Hello everyone,
Here I have another look back at some of the memorable things featured in the books I have previously read, just for fun as always.
The letter this time is ‘J’. Interestingly, I have never read a book beginning with ‘J’, so this post will be made up almost entirely of names – mainly those of characters I have encountered but also some authors too.
There are a lot on this list, so without further ado, here they are!
Jabberwocky
A poem by Lewis Carroll that features in Alice Through The Looking Glass. It is nonsensical of course, but that like many other things in those books is what made it fun.
Jack
A very common name; there have been several characters I have read about called Jack. Among them are Emmy’s faithful friend in the Black Hollow Lane series by Julia Nobel, the main character’s seemingly steady husband in My Mother’s Secret by Sanjida Kay, and a villain in Who Killed Ruby? by Camilla Way.
Jack Larsen
A politician who sits on a committee to determine the cause of accidents involving driverless cars in The Passengers by John Marrs. He was very unlikable and to be honest I felt he was a bit of a caricature, although the book overall was amazing.
Jack Phillips
A character in The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. It would be a spoiler to describe him too much, but he goes on to testify against Johannes Brandt at his trial.
Jack Valentine
Another character called Jack, this vampire investigator is the protagonist in May Day by Josie Jaffrey. Abrasive, petulant and short-tempered, I did not really like her.
Jacob Finch Bonner
The main character in The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, who leads a writing group where one of his students claims to have an unbelievable plot that will become a phenomenon. When the student suddenly dies, Jacob takes his plot and publishes the book, turning him into a world-famous author.
Jacob van Loos
A lawyer whom Thea is unwillingly betrothed to in The House Of Fortune by Jessie Burton. Her Aunt Nella thinks the match would help improve their family’s status and so encourages it, but Thea is unmoved by him.
Jacobi Drecht
One of a number of characters in The Devil And The Dark Water by Stuart Turton whose name begins with ‘J’. Jacobi is the Guard captain.
James Juniper Eastwood
The most radical, wayward and fierce of the Eastwood sisters in The Once And Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow. Juniper is an absolute force of nature and an extremely memorable character, with her determination to restore witchcraft to Old Salem.
Jameson Hawthorne
The second of Tobias Hawthorne’s four grandsons in the Inheritance Games trilogy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Jameson is the one who loves the thrill of chasing a mystery and solving puzzles. Intrigued by Avery, the sole beneficiary of Tobias’ fortune, they become romantically involved.
Jamie Luck
One of the main characters in Luck Of The Titanic by Stacey Lee. After finding him on board the ship, his sister Valora convinces him to try and become part of Albert Alkany Stewart’s circus so they can enter the United States. Tragically, they never arrive.
Jan Haan
The ruthless governor general of the Saardam in The Devil And The Dark Water. A very pragmatic character who shows little regard for others, he has the world’s greatest detective Samuel Pipps imprisoned in the ship.
Janae
Simon Kelleher’s best friend in One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. She keeps Simon’s legacy going by posting secrets about her fellow Bayview pupils.
Jane Douglas
The main character in Still Water by Rebecca Pert. Her real name is Hannah, but she changed her name and moved to Scotland following the disappearance of her mother.
Jane Irimu
A bad-ass character from The Ten Thousand Doors Of January by Alix E. Harrow. She is a very good friend as well as action heroine.
Janelle
Stevie’s best friend at Ellingham Academy in the Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson. Janelle has a passion of machinery and loves to invent things, and along with her boundless enthusiasm she is caring and conscientious. My favourite character in the series.
Janet Skeslien Charles
The author of The Paris Library, which was a powerful, multi-layered book. She actually worked at the American Library in Paris, where the story is set.
January Scaller
The protagonist from The Ten Thousand Doors Of January. She is kept in virtual isolation by her guardian Cornelius Locke, but then discovers her father’s research into the world of doors, taking her on a high-stakes adventure.
Jarl Brum
An evil official in Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, who becomes one of Nina’s main adversaries. The commander of the Fjerdan druskelle, his work is dedicated to hunting down Grisha and removing their powers.
Jason Bell
The father of murder victim Andie Bell in A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson. He turns out to a significant character in unexpected ways.
Jasper Jupiter
The circus leader in Circus Of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal. A self-centred character who captures outcasts and turns them into circus acts, his aim is to become the biggest circus in the country and perform in front of Queen Victoria.
Jayden
The title character’s friend in Amari And The Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. Amari gets a tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, but never loses sight of her wish to give Jayden the life he deserves.
Jean Hanff Korelitz
The author of The Plot, which I mentioned earlier in the post. She has had some popular books including one adapted into a movie, but I was a little underwhelmed by this one. It failed to live up to its bold promises!
Jemima
An upper class young woman who meets her doppelganger in Dead Ringer by Nicola Martin, a book which I read for a blog tour in 2019. She was condescending with an unbelievable state of entitlement.
Jen
I have read about two characters called Jen. One of them was the main character in the outstanding Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister, and the other was a suicide victim in Don’t Turn Around by Amanda Brooke.
Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
Author of Lies Like Wildfire, an unexpected gem of a young adult thriller which I read in 2021. Her next book Friends Like These is on my TBR, and I hope it is just as twisty and unpredictable.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The author of a great many young adult books, but most notably the Inheritance Games trilogy. She writes at a fast pace and likes to include puzzles and enigmatic characters. You are guaranteed fun when reading one of her novels.
