First of all, a big thanks to the Book Bingers for asking me to write a guest post. I feel so special. 😛
So basically all I’ve got are some ramblings on characters: historical and contemporary heroines and characters in series.
Historical vs. Contemporary Heroines – what gives?
A hero is a hero – no matter what time period he belongs in. I expect the same characteristics from a man no matter when or where: a good looking guy, not too arrogant, but confident in himself and sexy to boot. This transcends space and time. It doesn’t hurt if he has an affinity for animals and he really gets the heroine. LOL But the heroine? That’s a different story. A virgin from the 1800s is going to be different from a virgin in 2007. The rules of society for our historical heroine are strict and she is to be innocent (but not naïve) and in need of a husband to cherish and protect her. (Hogwash, but you get the picture, right?) Any heroine who is a thinker and practical and kind of chafes at these rules is always a winner in my book. But a contemporary heroine has to go a little bit further to impress me. Why? Because I compare her actions to my own. And I know that I’m real and these are fictional people and they have a different background and blah blah blah – but if I were to put myself in that situation, that’s the criteria I use. Some situations, this would be hard to do. Like say Cormia from Lover Unbound. LOL That’s a bit out there, but I know what I like, and I don’t like her. Someone like Xhex, for example, impresses me. She’s a security guard – and that’s a heroine that floats my boat. So maybe I’m not necessarily comparing a contemporary heroine to myself, but more like an Angelina Jolie character. Ha ha (But I’ve got a girl crush on her, so of course I’m biased) But I’m sick of girly girls and I want a heroine that I can see kicking ass. So I judge a contemporary heroine more harshly than I do historical chicks, what about you? (As an aside, who know which heroine has got it going on? Victoria Grantworth from Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire series. She kicks ass in a historical time. A winning combo!)
Characters in Series – my thoughts
Two things with this one. First – although I feel there are way too many series out there, I kind of prefer them. Especially with slightly longer series, where we really get to know the characters. I’m not a psycho rabid fan-girl who obsesses over the characters, but I admit I like to read about some of my favourites. Like Max and Gina from Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter series. And hello, Robin! There’s one character whose story I was eagerly awaiting for ever. And I’m the same way now about John from the Black Dagger Brotherhood and Ash from the Dark Hunters. Sometimes though, this knowledge of a character hinders my ability to enjoy a stand alone novel. I mean, who are these characters? Why do I care about them? In reality, it’s the author’s job to make me care and get to know, and that’s fun too. But there’s no real emotional attachment. A prime example of a novel that throws my thoughts about this subject out the window is Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels. That novel worked because Jessica kicked ass, and then we got to know Dain really well. I really cared then! But sometimes, I don’t want to pick up a stand alone because I’m just lazy to get to know new people. I guess you gotta be in the mood for some strangers. But I find series comforting in a way.
Unless…the author freakin’ gives the character a lobotomy between books! That’s the second issue – when a character differs from book to book. Prime example? Lillian from Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflower series. Ugh. I really liked Lillian in It Happened One Autumn. She was kind of kick ass. But when we get to Daisy’s book? Who the hell is this whiny baby? I don’t care that she’s pregnant and worried about her sister moving away from her – she was horrible!! Another character who isn’t the same? ANITA BLAKE. But don’t get me started on her. LOL Just give me some good characters. That’s all I’m asking.
Am I off the wall or just hard to please? LOL Who do you think writes good heroines?
Thanks again ladies!!
Ames
Thrifty Reader
I think Linda Howard writes great contemp heroines. Generally kick ass with none of that penis evny that drives me insane. Nora Roberts rides the line, sometimes crossing into TSTLville but mostly writing good, strong, capable heroines.
Hmm…I don’t know who else.
While I’m pretty harsh on my contemp heroines, I’m even more harsh on Historical heroines. So harsh in fact that I tend to skip historicals all together. I find that I can’t really cut the Historical Heroines a break when I should, it was a different world but I find I just get too annoyed. I have a few exceptions though I like historicals set on the frontier or that have/relate to Native Americans (Hello, MacKenzie’s by Howard or Ride the Fire by Clare). And I like anything to do with Scotland or Ireleand (Contemp or Historical). Otherwise I can’t be bothered with historicals they usually just annoy me.
I love series too. I completely agree about getting to know the characters over long peroids and getting to revisit your favs.
And Anita Blake? Hehe….the horror, the horror….but we love it eh?! 😉
Holly-yet another reason to hurry up and read Linda’s backlist. LOL
Mollie-That’s an interesting take on historical heroines. I think maybe I cut them too much slack. And yeah, we love Anita, and we love to hate her. 😛
Personally, I’m not as strict with heroes and heroines as everyone seem to be. I mean, there are women out there that aren’t as self-assured, strong and kick-ass. Like me, LOL 😛 As long as she’s not TSTL and overly naive (like 30-y.o. author virgin that doesn’t know the mechanics of sex), I don’t mind. As for historicals, seriously, how many of them really act like ppl of that era? I think that most historical heroines nowadays are described as strong and independant – not needing or wanting a husband… What annoys me the most is the sex before marriage. I can understand in a couple of books, but all of them? Take the Cynsters Bar series by Stephanie Laurens… Name me one book in which they haven’t had sex before marriage? I can understand a couple of kisses here and there and even fondling, but the whole 9 yards? Euh, come on. So I guess, I’m the opposite. More harsh on historical heroines than contemporary ones.
As for series, I like them, but I’m more into the series with different characters as H/H in each of the book as opposed to following one heroine in the long run. I don’t mind getting to know the characters in other books, but please, don’t steal the show… and also, when it’s finally your book, don’t let others steal the show.
I do like Howard’s heroines. They don’t take any crap, I agree.
And Ames, I agree with you, I am definitely harsher on contemporary heroines than I am on historicals. I blogged about this very topic several months ago when I found myself dissing every heroine in every book I was reading.