Rockin’ Heroine: Corine Solomon
Something that surprises a lot of people is the fact that Donna and I don’t often adore the same books. Personally I think that makes us more well rounded as a team, but it does mean sometimes she’s excited about a book that I can’t get into, or I’m gushing over a book that’s a little meh for her. 
When it comes to book recs, I have a go-to girl. Shannon C. may not share my exact taste, but it’s close enough for horseshoes or hand grenades, and she knows enough of my quirks to know when something is going to work for me. I’ll buy damn near any book on her recommendation, especially because I know she’ll tell me if a book she loves is something I might not be into.
When it comes to Blue Diablo, it wasn’t the book that got her recommendation (because she hasn’t read it yet), but Ann Aguirre as an author. Shannon’s a huge fan of the Jax Series and the one thing she’s talked about constantly is how much she loves Jax as a heroine. Shannon and I share an appreciation for smart, sassy, sometimes difficult heroines, so I found this very promising.
However, since I’ve been in a paranormal-y mood of late I picked up Blue Diablo first. And man, I’m so glad I did, because I have got a big ol’ girlcrush on Corine Solomon.
Right now, I’m a redhead.
I’ve been blonde and brunette as the situation requires, though an unscheduled color change usually means I need to relocate in the middle of the night or face people burning crosses on my lawn. I’ve set a new record, going on eighteen months in the same city, no consequences, no demonstrations, and for the last year, I’ve been a respectable business owner to boot. Maybe I should knock wood.
So I do.
But right now, a redhead. I tell myself it goes with the blue eyes, even if my skin is a little too olive for the carpet to match the drapes. And sure, I get a few looks because it’s a true red, Garnier Nutrisse 64R to be exact, not the plum that most women here favor, but I may as well please myself because I will never, ever blend in entirely. The best I can do is to make sure nobody reckons me any crazier than anyone else.
It was love at first sight for me’n Corine. I can’t even tell you why I love that opening so much, but it packed a wallop. I don’t know what everyone else means when they talk about a strong narrator’s voice, but this is what I’m talking about. Of course, the rambling love song I could go off on here would be targeted at the writing and not the heroine, and this is not the time or place. Because this is all about Corine.
She’s tough, and when I say tough I almost never mean black-belt-kung-fu-where’d-she-pull-that-sixteenth-gun-from? tough. I mean inner-strength, the kind that makes you keep on keeping on even when you’re running on empty and the bad guys just made a pit-stop at the Exxon Station of Evil.
I was talking to Molli & Vivian Arend on twitter a few days about the heroes I love, and I said something that applies here: They’re badass because they have to be, not because they happen to be.
That was Corine for me. She wasn’t an inherent badass. When the bullets flew she hit the deck, because it was the smartest place for her to be. She didn’t have the necessary skills to level the playing field, so she didn’t. She fought her way uphill because she had people who needed her. That is my kind of tough. In the grand scheme of things I think that’s a lot more impressive than someone who is stone-cold and capable of mass destruction.
Anyone who knows me can guess what’s coming next, and it’s especially timely considering some of the shenanigans on twitter over the weekend. You see, someone left a review for Blue Diablo in which incredulity was expressed over the fact that Corine Solomon thinks a lot about sex when she’s not having it, which baffled the (male) reader, because aren’t women just about the tenderness and cuddling?
Oh dear.
So, yup, Corine thought about sex. And man, sometimes she thought about hot, dirty, sweaty sex with near-strangers. (And what a hot near-stranger he was.) She also thought about how good sex had been with her ex. She’s not shy, timid or restrained about it, and I loved her for it. And contrary to the reviewers claims, the dwelling on sex wasn’t omnipresent or overbearing. It was a refreshingly healthy attitude that didn’t feel forced in either direction.
Perhaps my favorite part about Corine, though, was how she built a team. She’s the clear heroine of the book, but it wasn’t a book about how she saved the day all by herself. Maybe it’s the gamer-geek in me, but there is something so appealing about a hero or heroine who doesn’t lone-gun it. I loved watching her pull together the strengths and abilities of the people around her and loved watching them solve problems together.
Sometimes a badass heroine is the one who knows when to duck so the people with the big scary guns can do their thing. And Corine is badass.
My question for you: What do you like more? Watching the hero/heroine (or hero & heroine) overcome their obstacles on their own, or seeing them work as a team with secondary characters? And as a follow up, are you hiding any d20s in your closet? (If you don’t know what it means, the answer is probably no.)
Answer before the end of the day on Friday, June 5th, for a chance to win one of two copies of Blue Diablo, purchased for you by me, with love.
