sorta OT: great books by women, or with great female charact

[Salicin]

well, if we can include grahic novels/comics too then i have to add Love & Rockets by Los Bros Hernandez & Promethea by Alan Moore for starters..

>sin<

[hopey]

if i think quickly i can remember at least 5 writers:

- virginia wolff
- marguerite yourcenar (personal favourite, a complete humanistic intelectual)
- dorothy parker (kick ass personality)
- anais nin
- clarice lispector.

the carachter of cassandra in "iliad" always amazed me. she knew it all and no one heard her... oh, and also the vision of vita sackevile-west (wolff's lover/friend, never a good explained story, and as far as i know the model for "orlando") is excelent.

oh, and if carachters of comics count too, tank girl (i love her, sue me ) and the girls from "strangers in paradise". and many ones neil gaiman created in "sandman", specially maybe lady joana constantine.

as soon as i remember something else, i'll edit here

[lustitana]

Wow, lots of wicked books to read here, looks like I know what I'm doing with my holidays.
A couple more for you guys.
Bird at my Window-Jan Truss
Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!-Fannie Flagg
The Dark Dance Series-Tanith Lee
And one I can't believe no one has mentioned yet,
Foxfire-Joyce Carol Oates

[jomarch]

Oh, great thread. Someone already mentioned 'Fall on Your knees" by Anne Marie Macdonald but that deserves repeating. Others are The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. "A Girls Guide to Hunting & fishing" by Melissa Bank. Anything by E.M. Forster (Maurice, A Room with a View', 'Where Angels Fear to tread', 'Howard's End'). Jeaneatte Winterson's ' The Powerbook'.

[This message has been edited by jomarch (edited December 18, 2001).]

[Shewolf]

Very interesting thread...now I know what to look for next time I go to the bookstore.

Since I'm not very good at remebering authors, I'll just recommend the last book I read...and shock, it's a crime novel.

Any book by Val McDermit is good, epecially her Kate Brannigan series. While I usually avoid crime series like the plague, when I first read her book 'Blue Genes', I was really impressed at the strong, kick-ass female detective she created! Go read-really!

[amberslave]

Thought I would let u know of a great book which is quite apt for this discussion board..... I was given it by an ex-girlfriend so I'm not sure how accessable it is but here goes.....

The book is calleds Virago and it is by Karen Marie Christa Minns....

It is about lesbian Vampires and a tragic love story but quite contemporary... set around Berkley University Campus if I remember correctly..... deffinately a good read.

[Dumbsaint]

Amberslave (love your name, by the way... heehee), hate to put the poop in your party, but I must amiably disagree with you. Virago sucked donkey ass. It was bad. Hehe. Someone gave it to me a while back and I still have it, and it's just... not good. Most lesbian novels go the way of suckage, though. It's most distressing. It's like... lesbian presses in the 80's and 90's were so desperate to publish stuff that they just accepted any ol' thing. I'm actually pretty turned off on American lesbian fiction writers in general because I've read so much utter crap. I like those British literary lesbos, though. Hehe. *makin' eyes at Ruth*

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This mummy hand has ceased to BE! It is an EX-mummy hand!

[imperfectly]

I am in the middle of Sarah Water’s “Tipping the Velvet.” And if it weren’t for a lack of time and need of sleep, would be finished and raving. As mentioned before, run, don’t walk.

I’m also in the Jeanette Winterson is a Goddess camp. (Does that mean I get to keep my Lesbo Street Cred card? Whew.) I love how beautifully layered her books are. “Written on the Body” is my favorite.

For a gritty, contemporary read, try “Valencia” by Michelle Tea. It doesn’t get more young urban kinky lesbian than that.

I must say, my favorite books from childhood were the “Anne of Green Gables” series. Several years ago I even convinced my family to go on vacation in Prince Edward Island. And yes, the sand really is red.

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Well, now that came out a lot more lesbian than it sounded in my head.

[Shaniezak]

Okay, so it's a young-adult novel, but Nancy Garden's Annie On My Mind is still a great read . . . it was given to me by a gay male friend of mine as a coming-out present, and has a special place in my heart as a result . . .

And I really must say that Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books is quite the kickass young lady, and reminds me a great deal of Willow.

[This message has been edited by Shaniezak (edited December 18, 2001).]

[dusty]

quote:

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Virago sucked donkey ass. It was bad. Hehe. Someone gave it to me a while back and I still have it, and it's just... not good. Most lesbian novels go the way of suckage, though. It's most distressing. It's like... lesbian presses in the 80's and 90's were so desperate to publish stuff that they just accepted any ol' thing.

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I haven't read the book in question, but I have to agree with you that there are a lot of horrible lesbian novels out there. When I first came out, I read a whole lot of them just because they were about lesbians, and it didn't take me long to discover that a lot of them are utter crap.

One thing I would like to recommend, if you're looking for humorous, are the Nancy Clue Mysteries, by Mabel Maney. They're a parody of both the Nancy Drew books and lesbian pulp novels and are incredibly funny.quote:

[starbuck]

What about anything written by Anais Nin?

