I was originally going to do a post about favorite characters in general. But then I started going through my shelves and pulling off books and I ended up with such a big stack I decided I’d better divide this up. So, I’ll start off with favorite female characters, and get to the men another day. This is not exhaustive–there are simply too many–but here are the first ones I grabbed in a scan of my bookshelves.
Alanna from the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce
Alanna is very possibly my favorite book character. I think my belief that girls can do anything is due mostly to my mom, and to Alanna. She’s a girl who wants to become a knight, in a world where girls don’t do that. She defies the odds and does it anyway, to large extent through sheer stubbornness. She’s strong, capable, imperfect and not always sure of herself. And I love her.
Valancy from The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
Valancy has been repressed and afraid her entire life; when she believes that she’s dying, she starts really living for the first time. It’s wonderful to watch her seize life. She’s always been dreamy and imaginative. When she stops being afraid, she becomes witty and daring too. Not to mention, she lives inside one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.
Tavia from A Fighting Man of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Tavia, like Alanna, is strong and capable and doesn’t let anything stop her–be it monsters, a war, or an unwanted suitor. She can use a sword as well as any man, and combines her strength with depth of feeling and a self-sacrificing nature. All in all, she’s a wonderful heroine from an author who rarely gave us more than a pretty face.
Jacky Faber from the Bloody Jack series by L. A. Meyer
In some ways I think I admire Jacky less than the other characters on this list–I certainly want to shake her more often–but she’s on here because she’s just so much fun to read about. For sheer hijinks, she can’t be beat, and I do admire her resourcefulness and “never say die” attitude.
Menolly from The Harper Hall trilogy by Anne McCaffrey
Menolly is gifted with musical talent, and she’ll do anything to write music. I love that she takes her life into her own hands, and has wonderful adventures in the process.
Stay tuned for favorite male characters!
Tales of the Marvelous 
If you’re looking for strong female characters, let’s not forget Dagney Taggart in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, published in the 1950’s. What is remarkable about Dagney is that she was so far ahead of her era. At a time when women in corporate management were as rare as ice cubes in hell, Dagney was the effective head of an international railroad, a job she took over because her wimpy brother, the nominal CEO, wasn’t up to it. Of course, like all Rand heroines, she comes with the baggage of her author’s controversial philosophy, But whether you like Rand’s philosphy or hate it, you can still like the way Dagney takes control and goes after what she wants. One caution: some people might find her annoying because she is always so sure of herself.
I’ve never read any Ayn Rand. I’ve heard such mixed things about her I’ve never quite decided whether I ought to read her or not.
You’ve got some powerful heroines listed there, and your mom is right. Girls CAN do everything! What do you think of Scarlett O’Hara as a resourceful, never say die heroine? She has many flaws, but certainly pulls herself and her entire immediate family out of the nightmare of the end of the Civil War in the South to be fed, clothed, and successful again.
Scarlett O’Hara is a complicated character in so many ways. She’s definitely very strong, and I find her fascinating…but she’s also so ruthless, and in many ways self-absorbed. Which is part of why she’s fascinating! I was talking to a friend who commented that she didn’t like Scarlett–and even though I had seen the movie and read the book, up until that moment it had never occurred to me to like or dislike Scarlett. She’s just SCARLETT, and she’s so interesting to read about. Still, that being said, I’m fascinated by her but I don’t love her.