Ladies, best female characters?

mjh215 · 02-23-2009, 07:47 AM

I am looking for answers just from the ladies on this one. What modern books/authors do you find have well written female lead characters?

Now, everyone is different and has their own opinion so I'm not asking you to speak for every woman or anything. Just give me your view. Through the years I've heard different authors trashed because a female character is written (in their opinion) horribly. Everything from just not being represented well to being described as "Men with tits".

-MJ (I didn't search to see if this topic has been covered, 'cause even if it is we have alot of new members I wouldn't mind getting a fresh opinion from)

Sweetpea · 02-23-2009, 08:54 AM

I can't really remember any books I've read with only one or two leading characters...

But there's one female lead character I really liked and that is Charis from Taliesin, the first book of the Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead. You follow her from the time she's a vain girl, through several world shattering (literally) events, to her being a grown up woman. She's a female in a time when women weren't that important, and the writer really makes her a woman with a strong spirit, without making her masculine (aka "man with tits").

Frank Herbert also puts his women down as strong persons, who are acutely aware of their femininity.

Thea Beckman (a Dutch writer of young adult and children's books) also knew how to make her women female and yet strong, without ever forcing them into a role they shouldn't have taken considering the environment.

pilotbob · 02-23-2009, 11:55 AM

Have you read any of the Rev. Claire Ferguson books from Julia Spencer-Flemming. I thought they were rather good. I've read the first two, and plan to read more. They are Murder Mystery with a bit of romance thrown in.

BOb

BTW: I'm not a lady. Hope it's ok that I posted in this thread.

stoogeswoman · 02-23-2009, 12:14 PM

I love the women in Barbara Michaels' "Ammie Come Home" series - Ruth in the original "Ammie", Karen and Cheryl in "Shattered Silk" and Rachel in "Stitches in Time". Also another Karen in her "Houses of Stone" - an undervalued classic in my opinion. :-)

Patricia · 02-23-2009, 12:40 PM

And surely we must mention Vera, of Harv and Vera's Adventure in Panama:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39540.

Amalthia · 02-23-2009, 05:00 PM

Lois Bujold McMasters has some very strong and interesting female characters in her novels.

nohmi2 · 02-24-2009, 01:20 AM

There always some women characters that you know you will always remember. These are a couple of mine.

'Angelique' by Sergeanne Golon.

'Mma Ramotse' by Elexander McCall Smith.

I am sure that there are more that I could remember, but for different reasons these two stay with me.

BookishDreamer · 02-24-2009, 09:52 AM

I particularly like Amelia Peabody from the series of the same name by Elizabeth Peters.

Dreamer

HarryT · 02-24-2009, 10:16 AM

Not a book, I know, but "Xena, Warrior Princess" is close to my ideal female character

.

GeoffC · 02-24-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Not a book, I know, but "Xena, Warrior Princess" is close to my ideal female character

.

wayspooled · 02-25-2009, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjh215

I am looking for answers just from the ladies on this one.

I'm a guy but I see other men answering so I thought I'd toss in my two cents. In about half of of CJ Cherryh's books, the lead characters are strong females and in the ones where the lead char is male, there are strong female characters as well.

badgoodDeb · 02-25-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Not a book, I know, but "Xena, Warrior Princess" is close to my ideal female character

.

Thank you!

Well, I chose her for my avatar because I agree. She's strong, fights for the good, ..... and humorous too. Doesn't take herself too seriously.

Sparrow · 02-25-2009, 02:55 PM

Guy too, so I'll keep it brief -
Maggie Moran, 'Breathing Lessons' by Anne Tyler.

texasnightowl · 02-25-2009, 03:09 PM

Hmm...I tend to think of Joanna Brady from J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady series as well written. She is a strong woman but also struggles with balancing being a working mom and with her own relationship with her mother.

Idoine · 02-25-2009, 07:40 PM

Thinking of Tessa McCamfrey, from the Barbed Coil (J.V. Jones).
Almost ordinary young woman, who finds a ring that transports her in a "medieval" world, where she finds herself part (important one) of a force in a war.
Great fantasy book for me !

Strong and realistic character !