"The Hunger"

"Pandora" by Anne Rice

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"Vita Brevis ~ Ars Longa!"

[Dumbsaint]

*sniffle Oh, Shanie... I so love Annie on My Mind... it's really the only good lesbo teen novel that I've read. SO beautiful. *sigh* Annie actually reminds me a good deal of Tara. Don't you think?

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This mummy hand has ceased to BE! It is an EX-mummy hand!

[amberslave]

Ooooppps!!! Seems I have caused a debate about the book which I enjoyed but is not everyones cup of tea. Never mind.....

How about Daughters of a Coral Dawn by Katherine V. Forrest..... a great read about a Lesbian Utopia set in the future.... now anyone who has raed that has got to agree that it is bloody good!

Going back to lurking now with tail between my legs........

[Dumbsaint]

Amberslave, don't be silly. Just 'cause I disagree with your opinion on one lesbo novel doesn't mean you have to slink out of the thread with your tail between your legs.

And ya know, you really oughtn't to get me started on the subject of anything between anyone's legs. I can't be trusted with an open-ended innuendo. Really, I can't.

I haven't read the Katherine Forrest book you mentioned, but I did very much like her Curious Wine, which takes its title from one of my very favorite Emily Dickinson poems. It was one of the only good coming out type novels I ever read. As I remember it, the dyke drama was impressively minimal for that type of storyline.

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Little drummer girl.

[amberslave]

I'm not really going back to lurkdom.... I just enjoy having something between my legs...

another great book by Katherine V. Forrest is An Emergence of Green.... the ending is a tad heavy and upsetting but well worth reading.

If u like lesbian detective fiction then try any Deborah Powell book that is a Hollis Carpenter mystery!

I really don't mind feeding your double innuendos either..... fnarr fnarr!

[xita]

Annie on my mind is oh so sweet. I read it as a teen too so that was just perfect.

Sad as this is to say I was an addict to NAIAD once, I am ashamed to say it. So sad, those books sit amongst cobwebs in my garage now. I know no shame.

[heironyma]

Everybody
Has
To Read

The Sappho Companion.
Sappho was possibly the coolest person ever. She wrote bloody fantastric poetry and she was female when most women were illiterate and she was gay, and this book is a very good guide to her poetry and all the mucked-up ways she's been rewritten in ways that make male authors more comfortable AND also some rather wonderful ways she's been reread including for those of us that do like Jeanette Winterson a super-duper final piece called 'Everything you always wanted to know about lesbians but were afraid to ask.'

[kissystarcowboy]

annie on my mind is one of the most darling books ever- i read it when i was coming out and i loved it.

anne mccaffrey is awesome. i've never read any of her books, but her granddaughter was my first girlfriend. she lives at dragonhold, in ireland. she's wonderful- do buy her books, don't just check them out. she's singlehandedly supporting a rash of young lesbians.

anchee min is EXCELLENT. red azalea and katherine are both absolutely wonderful. becoming madame mao is grand as well, though lacking in the lesbian scheme of things.

i cannot believe that no one has mentioned emma donoghue's book kissing the witch. it's a collection of intertwined fairy tales, rewritten with a feminist, lesbian twist. i've read the book aloud to my ex and we loved it. a must must must must read.

also, if you like fantasy, jane yolen's books about the women of the dales are fabulous. there are three- but the first two are only sold as one volume at this point. the third isn't so great, but the first two are grand.

[Caillin]

I'm really glad to see someone mentioned Octavia Butler. A rare breed indeed. Her books are very spiritual, and explore a lot about gender.

Madeleine L'Engle.

Jacqueline Carey. New author, "Kushiel's Dart." Set in an alternate reality of medieval France, it's all about an "anguisette," a sacred prostitute with the blessing/curse of craving pain and finding enjoyment in sex, however it comes to her. I loved it.

Susan Cooper.

[AutumnT]

quote:

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Originally posted by xita:
Sad as this is to say I was an addict to NAIAD once, I am ashamed to say it. So sad, those books sit amongst cobwebs in my garage now. I know no shame.

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You're not the only one.

quote:

[WyrdOne]

A lot of my favorites have already been mentioned (Madeleine L'Engle, Anne McCaffrey, etc.) but I do have one new contribution...

Tamora Pierce - has written several quartets, including The Immortals (my personal favorite), Song of the Lioness, and Circle of Magic. Currently in progress are The Circle Opens and another one whose name I've forgotten...she does write for teenagers, but the books are so entertaining...and wonderful female characters.

I love this thread; I'm taking notes for my next trip to the bookstore (have to turn in a job application...eep).

[xita]

I wonder if NAIAD sales went down with the proliferation of fanfic.

[kissystarcowboy]

ohh, NAIAD. those books bring me back to high school. they always had really cheesy sex scenes. a few years ago, the university bookstore had a giant sale and sold NAIAD books for 5/$1. it was fun. i bought a stack and donated them to the GLBT campus center.

i've pretty much abandoned queer fiction for fanfic. still have my nonfic standbys though.

