October 14, 2015

Top 5 Diverse Characters

Today's Top 5 Wednesday topic is Top 5 Diverse Characters. Now, I know what they mean when they say "diverse". They mean characters who are not white men. And diverse also implies the exclusion of white female characters as well. Although I have seen lists for this topic that include white female characters, so I won't feel too obligated to stick to brown people.

Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - Cinder is a disabled, Asian, female protagonist. A large portion of her limbs are robot limbs, which makes her an amputee, thereby making her a symbol for the differently abled.

Lock-In

Lock In by John Scalzi - Speaking of the differently abled, Chris Shane is a victim of a virus that left him unable to use his body, but still with a conscious mind. He uses his mind to control a droid. That droid is his body.

Zoo City

Zoo City by Lauren Beukes - Zinzi is a black, ex-convict, female who has a sloth spirit animal. In this alternate society in Johannesburg, South Africa, the people convicted of crimes are not incarcerated, they are psychically tied to an animal that they have to keep with them at all times. It is physically painful to be separated.

Death with Interruptions

Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago - The main character is Death. She is Portuguese and female. Portuguese is still European, but she's Death, for crying out loud. That's pretty diverse.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - There are two female protagonists here. They are Mariam and Laila. Two Afghan women married to the same abusive husband.

So okay. That's my list. I like it. Got any to add?