Comments on: The Celebration of the Female http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/ it's not chick porn Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:39:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: heather (errantdreams) http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19330 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:53:46 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19330 I like to experience a variety of heroine-types in my reading. I don't mind even the woman who gives up what she is for her man, IF it's an occasional thing, made believable, and the character is otherwise strong and interesting. Just because, sure, there are a few women like that. That said, absolutely I prefer stronger women who know their own minds, have their own skills, and do what they want when they want. I love women who kick ass, who have their flaws and aren't afraid of them. Take Elizabeth Vaughan's <i>Dagger-Star</i> for example. Her main female lead is a bawdy, shameless mercenary who gradually develops a thing for a peace-loving farmer. I loved that. The interactions between them were fresh, funny, and fiery. I love Bettie Sharpe's twisted, obsessive heroines, and the heroine in the one book I've read by Shiloh Walker definitely had her own strengths and kick-ass-ness. That's part of what has made those authors' books my favorites. I like to experience a variety of heroine-types in my reading. I don’t mind even the woman who gives up what she is for her man, IF it’s an occasional thing, made believable, and the character is otherwise strong and interesting. Just because, sure, there are a few women like that.

That said, absolutely I prefer stronger women who know their own minds, have their own skills, and do what they want when they want. I love women who kick ass, who have their flaws and aren’t afraid of them. Take Elizabeth Vaughan’s Dagger-Star for example. Her main female lead is a bawdy, shameless mercenary who gradually develops a thing for a peace-loving farmer. I loved that. The interactions between them were fresh, funny, and fiery. I love Bettie Sharpe’s twisted, obsessive heroines, and the heroine in the one book I’ve read by Shiloh Walker definitely had her own strengths and kick-ass-ness. That’s part of what has made those authors’ books my favorites.

]]> by: sula http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19320 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:13:28 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19320 ack, I have been out and away in a land with no internet and missed the rest of the comments. heh. PC Cast, I shall definitely be checking out your site and your work. Any friend of Ayla and Claire... ;) ack, I have been out and away in a land with no internet and missed the rest of the comments. heh. PC Cast, I shall definitely be checking out your site and your work. Any friend of Ayla and Claire… ;)

]]> by: Ann Aguirre http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19314 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:48:38 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19314 I'm so glad y'all like Jax! My favorite heroines? Again, I can't pick one. I'll name five. Anne from All Through the Night (Connie Brockway) Jessica from Lord of Scoundrels (Loretta Chase) Brenna from Caressed by Ice (Nalini Singh) Reece from Angels Fall (Nora Roberts) Vivi from The Protector (Gennita Low) I’m so glad y’all like Jax!

My favorite heroines? Again, I can’t pick one. I’ll name five.

Anne from All Through the Night (Connie Brockway)
Jessica from Lord of Scoundrels (Loretta Chase)
Brenna from Caressed by Ice (Nalini Singh)
Reece from Angels Fall (Nora Roberts)
Vivi from The Protector (Gennita Low)

]]> by: Lorelie http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19313 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:24:50 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19313 My votes would include a lot of those who've already been mentioned: Savi from Meljean Brook. Jax from Ann Aguirre (Hey Ann! lol). Brianna from Nalini Singh. Claire from Jude Deveraux's The Duchess has stuck with me a very long time. She seemed positively subversive at the time. She wasn't stomp your foot and shake your hair feisty and in fact was prepared to marry a man who made her family happy -- and found a way to like him, too. At the same time, she was the backbone of her family (not the doormat) and had her own passions. Fascinating in a stare-at-the-creepy way (and non-romance) is Margret Atwood's Handmaiden. The way she subsumes her sense of self in order to survive. . . scary. My votes would include a lot of those who’ve already been mentioned: Savi from Meljean Brook. Jax from Ann Aguirre (Hey Ann! lol). Brianna from Nalini Singh.

Claire from Jude Deveraux’s The Duchess has stuck with me a very long time. She seemed positively subversive at the time. She wasn’t stomp your foot and shake your hair feisty and in fact was prepared to marry a man who made her family happy — and found a way to like him, too. At the same time, she was the backbone of her family (not the doormat) and had her own passions.

Fascinating in a stare-at-the-creepy way (and non-romance) is Margret Atwood’s Handmaiden. The way she subsumes her sense of self in order to survive. . . scary.

]]> by: Ciara http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19309 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:11:34 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19309 One of my favorite heroines of all time is Emily from Teresa Medeiros' ONCE AN ANGEL. She is feisty and fiery, brave and independent, but human. I love the part at the end where she screams something like "The day Emily Claire Scarborough needs anyone is the day there'll be ice skating in hell!" I also adore Annique from Joanna Bourne's THE SPYMASTER'S LADY. Talk about a kick-ass heroine! In general I don't connect with heroines who have perfect, happy lives at the beginning of the story. There isn't a compelling reason to take the heroes journey if everything is hunky-dory. I have a soft spot for tortured heroines who prevail despite the crappy hand they've drawn and the Nice Guys who love them. There is a greater transformative character ark. More conflict = more captivating to read. One of my favorite heroines of all time is Emily from Teresa Medeiros’ ONCE AN ANGEL. She is feisty and fiery, brave and independent, but human. I love the part at the end where she screams something like “The day Emily Claire Scarborough needs anyone is the day there’ll be ice skating in hell!”

I also adore Annique from Joanna Bourne’s THE SPYMASTER’S LADY. Talk about a kick-ass heroine!

In general I don’t connect with heroines who have perfect, happy lives at the beginning of the story. There isn’t a compelling reason to take the heroes journey if everything is hunky-dory. I have a soft spot for tortured heroines who prevail despite the crappy hand they’ve drawn and the Nice Guys who love them. There is a greater transformative character ark. More conflict = more captivating to read.

