Liz Loves Books
I love to read and to talk about books. I review many of the books I read. I do not accept any author/publisher submissions for reviews. I do not read or review ARCs. I do not enter any giveaways or contests. I obtain the books I review by purchasing them at the same price they are offered to the general public at the time of purchase. My reviews are intended for the use of my fellow readers. They are not advertising or promotion. They are not beta reads or constructive criticism or editing or advice to the author. My only obligation to the author is to pay the price charged for the book at the time of purchase. My reviews are sometimes critical and I will not stop posting critical reviews just to spare delicate authors' feelings. I am happy to make new friends, but friend requests from authors or promoters who have few or no books (and/or friends) in common with me and write or promote categories I do not read (especially new adult) will be ignored. I used to read more self-published books. After recent meltdowns by self-published authors, I now only read self-published authors I've previously read or who have been recommended to me by fellow readers I trust. I also used to read young adult/new adult books but rarely do so now.
30 Day Book Challenge, Day 16 - Favorite Female Character
Day 16 is as difficult for me as day 15 was easy.
There are quite a few characters who come close to my ideal: a woman who is adventurous, self-confident but with humility, loyal, intelligent, just and willing to fight for justice but not preachy or a finger-wagger, generous, doesn't take shit and she has a good sense of humor. That's not too much to ask of one fictional character, is it?
Actually, it's not even enough for me because I also want her to learn from her mistakes and to grow emotionally over the course of the story.
None of the characters I can think of quite get there but here are the ones who come close. But before I begin, I have to admit that I am harder on female characters than male characters. It's not fair. I know it isn't and I am trying to remember that while I look for my ideal female character.
Caddie Woodlawn - Carol Ryrie Brink is the closest ideal young lady I can think of. She's got the adventure and justice parts going on. And she does learn and grow throughout the book. I think a grown up Caddie Woodlawn might even make it to favorite for me. But the child version is not developed enough emotionally for me.
The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure - William Goldman - Buttercup is loyal (eventually) self-confident and turns out to be fairly adventuresome but ... for much of the book she's just not likeable.
JANE EYRE - Charlotte Bronte is probably closest but I've never been able to connect with or relate to her. I think there may be just a tiny smidgen too much preachiness in her.
Fullmetal Alchemist, Vol. 1 - Hiromu Arakawa is full of female characters I love. It's such an ensemble cast though that a lot of the characters are not as developed as I'd like them to be. Lan Fan and General Armstrong are the two I'd most like to know more about. But Riza Hawkeye is the closest to my ideal in FMA. She's just in need of a little more sense of humor.
I started to include The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and she is a fascinating character to me but she doesn't have enough of the qualities I need in a favorite female character.
Obviously I've left out Elizabeth Bennett because I am forcing myself to not use Jane Austen characters. It would be really weird if I did not even mention her in this post though. (But to be honest she is my favorite).
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