Top Ten: Literary Characters I Would Marry In A Heartbeat

(Because sometimes a “Top Three” just doesn’t cover it.)

1. Aragorn—Rough, tough, and devastatingly handsome! Faramir has much better taste in women, but Aragorn’s got his destiny all figured out. Did I mention how hot the Strider persona is?

2. Atticus Finch—Honor, thy name is Atticus! He’s not a perfect father, but he knows that. Great vocabulary, wisdom up the wazoo, and a dead shot with a rifle. Southern charm has never seemed so…legal.

3. Edward Cullen/Jacob Black—I couldn’t decide which one to list, so I don’t know how Bella’s going to decide which one gets to be her bf. (Really, we all know who she’ll pick, but the drama isn’t over yet, oh no.) Killer good looks (pun intended, of course) are only a small part of the package with these two.

4. Gilbert Blythe—Okay, this is where I have to ‘fess up and say I’ve only ever read the first Anne of Green Gables (and even that one’s a little hazy, since it’s been so long). Even still, Gil entirely deserves a place on the list, because I’ve seen the movie enough to warrant a spot. He and Anne are the ultimate in Canadian love stories (probably ‘cuz they’re Canada’s only love story).

5. Han Solo—Totally a book character, trust me on this! Han mellows down as the years go back, but his relationship with Leia grows even stronger. It’s interesting to see him domesticate and deal with real-life responsibilities. Annnnd my nerd quota went up about 50 points right there.

6. King Zachary—Kind, noble, and probably gorgeous to boot. His devotion to his country is boundless. Karigan needs to get her stuff together, because Zachary is a man among men.

7. Laurie—I hesitated not putting Professor Bhaer here instead, since I’m much more like Jo than Amy. But it’s Laurie I fell in love with first and continue to fall for time and time again. Laurie’s got passion, which is very high on my list of attractive features *and* he’s musical.

8. Mr. Darcy—He is imperfect on so very many levels, but you know what? None of that matters. He’s Mr. Darcy. The fact of the matter is, he and Elizabeth truly love each other and make each other happy, despite their differences.

9. Peregrine—Looking over this list, it’s clear I have a thing for royalty. I also better explain just who this “Peregrine” guy is. He’s the man-of-all-trades in M.M. Kaye’s absolutely delightful story The Ordinary Princess. Him and Princess Amy, while both quite “ordinary” apart, make a remarkable couple. (See also: Geric, from The Goose Girl)

10. Robin Hood—In the many adaptations of this story, the one I think of most is Robin McKinley’s version. Robin Hood perfected the “scoundrel with a heart of gold” persona long before all the others—and believe me, there have been many since. His other good qualities include vision, loyalty, and a sense of skewed charity.

Others that almost made the cut: Rochester, Knightly, Matthias (on account of being a mouse and all), Nathan Steed, Fred & George, and Arthur Dent.

Any you agree/disagree with? Who'd I leave out?