I've got a question (for you).

Over the weekend, Ryan and I were talking about how we both love the book I’m currently reading but how the male author can’t quite seem to write a thoughtful, complex, non-cliched female protagonist. We said to ourselves, “Look at the other male writers who have been able to create realistic women.” It was then that we hung our heads in shame for not being able to come up with anything. This! From a book blogger and a librarian! Ugh! So after much consideration and asking a few other people, here is our short list of male authors who have been able to portray women as a lead characters without stereotypes or hesitation:

• Khaled Hosseini
• Jeffery Eugenides
• Kazuo Ishiguro
• Stieg Larsson
• Steve Martin
• Gustave Flaubert
• Michael Cunningham

Seven men. Really, that’s it? I’m not exactly sure what this says about the state of literature or my own knowledge, but I know I don’t like it. I wouldn’t even mind being told, “Hey, you’re an idiot because you forgot this guy!” or “The obvious choice would be that one dude who wrote that one thing!” So to make us feel better, won’t you please add an author to the list?