It's a close race but my final answer is . . .

Katie Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler from Gone With The Wind, of course. She's my all-time favorite character in all of literature. Like Maureen, I'm having to mimic Tracy as well. Although I can't always agree with Scarlett, there is something about her universal to all women. She might be a spoiled, selfish, back-stabbing southern-belle, but on the other hand she's strong, courageous, independent, charming and wickedly funny. She's the character you hate to love or love to hate, however you want to look at it. A guilty pleasure, so to speak. One can't help but be amazed by her courage in the face of danger when she rides out of the fire during the burning of Atlanta, yet be out-raged at her audacity where upon she steals and then marries her sister's beau. Scarlett's an intricate weave of rebellion, determination and self-preservation. A writer's dream.

My second favorite might surprise you. But when I think back over all the books I've read in my life, this one still remains one of the most memorable. Charlotte's Web. I can't choose between the characters, though, as to which would be my favorite - Wilbur or Charlotte. Wilbur's sweet, shy demeanor makes him lovable from the start and Charlotte's warm, nurturing guidance gives her an indelible imprint in the history of Children's Literature. Wilbur's heart break over the loss of his dear friend is as memorable today as it was the first time I read the book.

Adriani Trgiani, as I have reported here before at The Novel Girls, is one of my favorite authors. I first fell in love with her while reading the Big Stone Gap series. Ave Maria Mulligan, her heroine, is another of my all-time favorite characters. She's a thirty-five-year-old self-proclaimed spinster, the local pharmacist, the co-captain of the Rescue Squad, and the director of the town's outdoor drama. Funny and very independent, Ave Maria thinks that life has passed her by, only to learn that the best is yet to come. She keeps her self busy, avoiding a look inside until she is faced with her past. Hope springs eternal is the mantra of Ave Maria Mulligan. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of getting to know her, waste no more time in discovering her warmth.

Until next week, happy reading. And remember, support your local indie bookstores. They could really use your help!