Apologies to anyone else in mid-read of TGWTDT also.

I wanted to second HARRIET THE SPY, Lyra in THE GOLDEN COMPASS and GRACELING. I also thoroughly enjoyed FIRE, by Kristin Cashore.

Personally, Harriet in THE LITTLE FRIEND is one of my all time favorite female characters. And Donna Tartt is one of my favorite female writers.

Also to add to the list:

Scout in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Meg in A WRINKLE IN TIME
Liesel in THE BOOK THIEF
Gemma in THE GEMMA DOYLE TRILOGY
Sabine in THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT (Ann Patchett is also another favorite female writer)

I'm definitely making note of some of the earlier suggestions, including THE HUNGER GAMES.

Hayley, I love that you recommended Jacqueline, who I really need to read more of! And I also absolutely love that piece you linked to–anyone interested in this subject should check it out. It says just what I was trying to articulate. Thanks!

It's interesting to me that so many of these suggestions are YA and fantasy–I don't know if that's reflective of the readership of our blog or of YA and fantasy authors just being better at it. Something to ponder!

Clix, I'll have to check out your rec for the book about Alcott. I wouldn't so much call myself a Jo/Laurie shipper–I've just always found the whole "You're too good for me!" "Oh, well, in that case I'll just marry your sister and we'll all pretend it's OK." "Hey, condescending old German guy, I love you!" thing to be incredibly irritating, and not in character for the Jo I'd come to love. It's one thing to not love Laurie, but to end up with the professor? Just doesn't work for me.

I'll be sure to report back–I think I'll start with THE HUNGER GAMES, which several of you suggested, since that's already on my bedside table "must read next" pile!!

Thanks!
Lauren

Also, Lyra in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series is very resourceful, brave, and loyal. I admire her most in The Golden Compass. (Sadly, once Will shows up, she seems to lose some of her vigor and independence.)

Also Lisbeth Salander is very much second string in GWTDT, of the 535 pages she occupies way less than half and for 70% of her tenure she plays Robin to Blomkvist’s Batman. But what I really can’t understand is why after reading GWTDT anyone would read another Larsson book.

Over a number of years pressed, framed flowers arrive on Vanger’s birthday, which Larsson tries to convince are sent as a torment from the murderer of Vanger’s niece, as his niece used to send such a gift when she was alive. The niece’s body has never been found (could it be she is still alive, as nowhere that I can find in the annals of crime has this sort of trait by a killer ever been recorded.) It is known that the murderer was one of the people that was on the island that day, all but a dozen are resident on the island. The flowers have arrived mostly from Stockholm, but 3 from London, 2 each from Paris and Copenhagen and once each from Rome and Florida. Vanger along with a glut of sleuths, private detectives and the Swedish Police Force have spent the best part of 4 decades trying suss out who the murderer could be, but never thought to find out which of the dozen could have been in the cities mentioned at the right time to post the pressed flowers. Could it just, maybe be the girl who works cabin-crew for an airline?????

There goes my suspension of disbelief.

I always think a book benefits from a plot, but it seems this is not needed if like Larsson you are already in bed with a publisher.

If you want a female protagonist in a book with a plot, try Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple.

Or a female character who starts off a well rounded person but slowly erodes as the story progresses, Bobbi Anderson – Tommyknockers, Stephen King

I don't agree with Krisin, however, about things getting "porny". The reason why I don't recommend the other books in the series is simply because Ms. Auel gets lost in descriptive details that seem to go on forever.

That said: Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon, because their curiosity, imagination, and love of words get them into trouble (and sometimes out of it). I liked Magic for Marigold a lot too, except for the ending.

Skullduggery Pleasant – zany and confusticating and fun.

Jacky Faber, from the Bloody Jack series.

Lots of strong, realistic women in The Help. All three principal characters are lovely.

Katsa from Graceling. Her physical strength and combat skills remind me a lot of Katniss from Hunger Games.

Yelena from Poison Study and its sequels. Her strength is more internal – grit and determination.

I like Patty Brigg's Mercy Thompson, especially because of her lack of drama. Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels, as much for her mouth as her toughness.

Jane Eyre, though I know it's not the feminist answer. But she had to persevere without being hot or mystically endowed with magical strength.