Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Top Ten Tuesday - My Favourite Female Heroines!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers' answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND sign Mister Linky at the original post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Don't worry if you can't come up with ten every time..just post what you can!


Yes, it's Wednesday. And yes, I'm late for another weekly meme. (Is that ever a surprise anymore?) But I just couldn't resist! Forgive me? I'll even tell you a story.

Tuesday was just around the corner, and I told her, "Good gosh, woman, slow down! You've got me huffin' and puffin', I swear, next time I just might--"

"Blow your house down, I know, I know." She rolled her eyes, just as I was wondering whether the days of the week actually had any body parts. "What do you want now?" Tuesday sighed and bent down to tap my nose, her eyebrow cocked. "You're late for a weekly meme again?"

I sputtered. "No, no, of course not! Since when have I ever been late?"

And that's when she told me to reclaim her day.

Really, I'm just doing my duty, is all. Now to the good stuff!

My Top Ten Female Heroines In No Particular Order, Lest Anyone Think I Have Favourites, Because These Lovely Ladies Are Certainly Strong Enough To Take Me On

1. Katniss Everdeen, from the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Good gosh, is there any list complete without your presence, Ms. Everdeen? She is honestly one of the best female protagonists out there--street-smart, practical, courageous, independent... With such a killer arsenal right there, it's amazing she doesn't get a big head. Yes, her naivete when it comes to her appeal and Peeta's obvious infatuation was a bit irritating. But she made up for it by being such a strong character.

2. Hermione Granger, from the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
This one was a no-brainer. No, I'm definitely not talking about you, Hermione! I mean, I am but--ah, whatever. Hermione's definitely one of my favourites; I mean, I haven't read many books that feature bookish heroines who are still undoubtedly part of the action. She can keep up with Harry and Ron, and even though she sometimes annoys them to their respective boiling points, it's always clear that they need her as much as she needs them. Equals 'til the end!

3. Sarah Agnes Prine, from the Sarah Series by Nancy E. Turner
What can I say, I do love my feisty heroines. Ms. Prine is just one of those stubborn, determined and strong women and I have to say, I love that we get to see her journey from an illiterate 17-year old in 1880s, to a fierce young woman who's far more than just a decent shot, to a married woman with a family and a loving husband. I've only read the first book, These is My Words, but I love Sarah's sharp character so I'm looking forward to reading the rest of her journey.

4. Cassie, from Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
Cassie has one of those minds rooted firmly into reality--so when the Polar Bear King comes to visit during a snowstorm, just like the stories that her Grandma told her when she was little, she thinks it's all a hallucination. Big mistake!

Oh, Cassie was such an amazing character to read about. She's definitely her own person; she has doubts, she second-guesses about giving up her dreams to pursue true love and finds a way to make it all work. And when the consequences catch up to her, she uses her courage and her intelligence to solve what may be an impossible quest. Just wow.

5. Jessica Packwood, from Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Like Cassie, Jessica is logical. To sum it all up, her favourite subject is Math. So when Lucius Vladescu visits her home and tells her that she's a Romanian vampire princess and that he has to marry her to prevent a full-scale vampire war, she thinks he's two nuts short of the loony bin.

And, as you can tell with Cassie, I just love this sort of reaction. It's so realistic! How would you react if it happened to you? There's no question of her intelligence--not too mention, she's also a competitive horseback rider! She definitely has a good head on her shoulders, this one.

6. Frederica, from the eponymous novel by Georgette Heyer
There's something about Heyer that I just love--her Regency romances are the wittiest little packages you'll ever read and the romance is well-developed too. Frederica is my favourite Heyer--no doubt about it!

Frederica is a spinster, who has her hands full what with her excitable little brothers, a beautiful sister who needs help with her come-out, and quite possibly the most delightful dog in the history of the world (ever!). She's genuinely selfless, patient, and sensible--definitely not a silly chit nor a dull bore. Plus, she has the most wicked wit, which is made apparent in her exchanges with her cousin, the handsome Marquis of Alverstoke. Such a delight!

7. Jena, from Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
Whenever I think of the words "Favourite book" I think of Wildwood Dancing immediately. It's not only because the plot is just amazing, the writing style poetic, and the premise just marvelous. (A retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses! In Transylvania!) It's actually because of the quiet well of intelligence and strength that is Jena.

She's the practical one out of all five sisters of Piscul Dracului in Transylvania, and she views herself as the plain sister. But she doesn't wallow in self-pity--she helps her father run his business as merchant, and once disaster strikes, she's the one who stands up and takes responsibility. Admirable, I'll have to say. And seriously, her pet frog Gogu? I love his role in all of this.

8. Ella, from Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Ella was such a joy to read--a spunky, stubborn heroine who endures a whole lot of bad (due to her 'gift' of obedience) but not without putting up a fight! The thing I love most about her is how, instead of turning her into a dull mindless vegetable (not that I have anything against vegetables), her curse actually intensified her stubbornness. And I found it heartening to have such a strong female character who isn't afraid to love, and knows the true meaning of love.

9. Antonia Lucia Labella, from The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas
What can I say? I absolutely loved Antonia's voice. She was so hilarious, what with her flirting techniques, the letters she sends to the Pope as she hopes to become the first living saint, and the snippets of her family life that you see through her narrative.

She's witty, and has a very warm and genuine belief in her religion. She doesn't come across as preachy at all--actually, I forgot I was reading something religious! She's probably the most ordinary out of this lot, but I just admire her for the strength of her convictions. Even though she's probably not going to get that Living Saint title, she doesn't lose hope. And I just loved that.

10. Katsa, from Graceling by Kristin Cashore
She's like Katniss, except she's in a fantasy instead of a dystopian. Look, even their names are similar! Okay, I'm not suggesting that plagiarism has occurred; I mean, two amazing, strong, talented and smart heroines are not necessarily a bad thing.

But here's the thing: though they do have similarities, Katsa definitely shines on her own. The true nature of her Grace was a bit too much for me; but her humanity and her vulnerability, evident even when she was trying her best to appear untouchable (perhaps heightened because of it), is enough to guarantee her a spot on this rambling list.

Check out the original post @ The Broke and The Bookish for other lists, the chance to join in, and Kimberly's original Top Ten!

3 comments:

Allison said...

I've never read the Sarah series- I need to check it out- it sounds great!

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I love it that you are reading These Is My Words. What a powerful story. I would add the heroine to my list. I completely forgot about this book, about how good it is.

I'm a new follower!

brandileigh2003 said...

Haven't seen Jessica on anyone else's-- good call