One of my absolute favorite authors is Willa Cather. Really, I grew up in Nebraska, and so did she. We have a kinship right there. Sometimes, you try and find any notable females in the state you grow up in.
Seriously, tho, I have always loved Cather's books. I first read My Antonia in 8th grade, and every kid in class (now in Seattle) groaned when I brought in a Nebraska state map and literally traced the happenings of the novel. I loved the beautiful descriptions of the prairie, the determination of Antonia, and the interplay between the characters. I loved the side stories about the Russian wedding party (if you don't know this one, you're really missing out. It's quite juicy!) and the cold homesteading winters.
However, hardly anyone knows about Willa Cather. Sure, a few people are familiar with O, Pioneers. But most people really don't know and don't care about some female author writing about the Nebraskan prairie. Therefore, I was quite surprised to see Antonia Shimerda as one of the 100 favorite fictional characters (chosen by other authors) in a celebration for World Book Day.
Said author Elizabeth Noble:
Antonia Shimerdas, the eponymous heroine of Willa Cather's My Antonia, isn't coquettish or witty like some other heroines I admire. It is her stoicism and determination that make me love her.
There's plenty of other great characters listed, including Anne of Green Gables, The Cat in the Hat, Gandalf, and God. Go check it out for yourself.
And here's an interactive question: who is one of your favorite literary characters?
Mine: Ender Wiggins, from Ender's Game
Ender is a bright, intelligent kid who gets duped into fighting a battle for humanity. He's amazingly perceptive, and he has that "think outside the box" mentality everyone is supposed to gun for these days. I'm not a big fan of fiction, but I always loved reading about Ender.