My favourite crushes from the literary world

Books have accompanied me everywhere. It has been my companion during travel, a solace during grief or my courage during extreme situations. The books steal our hearts and so do certain characters. More than once I have got so lost in a narrative that I have, fallen head over heels in love with some characters. Today a certain reading group posed a question about who have been our literary crush? And I was once again rushed down the memory lane and all my crushes from the literary world peeked in.

Leading my list is Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind
This smooth, witty, and charming, roguish character grew up unpopular with the family, but earned a huge fortune with his smart work. He is not the typical good guy, but it’s his daredevil attitude that swept me off my feet. He, who is nonchalant about his reputation,
In his words, “With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.”
But, a man with a heart of gold and knows how to love fiercely, is anything but sought after.
He had been my love interest since teen days and my admiration for this unconventional hero, is unfazed till this date

Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice

I know many book nerds will rank him before anybody else. But, I am partial towards Rhett Butler.
Anyways, so what makes this socially awkward and otherwise arrogant person such a favourite? Because he doesn’t try to be perfect. His brilliance lies in his imperfection. And in his choice. In a world full of men falling for beauties, he chooses a life partner based on personality and brains over looks and fortune. And while talking about fortune, Mr. Darcy had Pemberley and who wouldn’t want to be married to the most amazing man and live in a exquisite palace.

Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird

This perfect gentleman in a true blue, old-fashioned understated way, took my heart away with his modesty. The super-dad who redefined bravery in an unusual manner can only be admired for his choices.
In his daughter’s words, “It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.”
He goes ahead and takes up the case of a black man at the risk of being ostracized, only because, his conscience told him so.
In his words, “Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself.”
After all this how can one not fall in love with such a strong character?

Cedric Diggory from Harry Potter

Well, it’s my list and how can a Harry Potter character, not appear in a Potterhead’s crush list?

While, Harry being an obvious choice, many do root for Sirius or Ron or even Draco. But, I crushed heavily on Cedric Diggory.

So here am I professing, in clear terms, my love for this rarely talked about character.

Kind and gracious Cedric Diggory was all about fair play. Be it wanting a re-match after Dementor incident during the quidditch match(where he was winning) or being an anti-bully by asking his friends not to wear the “Potter Stinks” badge, to returning the favour of a help by sharing the ‘dragon egg’s’ secret, he was just too adorable. And I don’t blame Cho for choosing this perfect “boyfriend” material over Harry. And now that he’s dead (damn you Harry, you had to drag Cedric to the Triwizard Cup) it is even sadder that this noble guy never got his due

Augustus “Gus” Waters from The Fault In Our Stars

When I read The Fault in our Stars, not very long ago, I wasn’t exactly a starry eyed teen or a naïve twenty-something. But, I fell in love with this young boy. Not the pompous Augustus Waters trying to glorify his grandiosity. But, I love the vulnerable Gus, a teenage boy in Indianapolis who used to be a star athlete and now finds himself dying from cancer. Trying to hide behind the façade of a performed version, is a sweet, caring, and understandably terrified seventeen year old who made me cry when he left this abode for a better place. Waiting for another life when someone would profess his love for me as unabashedly as Gus.

So these are my top 5 amongst many. Who is your literary crush? Don’t forget to share with me.

Note: This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.