Fictional Couples...

[fajrdrako]

From October 23, 2008:

Got this idea from Literary Feline during her recent contest: "Name a favorite literary couple and tell me why they are a favorite. If you cannot choose just one, that is okay too. Name as many as you like–sometimes narrowing down a list can be extremely difficult and painful. Or maybe that’s just me."

I'd like to be able to say Lymond and Philippa from the Lymond novels, but as it happens, I always wished Lymond would get together with Kate rather than Philippa. I'm not unhappy with the plot as it progressed, but Kate was my favourite female character in the books, and I liked her with Lymond. Other fans have explained to me why Lymond couldn't possibly have ended up with Kate, and you know what? I think that's ridiculous. The only reason he didn't choose Kate is because that isn't what the author wanted.

So. Eliminate them as my choice. Who to say. Beatrice and Benedick? Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester? Eugene Wrayburn and Lizzie Hexham? Archy and Mehitabel? (No, no, only kidding.)

Okay, my choice - no surprise, I'm sure - Aral Vorkosigan and Cordelia Naismith from Shards of Honour and many of the other Lois McMaster Bujold novels.

I was amused to see when I looked at the Booking Through Thursday website that the first person who posted anything picked as their first choice Lymond and Philppa. And I liked all their other choices, too. I should make a Top Ten list.

Lymond and Philippa might be on it, if I am feeling particularly tolerant.

Comments

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I must also add Geruthe/Gertrude and Feng/Claudius in John Updike's Gertrude & Claudius. They're adorable. She's cuddly, and he even quotes Bertran de Born.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

he even quotes Bertran de Born.

Wonderful! I'll put it on my TBR pile.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

As a dashing adventurer who has fought his way across Europe (Southern France, Italy, Aragon, Byzantium), and quotes trobar, Updike's Claudius puts me in mind of the historical Rognvald Kali (the Jarl of Orkney who wrote trobar-influenced poems about Ermengarda of Narbonne), and a little of our own dear Conrad.

Gertrude is lovely, warm-hearted but trapped, and is the sort of person who'd be great to have as a friend.

It's also nice to find good quality fanfic (which is what it it!) that centres on a passionate relationship between two emotionally experienced, middle-aged people.

Have you got a copy of it?