Read an excerpt from Blue Diablo at Ann Aguirre’s website.
June 1st, 2009 8:38 am
I like the hero/heroine kicking ass on their own AND with others. hee hee
And you made me Google d20s. lol And you were right, The answer is no.
June 1st, 2009 10:26 am
I don’t hide my d20s. I just try to keep my kids from eating them.
As for the solo vs team debate, I will ALWAYS land on the side of the awesome team. I think it greatly helps to weed out the Mary Sue tendencies, if you know what I mean. No man–or UF heroine–is an island, damn it.
June 1st, 2009 10:57 am
I like the hero & heroine to work together to overcome their obstacles. I think it brings them closer and to me, makes it a better story.
June 1st, 2009 11:19 am
I like both chances of overcoming obstacles in stories
June 1st, 2009 11:25 am
Ok…I had to google the d20 also….and you are right, none for me.
I vote TEAM all the way. Yeah, it’s good for the heroine to be able to kick ass alone, but at the same time….it’s also nice for her hero to come along and …well, be a hero !
June 1st, 2009 11:43 am
Not sure what a d20 is but, I’m not even going to stick my neck out & guess…lol…I don’t wanna look silly if I’m wrong =)
As for the hero & heroine overcoming obstacles I really think it depends on the story and situation in which the hero & heroine are thrust into….But seeing them work as a team with secondary characters sometimes makes it more interesting because you get to meet or get closer to other characters in the story, who in some stories you fall in love with & are more interesting than the main characters….Then on the other hand sometimes the hero & heroine are so perfect and in sync with each other that you love to see them overcome obstacles on their own and become closer plus you get to see sides of them that you might not if they were working with other characters…….So I’d have to say that I’m happily split with my decision at 50/50 …lol
June 1st, 2009 11:50 am
I really like both teams are great but sometimes you have to work things out yourself. and no to the d20s.
June 1st, 2009 12:15 pm
I like both. It really depends on how well I like the secondary characters. No d20’s
June 1st, 2009 12:36 pm
I actually prefer team work. I think it makes them closer. No d20s.
Melissa
June 1st, 2009 2:05 pm
I love both story types. There are some situations where the hero/heroine must do by themselves (personal/family/friend situation) and with teamwork I love it when they kick butt together or against each other
No d20’s in the closet.
June 1st, 2009 6:17 pm
I like having the H/h work together solving problems and taking care of outside obstacles, only because it doesn’t seem to be done all that much. At least not in the books I read all the time!
And since I don’t know what it is, no d20s in the closet.! LOL, I’m assuming you’ll enlighten the innocent on that??
June 1st, 2009 8:11 pm
No to the d20s.
I like the hero and heroine working together. It draws them closer and they often find themselves in unique situations and places where anything and everything usually happens!
June 1st, 2009 8:43 pm
Actually I guess it depends on the story on rather I like the hero/heroine working together on their issues or solving on their own. I think most authors work it perfectly in their stories. As for the D20s maybe I should google it cause I’m scared to guess what it is but I doubt I have any. LOL!
June 1st, 2009 8:56 pm
My d20s are not hiding in the closet. they’re exactly where they should be in my Crown Royal bag.
I am a big fan of the hero/heroine coming to the rescue, only to have to be rescued themselves by other members of their team.
Maybe I should consider moving the d20s and the rest of them into something more secure than the Crown bag. What with the alien coming and all.
June 1st, 2009 9:01 pm
I’m a team girl all the way!!! I don’t know what a d20 is but I will be googling it after I post this comment. :p
I love, loved reading Blue Diablo. The best part of Corine for me was she was an everyday girl (not counting her touch ability), like most of us. This made her someone I could easily relate to.
PS: Don’t count me for the contest. I already have a copy – autographed.
June 1st, 2009 9:04 pm
LOL, yes, I have d20s but not in my closet. I keep mine in a leather bag on my bookshelf.
FWIW, ThinkGeek has fuzzy d20s for sale. How cute would that be?
June 1st, 2009 9:04 pm
I like the H/h working together. In a team is good since it shows different sides of the H/h. A team can add so much depth to the plot and to my enjoyment of the book. But in the end, I want the resolution to come from the H/h, not the team.
Yes. d20s in the closet (and out in the open).
June 1st, 2009 9:24 pm
I like watching the h/h working together with or without help working throught their problems
And seeing as i don’t what that means no I don’t have any lol
June 1st, 2009 11:20 pm
I like watching the hero/heroine working through their problem either on their own or together. Of course, having a supportive set of secondary characters is always nice.
