• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in this week's type
• Share a picture (if possible) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• Put your link in the Linky thing and comment
June 15th - Unlucky
June 22nd - Villain among Villains
June 29th - Cocky
This week's sidekick challenge is "My Way or the Highway!!"
I immediately thought of Oliver from the Morganville series, but it's more like my way or my fangs when it comes to that old vampire. Then I thought of Gale from The Hunger Games trilogy. I always felt he had one stance and would never consider any other way of thinking/living/fighting. But I settled on a character that might have actually said those words...(The Host minor spoiler alert!) Jeb Stryder from The Host. Jeb is a craggy old man. Whatever he did in his life before Mel/Wanderer met him established the old man as the boss. If you disagree you can leave. If you disagree badly, you can leave existence. William Hurt plays Jeb in the movie version, but to me, the actor is too pretty, even as a bearded old man.Now for my own sidekicks. My mom's first thought was Kinsey Milhone from Sue Grafton's alphabet mystery series...A is for Alibi....Granted Kinsey is a main character, but my mom is so right about her. She loves her independence. She's accepting in a nonjudgmental way, but she's discerning in a total "my way or the highway" kind of way. Then my mom thought of Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, again another main character, but mysteries and thrillers don't often have as many sidekicks as paranormal reads have. If anyone is trigger happy about walking away or pushing you away it's Lisbeth, our favorite damaged Goth, hacker, tattoo chick.
Shannon jumped right in with Jerome from Richelle Mead's Succubus Blues. Imagine a demon who looks exactly like the 80's version of John Cusack. He's the head boss of all the supernaturals in the Seattle area (he might cover more area, I just can't remember). Jerome reports directly to hell. Guess how willing he is to negotiate.
The conversation with my sidekicks (namely my sister) was light on arguments, but I did cut them off when they started naming characters from my upcoming books. We'll see if that was an effective deterrent.
Oooh spoiler LOL you have some my way characters coming for us I see. I like your picks a lot. Oliver, I can understand why your mind went to him first. Gale is also a choice I didn't even think of, but once you mentioned it, he is perfect for this. I haven't read The Host so I don't know that one, but from the sound of it, he sure fits the bill. Love the part about Jerome looking like an 80's John Cusack LOL. I haven't read any of your mom's picks, but I do love learning so much more about all of these series. I hope you had a great day and are feeling well :D Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.
ReplyDeleteOh, I thought you read The Host! I haven't read the dragon tattoo books, but I read all the movies (the original three). I think you would like the Succubus books, but the MC is a bit of a disaster. I very much wanted Richelle Mead to do a spin off series with a couple of my favorite side characters. I am feeling better, but I have a terrible attitude problem! Doesn't seem like it should work like that. I hope you're feeling better without my awful side effect!
DeleteI agree with Oliver and Gale, I actually didn't care much for Gale at all, I thought he was also a bit pretentious, and people actually died because of his my-way-or-the high-way attitude! Oliver is a grumpy vampire, and it's true that his fangs come out quickly when he doesn't get his way *grins*
ReplyDeleteI haven't read The Host yet - it's been on my TBR forever - collecting dust...
I love Lisbeth as your mom's pick, even if she is a main character. It's refreshing to see someone else who liked this series (or at least Lisbeth)...
And yay, Jerome :) He is awesome, and I love how he always meddles in Georgina's life at the worst possible time!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I'm so glad to hear someone not liking Gale. I loved getting Oliver's POV in Bitter Blood because he makes for such a complicated bad guy.
DeleteOh, and my mom is a huge fan of Lisbeth. What's not to love? I'm not sure I could handle the more graphic scenes she described to me, which is the only thing holding me back from reading the books.
You're right about the meddling. He's such a turd!
Did you mention Jeb? There's a character in The Immortal Rules named Jeb. He's the my way or the highway type. In fact he doesn't give a damn about anybody at all. Disagree with him and he'd cut you off.
ReplyDeleteI liked Gale in The Hunger Games, although I've forgotten some of his traits. Maybe I don't remember because I loved and prefered the First book more than others in the series. And the first book doesn't reveal much about him.
I think with a name like Jeb, there is no other personality type possible. We're in the same boat with The Hunger Games trilogy. I couldn't get enough of the first one. I even love the movie, but the other two...hmm. Oh, I just watched Silver Linings Playlist. I remember you saying you really enjoyed it and that you really like Jennifer Lawrence. Did you happen to watch Winter's Bone (also a book)? I loved that movie! Much grittier than Silver Linings, but still really moving.
DeleteHaha! I guess I have to be wary of people named Jeb. LOL :)
DeleteI hope you enjoyed Silver Linings Playbook. And no, I haven't seen Winter's Bone, though I'd like to watch it. :)
I forgot to say that I loved it! I'm still processing, but their dance was hilarious! I liked that the story was about messed up people because of life and because of their own physical makeup, not substance abuse. There was a point in the movie where I didn't like anyone and I still kept going, that's very unlike me, so the movie had its grips in me tight enough to push my limits.
DeleteWinter's Bone might as well be a foreign movie (for me) because it takes you to a place I've never been or seen, the family life of the meth world, but through pure yet hardened eyes. I'm not sure I could read the book though. I might never be free of the story.
Totally agree with Oliver from the Morganville Vampires series and definitely Gale! Interesting that you chose Jeb, he's not my first thought, but now I think about it, he's a great choice! Haven't read Richelle Mead's Succubus series. I've only read her Dark Swan ones, not keen on the entire Succubus sub-genre, but I love her writing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any other Succubus series (I'm totally with you there). Mead follows the standard battle between heaven and hell with demons and angels and everything in between. It was weird because it's a very adult series, but with tons of religion all over the place. I chose Jeb because I still see him in my head carrying his big gun and threatening much younger and stronger guys. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Happy reading, Tilly!
DeleteFinally have internet back. Stupid cable cord. I am like Lexie, the Host is on my list too. But my sista (Robyn) would certainly take over that list and organize to what she thinks I should be reading :). I would have to also put Longmire on that list (even though he is the lead in the series). You can ask Robyn how many times I chose a lead instead of a sidekick. Hehehehe.
ReplyDeleteYou've been real good about that. Lately, you've been choosing characters from books I wrote but haven't released yet. How many times are you going to suggest Michael? I know your answer. I hear the bratty words floating through my head. hehehe
Delete