Which Lit Character Would You Have Over As A Thanksgiving Guest?

The holiday season is a peculiar beast. You're systematically torn from your daily activities into a whirlwind of mistletoe and ribbons, and plunked down in the center of a table of your favorite relatives, as well as those you'd rather only see for this short time each year. But instead of imagining a far-flung escape to get us out of the impending holiday madness, we're imagining a table full of tantalizing conversation with imaginary guests.

So tell us, which literary character or author would you spend Thanksgiving with? Who would carve the turkey in your home? Who would you choose to push into the cold to make that last-minute shop run for more cranberries? Who would lead the post-dinner debate? On Twitter, @HuffPostBooks fans are chiming in with expected favorites (Hello, Jane Austen!) and some refreshing newbies.

Leave a comment and let us know who you'd spend Thanksgiving with.

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Which book character or author would you spend Thanksgiving with?

Send us the link to your #booktalk tweet, or let us know what lit character or author you'd share a Thanksgiving table with?

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Comments

[PatA]

12:56 PM on 12/18/2011

I forgot to tell you that I have invited these people for Christmas. I came to the thread late.

I would also have Jane Oliver at the head of the table. She would recite several of her great poems.

[PatA]

12:44 PM on 12/18/2011

I would have Augusten Burroughs, author of "Running With Scissors", going to the store for more fresh cranberries.

Gus, from "Lonesome Dove" would carve the turkey as I imagine he has lots of experience from being on the ranch.

Armistead Maupin would be invited and I would hope he would regale us with more tales from the city.

Annie Proulx would be invited "just because". I know she could bake a mean pecan pie.

If his pyloric valve is open, I hope that Ignatious from New Orleans would be at the table to bitch and moan about his mother and her friendly taxi-driver friend. "Confederacy of Dunces".

Rachel Maddow (hope she's written a book) will moderate.

For fodder for the 'big folks' conversation , I would put Sarah Palin, Bill O'Reilly, Ivanka Trump, Herman Cain and Christine O'Donnell at the children's table. Charley Gibson will be in charge of the group.

[jimbarry1946]

12:37 PM on 12/03/2011

I think it would have to be super spy become president, Jack Ryan (and his extended family). What table talk!! I'd just sit and listen.

For an author I'd pick Dean Koontz. I don't mind gore at a meal--I like my beef to moo when I cut it.

[Jen McCormack Hinderer]

10:53 AM on 11/30/2011

Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers for dinner, and I'd seat them across from John Rebus and Siobhan Clark.

But for drinks and dessert I think I'd send the 4 of them packing and invite Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood and Ruth Rendell.

[Z trufflesniffer]

01:31 PM on 11/30/2011

Although I like your first four characters, I don't think I'd like to have them for dinner. I'd much prefer the intelligent and gentlemanly Lord Peter and Inspector Dalgleish who would perhaps recite some of his own poetry and of course the great one himself, Sherlock. For women. Miss Marple of course and Margaret Drabble's Frieda Haxby from the Witch of Exmoor who would make for great company with Miss Marple I believe. Oh there are so many I would want at my dinner party. And I would buy the flowers myself going out early in the morning and wear my mermaid dress as does does Mrs. Dalloway. What fun!

[Francois Bergeron]

08:28 AM on 11/30/2011

Thor and the hulk. And Ayn Rand.
And then I'd start a fight.

[somnus00]

05:51 PM on 11/28/2011

Old Walder Frey and Roose Bolton from the Game of Thrones series (Song of Ice and Fire). I'd like to give them some pay-back for the Red Wedding. Maybe Wyman Manderly can cook us one of his famous "pies."

[teachpeace]

02:26 PM on 11/28/2011

Susanna Clarke, author

John Uskglass / The Raven King

and if the king can't make it, Childermass will do.

and for some real fun, the gentleman with the thistledown hair.

[blacksmithn]

10:15 AM on 11/28/2011

Nick and Nora Charles.

[christina444]

11:54 PM on 11/27/2011

Carlos Ruiz Zafon

[Woodsie]

11:47 PM on 11/27/2011

Miss Marple.

[Z trufflesniffer]

01:11 PM on 11/28/2011

Oh she's be a lovely guest indeed! Especially in the form of Joan Hickston.

[Woodsie]

01:20 PM on 11/28/2011

She is the *only* Miss Marple in my humble opinion. : )) F & F!!

[bessielil]

03:13 PM on 11/27/2011

Walter Mitty would fit right in around our table. Relatives often have imaginary lives. Witness the spate of Xmas letter round ups.

[ptrgamb]

08:58 PM on 11/26/2011

Authors would be Flannery O'Connor and Albert Camus. The character would be Sarah from Graham Greene's "End of the Affair." And this is hardly original, but Jordan Baker, too.

[Bruce Forbes]

10:59 PM on 11/25/2011

Linda Snopes

[Bruce Forbes]

05:11 PM on 11/26/2011

and her mother Eula Varner.

[momoluvsu]

05:50 PM on 11/25/2011

Taylor Caldwell, Oscar Wilde, and Truman Capote. Characters: Lestat, Huckleberry Finn, and Tom Sawyer.

[signgrrl]

09:48 AM on 11/28/2011

truman capote is a great idea. wonder how he would be as a housemate ?

[threnodymarch]

01:36 PM on 11/25/2011

In terms of fictitious characters? Nancy Drew. We could solve mysteries and eat pie (just not Bess...Carolyn Keene made it clear that she had a "plump" figure in every single book...nice). On a serious note, I would invite Jay Gatsby because he'd bring champagne and a banging (pun intended) atmosphere. But at the end of the day, I'd choose writer Oscar Wilde. Because he is a genius. End of story.