The best books with characters that become a part of your life

This book, bundled as the first three in the series, is one that I’ve reread often over the last twenty years. It may be in the science fiction genre, but it’s really Dr. Vic Hunt connecting the dots that others can’t quite see. The author pours brilliance and humility into Dr. Hunt which creates an almost immediate bond. The characters are written so well that you feel that you’re uncovering the mysteries at the same time Dr. Hunt is. This is rare in third person writing as authors tend to tell you the story instead of taking you on the journey of the character. Throw in the right mix of light and deep plot lines and it will soon become a regular read for you, too.

You could pick any book in the series and fall for Harry Dresden. I highly recommend starting with the first book, however, because the connection with Dresden with each new book released only deepens. Butcher does a phenomenal job of describing Dresden more through his actions and dialogue than telling the reader who he is. I’ve lost count as to how many times I’ve had a response to what’s going to happen in the coming scene because I know Dresden so well. And Butcher has a wonderfully unique talent for urban fantasy writing and clever intertwining of nearly all mythical characters that we learn from childhood and on through adulthood. 

The last Potter book, despite being the end of the series, is the best one because it shows just how amazing J.K. is at character development. Yes, you have to have read all the previous ones to appreciate the depth and intricacies. But you are a citizen of Earth so you’ve read them. J.K. balances storytelling in this book perfectly by taking you down the past while simultaneously moving the story along. I realize many people might think, “Yes, that’s what you’re supposed to do.” But we’ve all read books that didn’t understand such a simple yet difficult-to-implement concept. Whenever I read this book, I end up feeling so complete, a true feeling of closure, for all the characters in this book and those from previous books. 

You know the saying, “Don’t meet your hero.” Well, that is really about managing your expectations more than anything else. Such as watching the amazing Longmire TV series then deciding to read the books. While I’ve never struggled with separating my expectations between books and movies, rest assured that if you can’t, you don’t have to worry. Johnson created such intimate and diverse characters in his books. So much so that it almost hurts to put the following thoughts to paper: the actors were lucky to capture half of what Johnson puts into the books. And the show is in the top series that I recommend, almost with a missionary fervor, to anyone. Like Butcher and his Dresden series, pick up the first book and keep reading the series. The characters will become an extension of your real-life circle.

Usually I steer clear of stories that have multiple characters written with their own chapters randomly throughout a book. Most authors homogenize the character’s internal and external dialog, thus removing all intended diversity in character. The two authors living under the moniker of James S. A. Corey, however, are masters of this writing style. I’ve yet to come across any who are better. The Expanse series is a space opera with a multitude of large and small plots across different worlds and the space between. Yet you don’t feel overwhelmed because the characters are written so well. Similarly, you don’t feel underwhelmed that you’re not getting to see it all for that same reason. Like the Longmire books to the TV series, the series is amazing and the books take it to an all-new level. It is a truly unicorn case of being able to get your cake and eat it, too.