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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask for your favourite literary heroines?

128 replies

OrangePowered · 03/09/2019 13:17

I've just finished a book and I'm looking for inspiration.

My all time favourite is Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind. I love Rebecca (from Rebecca) too, and Cathy Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights.

Amber from Forever Amber is a recent discovery too. Any recommendations for what to read next?

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 03/09/2019 13:23

Elizabeth Bennett and Eleanor Dashwood

Love Austen's fiesty heroines

getupgonow · 03/09/2019 13:58

Elizabeth Bennett for sure.

Leapyearlover · 03/09/2019 14:55

Why Rebecca??

herculepoirot2 · 03/09/2019 14:56

Becky Sharp

Gingerkittykat · 03/09/2019 14:56

Jean Brodie

ChampagneCommunist · 03/09/2019 14:57

Harriet Vane - always the best.

Shoxfordian · 03/09/2019 14:58

Jo March

Pollaidh · 03/09/2019 15:01

Harriet Vane, Elizabeth Bennett, and Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. Quite like Anne Elliot, but she's a bit wet at times.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 03/09/2019 15:05

Fanny Price from Mansfield Park. Despite being shy, beaten down at every opportunity by those around her (the ghastly Mrs Norris, the Bertrams by whom she is reminded that she will "never be a Miss Bertram", her own family who barely notice her return and only have interest in their sons...) and gaslighted by those who won't accept her refusal of Henry Crawford, she stands her ground and is vindicated in the end.

MephistophelesApprentice · 03/09/2019 15:05

Honor Harrington, Mara Jade, The Rowan.

butmynameisveronica · 03/09/2019 15:10

Mameha from 'Memoirs of a Geisha'. She's an absolute stone-cold badass with grace, poise and deadly cunning.
Pelagia from 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' - she's as good a doctor as her Father, is denied respect, but never falters. Drosoula from the same novel as well.
Elizabeth Bennett, too.

Original poster
OrangePowered · 03/09/2019 15:11

Why Rebecca??

I can quite understand why she was awful to Maxim. He's a horrible character. He treats his second wife appallingly and if he acted the same around Rebecca then there's no wonder she behaved as she did. Better than snivelling about him like his second wife, although I did feel sorry for her.

I loved Becky Sharp and Jo March but have never been keen on Elizabeth Bennett. I've never heard of Harriet Vane so I'll look into that.

OP posts:
Mia184 · 03/09/2019 15:17

Ellen Olenska

Original poster
OrangePowered · 03/09/2019 15:32

Loved Ellen Olenska. Never understood why May still wanted a man who was so clearly in love with her cousin.

OP posts:
IhaveALooBrush · 03/09/2019 15:56

Scarlett O'Hara fan here too. She was just awful, and fabulous. In a world of fainting, simpering wet blankets, there she burned.

5foot5 · 03/09/2019 16:13

@OrangePowered That is a very interesting defence of Rebecca. When I was much younger Rebecca was one of my favourite books and I read it many times, always of course sympathising with the heroine and having a mental image of the young Laurence Olivier as Maxim. However, when I re-read it a few years ago as a more mature woman I too came to the conclusion that Maxim was an infuriating man who treated his second wife appallingly. It has never occurred to me to carry that further and view Rebecca more sympathetically. Interesting....

But @GingerKittyKat, isn't Jean Brodie revealed to be a fascist?

Ironfloor269 · 03/09/2019 16:16

Maggie Tulliver (The Mill on the Floss)
Jo March

Hobbesmanc · 03/09/2019 16:18

Moll Flanders- not read so much any more but a great story. Nan Astley from Tipping the Velvet- in fact several Sarah Waters characters. Deffo Scarlett and I love Amber St Clair too. Tess because she's just so tragic. More sinned against than sinner.

I adore Rebecca the novel but I don't really think we get much sense of her as a real person.

June or OfFred is totally kickass. although I'm a little influenced by Elizabeth Moss's version.

Darrel Waters in Mallory Towers or early George in the Famous Five- she gets a bit watered down in the later books

And Lucia Pillson in the Mapp and Lucia books- truly the most amazing woman in twentieth century literature.

Gilead · 03/09/2019 16:19

Jo March.
Becky Sharpe.
Lisbeth Salander. (I know but she's good)!

Picklypickles · 03/09/2019 16:19

Lyra Belacqua from His Dark Materials. How is Cathy Earnshaw a herione she was awful?!

TheNavigator · 03/09/2019 16:20

Marian Halcombe from the Woman in White is splendid.

BillywilliamV · 03/09/2019 16:23

Lucy Carlyle in the Lockwood and Co books

Ann Elliot

and another vote for Lucia, but only after she is widowed. In the first two books she’s just tiresome and I prefer Olga Bracely.

Soubriquet · 03/09/2019 16:23

Feyre Acheron/Cursebreaker from Court of Thorns and Roses

I absolutely love her character

mig58 · 03/09/2019 16:27

For a young adult but I loved Christine in Flambards. Must be 30 years since I read it but still remember it.

Hobbesmanc · 03/09/2019 16:28

and another vote for Lucia, but only after she is widowed. In the first two books she’s just tiresome and I prefer Olga Bracely.

She's deffo better in Tilling than Riseholme. At her best in her London Season though.

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