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Top Ten Tuesday: Most Inspirational Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists. 

Top Ten Most Inspirational Characters...
(I was going to pick all fictional characters, but Deb at Readerbuzz had all non-fiction so I am stealing from her and including some real folks in my list)
  1. Katniss from Hunger Games--she's tough, smart, and isn't taking any crap (though she did sometimes drive me crazy when she didn't "get it")
  2. Celie from The Color Purple--another a tough woman who went through hell, but found the good in life
  3. The Sisters from Shanghai Girls--I liked their relationship, their tenacity, and their sense of adventure
  4. Melinda from Speak--to go through what she did (twice), rat out her classmates, figure herself out, and survive it all speaks volumes
  5. The main girl from Sold--I can't remember her name, but to be a child slave and survive intact is enough to get you on this list for me
  6. The man from The Samurai's Garden--he has stuck with me for years as has the book. He was gentle, caring, and so very interesting
  7. Zainab Salbi started the non-profit Women for Women and wrote the book Between Two Worlds (her experience growing up as the daughter of Saddam Hussein's pilot)
  8. Greg Mortensen wrote Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools and is making an incredible impact on education and girls in Afghanistan
  9. Hermione from the Harry Potter books--what can I say? She is smart, funny, wise, pretty, and she puts up with Harry and Ron. She rocks!
  10. Monique from Monique and the Mango Rains--Monique was a real midwife in Mali who stole my heart when I read her story of working for women's reproductive rights and rights in general. She made a huge impact in her village and area of Mali

15 comments

Two Bibliomaniacs said...

I'm only through The Hunger Games, but so far I love Katniss. Hopefully my opinion won't change in book 2 and 3...

Anonymous said...

here's mine http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/01/top-ten-tuesday-most-inspirational.html

Shanyn said...

I chose Katniss too! And I agree with Hermione, though I didn't include her. Girl power :)

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

I love Monique fro Monique and the Mango Rains. I read that a couple of years ago and it is still one I talk about. If I had gone the non-fiction route, I would have included her.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe I didn't include Hermione! Great list :)

Anonymous said...

I had Katniss too! And Melinda from Speak is a great choice. She was really an amazing character.

Anne@HeadFullofBooks said...

What a nice and varied list you have. I didn't even think of Greg Mortensen but agree with you wholeheartedly. This was a fun post wasn't it?

-Anne
My Head is Full of Books

Kath said...

Great list! I totally agree with Celie and the guy from Samurai's Garden (assuming you mean the older guy?). Hermione too. The rest I can't comment on as I haven't read them but good adds for the TBR :)

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

Celie and Sophia both can have spots on my inspiration list any day!

Helen's Book Blog said...

Two Bibliomaniacs--Katniss is fun even if I got annoyed by her sometimes. I mean, come on, taking on all the tributes? Awesome

Tribute books--I'll check it out now

Shanyn--I was so proud of myself for thinking of Hermione

Nicole--So glad to hear of someone else who thought so highly of Monique!

Helen's Book Blog said...

Danielle--Thank you and Hermione rocks! I like that she's smarter than the boys

1 girl--I really liked how Melinda figured it all out by the end--that standing up for herself is the right thing

Anne--This post was really difficult for me at first then characters starting flooding my brain

Kathmeista--Yes, I mean the older guy in Samurai's Garden, he has stuck with me for a number of years.

Perppermint--Oh, when you mentioned Sophia it made me remember Sophia from Sophia's Choice. She'd be a good one, too!

Lark Andrea said...

Great list! I love that you included Melinda and Hermione. Such strong girls!

Reading Lark's Top 10

P.S. - I am a new follower.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I completely forgot about the main character of The Color Purple. Excellent choice.

Alexia561 said...

I love that you included Hermione!

Helen's Book Blog said...

Andrea--I am following you now too. Thank you for joining me here

Deb--Thanks. Celie is an amazing character

Alexia--I have always liked Hermione (especially when she did the time traveling)