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There are many books out there, old and new that were written by women. Most of these great authors write about strong female protagonists.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
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Pride and Prejudice
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4.29 avg rating — 4,696,134 ratings
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| 2 |
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The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
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4.35 avg rating — 9,704,688 ratings
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| 3 |
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Jane Eyre
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4.16 avg rating — 2,282,228 ratings
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| 4 |
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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4.26 avg rating — 6,756,240 ratings
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| 5 |
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The Secret Magdalene
by
Ki Longfellow (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 4,724 ratings
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| 6 |
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Gone with the Wind
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4.31 avg rating — 1,249,429 ratings
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| 7 |
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Little Women (Little Women, #1)
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4.17 avg rating — 2,416,504 ratings
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| 8 |
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Sense and Sensibility
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4.09 avg rating — 1,277,723 ratings
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| 9 |
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The Diary of a Young Girl
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4.20 avg rating — 4,115,984 ratings
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| 10 |
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Wuthering Heights
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3.90 avg rating — 1,985,287 ratings
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| 11 |
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Emma
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4.05 avg rating — 961,516 ratings
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| 12 |
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The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)
by
Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)
4.15 avg rating — 2,359,756 ratings
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| 13 |
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Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)
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4.32 avg rating — 1,091,848 ratings
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| 14 |
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Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)
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4.35 avg rating — 4,066,625 ratings
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| 15 |
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Persuasion
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4.15 avg rating — 761,229 ratings
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| 16 |
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Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)
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4.06 avg rating — 478,143 ratings
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| 17 |
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The Help
by
Kathryn Stockett (Goodreads Author)
4.47 avg rating — 2,982,586 ratings
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| 18 |
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Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)
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4.12 avg rating — 3,642,418 ratings
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| 19 |
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The Color Purple
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4.28 avg rating — 743,087 ratings
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| 20 |
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Divergent (Divergent, #1)
by
Veronica Roth (Goodreads Author)
4.13 avg rating — 4,320,198 ratings
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| 21 |
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The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1)
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4.13 avg rating — 211,906 ratings
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| 22 |
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Outlander (Outlander, #1)
by
Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author)
4.26 avg rating — 1,139,768 ratings
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| 23 |
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A Wrinkle in Time (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, #1)
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3.97 avg rating — 1,269,771 ratings
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| 24 |
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Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)
by
Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 676,254 ratings
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| 25 |
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The Lovely Bones
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3.86 avg rating — 2,448,029 ratings
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| 26 |
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Rebecca
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4.25 avg rating — 708,316 ratings
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| 27 |
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Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Långstrump, #1)
by
4.15 avg rating — 207,840 ratings
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| 28 |
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North and South
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4.15 avg rating — 181,020 ratings
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| 29 |
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City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)
by
Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)
4.07 avg rating — 2,142,879 ratings
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| 30 |
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Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1)
by
3.97 avg rating — 481,834 ratings
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| 31 |
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The Host (The Host, #1)
by
3.86 avg rating — 1,043,467 ratings
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| 32 |
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The Story of My Life
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4.08 avg rating — 150,517 ratings
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| 33 |
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The Lost Book of Mala R.
