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.
Jayne: Well... I don't like the idea of someone hearin' what I'm thinkin'. Inara: No one likes the idea of hearing what you're thinking.
'Objects In Space'
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."
Atropa - Dec 15, 2009 4:26:40 pm PST #10678 of 28370
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
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.
brenda m - Dec 15, 2009 5:30:47 pm PST #10686 of 28370
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there
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.
DavidS - Dec 15, 2009 5:37:16 pm PST #10687 of 28370
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I don't know how you write that book without being extremely meticulous, you know? It wouldn't work if it were done in broader strokes.