Old Books, New Readers discussion

Hello OBNR community!

The time is now to start choosing our next BOTM for May.

Have you ever seen a movie that had a secondary character who stole the screen? Like film, literature has these moments too. Let’s think of books that have these unassuming characters and make them the center of our read.

Again, for those not familiar with the criteria, these selections should be over 50 years old, have literary merit, and most importantly, have relevance to the theme. Please list your suggestions on the thread below. Once we have six, I will make a poll.

I'm going to suggest Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, because Mercutio's the best character in that play!

The Z Murders

The taxi driver Ted Diggs is an important character...

Absalom, Absalom! By William Faulkner.

I don’t know anything about it but it says it could be difficult.. might help to read with others.

I haven't read it but I hear that Cousin Charlotte is a compelling character.

I'd like to nominate The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

I haven't read the book, but in the movie, Peter Lorre's character fits the bill of a secondary character that stole the show, as I recall.


Cheers,
Ian

Silas Marner by George Eliot

I was fond of a secondary character at the second part of the book.