BTT: Heroine

From Booking Through Thursday:

Who is your favorite female lead character? And why? (And yes, of course, you can name more than one . . . I always have trouble narrowing down these things to one name, why should I force you to?)

That's a hard one. I read lots of science fiction, which doesn't really shine with a) female leads b) interesting, memorable protagonists in general. I'm more interested in twisty, captivating plots than deep, lifelike characters.

However, one female character stands out: Eliza from Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle trilogy. The story of the girl stolen to Barbary slavery who becomes a key manipulator in the whole European political scene, all the while suffering from various setbacks and the lack of respect women had in the 17th century where the book is set. She's smart and she's powerful, but in a very subtle and fascinating way.

Then of course there's Hermione Granger - is there a bookish nerd who doesn't love her? Mrs. Charbuque of The Portrait of Mrs. Charbuque is more of an antagonist than a protagonist, but charming nevertheless. I also liked Mag from Ombria in Shadow.

Of my recent reads, Four Ways to Forgiveness has interesting female characters (but then again, that describes most of Le Guin's books).