In my last column I talked a little about some of the wonderful male characters that have followed in Harry Potter’s footsteps. When faced with this column and feeling a bit out of ideas for a new and fresh theme, I asked around the office what my co-workers felt I should cover next. North Kitsap Herald Poulsbo reporter Jennifer Morris said “Well, you’ve written about the guys, but what about the girls?”
A very good question Morris, what about all those women that are the main characters in some seriously excellent books? Well, this column is dedicated to them, those ladies, young and old, who stood up for what they believed in, didn’t take no for an answer and truly lived up to the saying from Eleanor Roosevelt: “A woman is like a tea bag — you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”
“The Looking Glass Wars” by Frank Beddor published by Dial in 2006: This is Alyss as you’ve never seen her before. Forget all that falling through the looking glass in the puffy blue dress stuff, Frank Beddor creates a whole new world from the classic story by Lewis Carroll. And it is definitely not as light and fluffy as the inspiring volume, if Carroll’s work can be called that. Alyss escapes Wonderland through the Pool of Tears after her evil Aunt Redd kills her mother and father, the king and queen. With the use of unbelievable technology and imagination, Redd becomes the dreaded Queen of Hearts. In the meantime, Alyss battles her way through the human world, trying to find someone who believes her and maintain her memories of the far off Wonderland. Join her on this amazing journey as she fights bravely for her friends, who are all transformed from the Carroll creations, and both worlds.
“War for the Oaks” by Emma Bull published by Tor Books in 1987: Rocker Eddi McCandry is feeling one of the low points in her life, having just split up with her boyfriend and her band has fallen apart. On a walk home, she encounters something even more creepy and unsettling — several denizens of Faire who are hoping she will become the human pawn in the war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Phouka, a fairy who can transform into a rather large, intimidating dog, takes on the responsibilities of watching Eddi. She finds herself in the middle of a war, and in the middle of a new and amazing band sensation. Bull’s fantastic writing abilities make themselves well-known as she helps guide Eddi through an unearthly war.
“The Nanny Diaries” by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus published by St. Martin’s Griffin in 2003: Babysitting has never been so hazardous or hilarious than in this novel written by two former nannies, who really know how the world works. Nan is a professional nanny for well-off children walking the razor sharp line between being friendly and caring and offending her boss, Mrs. X. Grayer, her charge, is a charming boy who is inundated with activities and expectations. The demands from the X family become more and more outrageous, and the sarcasm and wit keep the book moving until the very messy end. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll definitely cringe, and probably take a good long time to think about babysitting again.
“Personal History” by Katharine Graham published by Vintage in 1998: The amazing and audacious Katherine Graham takes a no-holds-barred approach to her life in this memoir. From dealing with parents who are constantly removed from her life, to a husband who is manic-depressive, alcoholic and eventually suicidal, Graham comes through it all as one of the most successful women in the country. Her husband, Phil, took over running the Washington Post, which Graham’s father acquired in 1933, until Phil’s death in 1963. Graham then took the reins herself, and readers will cheer as she gracefully and firmly helps the Washington Post maintain its spot as one of the nation’s most powerful newspapers.
