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.

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.

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.

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.

I'm trying to think of enjoyable books with unlikeable characters.

Lolita comes to mind.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Well, American Psycho is probably one of those. The torture porn was way beyond my comfort level. But the book overall was well worth reading. I don't know that it would have worked without it. Though I do think it could have been a lot less meticulous and indulgent.