Great books by women, or with great female characters

[lionPLSdove]

okay, i'm guessing i'm not the only one in this situation:

having received gift certificates/money for the holidays, am now (or soon will be) looking to invest in some books and music (see gift certificate) that hopefully i will still be glad i got for years to come.

i know we've had topics before about good lesbian/bi/questioning, etc. lit- but i was wondering if we could expand on that to books by either kick-ass femmes or with amazing female characters...

that and perhaps offer a refresher course for those still looking for quality gifts for others, or something for themselves afterwards....

all genres and ages welcome. and hell even male characters to make it not so elitist- err i mean sexist *laughs* sorry about that.

for reference, some books I've read/own and/or am devoted to by female authors (I'm trying to read the "classics"):

All books Austen (personally recommend the big 'un Pride&Prejudice and Persuasion- avoid Mansfield Park the book (movie's better) if you don't want to be upset by Jane writing a significantly less strong/developed female character)
All things Eudora Welty
Edith Wharton (Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth)
George Eliot (reading Middlemarch right now)
Virginia Woolf
Dorothy Parker (though I like her personally more than any of her characters)
Edna Farber (another Algonquin woman- So Big and Giant)
Carson McCullers
Kate Chopin's The Awakening

noted holes:
Plath and Stein (not a big poetry reader)
Willa Cather (only read a few of her short stories)
Iris Murdoch

this all started (well reached a fever pitch) when my dad and i got into a lasting argument about whether they had been any great female authors. so i set out to read as many female writers (especially older female writers) as i could. and now i only give female authors as gifts to my friends.

forgot subset question:

who is your favorite female book character of all time?

don't shy away from children's books characters either. i've often thought that if i had a band i'd be tempted to name it The Bess/George Complex. feel free to steal this band name, as i will almost assuredly never be in a band. but do at least give some small print credit please *laughs*

Edited by: Warduke at: 10/6/02 9:25:32 am

[post]

Colette: the Claudine series. Awesome (and so was the French miniseries of it)! And Anais Nin also deserves mention!

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Wallpapers

I

[post]

My favourite female chararcter in a book would have to be Dorothea in 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot. I also love Maggie in 'The Mill on the Floss'.
As for books .. there's such a long list. I'll edit this when I get home.

I

[post]

Here's a couple of suggestions...
Havenstar by Glenda Noramly.(don't know about other territories,but published in the uk by virgin publishing in 1999).
or,How about any of the Sword and Sorceress books published by Daw and edited by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley (in the uk you could probably find them at Forbidden Planet or other import stores).

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fiat justitia,ruat caelum.

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[repostarchive]

I love reading Patrica Cornwell and Laurie King. Strong female writers, with strong female characters.

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Bloody hell, sodding, limey, shagging, knickers, bollocks...oh God...I'm English

I

[repostarchive]

quote:

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Originally posted by tommo:
Is there something wrong with me that I don't really like Jeanette Winterson? I studied her at university and I wasn't overly impressed then. I can't help feeling like I'm betraying my lesbian sisters...heh heh.

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Yes, Ruth. I'm sorry, but you'll have to turn in your membership card to the lesbian nation at once, and hand over any and all Indigo Girls CDs, flannel shirts, turkey basters, U-Hauls, jeeps, toasters, Terra Firma harnesses, or Lilith Fair ticket stubs. We trust your stay here in Lesbonia has been a happy one and wish you well on your return to the status quo. Thank you and have a pleasant tomorrow.

Well... unless of course you'd be willing to work out some kind of deal. You know, a lil sum'n sum'n to tide this officer of the Lesbian Police over until you can show proof of having read and enjoyed a JW (fabulous initials, by the way) book. I'm sure we could work something out...

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

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[repostarchive]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dumbsaint:

Finally, last year at the prompting of a writer buddy of mine I picked up Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters. It absolutely blew my mind. If you haven't read it, run, do not walk, to your nearest bookseller. It's profoundly fabulous. Really.

