tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post5525982678762141949..comments2024-03-02T03:42:21.541-05:00Comments on Bastard Books: Guest Post: Portrayal of Strong Characters in Urban Fantasy by Sarah from Bookworm BluesBastardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06262625208142078301noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-66771335814499260452012-11-24T04:45:34.862-05:002012-11-24T04:45:34.862-05:00I just found this post & I have to say I absol...I just found this post & I have to say I absolutely adore it.<br /><br />"Strong women are constantly fighting silent (and some not-so-silent) battles. Life is full of battles for all of us, but I feel like the truly strong women are rather silent forces that fight internal battles as much as external." So true.<br /><br />My MC is a therapist & I think some of these "heroines" need appointments, stat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-22483887252034912502012-10-17T09:42:10.642-04:002012-10-17T09:42:10.642-04:00When I'm reading books, how "strength&quo...When I'm reading books, how "strength" is portrayed is not something I care to look for. I guess part of it the women aspect of it doesn't resonate as much to me as it would female readers. But how strength is portrayed via male characters will highly influence how I feel about a book.<br /><br />That said, completely agree with what you say here Sarah. The only thing is that I can't fault books for having a hot main character. I do have a problem though with how somehow they need to become the uber-bitch in order to be called strong at times. But more than that, I have problem with the portrayal of side-characters and the effect this main character has on them, and them on her.<br /><br />For example, on friendship... sometimes I find it hard to believe how many people start surrounding this character with a personality that I personally couldn't stand around for more than 5 seconds. Yet somehow people start gravitating towards them. Of course, when she's out saving lives, risking her live (for you) then it makes some sense, but I'd like to see side characters do a bit of a bigger stink about how much of a turd of a personality the character has. As it stands, it's like they're enablers.<br /><br />But my biggest problem is when this same characters meet the hot dude potential love interest and how the characters do a 180, particularly on an emotional level. It's like hot men are their kryptonite, and it just ruins characters in favor of making the main character more "vulnerable" hence heightening the drama.<br /><br />Few handle that situation to my liking.<br /><br />But in all, I agree with how the portrayal of strength can be a problem. I do think though that it's more of a problem of reader perception than the novel itself. As you mention, they can be fun reading, and that's how I usually evaluate my urban fantasy. Fun is usually one of my top criteria. I have no problem with female characters kicking major ass, and if they're hot, well bonus :) But I'm not going to hold that against them, but I understand why some would have issue with it. I know these Abercrombie model male characters that are often found in UF usually rub me the wrong way, usually they're the ones who ruin my reading. Bastardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06262625208142078301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-91555771492943276892012-10-15T19:48:09.303-04:002012-10-15T19:48:09.303-04:00The woman are over done in many of these books. I...The woman are over done in many of these books. I don't have a problem with a tough chick, but the attitudes sometimes are overboard. <br /><br />You are one of the strongest around here, knowing of some you've been through. Hope you are getting through this second round. Take care dear. ((hugs))Melissa (My World...in words and pages)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09621830513280969319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-13644253346699981462012-10-09T21:52:05.886-04:002012-10-09T21:52:05.886-04:00thank.
you.
