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Strong female characters
Posted: 13 Dec 2019, 06:58
by DorcasToo
I think the book carries quite a fair number of ladies. Starting with Kelly Turbulo who isn't just a damsel in distress. Cynthia who is a Secretary and PI, with her team of ladies who save the day. Even the enemy camp is led by a lady Sue Lynn. I think the author has created really strong female characters. What do you think?
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 13 Dec 2019, 12:21
by Urbashi Basu
Of all the female characters I like Sue Rhee kin the most.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 13 Dec 2019, 12:27
by Helene_2008
Yes I agree. Kelly actually is quite a strong character, fighting off the attacker at the beginning of the book. Sue Rhee-jin is also a strong, female character. She is actually the leader of the small terrorist group, which is interesting.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 13 Dec 2019, 13:16
by amihughson
I have to disagree. I don't feel like the female characters really did anything to define themselves as strong. While it is interesting to note that the "bodyguards" are both females in a traditionally male role, as well as the terrorists team leader, them being female came across as inconsequential. Any single female character in this story could have been swapped for a man, and there would literally be no impact on the story itself, with perhaps the exception of Kelly. Kelly was written with more female mannerisms that even LGBT male characters would feel cliched if they exhibited the same behavior. As for strength, Kelly swaps between paranoia, hysterics and general uselessness. Tom showed just as much prowess with technology as Kelly is supposed to have (ie the part where he hacks into a database using his phone) and it seemed like Kelly's only real motivation to be part of "Team USA" was to keep an eye out for Tom and contribute to the supposed "romance" part of this novel. That's not exactly what I think of when I think of a strong female character.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 13 Dec 2019, 20:18
by Misael Carlos
A lot of books nowadays carry strong female characters that represent women empowerment and this shows how the world changes where equality between sexes is emphasized and given due importance.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 13 Dec 2019, 20:22
by Echo Haapala
I couldn’t agree more! They were all strong and powerful yet remained sexy and feminine.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 14 Dec 2019, 02:33
by Brenda Creech
I agree! I thought Sharon was a strong character too. She never displayed any fear and was always ready to jump right in there.

Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 14 Dec 2019, 07:55
by BookPower9
It doesn't lead the story for making a women a strong character here. But it shows that in any event like this, when women was involve, they should think of better things to handle such unfavorable happenings. Good enough, that the woman involved has a siblings who are a senator.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 14 Dec 2019, 09:22
by djr6090
amihughson wrote: ↑13 Dec 2019, 13:16
I have to disagree. I don't feel like the female characters really did anything to define themselves as strong. While it is interesting to note that the "bodyguards" are both females in a traditionally male role, as well as the terrorists team leader, them being female came across as inconsequential. Any single female character in this story could have been swapped for a man, and there would literally be no impact on the story itself, with perhaps the exception of Kelly. Kelly was written with more female mannerisms that even LGBT male characters would feel cliched if they exhibited the same behavior. As for strength, Kelly swaps between paranoia, hysterics and general uselessness. Tom showed just as much prowess with technology as Kelly is supposed to have (ie the part where he hacks into a database using his phone) and it seemed like Kelly's only real motivation to be part of "Team USA" was to keep an eye out for Tom and contribute to the supposed "romance" part of this novel. That's not exactly what I think of when I think of a strong female character.
This seems to be typical in this style of light reading.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 14 Dec 2019, 11:58
by Snowflake
There are some interesting thoughts here in the comments. I think that it's good that so many of the main characters are female - flawed or not.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 14 Dec 2019, 15:01
by AntonelaMaria
amihughson wrote: ↑13 Dec 2019, 13:16
I have to disagree. I don't feel like the female characters really did anything to define themselves as strong. While it is interesting to note that the "bodyguards" are both females in a traditionally male role, as well as the terrorists team leader, them being female came across as inconsequential. Any single female character in this story could have been swapped for a man, and there would literally be no impact on the story itself, with perhaps the exception of Kelly. Kelly was written with more female mannerisms that even LGBT male characters would feel cliched if they exhibited the same behavior. As for strength, Kelly swaps between paranoia, hysterics and general uselessness. Tom showed just as much prowess with technology as Kelly is supposed to have (ie the part where he hacks into a database using his phone) and it seemed like Kelly's only real motivation to be part of "Team USA" was to keep an eye out for Tom and contribute to the supposed "romance" part of this novel. That's not exactly what I think of when I think of a strong female character.
This is my take too. And don't forget that Kelly's role was also to bring everyone drinks. I really disliked how she was portrayed. It feels like she is there only to be a connection between Mike the senator and this new book, and make Tom's life easier.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 14 Dec 2019, 16:54
by ciecheesemeister
Sharon, Abby, and Cynthia are all adept at their jobs. The leader of the North Korean team seemed inadequately trained for her mission. However, she was feared by her subordinates. Kelly seemed knowledgeable about computers but came off as a "damsel in distress." Overall, I felt there was too much emphasis on the superficial aspects of the female characters in proportion to their abilities.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 15 Dec 2019, 10:05
by shravsi
Oh no!!!!! I thought there was more to female characters. Now I am not sure if I want to read the book. I don't understand why can't any female characters in books or movies be a more realistic, like doing important things instead of being just there for namesake or superficial.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 15 Dec 2019, 11:06
by Azeline Arcenal
I absolutely love books that have strong female characters but the way that some of the female characters were portrayed in this book didn't really show them as strong. I felt like some of the female characters were there to complement the male characters.
Re: Strong female characters
Posted: 15 Dec 2019, 13:09
by DorcasToo
amihughson wrote: ↑13 Dec 2019, 13:16
I have to disagree. I don't feel like the female characters really did anything to define themselves as strong. While it is interesting to note that the "bodyguards" are both females in a traditionally male role, as well as the terrorists team leader, them being female came across as inconsequential. Any single female character in this story could have been swapped for a man, and there would literally be no impact on the story itself, with perhaps the exception of Kelly. Kelly was written with more female mannerisms that even LGBT male characters would feel cliched if they exhibited the same behavior. As for strength, Kelly swaps between paranoia, hysterics and general uselessness. Tom showed just as much prowess with technology as Kelly is supposed to have (ie the part where he hacks into a database using his phone) and it seemed like Kelly's only real motivation to be part of "Team USA" was to keep an eye out for Tom and contribute to the supposed "romance" part of this novel. That's not exactly what I think of when I think of a strong female character.
I think this is quite a unique perspective of viewing it and I think you might be right