I think several of them are really horrible people
Nelly Dean, the textbook example of an unreliable narrator. Eeeeeevil.
Lindsey: Why--why did you... Lorne: One last job. You're not part of the solution, Lindsey. You never will be. Lindsey: You kill me? A flunky?! I'm not just...Angel...kills me. You...Angel... Lorne: Good night, folks.
'Not Fade Away'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Steph L. - Dec 15, 2009 3:22:33 pm PST #10676 of 28370
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine
Strega - Dec 15, 2009 4:22:13 pm PST #10677 of 28370
Hil -- I don't need to like the characters in the sense that I'd want to be their friend, as long as I'm interested in the story. It can be an issue when I think I'm supposed to find characters incredibly likable/admirable, when in fact I want to punch them in the face.
I think that's a bigger issue for me with TV or movies, though. I know there was something recently where I was just like, "I hate these people too much to watch this." I'm not sure if that's because a book has more time to delve, or if it's because it's harder for me to overlook traits I don't like when they're being shown instead of imagined.
Atropa - Dec 15, 2009 4:26:40 pm PST #10678 of 28370
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
I'm looking forward to partaking of American Psycho in one form or another, and I understand there's no liking to be had there.
Nope, not so much. But I think it's a great black comedy novel.
Jesse - Dec 15, 2009 4:31:48 pm PST #10679 of 28370
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
This is why I ended up disliking The Kite Runner so much -- I hated that guy! But didn't think I was supposed to. Actually, I think that's the key for me -- I'm pretty sure no one thinks Patrick Bateman is an OK guy.
Ginger - Dec 15, 2009 4:36:13 pm PST #10680 of 28370
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
Some of P.D. James' books focus mainly on the potential suspects and victims, and in a few books, they were all so loathsome that I stopped caring who killed them. The reason I hated As I Lay Dying, even though I like most Faulkner, was spending too much time with the Snopes.
DavidS - Dec 15, 2009 4:36:15 pm PST #10681 of 28370
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I'm trying to think of enjoyable books with unlikeable characters.
Lolita comes to mind.
Amy - Dec 15, 2009 5:11:26 pm PST #10682 of 28370
Because books.
The protagonist of Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box was unlikeable in a lot of ways, but he was very upfront about it. He owned his own flaws. And Hill managed to make me, at least, sympathize with him, especially as the plot developed.
Jessica - Dec 15, 2009 5:23:34 pm PST #10683 of 28370
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
I do enjoy a book more, I think, if there's at least one character I can root for. I don't necessarily need for it to be the protagonist, but if I find myself wanting everyone in the book to shut up and die already, it can be slow going.
askye - Dec 15, 2009 5:26:26 pm PST #10684 of 28370
Thrive to spite them
I had trouble with Alice Hoffman's Ice Queen because I found the lead character annoying, self centered, and I was impatient with her. I finished the book but I didn't really enjoy it or her.
Polter-Cow - Dec 15, 2009 5:28:20 pm PST #10685 of 28370
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
I'm trying to think of enjoyable books with unlikeable characters.
I did a post on Galveston and The Egyptologist, which I read one after the other. And it struck me that they were both about unlikable characters, but I still liked the books.