June 2nd, 2009 1:34 am
I like seeing the couple work out issues together but reading about them working things out on their own is cool too. The truth is either way can be a great read. It just all depends on the author and how they write it.
As to the other question, no d20’s hiding in my house at the moment.
June 2nd, 2009 4:46 am
I have no d20s at the moment. Mine are all d10s. Stupid WW.
Despite everything (heh), I’m a huge fan of women who are sexual like how you’ve described Corine. I think that’s awesome.
I prefer solo heroines, though, which probably says something about me.
June 2nd, 2009 8:26 am
Hi! To answer the questions: I prefer watching the hero/heroine overcome their obstacles when they work as a team with secondary characters;
no, I don’t have any d20s in my house.
Have a great day!
June 2nd, 2009 10:36 am
I’m one of the ones that doesn’t mind a ‘weaker’ character, especially when they use stronger mental and/or moral fiber to push past their other inabilities to get to the goal. Love when h/h work together or with others to make it happen. Yeah, Mary Sues suck.
And d20? Fabulous for so many things. As a homeschooling family we use our pretty purples for math facts drill. And for poetry writing assignments–figure that one out, eh?
June 2nd, 2009 7:34 pm
I prefer that the hero/heroine overcome their obstacles on their own. No I’m not hiding any d20’s in my closet.
June 2nd, 2009 8:39 pm
I’m a team player myself, though I don’t mind seeing a hero
or heroine working out a situation on their own. As for d20s,
there are none in any of our closets!!
Pat Cochran
June 2nd, 2009 9:04 pm
I love when the hero and heroine work together to overcome their obstacles and problems.
I’m sorry to say that I do not have any d20’s in my closets. I never got into Dungeons & Dragons all that much. My son played it back a while ago (it could be years and years) but I don’t think he was into the third edition. He’s into other role playing games on-line now. Sorry.
June 3rd, 2009 11:25 am
I like a team effort – it’s nice to be able to do things on your own, but it’s nicer to involve the people around you. Lifetime relationships are all about mutual investment.
As for the d20, I have a few of them, but they are gathering dust in my closet with my D&D.
June 3rd, 2009 11:29 am
Found your site from a retweet on Twitter.
I like the heroine to *try* to resolve everything on her own, only to learn that it’s okay to let the hero or secondary characters help out occasionally — independent cooperation, as it were.
And no, I don’t hide my d20s in the closet. They sit in a pretty jar with the d4s, d6s, d8s, and d10s. ;-D
June 3rd, 2009 11:32 am
I like heroines/heroes who aren’t afraid to admit they need a little help. Omnipotency is interesting only so far. Not to mention I really like a good secondary character. Or a whole team of them. Go team!
I think I’m hiding a d20 on paper, but I haven’t seen it since I passed the course.
June 3rd, 2009 11:39 am
I like heroines who save the day with the help of a team, but are fully capable of saving the day by themselves if the situation called for it.
Yes, I do like my cake and I would LOVE to eat it too. : )
June 3rd, 2009 11:54 am
Yes, we do have d20s hiding in a box in a closet.
I like team work. There has to be a leader, but in the vein of Kim Harrison’s Hollows series, I love it when people come together. Sometimes to save the hero(ine), sometimes to help execute a plan. The more ass kicking the better.
June 3rd, 2009 12:01 pm
I enjoy watching the dynamics of a group working together, how they mesh and how they figure out who does what and when.
*admires the shiny d20 on her desk*
June 3rd, 2009 12:08 pm
I like to see them both working together and on their own. You can see how they are together and not.
June 3rd, 2009 1:09 pm
I like teamwork, as long as there’s clear evidence that each member of the team is self-sufficient. “Strong trees don’t grow in the shadows of others” and all that. I much prefer to read about cooperation and complimentary skills and abilities, and shared successes and challenges, than to read about solo superhero characters or Mr/Ms Perfect.
As for the d20s, they are out of the closet and getting quite a lot of use these days! I don’t know if there’s anything more fun than RPG with your kids (now teens and 20s).
June 3rd, 2009 2:13 pm
I think I like a little of both. I like it when the Hero/heroine finds her way on her own but also when she has a little help from friends. I love that about Rachel from Kim Harrison’s Books and Liz from Lori Handeland’s Doomsday series. They are both pretty strong females that can manage on their own but just do better with a helping hand.
Yes I have D20’s hiding in my closet. I have a geek hubby and his best friends who play D&D and we all played for awhile. I just liked having pretty dice.
June 4th, 2009 5:24 am
I like to see them overcome obstacles together as this proves they need each other and complement one another.
I never knew that d20s even existed! The older you get the more you realize the less you know.