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Oh, yes, yes, yes! That is a FANTASTIC book! It is a gorgeously detailed tour through 1888 London that just happens to feature a lesbian as its (fascinating) central character. This is flat out literature, not lesbian literature.

God, I'm such a nerd. You say "1888 London" and "lesbian" in the same sentence and I get all worked up. I'm a unabashed history buff. Sigh.

I

[repostarchive]

Books feed your head!

Laurie R King's Kate Martinelli series. Anything by Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood, Carson McCullers, Flannery O'Connor, J California Cooper.

I'm sure there's more, but can't think yet, haven't had my morning coffee.

Great thread though! Great suggestions for books to add to my wish list!

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"To let this love survive would be the greatest gift that we could give"
Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)

I

[repostarchive]

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

I

[repostarchive]

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!

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[repostarchive]

What about anything written by Anais Nin?

"The Hunger"

"Pandora" by Anne Rice

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"Vita Brevis ~ Ars Longa!"

I

[repostarchive]

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.

I

[archiveposter]

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

I

[archiveposter]

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.

I

[archiveposter]

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
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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

I

[archiveposter]

First off, just want to echo the praise for...

- Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid's Tale, Blind Assassin.
- A S Byatt: Possession is amazing, plus takes a great, wry look at 70s/80s feminist/political-lesbian excesses (and its positive aspects).
- Alice Walker: The Color Purple.
- Gael Baudino: wow, that name takes me back
- Sheri S Tepper: v 'issue'-driven and consequently can get rather too strident at times. But has done some great stuff... try Beauty, Grass, The Gate to Women's Country or Gibbon's Decline and Fall.

I'm not personally a fan of Virginia Woolf, but my flatmate raves about Orlando, which I gather has lesbian currents in it.

Other good female authors and their works...

- Toni Morrison: Beloved.
- Melanie Rawn: fantasy. Her Dragon Prince/Dragon Star trilogies are great, and have more strong women than you can shake an extra flamey candle at.
- J V Jones: high fantasy. The Barbed Coil is a standalone with a strong female lead.

Other authors/books with strong female characters...

- Tolstoy: Anna Karenina (sorta...I'm not big on Anna but she is quite forceful at times, and is certainly interesting. Great book anyway).
- Robert Graves: I, Claudius - for Livia alone If nothing else, watch the first few eps of the wonderful BBC version from a few years back. Sian Phillips is so cool
- Guy Gavriel Kay: historical fantasy. My favourite author by quite a way. Try A Song for Arbonne, set in a world inspired by the high medieval France of the troubadours, the Court of Love, and the Albigensian Crusade; or the two part Sarantine Mosaic, set in an analogue of 6th century Byzantium, where the fate of nations is decided as much by the powerplay between three women as by war and Emperors. Fabulous, beautiful stuff. Also my personal fave, The Lions of Al-Rassan (multiculturalism and holy war in fantasy version of medieval Spain).
- Iain M Banks has a number of female protagonists/interesting female figures. Inversions, The Business.

Getting really classical, the plays of ancient Greek tragedian Euripides features many of the archetypal strong women: Medea, Clytemnestra, Antigone... and all done in such a way as to subvert the prejudices of his (predominantly male) audience. He was the master, and no mistake.

Must stop. Sorry. Love books, y'know?

Nic

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No sun, no moons, no stars over Al-Rassan.

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

I

[archiveposter]

since you've mentioned them both, at this point the hopeless romantic in me is compelled to ask...are jackie kay and carol ann duffy still together?

btw, more books: the shipping news by e. annie proulx.
michael cunningham: "the hours"or "flesh and blood". powerful female characters, and he is maddeningly good at descriptions. as a writer, he really makes me envious. about the only one, in this job. grrr, arggh indeed :-)
jean rhys: wide sargasso sea. can it be true? a woman writing like this at the start of last century?

