SailorMom Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I thought I'd be the only one to mention Hermione from HP :) Miss Marple from Agatha Christie - I love that lady :) Mulan Maid Marian Lyra (Golden Compass) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Precious Ramotswe. She's kind, wise, content, optimistic, and sees the best in others. She's known adversity and is stronger because of it. I wish she were my neighbor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Precious Ramotswe. She's kind, wise, content, optimistic, and sees the best in others. She's known adversity and is stronger because of it. I wish she were my neighbor. Oh, I'm glad you mentioned her. I've many times wished she were my neighbor, and she could share some of her wisdom with me over a cup of bush tea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Lily. From the Kevin Henkes books. She's passionate and honest. She's not afraid to be who she is. She wears clothes she likes, whether they are fashionable or not (I love her red cowboy boots). I love Lily and wish I were more like her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 My lit alter ego is Garth Nix's Lirael :lol: She's cool. Uh, well, she's not cool, but she is geeky in a positive way. Yeah, that made sense. I also like Sister Pelagia from Boris Akunin's series. There's a nun with attitude. :) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooooom Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Amelia Peabody - I love her can do attitude, and her passion for her husband, I am also very fond of Hester Latterly , of Anne Perry's William Monk series, for being a woman so far ahead of her time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Some already mentioned:Hermione Granger Pippi Longstocking :iagree: Thursday Next Which book is this from? Also, lately, I've really enjoyed:Lisbeth Salander (great, great character, from the Girl w/ the Dragon Tattoo ) :iagree: :iagree: :iagree: Stacia, you know how much I love this one. She's my most recent favorite. Pride and Prejudice, I read so long ago. I'll have to review Elizabeth Bennett. I do know that I LOVED that book. Flavia de Luce (from Alan Bradley's mysteries such as The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie) Plan on reading this soon. I know that given what I've heard, Flavia is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Amelia Peabody Emerson: She has a firm grip on her family at all times :D and she has a senseof humor and courage which she needs with that husband of hers. You are my kinda gal!!!! (Plus - Amelia has Emerson!!!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Wow! Look at all the Elizabeth Bennett fans! That's mine, too. I love her wit and her integrity. Truly Jane Austen can craft a character better than practically anyone. But my other favorite is Luna Lovegood. JKR is a very close second on crafting characters and Luna is really marvelous. I love her acceptance of everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsbaby Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Hmmmm.....I would have to say Kay Scarpetta from the Patricia Cornwell novels. An odd choice, but she has my dream job (if I had to work outside the home). She is extremely smart, well-respected, pretty fearless, and I love her:tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Amelia Peabody or Harriet Vane. I like Amelia Peabody because she's brave and intelligent and uses a parasol as her weapon of choice. I like Harriet because she reminds me of me and because she got to marry Lord Peter Wimsey. :drool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 :confused: Are you serious? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Which book is this from? Thursday Next is from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. The first book in the series is called The Eyre Affair. I think there are now 6 books in the series. (?) From http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/adventures_of_thursday_next.html : "INTRODUCTION TO THE EYRE AFFAIR Masterpiece Theatre meets James Bond in The Eyre Affair , the first novel in Jasper Fforde's cheeky sleuth series featuring a book-loving, gun-toting, wit-slinging heroine named Thursday Next. In Thursday's world, an alternate version of 1985 London, literature rules popular culture—audiences enact and participate in Richard III for Friday-night fun, thousands of visitors make literary pilgrimages to gawk at original manuscripts, and missionaries travel door-to-door heralding Francis Bacon as the true Bard. The mysterious theft of the Martin Chuzzlewit original manuscript from the Dickens Museum catalyzes Thursday's transformation from humble library cop into intrepid literature savior. When Thursday's eccentric uncle Mycroft and aunt Polly are kidnapped along with their Prose Portal, an ingenious device that allows readers to physically enter the world of any book, the SpecOps literary division uncovers a dastardly plot to kidnap and murder characters from everyone's favorite novels. The criminal operation is helmed by Acheron Hades, the third most evil man in the world, a supreme villain who bends minds, shifts shapes, and remains impervious to most mortal weapons. Thursday and her SpecOps cohorts' mission to capture their slippery adversary is further complicated by the meddling of the pointedly named Jack Schitt, the despotic head of security at the hegemonic Goliath Corporation, whose investment in Hades' capture seems suspect. And when the perpetrators dare to steal the original Jane Eyre, Thursday must race to save one of the most beloved characters in English literature—and Brontë's classic love story itself—from eradication." Plan on reading this soon. I know that given what I've heard, Flavia is great. She's fun, imo. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Jean Louise Finch, from To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Scout's first-person narrative made me feel as though I was "in" the story. I felt like I was Scout, seeing the South and the situation there through her young eyes. Scout could read well at an early age, which caused trouble for her in school. I read TKAM when I was about ten years old. I identified with her. My other favorite fictional female character is Charlotte, the spider from Charlotte's Web. I have a true love for spiders. :001_wub: They are so fascinating. I suppose you meant human character, though, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 (edited) Annie Wilkes because she doesn't put up with any dirty birdies. :tongue_smilie: What are dirty birdies? