Lit-life Ladies

So.

I'm working on a novel right now with a female protagonist that I really like. No, I think I love her. Yeah, I love her a lot.

Why, you ask?

She's fierce and vulnerable, enjoys all good things, insightful and sarcastic, a loner yet enjoys the company of others sometimes, will cry and afraid to cry, overcome some obstacles while avoiding others, and she doesn't take herself too seriously.

I posted earlier about the types of heroines that I love, and when I do, my mind automatically turns to the movies. Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in the Aliens series, Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in Terminator, Oprah Winfrey as Sophia in The Color Purple, Frances McDormand as Marge in Fargo, Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs, and Angela Bassett in totally-everything-she's-ever-been-in, even that sucky sci-fi film, Strange Days.

What about my first love: books?

How about...

Lucky Santangelo from Jackie Collins' Lucky Santangelo series. She's totally gangsta, beautiful and feared. Who can't appreciate that? (Man, I'm so glad my mother never censored my reading as a teen...)

Sula from the eponymous novel by Toni Morrison. She's misunderstood, strong, gives a damn about society's norms, a rabble-rouser.

Katherina from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (if you read it as a farce...)

Ramona from Beverly Cleary's Ramona series. One of the first characters I remember as a child. Still have Ramona the Brave I bought at school book fair.

Pippi Longstocking created by Astrid Lindgren. And I must admit, some of those movies from the 70s bleed into this. She outsmarts adults, seems to kinda live alone, tells great stories, can pick up her horse with one hand and has a monkey named Mr. Nilsson.

Who are you favorite literary ladies?