Oct 9th, 2008 · A London schoolteacher (the bubbly Sally Hawkins ) keeps her cool — and her smile — through a string of mishaps. But Mike Leigh's movie feels decent and affirmative, never cloying or melodramatic. (Recommended).
Sep 9th, 2008 · Curtis Sittenfeld admits she's not sure what constitutes "chick lit." What she does know is that these three books featuring smart young women make her proud to be a chick.
Aug 29th, 2008 · A pretty, plucky heroine, a mean massage-parlor proprietress, and a handsome-prince figure who's more perceptive than most — David Kaplan's modern fairy tale stays breezy, brisk and down to earth.
Aug 29th, 2008 · Former GOP finance director Nicole Sexton's young heroine has a knack for throwing parties and tapping rich donors. But as the former intern becomes a big wheel in the Republican money machine, her ideals take a beating.
Aug 4th, 2008 · She's a spider's spider — sophisticated, pretty (by her own account), authoritarian — and she says something profound about love and commitment. Melissa Block looks at the heroine of Charlotte's Web.
Jul 30th, 2008 · In nearly six decades of performing, the alto saxophonist lived a quintessential jazz survivor's life. The bebop veteran emerged from the shadows of Charlie Parker, as well as heroin addiction, to make music bristling with passion and directness.
Jul 29th, 2008 · Though largely forgotten, cartoonist Jackie Ormes lent a strong voice to black women in the decades leading up to the civil rights movement. She was a pioneer in her day, creating smart and independent heroines that challenged the period's stereotypes.
Jul 21st, 2008 · You may not like her, but you do what she wants. She's a tough chick, a woman with sass and an instinct for survival. Brace yourself for these three books featuring heroines with attitude.