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dirty%20birdie Never mind. I found it. Edited January 12, 2011 by Sahamamama Never mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Hm, I will have to think about this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Mary Lennox from the Secret Garden and Sara Crewe There are also a lot of great fictional mothers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Jean Louise Finch, from To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Scout's first-person narrative made me feel as though I was "in" the story. I felt like I was Scout, seeing the South and the situation there through her young eyes. Scout could read well at an early age, which caused trouble for her in school. I read TKAM when I was about ten years old. I identified with her. My other favorite fictional female character is Charlotte, the spider from Charlotte's Web. I have a true love for spiders. :001_wub: They are so fascinating. I suppose you meant human character, though, right?[/QUOTE] Well, if critters are included, I choose Reepicheep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Well, if critters are included, I choose Reepicheep! I think Reepicheep is male. But I like him, too! :D http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reepicheep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura in CA Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Mary Lennox from the Secret Garden and Sara Crewe As a girl I read "A Little Princess" so many times, and wished my name were Sara-without-an-h :001_smile: I read "A Little Princess" to my boys when they were about 8 or 9, and later they asked me to read it again, twice :001_smile: There's something about her fairy-tale life, and then the harsh life, and her courage and graciousness throughout ... I also loved Kit Tyler from Blackbird Pond, for above reasons. :) I like Harriet Vane, but since she ends up with Lord Peter...well, it's just not fair that she gets him and I don't:tongue_smilie::D. :iagree: I love Harriet's bookishness, and the way she straddles life in the ivory tower and life as a mystery-writer ... and her unflinching honesty ... and courage ... etc. etc. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Well, if critters are included, I choose Reepicheep! I think Reepicheep is male. But I like him, too! :D http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reepicheep Ah, yes, I forgot the OP specified female. I do so like Reep, tho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xuzi Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Benny from Circle of Friends. She was so human. She was awkward and a bit nieve at times, but had a wonderful heart and strength of character. I especially loved how she handled the situation with her boyfriend at the end of the book, and I was sooooooooooo ticked off at the movie for changing the ending! I feel the screenwritters really must not have "gotten" her to have ended it like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Benny from Circle of Friends. She was so human. She was awkward and a bit nieve at times, but had a wonderful heart and strength of character. I especially loved how she handled the situation with her boyfriend at the end of the book, and I was sooooooooooo ticked off at the movie for changing the ending! I feel the screenwritters really must not have "gotten" her to have ended it like that. :iagree: That bothered me too. It was like the screenwriters just came and wiped out all the growth that had occurred in her character. My favorite is probably Molly Gibsonfrom Wives & Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell). Her motives are pure, she operates completely without an agenda, but she can be fiery and stand up for what she thinks is right too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaissezFaire Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Jo from Little Women Lucy from Chronicles of Narnia Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird Mine is going to have to be a list. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaissezFaire Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Ah, yes, I forgot the OP specified female. I do so like Reep, tho... We love him too, so much that our bunny is named for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Herm I think maybe Anne Shirley or Emily Starr. Or Fanny Price. How can I decide this? :lol: Can I be Lucy Pevensie without the ending? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negin Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Thursday Next is from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. The first book in the series is called The Eyre Affair. Thanks, Stacia. I remember you recommending this book and have now added it to my wish list ... or should I say, moved it up in priority :D. Looks good. Yes, I am looking forward to reading Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I started it last year, even before you read it. But for some reason, I couldn't get into it at that point in my life ... Now I look forward to starting it again soon. Benny from Circle of Friends. She was so human. She was awkward and a bit nieve at times, but had a wonderful heart and strength of character. I especially loved how she handled the situation with her boyfriend at the end of the book, and I was sooooooooooo ticked off at the movie for changing the ending! I feel the screenwritters really must not have "gotten" her to have ended it like that. :iagree: :iagree: :iagree: I LOVE Maeve Binchy. And yes, I was also annoyed by the ending of the movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 So many to choose from. As a child I wanted to be Nancy Drew. Such an exciting life. She was so competent. People have already mentioned Amelia Peabody Emerson so I will say Vicky Bliss. She gets to have adventures, work with Schmidt and she gets John (swoon). * *I like but wouldn't want to be Cordelia, Phillipa Somerville or Geilis Van Borseln. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 As a child I wanted to be Nancy Drew. Such an exciting life. She was so competent. Oh that made me remember... I always really liked Nancy's friend, George. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wilhelm Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 The Mom from the Wild Thornberry's cartoon. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I thought I'd be the only one to mention Hermione from HP :)Miss Marple from Agatha Christie - I love that lady :) Mulan Maid Marian Lyra (Golden Compass) I thought I'd be the only one to mention Miss Marple. Let's see... Others that I like, not necessarily from literature: Mary Poppins Amelia Badelia I'll second Prof McGonagall Eve Dallas Ilsa Lund Rose Tyler Samantha Carter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB&J's Mom Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 from the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. Wow, to be so humble in the worst of circumstances. I LOVED her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostSurprise Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Marian Holcombe from The Woman in White is one of my favorites. Friendly, funny, loyal, intelligent, tenacious. And not the love interest. In the end the intelligent villain credits her (not the hero/main character) with foiling him at every turn. Quite right. Jane Eyre....always. Quiet with a will of iron. Intelligent. Honest. Values herself even when others don't. Absolute integrity, not just to others but to herself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I thought I'd be the only one to mention Miss Marple. Let's see... Others that I like, not necessarily from literature:Mary Poppins Mary Poppins? Why! She is not practically perfect in every way, she is VAIN! Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomOfOneFunOne Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Mary Poppins? Why! She is not practically perfect in every way, she is VAIN! Rosie I have Never liked her and just always want to yell just that when ppl quote her saying that. I'm with you, Rosie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 And why? Clara from Lonesome Dove. She's such a strong person who has been through so much heartache in her life, but she has a good attitude, doesn't take crap from anyone, and makes good decisions. I also love Matilda (from the Roald Dahl book.) Just because she's fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Precious Ramotswe. She's kind, wise, content, optimistic, and sees the best in others. She's known adversity and is stronger because of it. I wish she were my neighbor. I was going to add her when I finished reading through the thread. I love that she describes herself as, "traditionally built". I also love her friend? Secretary? The one who started the Kalahari Typing School for Men. I can't remember her name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I was going to add her when I finished reading through the thread. I love that she describes herself as, "traditionally built". I also love her friend? Secretary? The one who started the Kalahari Typing School for Men. I can't remember her name. Grace Makutsi, who got 97% at the secretarial school. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiCO Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Grace Makutsi, who got 97% at the secretarial school. :D 97%! That's AMAZING! (I'm impressed that you remembered that... or did you look it up?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funschooler5 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Books: Harriet M. Welsch (Harriet the Spy) Movies: Marge Gunderson (Fargo) TV: Elaine Benes (Seinfeld), Maggie Jacobs (Extras) and Joan Harris and Peggy Olson (Mad Men) (And I second Pippi, Ramona, Anne Shirley, and Lois from Malcom in the Middle) I think what I love about all of these characters is that they speak their minds. I especially would love to be able to say all the stuff that Elaine gets away with! :D All of these characters have their flaws (which makes them even more lovable to me) but for the most part they are strong and independent. This is such an interesting thread. It took me awhile to come up with these, because most of the books I read and TV shows and movies I watch focus on men. I never noticed that before! It's very rare that I find a female character that I feel I have a connection with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Katia Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 My favorite female characters tend to change with my age; and I equate 'favorite character' with one whom I would want to be or emulate. As a young child (preK through 3rd grade) I wanted to be Betsy in the Carolyn Haywood series of books about Betsy, Billy and Star. In 4th through 7th grades I wanted to be Ginny in the Ginny and Geneva series of books by Catherine Woolley. Then in 8-grade through early 20s I wanted to be Julia in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. Julia was not a main character, but Betsy's older sister. Mid 20s through 30s I wanted to be Emily in the book Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace. In my 40s and now 50s, I can't think of any character I admire more than Emily Pollifax in the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorthy Gillman......unless it's Sadie Shapiro in Sadie Shapiro's Knitting Book by Robert Kimmel Smith, but I think I'll save her for my Character of Choice when I'm in my 70's and 80's.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 (edited) What are dirty birdies? QUOTE] That is not what it means in the context of the book. Annie Wilkes is the psychotic nurse who is obsessed with a series of books featuring Misery Chastain. When the author crashes his car near her home, she drags him into her guest bedroom and tries to heal him herself while forcing him to re-work his final Misery novel. Wilkes calls people whom she dislikes dirty birdies...among other things. It as nothing to do with s3x. I put Wilkes down as a joke b/c she is so obsessed with a female fictional character. Edited January 13, 2011 by unsinkable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 and even then, really hard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNC Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 (edited) My very favorite is: Melanie from Gone with the Wind. Runner up: Emily from Emily of Deep Valley, by Maud Hart Lovelace. Fun thread! Edited January 13, 2011 by LNC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorMama Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 This is such an interesting thread. It took me awhile to come up with these, because most of the books I read and TV shows and movies I watch focus on men. I never noticed that before! It's very rare that I find a female character that I feel I have a connection with. :iagree: That's one of the reasons I started it! It seems so much easier to come across great male characters than female sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorMama Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 and even then, really hard! You can have one (or more) per genre! We don't mind! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I'd have to say Claire Fraser from the Outlander series. What an amazing character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I have a lot of runner ups but my very favorite isMelanie from Gone with the Wind. Runner up is Emily from Emily of Deep Valley, by Maud Hart Lovelace. Fun thread! We just re-watched GWTW over Christmas and the way Melanie loves and believes in Scarlett got me choked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xuzi Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 The whole "strong female characters" thing reminds me of this speech by Joss Whedon about why he keeps writting shows with strong female leads (Buffy, Veronica Mars, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 My very favorite is:Melanie from Gone with the Wind. I would like her if she didn't have such bad taste in men. Not that my hubby is perfect, but hers? Urgh. :tongue_smilie: Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.