perfect men

There is a long list of men in literature that are essentially "perfect" men. Most are classics and have been around for years. Enter most of Austen's lead male characters, like Colonel Brandon, but the number one being ever-popular Mr. Darcy. And we'll throw in Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables, and Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre for good measure. Oh, and we can't forget Heathcliff or Rhett Butler.

But there are some newbies that fought their way onto the list. It's hard for the modern men to reach the standard of the classics. The first that pops into my head is Edward. Perhaps that's because the Twilight series is still so recent, or because he sparkles. I don't know if many people would count in Harry Potter, but he makes it onto my list. While a little angsty, that's understandable as he is a puberty-going adolescent boy. But he has guts, courage, and a caring heart. Many times he makes sacrifices to save his friends. As does Cedric Diggory. Any more modern examples would be appreciated.

I am now ready to induct a new man to the top of the list. (Besides my husband, who is indeed perfect in my eyes).

Peeta Mellark from Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games. He's better than Edward, in my opinion. He's selfless, respectful, kind, loving, and repeatedly risked his life to save the girl he loves.

I fear about saying too much because I don't want to spoil anything about this book, because it is a fantastic book. It's the first in a series of three books, with the second to come out this coming September. It has a very original plot, very clear and concise detail, and wonderful characters that are easy to love.


The only thing I dislike is the writing style. Of course, it's not a negative because it's the author's personal choice, but it wasn't to my taste. It followed the thought process of the main character, so it was very appropriate. I just didn't like how choppy it was, and didn't appreciate the run-on sentences or the sentence fragments. They are hard for my English-trained brain to ignore, so I get caught up on them. Like I said, just a personal opinion, not a criticism.

But, really. You HAVE to read this book. It's one of my new favorites. Please, do it. And when you do, let me know how you liked it! It's a book for all audiences and hard for someone to dislike.