"Life Lessons from some of the greats in literature"
The Heroine's Bookshelf
By: Erin Blakemore
Genres: Fiction Women's Fiction
Posted: January 5, 2011
In her book, THE HEROINE'S BOOKSHELF: LIFE LESSONS FROM JANE AUSTEN TO LAURA INGALLS WILDER, author Erin Blakemore looks at some of the most popular female literary characters in history and how they have affected her life personally as well as the lives of others.
Dividing her book into twelve chapters, Blakemore uses twelve different personality traits that fit fictional characters that she feels exemplifies this trait. For the chapter on "Happiness" she looks at Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables series, while the chapter on "Dignity" features Ceilie from Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple. Scarlett O'Hara was the epitome of feistiness in the chapter entitled "Fight," while Harper Lee taught her readers lessons in compassion through her character of Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird.
Blakemore uses information from the author's background and what went into the writing of her books as well as offering parallels from her own life to round out the chapter. Each chapter ends with suggestions of the circumstances in our modern day that might have readers searching for answers and offers ideas of books with similar themes or heroines.
A slender volume, THE HEROINE'S BOOKSHELF packs a lot of information into its 200 pages and will be right at home on any literature lover's bookshelf.
Book Summary
An exploration of classic heroines and their equally admirable authors, The Heroine's Bookshelf shows today's women how to tap into their inner strengths and live life with intelligence and grace. Jo March, Scarlett O'Hara, Scout Finch—the literary canon is brimming with intelligent, feisty, never-say-die heroines and celebrated female authors. Like today's women, they placed a premium on personality, spirituality, career, sisterhood, and family. When they were up against the wall, authors like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott fought back—sometimes with words, sometimes with gritty actions. In this witty, informative, and inspiring read, their stories offer much-needed literary intervention to modern women. Full of beloved heroines and the remarkable writers who created them, The Heroine's Bookshelf explores how the pluck and dignity of literary characters such as Jane Eyre and Lizzy Bennet can encourage women today. Each legendary character is paired with her central quality—Anne Shirley is associated with irrepressible "Happiness," while Scarlett O'Hara personifies "Fight"—along with insights into her author's extraordinary life. From Zora Neale Hurston to Colette, Laura Ingalls Wilder to Charlotte BrontË, Harper Lee to Alice Walker, here are authors and characters whose spirited stories are more inspiring today than ever.
by: Erin Blakemore
HarperCollins
October 1, 2010
On Sale: October 19, 2010
Featuring:
197 pages
ISBN: 006195876X
EAN: 9780061958762
Hardcover