I've recently been loving reading about female characters who either act immorally/take brutal actions for their own gain (ex. Baru Cormorant!!) or female characters who are just actually terrible people (like Boy Parts by Eliza Clark). Whether the character is a sociopath or someone who becomes corrupt, please give me any recommendations for female characters who do terrible things! Mean, weird, ruthless, and blood-thirsty women are welcome!
(Tagging this as feminism because I love seeing female characters who get to be wretched and awful human beings. Go equal opportunity!)
by aspecificocean
11 Comments
Misery by Stephen King
Welcome to the wonderful world of Ottessa Moshfegh. Enjoy reading almost any of her works.
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.
Lady Susan by Jane Austen
Best Served Cold by Joe Abrocombie
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Nurse Ratchet one of the nastiest women in literature
Gone Girl?
East of Eden by John Steinbeck has the character you are looking for.
The book Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang might interest you. Adding a spoiler tag in case you’d rather go in blind. >!The female MC is both a victim of misogyny and also incredibly privileged, she has some internalized racism and classism that she’s trying to work through in the course of the story. Personally I love complex characters like this — especially when it makes the reader contend with a flawed character who wants to affect change for the greater good, but they must achieve an inherently unethical position of power in order to do so. (something thematically in common with Baru Cormorant there!) !<
A certain hunger
Cat’s Eye – Margaret Atwood. Though it’s not entirely based on women. It’s more about young girls. I couldn’t put the book down.