I

[archiveposter]

This is a great thread!

I read mostly SciFi and Fantasy. Some of my favorite authors have already been mentioned:
- Mercedes Lackey - great female characters, and her "Magic's Pawn" trilogy is about a gay boy at the age of 15.
- Melanie Rawn
- Guy Gavriel Kay - the ones that have already been mentioned (A Song For Arbonne, Sailing to Sarantium, Lord of Emporors, Lions of Al-rassan), as well as Tigana, and the Fionovar Tapestry (The Summer Tree, the Wandering Fire, and the Longest Road). His writing is so beautiful and rich I find myself reading paragraphs over before I go on.
- Sherri S. Tepper - The Gate to Woman's Country

I'd also like to recommend:
- young adult author Cynthia Voigt, esp. the Dicey books, starting with Homecoming.
- Madeline L'engle - the Vicky Austin series, esp. A Ring of Endless Light.
- The Red Tent by Anita Diamant - great midrash!!!
- Woman On The Edge of Time by Marge Piercy
- the Stoner McTavish books by Sarah Dreher. There are things about her style that I don't always love, although I can't put my finger on them. But lesbian detective stories with a hint of the supernatural occasionally - very sweet!
- Children's picture books (I work in the children's section of a Barnes & Noble) - there are some fabulous new ones, esp. Stella, Star of the Sea, by Marie-Louise Gay; Lizzy and Skunk; and Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon. I can't remember the authors of the last two. All 3 of these picture books are perfect for 4-5 year-olds.

I

[archiveposter]

My favorite author is Patricia C. Wrede. She writes young adult and Adult fantasy with very strong female characters. If you get the chance, check out her Enchanted Forest Chronicles, as well as Merlion the Magician and The Magician's Ward. They are just great.

I

[modpost]

Also in the 'not-by-a-woman' category, I recommend Michael Cunningham's 'The Hours'. It's a lovely book, centered around Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs. Dalloway'.

Now, for the Brazilian Kittens and the rare among you who understand Portuguese, you gotta read 'Duas Iguais', by Cintia Moscovich. It's a beautiful, beautiful love story between two women, told with great sensibility.

I

[Repostposer]

I'm going to have to add:

Mercedes Lackey: for the Tarma and Kethry novels as well as the Diana Tregarde books.

Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, everyone here who loves Buffy should check them out, basiclly their an NC 17 version.

Daniel DeFoe's Moll Flanders.

Marion Zimmer Bradley for Mists of Avalon, most the women are extremlly well written.

Maggie Fury's Aurian trilogy.

And for the Xena fans, Missy Goods Dar and Kerry series.

I

[Repostposer]

Recent discovery: Anita Desai. Her Fasting, Feasting is a beautifully written set of parallel stories about women's lives in India and America.

Another major female author I haven't seen mentioned yet is Dorothy Dunnett, who sadly died late last year. She wrote massively complex historical fantasy - the Lymond Chronicles and the House of Niccolo series. Settings are early modern and Renaissance respectively.

Oh, and if you're interested in medieval Japan, you can do much worse than check out The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki. It deals with the various adventures of the original 'Shining Prince', and it's generally agreed to be one of the classics of Japanese literature. (Best translation is Royall Tyler's new one).

Nic

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No sun, no moons, no stars over Al-Rassan.

I

[mollyig]

Okay, I tried the search thingy, but it said no results found. I remember there was a book recommendations thread on the old board, and I thought it was really useful, and I found loads of new authors to check out via this, so am starting this thread for that purpose. (If the thread is in fact on the board, then I apologise most profusely!)