02-23-2009, 07:47 AM	#1
mjh215 Guru Posts: 988 Karma: 12653 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: None of your business	Ladies, best female characters? I am looking for answers just from the ladies on this one. What modern books/authors do you find have well written female lead characters? Now, everyone is different and has their own opinion so I'm not asking you to speak for every woman or anything. Just give me your view. Through the years I've heard different authors trashed because a female character is written (in their opinion) horribly. Everything from just not being represented well to being described as "Men with tits". -MJ (I didn't search to see if this topic has been covered, 'cause even if it is we have alot of new members I wouldn't mind getting a fresh opinion from)

02-23-2009, 11:55 AM	#3
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Have you read any of the Rev. Claire Ferguson books from Julia Spencer-Flemming. I thought they were rather good. I've read the first two, and plan to read more. They are Murder Mystery with a bit of romance thrown in. BOb BTW: I'm not a lady. Hope it's ok that I posted in this thread. Last edited by pilotbob; 02-23-2009 at 12:15 PM.

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02-23-2009, 08:54 AM	#2
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I can't really remember any books I've read with only one or two leading characters... But there's one female lead character I really liked and that is Charis from Taliesin, the first book of the Pendragon Cycle by Stephen R. Lawhead. You follow her from the time she's a vain girl, through several world shattering (literally) events, to her being a grown up woman. She's a female in a time when women weren't that important, and the writer really makes her a woman with a strong spirit, without making her masculine (aka "man with tits"). Frank Herbert also puts his women down as strong persons, who are acutely aware of their femininity. Thea Beckman (a Dutch writer of young adult and children's books) also knew how to make her women female and yet strong, without ever forcing them into a role they shouldn't have taken considering the environment.

02-23-2009, 12:14 PM	#4
stoogeswoman Zealot Posts: 149 Karma: 492 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Reseda, CA Device: eBookwise 1150 and Kindle 1	I love the women in Barbara Michaels' "Ammie Come Home" series - Ruth in the original "Ammie", Karen and Cheryl in "Shattered Silk" and Rachel in "Stitches in Time". Also another Karen in her "Houses of Stone" - an undervalued classic in my opinion. :-)

02-23-2009, 12:40 PM	#5
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	And surely we must mention Vera, of Harv and Vera's Adventure in Panama: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39540.

02-23-2009, 05:00 PM	#6
Amalthia Wizard Posts: 1,190 Karma: 32370 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, PRS-650, PRS-T3, Pocketbook HD2	Lois Bujold McMasters has some very strong and interesting female characters in her novels.

02-24-2009, 01:20 AM	#7
nohmi2 Pensively observing. Posts: 1,758 Karma: 12675456 Join Date: Jun 2008 Device: Varied.	There always some women characters that you know you will always remember. These are a couple of mine. 'Angelique' by Sergeanne Golon. 'Mma Ramotse' by Elexander McCall Smith. I am sure that there are more that I could remember, but for different reasons these two stay with me.

02-24-2009, 09:52 AM	#8
BookishDreamer Cultural Artist Posts: 1,128 Karma: 12829 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Georgia Device: Sony 505, Kindle 2	I particularly like Amelia Peabody from the series of the same name by Elizabeth Peters. Dreamer

02-24-2009, 10:16 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Not a book, I know, but "Xena, Warrior Princess" is close to my ideal female character .

02-25-2009, 02:55 PM	#13
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	Guy too, so I'll keep it brief - Maggie Moran, 'Breathing Lessons' by Anne Tyler.

02-25-2009, 03:09 PM	#14
texasnightowl Guru Posts: 812 Karma: 2873645 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Device: PW5, Oasis 3, K4B(NT), K3/KK	Hmm...I tend to think of Joanna Brady from J.A. Jance's Joanna Brady series as well written. She is a strong woman but also struggles with balancing being a working mom and with her own relationship with her mother.

02-25-2009, 07:40 PM	#15
Idoine Which book will be next ? Posts: 661 Karma: 2172 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: France Device: Cybook Gen3 1.5, Sony PRS 600 RC, Samsung Omnia...	Thinking of Tessa McCamfrey, from the Barbed Coil (J.V. Jones). Almost ordinary young woman, who finds a ring that transports her in a "medieval" world, where she finds herself part (important one) of a force in a war. Great fantasy book for me ! Strong and realistic character !