Characters Welcome discussion

Whenever anyone asks me about my favorite character, I confess I draw a bit of a blank. After I tell people that I'm such an eclectic reader, thoroughly enjoying scifi, romance, mystery, etc., the only characters I draw readily to mind come from the fantasy genre. I know why, though. When you've read thousands of books in your lifetime, the characters -- even the good ones -- turn into character soup.

Fantasy has one serious advantage when it comes to memorable characters -- the series. The first four books I added were all from series.

Yet I do enjoy single volumes as well, especially in the romance genre. I may just need some more time remembering those favorites.

Who are your favorite characters who do NOT appear in a series?

I see that a lot in romance...often where the author pairs up 5-8 siblings one at a time. :)

I tend to think of those as stand-alone, though, even if there's a connection. They usually are.

Here's one--the protagonist of Jeremy Jackson's Life At These Speeds (which is being made into a movie as we speak and I am thrilled). This poor high schooler loses his entire track team in a freak accident. As he navigates his guilt, he finds and uses a new ability to run farther and faster than ever before, and begins winning all these championships for his school. It's a Dickensian plot combined with magical realism, and a sensitive exploration of survivor's guilt told through the boy's POV. He's humorous and heartwarming and numb by turns. If Jackson had skimped on any aspect of him, the book would have cracked. (No pressure.)

Eh, I should add Kevin Schuler is the protagonist.