[atua]

I can't believe nobody's mentioned Laurell K. Hamilton's "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series!! Especially considering this is a board on BTVS!

[Cicca]

quote:

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Originally posted by lion + dove:
Welcome Cicca *smile* and thanks for bringing about Madeleine L'Engle- especially Meg.

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Meg is a treasure. And I was always thrilled to read about a scruffy girl with glasses who grew up to be beautiful.... *G* Shallow much? But Meg is beautiful inside and out.

And speaking of that story, I just found out that they've made a miniseries of it that will air this fall. I think. Some curious casting choices...

quote:

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been meaning to read Possession. another current English femme I did read was [b]Anita Brookner's Hotel Du Lac (another Booker Prize winner). a little ruminative for some tastes but amazing companion piece to Mann's Death in Venice told from a woman's point of view.

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I really do recommend Possession. I reread it recently and it's still enjoyable, but reading it the first time is just stunning. And definitely give it a try before the movie is out...

quote:

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speaking of Booker Prize winners, I love Margaret Atwood! how could I forget her. her Handmaid's Tale is amazing piece of feminist lit and I highly recommend [b]The Blind Assasin. sci fi embedded within a tale of two sisters. i'm at amazon right now checking out the rest of your list, fell.

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I'm still trying to find some Margaret Atwood that really grabs me. The Handmaid's Tale was fascinating, but soooo harsh. The only other I've read is The Robber Bride. Quite strange! She can be such an amazing writer and still piss me off at the same time. *G*

Happy reading!

I'm waiting for The Fiery Cross from the library... *slightly embarrassed grin*

And I'll hope that I fixed up the quotey bold stuff. We shall see!

[This message has been edited by Cicca (edited February 01, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Cicca (edited February 01, 2002).]quote:quote:quote:

[Jae]

Okies, I don't believe anyone has mentioned this author yet, so I have to reccommend Charles de Lint. He's a fantasy author, but with a twist, in that it's sorta modern day, almost believable-type fantasy. I generally term the genre urban fantasy, as much of it takes place in the city. Very neat, as he sort of works on blurring the line of reality. Anyway, a -lot- of his stuff has strong female characters. Really, I feel he writes female characters more strongly than his male ones. I'd most strongly recommend his short story collections, and if you like those, read Memory and Dream, and The Onion Girl. Both have great female characters. Another neat thing is that there are multiple lesbians in his short stories and he (in my opinion) writes/deals with it really well. Look at the short story "Passing" in the short story collection Moonlight and Vines. Hope y'all like him.

[GridMonkey]

One of my favorites is If You Had a Family by Barbara Wilson. My mom sent it to me because she thought I'd like it and I do. It's about a lesbian woman coming to grips with her mother's death among other things. It kind of feels like Fannie Flagg books or Rebecca Wells books, but it's not set in the south.

I also like Amy Tan. Particularly The Bonesetter's Daughter (I believe that's the correct title.) But Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God's Wife, and One Hundred Secret Senses are also good.

The Gael Baudino book with lesbians is called Gossamer Axe. It's pretty good. And her Starlight series was good too. Gossamer Axe has magic and Rock and Roll.

And even though Harry Potter is a boy Hermione Granger is the best character and J.K. Rowling's favorite too. She's just too cool and she'll be Head Girl in a few years.

Ursula K. Le Guin has been mentioned, but I like her The Left Hand of Darkness a lot. Another book my mom sent me, and it's autographed. Neat-o.

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Ms. Calendar: The part that gets me, though, is where Buffy is the Vampire Slayer. She's so little.

[Artemisia]

The Roaring Girl By Middleton(&Decker?)
is a great Renaissance play with a wicked cool heroine who is both alive & unmarried at the end.
I hear Diana of The Crossways by I think Meredith(George) has a good heroine.
oooh & i forget has anyone mentioned anne bronte yet- i really like tennet of wildfell hall.

ooh, jeanette winterson oranges are not the only fruit is very interesting- though it is autobiographical!
(btw, how could you like mansfield park movie- grrr, is jane travesty!)

what a cool topic!

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It left us speechless, quite speechless I tell you, and we have not stopped talking of it since.
Miss Bates(emma 2)

[This message has been edited by Artemisia (edited January 11, 2002).]

[Web Warlock]

Faves-
love Marion Zimmer Bradely and Tanith Lee. Never fail to enjoy their works. On the fantasy end I also really like Margret Weis, and I have talk to her once or twice over email and she is really cool.

never cared for Poppy Z. Brite, I get the feeling she is trying to be shocking just to shock (which then has the exact opposite response in me). Could never get through the "Anita Blake" books.

I like Ann Rice, but some of her stuff is so over done. She is almost at the self-parody level now with some of her books.

Warlock

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Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[Rally]

On the science fiction front, a must read for anyone into strong female characters. Almost anytyhing written by John Varley. But in particular, his trilogy Titan / Wizard / Demon are simply amazing.
I guarantee if you read these, you will not put them down.

-R