From this week’s Booking through Thursday:
Sometimes I find eccentric characters quirky and fun, other times I find them too unbelievable and annoying. What are some of the more outrageous characters you’ve read, and how do you feel about them?
For a brief moment I thought I’d skip this week’s BTT due to my notoriously bad memory for details; I was sure I wouldn’t be able to think of an answer. Then I realized it’s such a good question, and I had such a good answer for it, that even I could come up with something.
The two main characters in Bill James’s detective novels, Harpur and Iles, are… unbelievably quirky. And yet, I mean that in the best possible way. I’ve encountered them in two books so far: Wolves of Memory and Girls. They’re completely wacky, and yet so well-written that you just can’t rip your eyes away.
From one of my reviews:
Colin Harpur and Des Iles are two of the strangest detectives you’re likely to come across in your literary wanderings. They have a bizarre
interdependentcodependent relationship, and each of them has his insane quirks. Iles is a schizophrenic dandy who often scares people more than the criminals do. Harpur is a solid, methodical man who thinks very highly of Iles, despite having slept with his wife Sarah, a fact of which Iles is prone to reminding him—loudly—at the most inappropriate moments.
And the other characters in these books aren’t all that much more ‘normal’ than those two! They’re deliciously fun to read about, particularly since James has a knack for hysterical dialogue and interior monologues that can keep your attention for hours.
And speaking of reviews, today’s is of the EatingWell Healthy in a Hurry Cookbook. Yum!
So far the diabetic desserts cookbook is faring well in our testing, but the Shaker cookbook isn’t. The high-scoring cookbook streak had to end sometime, I guess!
I haven’t read Bill James’s novels, but they sound like a good read! Thank you for your kind welcome. 🙂 And I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!
I didn’t think I’d have an answer either until I took a look at my books. My memory isn’t that great either!
I haven’t heard of these books either, but now I added them to my wishlist. They sound hilarious!
I haven’t read the books you’ve listed. My BTT lists four of my favorite quirky characters. Happy BTT.
I haven’t come across the characters you’ve mentioned, but they do sound interesting. I too had trouble remembering quirky characters when I posted my answer.
Happy BTT! 🙂
I haven’t read these books, but you make them sound fun. You’ve reminded me that there are some pretty quirky detectives in a series called Yellowthread Street by William Marshall. I don’t think many people have read them, but they’re fun too.
I nearly didn’t answer this one either, but then remembered that “eccentric” is one of my favorite words (I probably use it too much!) and so I did a search for the word throughout my reading journal and uncovered more than I anticipated–just from last year!
I haven’t read anything by Bill James, but from the excerpt you posted from one of your reviews, it looks like I will sometimes in the future!