Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly linkup of book bloggers hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl! This week, we’re highlighting book characters that remind us of ourselves. So there are a decent contingent of smart, book-nerdy girls on here, but also some that are probably less flattering comparisons.
Hermione Granger (Harry Potter): I know I just used her a couple months back in a similar topic. But is there an overachieving girl who doesn’t identify with Hermione?
Emma Woodhouse (Emma): I am not much of a matchmaker, but I do enjoy gossip and drama like our girl here. And Emma does have a brain in her head: we’re told she’s clever right there in the opening line.
Meg Murray (A Wrinkle in Time): For reasons not worth getting into right now, I was an often-angry little girl. It’s rare to find stories that center on a girl who gets mad and makes that part of her heroism.
Francie Nolan (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn): Francie’s determination to get an education and love for learning and reading make her a role model for plenty of nerdy girls.
Esther Greenwood (The Bell Jar): I struggled with mental health and depression growing up and still do, honestly. Esther’s struggle feels so familiar.
Daine Sarassri (Wild Magic): I tried getting into the Alanna series, but the central character’s bravery was never something I could identify with. Daine’s love of animals, however, really spoke to me!
Lee Fiora (Prep): I spent quite a bit of time reading this book infuriated at its teenage protagonist…because she made so many of the same mistakes rooted in hyper self-conciousness that I have made and to be honest, continue to make.
Jules Jacobson (The Interestings): Jules’s struggle to recognize that her talents and worth may not be in the same place as her friends and deal with the jealousy she feels is all too recognizable.
Briony Tallis (Atonement): Briony’s failure to understand what she’s seen and desire to be important and listened to lead to tragedy…my own childhood busybody-ness didn’t have disastrous consequences, but that was more luck than anything.
Bridget Jones (Bridget Jones’s Diary): Who can’t relate to the refusal to really adult?