Character Connection: Silas from The Graveyard Book

Every Thursday, The Introverted Reader hosts a meme called Character Connection, where she asks people to post about a character that has really grabbed hold of their imagination and carved out a spot in their little literary hearts.

For the month of October, Ms. Introverted herself is hosting a Helluva Halloween-inspired challenge: post a Character Connection that is Helluva Halloween appropriate and win some pretty neat things...


This week, instead of writing about a villain, I decided to write about Silas, Bod's caretaker in The Graveyard Book.  I have been searching my brain for someone I wanted to talk about for the first post, and Silas kept creeping in, but I was holding off.  I'm not sure why, I guess just because he's not the main character.  But he just kept creeping back up, and I found myself wanting to read the book again, just for him.  And then I was speaking to a friend of mine about  her recent trip to New Orleans, and she described this man, and I thought, Silas.  I told her, and she got it, too.  And then we started talking about him, and I just knew, he was my first Helluva Halloween Character Connection.

It's strange that such a silent man who doesn't take up a lot of page-space in the book could have such a presence.  He was mysterious in the best of ways, and I found myself many times throughout the book wanting to read his story, know more about where he came from, how he became who -- and what -- he became -- I just wanted more, and in the best way.  And that's such a good sign for me, from any book, any character.  I love that what Silas is isn't ever really named, yet it's still clear.  I love that Gaiman wrote him against stereotype, and that he's actually more the hero of the piece.  I love that he's got secrets, and that he's got emotions which he keeps close.  He was just really captivating, and though I doubt I'll ever get it, and I'm sure it would take away some of the magic, a part of me really wants Silas to have his own full-length novel.  Hell, even side stories.  Anything that means more Silas...