Some authors whose words I cherish:



Margaret Atwood, Barbara Kingsolver, Carson McCullers, Flannery O'Connor, J California Cooper, Laurie R King, and I'm sure there are loads more but can't think of them at the moment

[girlwiththebraids]

i agree on the anne mccaffrey, mercedes lackey, madeleine l'engle votes wholeheartedly...and whoever mentioned Chicks in Chainmail rocks!



also agreeing on Oranges...such a good book



i'd like to toss in my favorite book...The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff...a headstrong female wizard, an omnisexual prince and a closeted gay theif are the central characters who all rock!



braids

[oneinten]

Wow this is the coolest thread! I love books and now I have a few more titles and authors to look up to read.



I have to add myself to the list of people who like: Ursula K. Le Guin, Susan Cooper and Anne McCafferty they rock! I like Nicola Griffith too but only her Ammonite and Slow River so far. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues is on my bookself and I love to read and re-read the classics: Les Miserable and Tale of Two Cities. One thing I'm surprised about is that Jane Rule hasn't been mentioned. I love Desert Hearts -and we all know that lead to one of the early movies with lesbians not dying! Considering the hard time she had while she was writing them and the censorship she experienced I think she is a great author for the time.



I also must admit too that while I was coming out I was a huge fan of Karin Kallmaker. I also read alot of lesbian short stories anthologies, my favourite is Tide Lines edited by Lee Flemming (our very own Prince Edward Islander).

Edited by: oneinten at: 4/4/02 9:43:56 am

[heironyma]

Can anyone who's read Fingersmith tell me if it's all horrible and scary/upsetting? Lesbian novels have a tendency to be - has anyone noticed? I will probably still read it, but I'd rather be Prepared (like a boy scout) (or not) (same request goes for the other Waters books)

[KirkBaldridge]

This was very well received by the people on WillTara, so I'm hoping you folks will enjoy it as well.





EMPRESS OF THE WORLD by Sara Ryan.



It's a Young Adult book, if you go looking for it in your local library or anything. But it's very well-written and very moving, and I highly recommend it to everyone.

[girlwiththebraids]

i also just wanted to add...please, please read Kate Chopin's short fiction and don't base your opinions of her on The Awakening...her short fiction is more empowering (in certain cases)...there are some fluffy stories...but several fantastic ones (okay, so i wrote my senior thesis on her, and i'm biased...)



and thank you to everyone who posted before...this is giving me a fabulous book shopping list...and it's almost my birthday



mmm...shopping



braids

[SweetMamaJane]

I love seeing all these book recommendations. Thanks.



Jane

There are only four questions of importance in life:
What is sacred, of what is the spirit made, what is worth living for, and what is worth dying for. The answer to all of them is the same. Only love.

[Grace]

OK, this is probably my favorite thread so far. I just read this book call "Pages for You" by. . .I forget the author, but it's a pretty new book. Anyway, it is about this young woman who goes off to college and finds first love, who just happens to be her grad assistant, and a woman. The book chronicles Flannery (the main character) through her first year away from home and all the changes she goes through- emotional, spiritual, intellectual, sexual, etc. This relationship is beautiful and also difficult (as so many are.) The coolest thing is that it is written as a story about first love. The author doesn't really worry about labels. Gender and sexuality are not really major issues. This is about a young girls sexual awakening and the woman who helps her to see things a different way. It's written in an interesting way- each "chapter" is only two pages.





Another good book (actually play) is "A Doll House" by Ibsen. It is about a woman realizing she's not content with being a wife and mother and walks out.



If you like young adult/fantasy novels, check out Diana Wynne Jones. She is British and she writes with this really awesome, irreverent voice. Reminds me a little bit of our Buffy writers. My favorite is "Howl's Moving Castle."



I just got a book called St. Joan, (not Joan of Arc) a historical novel based on the idea that a woman was able to disguise herself as a man and was in power of the Catholic church for 2 years. The Vatican claims it is just a legend, but the authir has some interesting research. I'll let you all know if it's good.



Ok, so I just finished a lit/teaching degree and I LOVE to talk about books, especially any that are written by women or portrat strong female characters. So, anyone wants to talk, email me!



-Grace