Jennifer Saint
Another author called Jennifer! This one is a prominent writer of Greek mythology retellings, telling character-driven stories with compelling female protagonists. I truly adore her writing style, and am excited to read her latest, Atalanta.
Jeremiah
A royal groundskeeper who befriends Nathaniel Davy at the palace of King Charles I. It was moving how much Jeremiah cared for Nat over a long period of time, acting as a kind of mentor, so he was a very likeable character.
Jesper Fahey
Kaz Brekker’s right-hand man, if such a thing exists! Jesper is a sharpshooter whose impeccable aim helps get the Crows out of many difficult situations and battles. He is also secretly a Grisha, while his romance with Wylan is also a highlight. Above all though, you have just got to love Jesper.
Jess Kidd
The author of Things In Jars, a surreal historical mystery with some odd protagonists. Her writing style is very quirky and was not always my cup of tea in that book, although I did enjoy a short story she wrote in The Haunting Season.
Jess Walker
The main character in The Truants by Kate Weinberg. A newly enrolled university student, she becomes enthralled by Lorna Clay, one of her lecturers. Her determination to find out the mystery of Dr Clay takes her to some unexpected places. She narrates the story in the past tense.
Jessica Farris
In An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, Jessica Farris finds herself inadvertently caught up in the affairs of a married couple when she takes part in a research study. Along the way, we get great insights into her psychology.
Jessie Burton
One of my favourite authors. Her debut The Miniaturist introduced me to the wonderful world of historical fiction, and I have really enjoyed all of her books since. They are complex and interesting, full of detail and well-drawn characters. I always look forward to her next release.
Jim Farrell
One of Eilis’ suitors in Brooklyn by Colm Toibin. When she returns to Ireland having fallen in love with a boy in the United States, Eilis is pressurised by her family to settle down with Jim Farrell.
Jodie
Back in 2018 I read an amazing thriller called Dead Secret by Ava McCarthy, and the main character was Jodie. Her narration was partly what made the twists so jaw-dropping.
Joe Goldberg
The narrator and main character in You by Caroline Kepnes and subsequent books. Joe becomes poisonously obsessed with a woman called Guinevere Beck, stalking her and removing all obstacles that land in his way. His head is seriously messed up, and after You I could not handle reading anything from his point of view again. The Netflix adaptation, however, is a different story.
Johannes Brandt
A merchant who Nella Brandt marries in The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. He gets Nella a model of their house as a wedding present, but Nella realises that something seems off about their marriage. She then discovers his secret, and goes on to fight for his cause.
Johannes Wyck
Another crew member from The Devil And The Dark Water. He was the rather uncompromising boatswain.
John Marrs
Author of The Passengers, one of the most fast paced and tense thrillers I have read. After reading it I interviewed him for a blog post. Since then, I have wanted to read more of his books, but have still not got around to it.
Jon Eiriksson
The rough and rugged husband of Rosa in The Glass Woman. He never gives much away and leaves Rosa isolated with his lack of affection, although their home is haunted by his deceased first wife, Anna.
Jonah Story
One of the three titular characters in The Cousins by Jonah Story. He is the slippery and more enigmatic one, although once you get to know him more he is actually fairly likeable.
Jordan
A passionate amateur photographer who lives in 1950s Boston in The Huntress by Kate Quinn. She immediately suspects that her father’s new partner might be hiding some terrible secrets. After all, the camera does not lie…
Josie Jaffrey
The author of May Day. I read this for the blog tour and although I really liked parts of it including the concept of investigative vampires and the Oxford setting, it also frustrated me. However, I was clearly in the minority!
Joyce Meadowcroft
Surely one of the best characters in fiction! I adore Joyce in the Thursday Murder Club series. Chatty and always liable to go off on a tangent, she is nonetheless very good at helping to solve mysteries. She is just the most unsuspecting of people, going with the flow and providing delight to all readers with her diary entries. There is nobody quite like Joyce.
Jules
A newly married woman in The Guest List by Lucy Foley. She finds out some secrets about her new husband as her life is put in danger on a remote island during a tense plot.
Julia Nobel
The author of the middle grade Black Hollow Lane series. The books do contain many similarities to Harry Potter, but she puts her own spin on the genre with some well drawn characters and a mysterious setting.
Julia Rochester
The author of a book I read in 2018 called The House At The Edge Of The World. I will not forget her writing style in a hurry – it was very flowery and long-winded, which was both a strength and a weakness.
Juliette Cai
The heir to the Scarlet Gang in the These Violent Delights duology by Chloe Gong. Fierce and tough, she is in love with Roma Montagov, the heir of the rival White Flowers, and they investigate a virus that is spreading through Shanghai. I actually loved Juliette, the power of her character was just so strong.
Jumpin’
A convenience store owner who befriends lonely Marsh Girl Kya Clark in Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I really connected with the book and that made his kindness even more moving.
June Hur
The author of the brilliant The Silence Of Bones, which I read in 2021. Just like some of the other authors I have mentioned here, I still have not read any of her other books, but I am honestly meaning to!
Jurda Parem
An addictive drug developed by the druskelle to purge Grisha of their powers and effectively drain their life force.
Justin Redding
A musician and herbalist who accompanied his girlfriend Birdie’s band Original Version in The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. Justin eventually joins Birdie at 16 Cheyne Walk, but they grow apart as she becomes obsessed by the evil David Thomson.
Let’s Chat
Have you come across any of these books, authors, or characters? Let me know in the comments!
Happy reading 🙂
Stephen Reads Books 