Into the Fire

We who read and we who write all have our favorite fictional characters. Whether we discover them in a favorite novel or create them in one of our fictional stories, there are some who rise above the rest for us. Why is that?

We're talking novels today and, hopefully, some of you will relate to my reasons for loving the characters I do.

Best character ever in the thriller/espionage genre: Mitch Rapp. Mitch Rapp starts out on a mission. He's determined to thwart evil, he's lost big (his fiancée died in the Lockerbie bombing), he's intelligent, tough, a man's man even in his post-college youth. He trains hard, is athletic, a crack shot, isn't deterred by his torturous instructor Stan Hurley, and has a rapport with his female CIA handler (Irene). He speaks without a filter, hates politics and most politicians, and is exceptional in every aspect of being an operator having had to learn the hard way in his first assignments. But, what attracts me to Mitch besides his physical attributes, of which he has no shortage, is that hidden streak of vulnerability, his deep sense and definition of good and evil, and a higher plain of morality when it counts. There's a sensitivity there which is rarely exposed. In other words, he hasn't lost his emotional thread of decency and can feel deeply when forced to come to terms with something that touches him. He does not become a sociopath in spite of what his job requires. I love Mitch Rapp.

Best female character in a mystery/suspense: Raleigh Harmon. Raleigh's life is filled with sorrow, her adoptive father and childhood OCD genius best friend, who becomes agoraphobic after a terrifying incident in their youth, providing the only joy and releases in her life. She's basically without her mother who suffers from schizophrenia, refuses to acknowledge Raleigh as her daughter except for rare moments of warmth, while always embracing Raleigh's older sister. There is ongoing pain in her life throughout her childhood, after a huge personal tragedy, and during difficult times and results in her FBI career. She's skilled, intuitive, witty, brilliant in her chosen abilities in forensic geology, and oh-so-vulnerable. She longs to be loved which is her innate femininity, she's lovely to look at, but she's tough as nails and a risk taker when it comes to her job. Her tender heart is easily sabotaged and continually broken by her mother. Raleigh Harmon is easy to love and cheer for in her hard struggles. I love Raleigh Harmon.

We'll delve into this more on Monday . . .

Father, thank you for giving writers the inspiration to create meaningful characters and stories. So much truth about our humanity can be glimpsed in good character portrayals. Apart from you, we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.