Women In Books: Huffington Post Readers Pick Their Favorite Heroines

There's been a big stink about the difference between male and female writers, kicked up by VS Naipaul a couple of weeks ago when he said no woman was his literary match. So we started thinking, who are your favorite women characters in books?

We asked, you answered and everybody seems to love the Victorians, when the rebellious few stood out like sore thumbs. A few modern heroines made a showing as well.

Did we miss your favorite heroine? Let us know in the comments!

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Jane Eyre, from Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre"

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Jane Eyre was picked by many readers, and we can see why. Though she was extremely mistreated as a child, she never let it destroy her self-worth. She maintains conviction throughout the novel, and always remains positive despite all her misfortunes. At a time when women's options were limited, Jane Eyre manages to independently establish a comfortable living for herself. She also rejects Mr. Rochester despite loving him when she believes that he has committed a misdeed, proving her courage and strength.

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Jane Eyre was picked by many readers, and we can see why. Though she was extremely mistreated as a child, she never let it destroy her self-worth. She maintains conviction throughout the novel, and always remains positive despite all her misfortunes. At a time when women's options were limited, Jane Eyre manages to independently establish a comfortable living for herself. She also rejects Mr. Rochester despite loving him when she believes that he has committed a misdeed, proving her courage and strength.

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This Book Heroine

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Comments

[maryfreakingsunshine]

04:32 PM on 06/30/2011

Elizabeth Bennett, Jo March, Jane Eyre, Miss Marple, Scout Finch and Emily Grierson (just a great short story).

[socialtalker]

11:38 PM on 06/28/2011

Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s No. 1 Lady Detective

[henriette and hube]

12:06 PM on 06/28/2011

Elizabeth Bennet, Jane Eyre and Frieda in Margaret Drabble's The Witch of Exmoor. Frieda's an aging author who's grown children want to run her life when Frieda wants to do it her way.

[Bellanova]

11:58 AM on 06/28/2011

No Madame Bovary? Anyone?

OK, I'll claim her.

[ibreathe4u]

06:23 AM on 06/28/2011

Elphaba from "Wicked". She was so misunderstood.

[PatrickforO]

10:51 PM on 06/27/2011

Of the ones shown in the slides, Jane Eyre gets my vote. Loved her, loved the book. How about Ayla in Jean Auel's Earth's Children series? Or Sheherazade in Arabian Nights? Nancy Drew?

[MajorKong]

09:55 PM on 06/27/2011

Lyra - The Golden Compass
Ree Dolly - Winter's Bone

[Bellanova]

11:58 AM on 06/28/2011

I second Ree.

[Kitty Katze]

05:37 PM on 06/30/2011

Yes, Lyra! Lyra is the best.

[taxtherichNJ]

09:50 PM on 06/27/2011

Where's Hester Prynne?! Surely she has influenced feminism and literature more than Adah Price?

[smilodon1]

09:30 PM on 06/27/2011

Instead of Ayn Rand, how about Xaviera Hollander?

[FriarTuck13]

08:21 PM on 06/27/2011

The Dashwood Sisters
Lizbeth Salander cause she kicks butt.

[Stephanie Wills]

07:42 PM on 06/27/2011

I like Sookie's character in the HBO series but, the books are HORRIBLE.

[FPhoebe]

11:03 AM on 06/28/2011

I'm reading the first book right now, I like it so far!

[Debru]

07:31 PM on 06/27/2011

A few of my favorites:

Katniss Everdene - The Hunger Games trilogy
Nadia Chernyshevski - Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy
Margaret Schlegel - Howards End
O-Lan - The Good Earth
Mattie Ross - True Grit
Tess of The D'Ubervilles

[AC Fraser]

07:10 PM on 06/27/2011

Lisbeth Salander. Favorite. Ever.

[jf12]

05:32 PM on 06/27/2011

Eowyn. Counting books made from movies, Princess Leia. It is important to keep in mind that while her twin brother was at 19 years age just a bumpkin wasting time shooting womprats, Leia was simultaneously a ruler of her world, one of the most important leaders of the entire Galactic Imperial Senate, an interplanetary spy, and a director of the rebel alliance.

[ericladwig]

03:38 PM on 06/27/2011

If you are looking for female heroines, you should try Fires Trilogy, fantasy series. End of Dry Days, Tree of Sorrow and Last Dark Weapon. http://stores.lulu.com/Ericladwigataoldotcom

also available in Kindle forms: at Amazon.com