by
3.75 avg rating — 102 ratings
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| 34 |
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Mrs. Dalloway
by
3.78 avg rating — 347,724 ratings
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| 35 |
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The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
by
4.03 avg rating — 128,056 ratings
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| 36 |
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Fire (Graceling Realm, #2)
by
4.09 avg rating — 193,140 ratings
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| 37 |
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The Portal Between (The Portal Series, #1)
by
Sarah Barnard (Goodreads Author)
3.91 avg rating — 45 ratings
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| 38 |
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The Good Earth (House of Earth, #1)
by
4.01 avg rating — 258,917 ratings
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| 39 |
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The Joy Luck Club
by
Amy Tan (Goodreads Author)
3.97 avg rating — 705,838 ratings
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| 40 |
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
by
3.99 avg rating — 380,899 ratings
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| 41 |
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Impeding Justice (Lorne Simpkins, #2)
by
M.A. Comley (Goodreads Author)
4.15 avg rating — 2,038 ratings
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| 42 |
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Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, #4)
by
3.75 avg rating — 1,847,434 ratings
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| 43 |
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobiography, #1)
by
4.30 avg rating — 573,630 ratings
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| 44 |
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Speak
by
Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author)
4.05 avg rating — 625,860 ratings
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| 45 |
|
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1)
by
Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)
4.27 avg rating — 135,999 ratings
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| 46 |
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Middlemarch
by
4.03 avg rating — 176,684 ratings
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| 47 |
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Princess Academy (Princess Academy, #1)
by
Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 121,376 ratings
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| 48 |
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The Awakening
by
3.69 avg rating — 224,338 ratings
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| 49 |
|
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3)
by
Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author)
4.33 avg rating — 379,340 ratings
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| 50 |
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Twilight (The Twilight Saga, #1)
by
3.67 avg rating — 7,189,107 ratings
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| 51 |
|
The Secret Life of Bees
by
Sue Monk Kidd (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 1,343,442 ratings
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| 52 |
|
The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern, #1)
by
Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 147,881 ratings
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| 53 |
|
Ella Enchanted (Ella Enchanted, #1)
by
Gail Carson Levine (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 422,506 ratings
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| 53 |
|
The Secret Garden
by
4.17 avg rating — 1,275,265 ratings
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| 55 |
|
Poison Study (Study, #1)
by
Maria V. Snyder (Goodreads Author)
4.09 avg rating — 174,880 ratings
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| 56 |
|
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4)
by
Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author)
4.30 avg rating — 325,383 ratings
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| 57 |
|
Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, #5)
by
Richelle Mead (Goodreads Author)
4.32 avg rating — 306,055 ratings
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| 58 |
|
Changeling (Dreyfuss Trilogy #1)
by
Morgan Gallagher (Goodreads Author)
4.07 avg rating — 46 ratings
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| 59 |
|
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by
4.30 avg rating — 504,457 ratings
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| 60 |
|
Naked in Death (In Death, #1)
by
J.D. Robb (Goodreads Author)
4.13 avg rating — 202,676 ratings
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| 61 |
|
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
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3.99 avg rating — 117,874 ratings
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| 62 |
|
City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)
by
Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 986,445 ratings
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| 63 |
|
Wild Magic (Immortals, #1)
by
Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)
4.31 avg rating — 82,571 ratings
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| 64 |
|
Ghost Tamer
by
Meredith R. Lyons (Goodreads Author)
3.93 avg rating — 602 ratings
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| 65 |
|
Marked (House of Night, #1)
by
P.C. Cast (Goodreads Author)
3.82 avg rating — 519,879 ratings
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| 66 |
|
Northanger Abbey
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3.85 avg rating — 444,441 ratings
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| 67 |
|
Harriet the Spy
by
3.95 avg rating — 100,514 ratings
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| 68 |
|
Kushiel's Dart (Phèdre's Trilogy, #1)
by
Jacqueline Carey (Goodreads Author)
4.02 avg rating — 83,634 ratings
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| 69 |
|
The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1)
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4.10 avg rating — 280,243 ratings
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| 70 |
|
The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #1)
by
3.98 avg rating — 83,065 ratings
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| 71 |
|
The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle, #2)
by
4.14 avg rating — 132,332 ratings
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| 72 |
|
Alias Grace
by
Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 154,765 ratings
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| 73 |
|
October Snow
by
Jenna Brooks (Goodreads Author)
3.90 avg rating — 412 ratings
