T5W: Characters You’d Want as Family

This is a weekly meme within the book community that was created by GingerReadsLainey, but is now hosted by Sam of Thoughts on Tomes.  If you’re interested in participating, find out more on the Goodreads group!

This week’s topic is Characters You’d Want as Family!  Another self-explanatory one.  I love each of these characters, as they are so unconventional and completely unlike me, which largely explains why I adore them and would love to have them in my life.

Here are my picks in no particular order:

1.  Tyrion Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) by George R.R. Martin

I would love him as my brother.  He’s GRRM’s favorite character and if you’ve read the books or watched the show, you can understand why.  He’s witty, has some degree of morals, has been an underdog since birth, a voracious reader, and a genius at political maneuvering.  He may be small in stature, but he casts a large shadow.  He is the perfect example of a gray character in the very black and white world of Westeros/Essos, which makes him so highly relatable to readers.  He may be self-indulgent, but that along with his sense of humor and cunning are survival mechanisms that help make reading about this brutal and unforgiving world much more bearable.  He may not be purely good, but he’s ambiguous enough that you can’t help rooting for him to survive and perhaps seat the Iron Throne or at the very least ride a dragon!

2.  Bronwyn from Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

I was not the biggest fan of the book, but this character was so refreshing to see.  She helps Amy in a way that you don’t see often in young adult books, especially among females.  She acted far older than her years and her gift to Amy is something she will feel for many many years to come.  She’s a southern girl with a heart of gold and exactly what I would love in an older sister.

3.  Cormoran Strike from The Cuckoo’s Calling, The Silkworm, Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

I would like him as my uncle.  He’s not around a whole lot, but when he is you can’t get enough of him, plus he would always have a great story to tell.  He has his faults, but he could teach me a lot about life and love.  I also just liked the idea that since he would be family, I wouldn’t have to spend so much time breaking through that tough exterior for him to open up.

4.  Marmee from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

She is the embodiment of the “perfect” mother.  She is an exceptional housekeeper, who also works hard outside of the home to help with the war effort or for charity, but is also always there for her daughters, lending them consolation and counsel.  She never loses her temper or becomes overly dramatic or emotional.  She values education and experience, ensuring that her daughters learn to make their own decisions rather than quickly marrying them off to a man who will decide for them.

5.  Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

I would love her as my aunt!  She’s quirky, loving, and has such a welcoming presence that even the most mundane and trivial thing would seem extraordinary.  I love that she perfectly walks this fine line between being fun with the children, but also being responsible enough that they still respect her.  I also love that the parents don’t give her a hard time about her “cures” or give her a hard time in general.  No one takes advantage of how awesome and magical she is.


So those are my picks for this week.  It was a lot of fun envisioning this imaginary characters as part of my imaginary family!