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I'm not a bad girl; I'm just drawn that way
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011 12:47 pmOver on Dear Author a couple weeks ago, Heather Massey took up the subject of the Extraordinary Heroine, and asks the musical question Is The World Ready? She notes, among other things, that some Urban Fantasy and Romance heroines are introduced as "strong" -- which is to say, The Author Says So -- but then goes on to act in ways that are. . .somewhat less than strong. It's an interesting read, and you should read it; the comment thread meanders somewhat, but, eh -- that's what comment threads do.
Now, I've been thinking about Heather's article, and about some of the comments, and I wonder if it is true that readers would prefer their heroine to be "nice" rather than competent. I'm not a subscriber to the whole Girl Nice Game*, and on the whole I find I prefer people, whether they live in so-called Real Life, or inside a book, to be interesting. If a character is hard-nosed, well, then -- there you have it. She'll act in a hard-nosed fashion, which may not be, particularly, nice or pleasant, but ought, at least if the author is doing her job, interesting and provocative to the reader.
Full disclosure, one of the commentors in the thread brought up the. . .fascinating reader review of Carousel Tides in which Kate is described as "repulsive." Obviously, if I had thought Kate was repulsive, I couldn't have managed having her in my head for a little over a year, but I will agree that she's not nice.
So, discussion question! How do you prefer your heroines? Strong or nice? Is strong vs. nice a false dichotomy? Can a nice girl be strong? Can a strong girl be nice? For more than one date?
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*Girl Nice Game is the game played by militantly sweet females; it has at its core a balance sheet toothier than any Liadens: I'm nice to you, so you HAVE to be nice to me. See "When You're Good to Mama" for clarification of this concept and its workings.
Now, I've been thinking about Heather's article, and about some of the comments, and I wonder if it is true that readers would prefer their heroine to be "nice" rather than competent. I'm not a subscriber to the whole Girl Nice Game*, and on the whole I find I prefer people, whether they live in so-called Real Life, or inside a book, to be interesting. If a character is hard-nosed, well, then -- there you have it. She'll act in a hard-nosed fashion, which may not be, particularly, nice or pleasant, but ought, at least if the author is doing her job, interesting and provocative to the reader.
Full disclosure, one of the commentors in the thread brought up the. . .fascinating reader review of Carousel Tides in which Kate is described as "repulsive." Obviously, if I had thought Kate was repulsive, I couldn't have managed having her in my head for a little over a year, but I will agree that she's not nice.
So, discussion question! How do you prefer your heroines? Strong or nice? Is strong vs. nice a false dichotomy? Can a nice girl be strong? Can a strong girl be nice? For more than one date?
__________________
*Girl Nice Game is the game played by militantly sweet females; it has at its core a balance sheet toothier than any Liadens: I'm nice to you, so you HAVE to be nice to me. See "When You're Good to Mama" for clarification of this concept and its workings.
