Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Book Boyfriends

book boyfriend /[book boi-frend] (noun): Male protagonist, often in a YA novel, and often inappropriately young to dream about in compromising situations, which a reader pretends to be dating in her head.

It’s a real thing. Look it up.

Some examples from my recent reading list include Prince Kai from Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Four from Divergent by Veronica Roth, and Peeta from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. But my best book boyfriend (and I’m not ashamed to say it) was Edward Cullen. Our bond was strong, and though time has gotten between us, I still have a little place in my heart for him. Even years after first reading Twilight, when I think back to the experience of reading about Edward for the first time, I still get a little thrill and direly wish I could go back and read it over again.

Now I’ve read a ton of books since Twilight, (and had fleeting affairs with a lot of great characters) but it wasn’t until recently reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon that I found my Book Husband (an age-appropriate one, too!) The book itself was pretty damn good (4 stars out of 5, if you’re wondering) but the chemistry between the main character, Claire, and her Scottish Highlander beast of a husband, Jamie, was strong enough to carry the whole book. Who needs a plot? (there was one—a great one—by the way), but really, just stick Claire and Jamie in a room together and be done with it already.  A world where Jamie Fraser doesn’t really exist is cruel and unfair. 

So, who are/were your greatest book boyfriends? Or dare I say, book husbands? 


17 comments:

  1. *blush* If Mr S ever reads this I'll never live it down. He already called me a 'dirty old auntie' for saying One Direction (Brit boyband, average age about 17) were cute.

    I loved Edward too (sorry Jacob), and Peeta (and Finnick, tbh) and Four and Cole from the Wolves of Mercy Falls books.

    I'll always be a bit in love with Gil from Anne of Green Gables too.

    And Heathcliff. Oh, Heathcliff!

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    1. One Direction are hot (except for Harry Styles). I didn't know they were 'known' in the US though, being that they didn't even win X Factor UK, they only came third :)

      My book boyfriend would be about 50yrs old now, if he had been alive, but I will always love Jonathan Meredith, one of K.M. Peytons characters back in the '70s from Prove Yourself A Hero (etc).

      And for a contemporary bb, Sam Roth from Shiver...

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    2. Great choices, Amy!

      And Ruth is from the UK--I've never heard of One Direction!

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  2. Heathcliff!! I forgot about Heathcliff!!

    And also, dirty old auntie!! Haha, Mike's too funny. I think I'll be integrating this term into my life.

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    1. Ha! You have to be in your 30s to make the best use of it : D

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  3. A Song of Ice and Fire's Jon Snow...but the tv series version (cuz in the books he's a teen and babalicious Kit Harrington is in his twenties, so I don't have to go to jail...)

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  4. HA! My friend Paulina just mentioned Jon Snow as a response, but on twitter. Makes me want to read this book even more now!

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  5. Oh, you totally should (and the tv series is SO well done, too)...and you totally should look up Kit Harrington on imdb...he's so pretty. :D *drool*

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  6. Hmm, pretty, I think I may do this right now...

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  7. Yes, I've had many book boyfriends over the years. Jamie Fraser from Outlander, Edward from Twilight, Etienne from Anna and the French Kiss. I could go on and on.

    I read the Game of Thrones and Jon Snow didn't do it for me. :)

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  8. I can't believe I forgot about Etienne! I effing loved him!!

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  9. Ah, Jamie Fraser. My husband doesn't see the draw, but what does he know. And the best part? By the time Gabaldon is done telling his story, we might be the same age :P

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  10. I don't have anybody new to add, but you are spot-on with Edward as the book boyfriend and Jamie Fraser as the book husband! I admit that I walked around in a fog during the week I read the Twilight books (despite hating myself for doing so). Edward is so the embarrassing first-true-love book boy for me. And then I met Jamie. I'm giggling in a slightly embarrassed way over here.

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    1. It's okay to admit it! Let it all out!

      I remember reading Twilight at every stoplight when I was driving to work. Hazardous! Also, I work five minutes from my house.

      (Also, Jamie's mine :) )

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  11. The boy--the Lenid boy (ugh can't remember his name ) In Graceling. Kristen Cashore

    Gray Porter frm Almost -- Anne Eliot (I do remember him bc I am still in love w him so bad)

    Jace sigh JACE from Cassandra Clare

    Cas the ghost hunting boy in Anna Dressed in Blood siigghhhhhhh

    And yup. Edward. Not ashamed of my past love...

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    1. Prince Po! I read Graceling after I wrot this post, but he's definitely on my list now! LOVED HIM. Also loved Mr. Jace. And now I can add Alex Fuentes from Perect Chemistry.

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