SO much for this. If only I was a...thank. <br /><br />you. <br /><br />SO much for this. If only I was able to articulate my awkwardness towards the "strong women" of UF as elegantly and thoughtfully. redheadhttp://littleredreviewer.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-80997565902500601022012-10-09T08:22:54.012-04:002012-10-09T08:22:54.012-04:00Yes! So much yes! I know I've had my own rants...Yes! So much yes! I know I've had my own rants and posts before about the issue of strong female characters in novels and how strength comes in more forms than people like to realize, but Sarah, I think you said it better than I ever could. This was an awesome post to read, and I thank you for writing it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-45612629515406001542012-10-08T22:53:12.570-04:002012-10-08T22:53:12.570-04:00I read a bunch of urban fantasy novels several yea...I read a bunch of urban fantasy novels several years ago. Suddenly I stopped reading them - after 3 or 4 books in a series and couldn't bring myself to pick up new ones. It took me a while to discover why I didn't like them anymore. <br /><br />Like you I found these 'strong' women becoming cookie cutter characters. More than that though, they acted like teenagers. As The Mighty Buzzard mentioned in the comments, they're all angst and 'I don't need help to do stuff'. <br /><br />Going it alone isn't strong, it's generally stupid (and doesn't work, as most of the 'strong' women in these books end up needing help after all). I just found as a woman in my late 20s, I couldn't relate to so called 20 somethings who acted like 16 year old girls. I wanted them to grow up. Adults ask for help when they need it. Adults make decisions and don't string 2 guys (or more) along for fun. Adults have faced hardships that have helped them grow as individuals. <br /><br />Great post. :)Jessica Striderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13375221959854098665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-52225702800165058122012-10-08T17:05:46.707-04:002012-10-08T17:05:46.707-04:00Wish you were in charge of a publisher, to make so...Wish you were in charge of a publisher, to make some better decisions.<br /><br />One example of a strong woman character I've recently read is Mariko in "Shogun." In one scene she wields a sword, and yet she knows she won't win, but her honor and integrity leave her no choice. That's strength.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-62960990974258930852012-10-08T12:34:14.350-04:002012-10-08T12:34:14.350-04:00Wonderful post! Well said, I really like what you ...Wonderful post! Well said, I really like what you say about strong characters and agree completely that a lot of the ones that are supposed to be strong aren't.Kristenhttp://www.fantasybookcafe.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-8536916386748260382012-10-08T12:28:11.079-04:002012-10-08T12:28:11.079-04:00Bravo Sarah! This has been Urban Fantasy's wea... Bravo Sarah! This has been Urban Fantasy's weakest point and ironically its strongest suit for selling books. Hopefully this perception will change soon but I'm not holding my breath for it. <br /><br /> Until then we will have to bear more and more women who are supposedly bad-ass and are depicted standing awkwardly on the covers of UF books<br /><br /> MihirThe Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01060590167867977158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-83767775594594645162012-10-08T12:10:54.956-04:002012-10-08T12:10:54.956-04:00Nice. And er... I couldn't agree more. Well, I...Nice. And er... I couldn't agree more. Well, I'd agree even if you hadn't mentioned my books. :)Stina Lecihthttp://www.csleicht.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-31895544540014140122012-10-08T12:09:36.856-04:002012-10-08T12:09:36.856-04:00Sarah, I hadn't even thought of this issue whe...Sarah, I hadn't even thought of this issue when I wrote my post--but I think your point is even more poignant than mine in many ways. Realistic Characters Matter. Paul Weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444942522624902562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-15064150187764007372012-10-08T12:03:49.705-04:002012-10-08T12:03:49.705-04:00I bow down and worship at the altar of Sarah. You ...I bow down and worship at the altar of Sarah. You have just articulated each and every complaint that I have with a lot of these "strong" female characters. Thank you, ma'am.T. Frohockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04807817898955012947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-35331500741547442872012-10-08T11:43:31.536-04:002012-10-08T11:43:31.536-04:00Right there with you.
You want to write a strong ...Right there with you.<br /><br />You want to write a strong woman, make her mentally and emotionally strong first. A character in her 20s-30s with teenaged levels of angst and indecisiveness is pretty much the opposite of strong.<br /><br />The portrayals of the obligatory male love interest is just as bad too. Yes, it's just as disgusting to write male characters as depthless sex/romance toys as it is to write female characters as simpering boob-transportation devices.The Mighty Buzzardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09703728129545347266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-27802397222273640092012-10-08T11:33:16.082-04:002012-10-08T11:33:16.082-04:00Hear hear! Hear hear! Carahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16702487635613889357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-10304585013963001532012-10-08T10:28:26.731-04:002012-10-08T10:28:26.731-04:00Well said. Very well said.Well said. Very well said.Adventuresfantastichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16907562789681407416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748211313953490132.post-75750356805087782422012-10-08T09:46:56.239-04:002012-10-08T09:46:56.239-04:00what she said.what she said.Mark Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877925828353073272noreply@blogger.com