my taste in heroes. 🙂
How about you? Who is your favorite book crush?
(Note to my fellow Rhett-lovers. Check your local theaters. To celebrate its 80th anniversary, Gone With the Wind will be shown on a limited basis at select theaters on February 28 and March 3. Don’t miss it!)
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Pat Wahler is the author of Amazon category #1 best-seller I am Mrs. Jesse James, Let Your Heart Be Light: A Celebration of Christmas, and co-author of Midnight The One-Eyed Cat. Click on side bar links to learn more or to order.
19 Responses
Ahhh…book boyfriends, there are so many but I definitely have to agree with you on Rhett and Heathcliff!
We definitely think alike, Sally! 🙂
I’m almost finished with I AM MRS JESSE JAMES. 🙂 I like to read at night and can just manage a couple of chapters before I have to turn out the light. 🙂 I’ve really enjoyed the different perspective of Jesse James you present in the story! Congrats on nearing the completion of Book #1 in your new series!
Thanks, Karen! Moving ever-so-slowly in (hopefully) the right direction. 🙂
My book boyfriend was created by Lisa Ricard Claro in her book, Love Built to Last. Caleb Walker still makes my heart pitty-pat.
Congratulations on your latest book. You are certainly stretching your writing muscle. So proud of you.
Good one, Linda! I agree that Caleb is downright hunky. 🙂
And thanks for your kind words. Fingers crossed all goes as planned.
Thanks, Linda! You just made my day! 🙂
Rhett is definitely on my list as well, though like Margaret Mitchell, I don’t really think Clark Gable did him Justice. Heathcliffe also made the cut at one point in my life, when I was in the melancholy teenager phase. Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables will always have a special place in my heart, too. And of course I can’t forget Emma’s Mr. Knightley.
Yes, yes, and yes, and Sarah! So many lovely heroes to choose. 🙂
Hmmmm, this is interesting. I’ve never really thought about it before, but I guess if I had to choose a book boyfriend, I would choose one of those hunky attorneys from a James Grisham novel. 🙂
One can’t go wrong with a hunky attorney, Margo! 🙂
I definitely have to go with Gilbert Blythe. Anne and Gilbert were the first literary couple that I really rooted for. I just loved Gilbert and I was so mad at Anne for rejecting him for so long.
It’s been so long since I read this one, I forgot about Gilbert. I should go back and read it again, as so many mentioned him as their crush. Thanks for the reminder, Angela!
Pat–No recent ones because I am drawn to dark, depressing books (and usually the guys in those are not crush-worthy). However, as a teenager I loved Heathcliff and Romeo.
Sioux, both those heroes are the brooding moody types, so right up your alley (and mine, too!). 🙂
Interesting topic, Pat. I hadn’t thought about this before, and will go with a traditional response, Romeo. Maybe it’s the young love, that first time someone feels this way, and it’s so strong and memorable, put together with beautiful language makes him swoon-worthy.
Good choice, Mary! Who can be better than…Romeo? The perfect brooding hero to make a girl swoon. 🙂
How did I miss this post? I popped in to see if maybe I was somehow off your blog notification list because I hadn’t seen anything in my inbox, and I found this. 🙂 My book boyfriend is Levi Cooper from the Kristan Higgins novel The Best Man. I fell in love with Levi several years ago and he’s yet to be replaced. There’s just something about him . . .
Oh, I totally agree, Lisa. Loved that story!