]]> by: Kimberly B. http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19304 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:40:54 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19304 Like Shannon C. said, Jilly Coppercorn from Charles de Lint's Newford series is a favorite character of mine; she's a survivor who has been to Hell and back (multiple times, I'd say) yet manages to be a positive person who sees the magic in every day life. Lately I've been really getting into heroines who aren't just strong, but also resourceful: the kind of person who can not only defend herself, but who could be dropped off in the middle of nowhere with a tarp and a Swiss army knife and be fine. An example of this type of heroine is Yelena Zaltana from Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study, Magic Study,and Fire Study; she's a survivor who thrives under pressure that would break most of us, and retains her sense of humor as well. Like Shannon C. said, Jilly Coppercorn from Charles de Lint’s Newford series is a favorite character of mine; she’s a survivor who has been to Hell and back (multiple times, I’d say) yet manages to be a positive person who sees the magic in every day life.
Lately I’ve been really getting into heroines who aren’t just strong, but also resourceful: the kind of person who can not only defend herself, but who could be dropped off in the middle of nowhere with a tarp and a Swiss army knife and be fine. An example of this type of heroine is Yelena Zaltana from Maria V. Snyder’s Poison Study, Magic Study,and Fire Study; she’s a survivor who thrives under pressure that would break most of us, and retains her sense of humor as well.

]]> by: shuzluva http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19303 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:01:54 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19303 Hmmm....I've had to think on this really hard, and have come up with the following: Lata Mehra from Vikram Seth's <i>A Suitable Boy</i>, one of my favorite novels of all time. Lata is independent minded, conflicted and simply amazing. Um, this one is weird because she's a real person and the book is the true story of three generations of women, but Jung Chang, her mother and grandmother have strength of character that is incredible, and if you're so inclined, pick up <i>Wild Swans</i>. The book is riveting. Sauscony Valdoria from Catherine Asaro's <i>Primary Inversion</i> (and others in the Skolian Empire series) is one kickass chick. I adore her. Sascha Duncan and Brenna Kincaid from Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series. To me, Sascha is the glue that holds the Psy/Changeling families together, and Brenna is a woman that truly overcame horrendous acts, adversity and didn't just find love, but forced Judd to recognize it. I'm sure I can come up with more, but I'll stop here. Hmmm….I’ve had to think on this really hard, and have come up with the following:

Lata Mehra from Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy, one of my favorite novels of all time. Lata is independent minded, conflicted and simply amazing.

Um, this one is weird because she’s a real person and the book is the true story of three generations of women, but Jung Chang, her mother and grandmother have strength of character that is incredible, and if you’re so inclined, pick up Wild Swans. The book is riveting.

Sauscony Valdoria from Catherine Asaro’s Primary Inversion (and others in the Skolian Empire series) is one kickass chick. I adore her.

Sascha Duncan and Brenna Kincaid from Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling series. To me, Sascha is the glue that holds the Psy/Changeling families together, and Brenna is a woman that truly overcame horrendous acts, adversity and didn’t just find love, but forced Judd to recognize it.

I’m sure I can come up with more, but I’ll stop here.

]]> by: katiebabs http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19300 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:44:22 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19300 I love Linnea Sinclair's heroines because they are no whimpering women. They can handle a tough situation to the best of their ability and can kick some major ass along the way. Ann Aguirre has a great heroine Jax from Grimspace (Bam you of course no this!) :D I second Lisa's with Meljean's heroines. Very different women who are in tough situations and are able to handle them the best way they can. Lisa Kleypas has great heroines and after reading Sugar Daddy and Blue Eyed Devil, I have a new found respect for her writing. Finally no one can compete with Eve Dallas from the In Death series. I love Linnea Sinclair’s heroines because they are no whimpering women. They can handle a tough situation to the best of their ability and can kick some major ass along the way. Ann Aguirre has a great heroine Jax from Grimspace (Bam you of course no this!) :D

I second Lisa’s with Meljean’s heroines. Very different women who are in tough situations and are able to handle them the best way they can.

Lisa Kleypas has great heroines and after reading Sugar Daddy and Blue Eyed Devil, I have a new found respect for her writing.

Finally no one can compete with Eve Dallas from the In Death series.

]]> by: PC Cast http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19299 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:08:10 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19299 Sula, we must be soul mate readers. I adore Ayla! You can check me out at www.pccast.net and/or www.houseofnightseries.com. And lovely BAM has reviewed several of my books, so they're in the archives. I know these aren't traditionally thought of as romances, but I adore Jane from Tanith Lee's SILVER METAL LOVER and Janie (weird they have practically the same name) from Zora Neale Hurston's masterpiece THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD. Both grow and change and learn to be true to themselves, albeit in very different ways, times, and genres. Sula, we must be soul mate readers. I adore Ayla! You can check me out at www.pccast.net and/or www.houseofnightseries.com. And lovely BAM has reviewed several of my books, so they’re in the archives.

I know these aren’t traditionally thought of as romances, but I adore Jane from Tanith Lee’s SILVER METAL LOVER and Janie (weird they have practically the same name) from Zora Neale Hurston’s masterpiece THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD. Both grow and change and learn to be true to themselves, albeit in very different ways, times, and genres.

]]> by: lisabea http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19298 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:52:55 +0000 http://dionnegalace.com/wordpress/2008/04/22/the-celebration-of-the-female/#comment-19298 Savitri Murray. Hands down. Period. Where's Meljean? And Charlie...damn that woman writes the bestest heroines.They are flawed and resourceful and ultimately have such strength of character. Bees. Knees. Savitri Murray. Hands down. Period. Where’s Meljean? And Charlie…damn that woman writes the bestest heroines.They are flawed and resourceful and ultimately have such strength of character. Bees. Knees.

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