FIESTY FEMALE CHARACTERS

Why Read Women Writers

Women shouldn’t only be celebrated on a designated day but every day! Why should you be reading books written by women? Because you should be reading all different types of books! All topics, all genres, all sorts of writers from all over the globe: all should be celebrated, and that’s what we do at Full Cycle Publications.

From a Woman’s Perspective…

You’ve heard of female intuition…well, nothing comes close when crafting a witty, sassy, feisty heroine. Female characters are most effective and believable when they’re created and fleshed out by women writers. Some of our very favorite writers—who just happen to be women—include (but are not limited to)—Joan Didion, Toni Morrison, and Jane Austen. These extraordinary writers have created some of the most memorable characters ever penned on paper (and these listed in this blog just happen to be female).

Female Characters We Love

“Sir,” she said, “you are no gentleman!” “An apt observation,” he answered airily. “And, you, Miss, are no lady.” -(from Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind”)

• Elizabeth Bennet (in 1813’s “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen) is, by now, almost notorious for her forward-thinking, ahead-of-her-time independence, and wit. That’s why “Pride and Prejudice” is such an affecting (and effective) love story that has stood the test of time. Mr. Darcy is just fine, but our favorite character is, by far, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She’s the one we root for and truly care about.
• Maria (pronounced “Mar-eye-a”) in Joan Didion’s 1970 novel, “Play It As It Lays”: Not only does this book teach us readers about minimalism, the importance of white space on the page and what is not said, it is also a brilliant musing on life in Los Angeles at the end of the 1960s, loneliness, apathy, substance abuse and complicated relationships. The decisive language used is a master class for any aspiring writer, and the reader cannot help but fill in the gaps on what happens to its complex protagonist and narrator.
• Toni Morrison’s “Sula” (1973) tells the story of its titular character and makes no bones about her independent, open, unapologetic nature. A must-read for anyone who wants a compelling, all-encompassing read about authentic girlhood friendship and what happens when these characters become adult women.
• “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath (1963) details the trials and tribulations of its protagonist Esther Greenwood. A must-read for any fan of Plath (her only novel), “The Bell Jar” is a quintessentially female take on a wounded psyche (and is also semi-autobiographical).
• Scarlett O’Hara in Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 historical novel “Gone With the Wind”: O’Hara is sort of the prototype for feisty female characters in a novel. Famously brought to life by Vivien Leigh, she is nothing short of bratty, spoiled, selfish, vivacious, beautiful, and tough. The character of Scarlett O’Hara may not always be likable, but that’s what makes her believable and so difficult to resist!

From Full Cycle Publications

Soheir Khashoggi’s “Mirage”:

This novel is filled with intrigue and scandalous subject matter. It’s the story of a Middle Eastern woman trapped in an abusive marriage who, tired of severe oppression, must give up everything she knows to escape to the United States in search of freedom not only for herself but for her baby. A study in Islamic culture, starting over and hiding one’s true identity for survival, Khashoggi’s “Mirage” is a stylish and sleek must-read for anyone who loves a good page-turner.

For more information on what Full Cycle Publications has to offer (including Soheir Khashoggi’s “Mirage”), visit the website and check out the link below:

www.fullcyclepublications.com/product/mirage/