Those Tough Lit Chicks

29 Jan 2013

Those Tough Lit Chicks

I can’t resist those tough chicks of our favorite classic lit reads.

What are the qualifications for a tough chick of lit? Well, how about capable, quick of wit, common sense, a set of skills, determination, fudging the lines of feminine acceptability for the time period, and not necessarily physically a beauty contestant in looks but going for lots of personality?

Here is a grocery list of chicks of lit likables: (all images from GoodReads)

Pippi Longstocking

Scout Finch

To Kill a Mockingbird

Jo March

Little Women

Laura Ingalls

Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #2)

Jane Eyre

Elizabeth Bennett

Pride and Prejudice

Janie Crawford

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Shakespeare’s Beatrice and Kate

Much Ado About Nothing The Taming of the Shrew

Lucy Honeychurch

A Room with a View / Howards End

Thursday Next

The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next #1)

Katniss Everdeen

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Mick Kelly

Francie Nolan

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

That’s just a start. I’m working on round two. Any nominations? Who is on your list for literature’s tough chicks?

A Mistaken Tree (cricketmuse.wordpress.com)
The Failed Female Protagonist (josvensson.wordpress.com)

Posted in Books, Literature, Reading, reviews, Uncategorized, writers and tagged classics, GoodReads, heroines, literary female protagonists, Literature, Shakespeare

18 thoughts on “Those Tough Lit Chicks”

letizia on January 29, 2013 at 2:06 pm said:

‘Tough Lit Chicks’ – love it!

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- cricketmuse on January 30, 2013 at 8:54 pm said:
  
  thanks–I know there must be more…trying to squeeze my literary remembering on come up with a round two.
  
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heylookawriterfellow on January 29, 2013 at 2:17 pm said:

Great list! “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” was an unexpected surprise when I picked it up a couple of years ago. It now ranks as one of my all time favorite novels.

How can one not love Francie?

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- cricketmuse on January 30, 2013 at 8:52 pm said:
  
  I need to look up the movie. On the other hand, I’m concerned how they adapted the book, since it was so amazing.
  
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  - heylookawriterfellow on January 30, 2013 at 9:20 pm said:
    
    Never saw the movie. Do let me know how it is.
yawriterinthemaking on January 29, 2013 at 4:47 pm said:

I nominate Eponine from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables; I recently finished reading the unabridged version of the book and Eponine ended up being one of my favorite characters b/c of her spunky and resilient spirit.

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- cricketmuse on January 30, 2013 at 8:50 pm said:
  
  I can she where she is considered tough. Although it is much more encouraging when they are tough and survive their circumstances. I definitely see the resilency aspect.
  
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redpeffer on January 29, 2013 at 7:19 pm said:

Pippi Longstocking rocks!

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- cricketmuse on January 30, 2013 at 8:49 pm said:
  
  She sure does!
  
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Eagle-Eyed Editor on January 30, 2013 at 2:43 am said:

May I also suggest Lisbeth Salander of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? The ultimate tough lit chick, flawed but loyal when it counts.

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- cricketmuse on January 30, 2013 at 8:48 pm said:
  
  I haven’t read this series, although from what I hear Lisbeth would definitely be considered a tough chick.
  
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  - Eagle-Eyed Editor on February 1, 2013 at 10:04 am said:
    
    The books are graphic, but you end up rather liking Lisbeth’s style in spite of what she does.
Literary Tiger on January 30, 2013 at 4:32 am said:

I’m reading Les Liasons Dangereuses and I believe the Marquise de Merteuil is one tough mudder. Granted, she was all about revenge and jealousy, but I won’t hold it against her.

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- cricketmuse on January 30, 2013 at 8:47 pm said:
  
  Not familiar with this one–French?
  
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  - Literary Tiger on January 30, 2013 at 9:21 pm said:
    
    I’m sure you’re familiar — the English translation is Dangerous Liaisons. I’m reading the English version, but the title on the book remained French. Odd, huh? Anyway, did you see the movie with John Malkovich, Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer.
  - cricketmuse on January 30, 2013 at 9:33 pm said:
    
    I’ve heard ot this movie, but haven’t seen it. Malkovich creepy as usual in this one? He was a major creeper in Portrait of a Lady.
  - Literary Tiger on January 31, 2013 at 2:10 am said:
    
    I didn’t see Portrait of a Lady, but I thought Malkovich was great in Dangerous Liaisons. Glenn Close played the Marquise de Meteuil, and she was awesome!
  - cricketmuse on January 31, 2013 at 2:46 am said:
    
    Glenn Close is a fave, for sure. Remember her as Cruella de Ville? I adore how she can play a diversity of roles. She’s right up there with Emma Thompson and Meryl Streep. I hope they all do a movie together someday. What a kicker that would be!