Lately, I’ve found myself disappointed with protagonists in books I read. They often behave immaturely (e.g., Project Hail Mary), make ill-advised decisions (going alone to dangerous places, not asking for help, acting on emotions…, e.g., City of Stairs), or repeatedly fail to communicate (e.g., The Sword of Kaigen). While I understand these traits are often used as plot devices, they’ve made me yearn for protagonists who handle situations with manners and maturity we see in adults we strive to be.
I’m reaching out to you, well-read community, to ask for your suggestions of books featuring protagonists who could be described as:
Professional, competent, and able to clearly communicate their thoughts and needs.
Emotionally mature, rational, and collected, even under pressure.
Polite, diplomatic, and empathetic in their interactions.
Some examples of books with protagonists displaying such qualities might be:
A Memory Called Empire – Mahit Dzmare
A Gentleman in Moscow – Count Alexander Rostov
Going Postal – Moist von Lipwig (despite being a caricature)
If you know of any other books with such protagonists, I’d be so very grateful for your recommendations.
by He_who_reads_books