Luana Lewis’s Top Five Favourite Characters

After a 15-year long career as a psychologist, Luana Lewis decided it was time to give writing a go. Now a novelist in her own right, Luana’s debut psychological thriller Don’t Stand So Close will keep you tightly in its grip.

When Blue arrives on Stella’s doorstep in the snow and freezing cold, Stella feels compelled to help her. With nothing but frightened eyes and sad stories to tell, Blue begins to shatter the carefully controlled world that Stella has cocooned herself in.
 

With such compelling characters at the heart of Don’t Stand So Close, we wanted to find out more about Luana’s favourite characters from books that she’s read and loved. Here are her top five…

1. Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis cannot be outshined by any human character. I remember reading the book and longing to meet the protective, knowing and embraceable lion.

2. Henry Chinaski is the main character and alter ego of Charles Bukowski in Post Office. Though his behaviour is appalling more often than not, it is difficult to resist falling for the charms of this alcoholic, womanizing, would-be writer. This book reminds me that if written well, anything can be interesting. It is the story of his eleven-odd years of working as a postman (although there were various other services to some clients…).

3. Duddy Kravitz in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler is a character who has a habit of hurting the people who love him the most. But he is also very funny and driven by a desperate wish to earn the respect of his father – something he will never achieve.

4. Rebecca in Daphne du Maurier’s book of the same name is for me the most interesting and charismatic character. Mrs Danvers must also get an honourable mention, as the deranged housekeeper who pines, in a rather erotically charged way, for her scheming mistress.

5. Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson was a heroine unlike any I had encountered before. On first meeting her, it was a challenge to empathise with the socially impaired, bizarre woman with her heavy make up, tattoos and piercings. A few years and a trilogy later, I think heroines like Lisbeth have become part of the mainstream.

My list is not exclusively made up of “nice”, moral or even heroic characters. But there is something about each one that captures my imagination, admiration or macabre fascination. And that achievement is on my own wish list as new writer.’

Thank you so much to Luana for taking the time to talk to us!

Luana’s debut, Don’t Stand So Close, is available to buy now in paperback and ebook.