Friday, May 14, 2010

"Trading Places"

By Laurissa

I'm assuming that if you're reading this blog chances are you're also a reader of novels. I'm wondering if you had to pick a fictional character's life to trade places with, whose life would you choose and why? The operative word here is "had." I know that most of us, myself included,  wouldn't trade our own lives for another's, fictional or otherwise, but playing along with me, let's assume you had to. Who would you like to be?

My answer is, without a moment's hesitation,  Sara Paretsky's, "V.I. Warshawski." It's not unusual after reading a V.I. Warshawski novel that I might catch myself humming, "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy, while outside mowing the lawn (I don't want to date myself so let's just say I was very, very young when that song first came out). V.I. just has that effect on me.

 I'm attending the Pennwriters Conference today and might not have the opportunity to check back in until later in the day, but I'm looking forward to reading your comments.

6 comments:

Joyce Tremel said...

Wow. That's a tough one.

I was going to say Anna Pigeon, but she gets beat up too much, and there's no way in hell you'd catch me crawling through a cave. Or even sleeping outdoors. So, I guess she's out.

Maybe Kinsey Millhone. Or better yet, Rosie Winters, because I love the WWII era. And she's a smart aleck.

See you today sometime, L.

Jenna said...

Ooooh. I guess I don't get to choose to be my own character, do I? Since I'd take Savannah in a heartbeat, just to have at Rafe...

Stephanie Plum sounds like she leads an interesting life, with interesting people. (Yeah, I'd take the opportunity to have at Ranger, too. And being forever 30 sounds sort of good.) Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan is a good, strong character who's had plenty of adventure as well, and planet-hopping does sound appealing. I think I'd probably have to go with Amelia Peabody, though. I'm not sure the heat of Egypt would agree with me all that much - not to mention the bugs and bats and mummies - especially more than a hundred years ago, but what a life...!

Cool post, Laurissa! Hope y'all are having fun at the conference!

MaryQ said...

Well, my all time favorite character is Scarlett O'Hara. I know she was a spoiled, selfish brat at the beginning, but when others around her fell apart, she stood strong. One tough lady.
Now, I think Sunny Randall leads a pretty interesting life. She has Rosie (a dog among dogs), Spike (her gay friend & sometimes bodyguard), her on-again, off-again husband, her ex-cop father & a lot of interesting cases. Who could ask for anything more?

Wilfred Bereswill said...

That's easy. James Bond.

Even Jack Reacher gets beat up sometimes.

Dana King said...

Elvis Cole. He seems to have the most fun while still doing kickass stuff, doesn't suffer from too many personal demons, and has Joe Pike to watch his back.

M Pax said...

I'd pick Dave Bowman. I want to see what's inside that monolith. :)