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| 74 |
|
The House of the Spirits
by
Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author)
4.29 avg rating — 310,651 ratings
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| 75 |
|
Blood and Fire (Guardian Witch, #4)
by
Ally Shields (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 499 ratings
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| 76 |
|
Suite Française
by
3.86 avg rating — 77,467 ratings
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| 77 |
|
The Age of Innocence
by
3.97 avg rating — 192,326 ratings
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| 78 |
|
My Ántonia
by
3.84 avg rating — 145,903 ratings
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| 79 |
|
The Blue Sword (Damar, #1)
by
4.20 avg rating — 62,673 ratings
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| 80 |
|
The Red Tent
by
Anita Diamant (Goodreads Author)
4.20 avg rating — 627,051 ratings
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| 81 |
|
Possession
by
3.90 avg rating — 83,666 ratings
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| 82 |
|
Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, #2)
by
4.30 avg rating — 134,936 ratings
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| 82 |
|
A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1)
by
Libba Bray (Goodreads Author)
3.80 avg rating — 225,362 ratings
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| 84 |
|
The Mill on the Floss
by
3.83 avg rating — 58,460 ratings
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| 85 |
|
Dragonsong (Harper Hall, #1)
by
4.26 avg rating — 58,464 ratings
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| 86 |
|
The Cruiserweight
by
L. Anne Carrington (Goodreads Author)
4.20 avg rating — 20 ratings
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| 87 |
|
The Forsaken (The Thirteen Tribes of Cain, #1)
by
4.34 avg rating — 116 ratings
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| 88 |
|
The House on Mango Street
by
3.69 avg rating — 226,683 ratings
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| 89 |
|
The Kitchen God's Wife
by
Amy Tan (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 87,493 ratings
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| 90 |
![विप्लवी [Biplavi]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593316748i/54298125._SY75_.jpg)
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विप्लवी [Biplavi]
by
4.48 avg rating — 65 ratings
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| 91 |
|
My Sister's Keeper
by
Jodi Picoult (Goodreads Author)
4.11 avg rating — 1,267,959 ratings
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| 92 |
![ती सात दिन [Te Saat Din]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1694745871i/198973068._SX50_.jpg)
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ती सात दिन [Te Saat Din]
by
4.09 avg rating — 32 ratings
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| 93 |
![उत्सर्ग [Utsharga]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1668780425i/63347154._SY75_.jpg)
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उत्सर्ग [Utsharga]
by
4.31 avg rating — 52 ratings
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| 94 |
|
Terrier (Beka Cooper, #1)
by
Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)
4.16 avg rating — 69,899 ratings
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| 95 |
|
The Bell Jar
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4.05 avg rating — 1,179,989 ratings
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| 96 |
|
Prayers for the Stolen
by
Jennifer Clement (Goodreads Author)
3.97 avg rating — 10,482 ratings
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| 97 |
|
The Witching Hour (Lives of the Mayfair Witches, #1)
by
4.10 avg rating — 123,283 ratings
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| 98 |
|
Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, #1)
by
4.15 avg rating — 216,809 ratings
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| 99 |
|
Caring for Eleanor
by
4.40 avg rating — 20 ratings
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| 100 |
|
Lethal Standoff
by
DiAnn Mills (Goodreads Author)
4.18 avg rating — 567 ratings
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Comments Showing 1-18 of 18 (18 new)
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message 1:
by
Lynn
(new)
Jul 18, 2012 06:57PM
I'm not sure who made this list, but just so they know. Terry Pratchett is a guy.
reply
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flag
So is Steig Larsson for that matter. I think someone lost sight of the point of the list.
Removed, on account of the author being male:The Wee Free Men, by Terry Pratchett
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Steig Larsson
Nathanael West is a male. He wrote The Day of the Locusts. William Styron is also male.
Removed, on account of the author being male:The Secret Hour, by Scott Westerfeld
Laura Ann Gilman's "Flesh and Fire" (no. 611) does not belong on this list. Though written by a woman, it is a deliberately male-centric book with women relegated to very minor roles.
How did Twilight get on the list?
That book turns up on nearly every "strong female" list, despite having one of the weakest heroines of the past three decades -- so weak that her name can be used as a synonym for "weak heroine." I don't get it either.
Kelley wrote: "That book turns up on nearly every "strong female" list, despite having one of the weakest heroines of the past three decades -- so weak that her name can be used as a synonym for "weak heroine." I..."It really is sad what girls of this generation view as "strong" :(
Under the Dome by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) needs to be removed.
Crystal Starr Light wrote: "Under the Dome by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) needs to be removed."Stephen King isn't a female? lolol
Wow, I added this list a while ago and you guys have exploded it!! There are a lot of books to try out and I keep finding great female authors to add. Thank you for regulating the list and keeping it with strong women by strong women!
"IQ84" (#852) needs to be removed. Its author is male (VERY male, if reviews are accurate).
8 duplicates found and removed (automatic function in 'edit list' settings, list of titles not given and i wasn't quick thinking enough to note them down as i was encountering them. i am sorry about that. 'the bell jar' for sure was one duplicate.)
Should we list non-fiction biographies and memoirs? The list creator says strong female CHARACTERS. I take the word characters as meaning women a female author created - not real women. I have many biographies and memoirs I could list but I'm not sure that's what the list creator wants.
I’m pretty sure Daniel Woodrell (#299, Winter’s Bone) is a man.
Should we remove the nonfiction books? I love that this list has so much fiction but not sure the nonfiction books should be here as I am thinking this is just a fiction list.
Anyone can add books to this list.
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