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Original poster

Whose the most horrible character in any book you've read?

244 replies

FreddoBaggyMac · 31/08/2010 08:28

I've just finished 'The Help' and am very sad about it too [sniff] I miss Aibileen... Anyway I feel the need to make my hatred of Miss Hilly public. I don't think I've ever detested anyone in a book quite so much...

I thought I would create a tribute thread in her honour, listing the most repugnant characters in fictional history. Please help by adding entries to the list!
I nominate MISS HILLY from The Help as the number one entry.

OP posts:
snigger · 31/08/2010 19:42

Urk from Cold Comfort Farm was a bit disturbing with his water voles.

littleomar · 31/08/2010 19:40

i thought mrs danvers was just misguided. rebecca, though, was vile.

another vote for harold skimpole

pinkthechaffinch · 31/08/2010 19:33

TheBolter- I was going to mention DJ Goodnews Grin

Also Zenia in 'The Robber Bride' by Margaret Atwood

Mrs Danvers?

The horrible lead of 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying' in fact Orwell has hundreds of unpleasant characters to choose from

woodchuck · 31/08/2010 19:32

oh yes Marchpane was pure evil

TheBolter · 31/08/2010 19:29

Marchpane.

TheBolter · 31/08/2010 19:29

Oh yes, Miss Minchin and Mrs Norris.

Must dig out I'm the King of the Castle again.

Northernlurker · 31/08/2010 19:29

I don't mind Lady M actually - but Regan and Goneril - ugh, ugh, ugh!

DinahRod · 31/08/2010 19:27

Mrs Norris - Mansfield Park
Nurse Ratched - One Flew...
Miss Minchin (Little Princess) boo hiss
Helena Kingshaw/Edmund Hooper (I'm the King of the Castle)

Have a soft spot though for Mr Collins (P&P) & Iago (Othello)

sethstarkaddersmum · 31/08/2010 19:26

Sir Percival in The Woman In White.

TheBolter · 31/08/2010 19:24

Oh no, brockley. Alec was a cad but he was misunderstood. I think his intentions towards Tess were almost honourable, I believe he loved her at least. Don't forget he ended up stabbed to death by his beloved while Angel Clare waltzed off into the sunset Tess's little sister on the day of Tess's execution.

A level English all coming back now. How about Lady MacBeth??

TheBolter · 31/08/2010 19:20

Agree about Angel Clare - tosser. Forget about Heathcliff, Cathy was a real cahhhh.

Madame Bovary irritated me too - even though I think we were meant to feel sorry for her.

Oh, and Amber from 'Forever Amber,' she was a right selfish, vain madam.

Also those immature nob head lead characters in books such as 'Man and Boy' by Tony Parsons and 'How to be Good' by Nick Hornby.

Adair · 31/08/2010 19:11

I was never very keen on Holden Caulfield tbh. Haven't read for ages though, so maybe would view differently through grown-up eyes...

brockleybelle · 31/08/2010 19:09

Alec in Tess of the D'urbervilles. Poor Tess :(

TorcherQueenie · 31/08/2010 19:05

The husband in Dolores Claiborne he deserved it.

BitOfFun · 31/08/2010 18:55

Bill Sikes from Oliver Twist. Nasty piece of work.

moragsoverhereplease · 31/08/2010 18:53

Cathy/Kate form East of Eden.

UnePrune · 31/08/2010 18:48

Lola in Charlie and Lola Grin She is slowly ruining that boy's life [oldest child]

chocolatefroggie, did you really do Perfume in English lit? It's a German novel! I agree it is really worth reading and he is vile.

I nominate both the prostitute with icthyosis and the perfume-business bloke in The Crimson Petal and the White. I couldn't finish that book, they were both so awful.

Oh and all the characters in The Quincunx.

YunoYurbubson · 31/08/2010 18:44

See, I loved The Help, but I found Miss Hilly too one dimentional to really hate her. She was a bit of a clang in an otherwise brilliant book.

Now that stupid glittery vampire. Edward. I really hate him. Creepy and controlling and always one step ahead. Nothing to lose. Calculated. Selfish. Too much like a real life narcicistic, bullying bastard. Makes me shudder. That whole series is a heartbeat away from being a reasonable psychological thriller.

Northernlurker · 31/08/2010 18:38

Oh because they are both manipulative and periodically quite cruel and mainly because you are supposed to like them and think they are the best thing ever and in fact they are both rather unattractive.

Original poster
FreddoBaggyMac · 31/08/2010 18:20

NorthernLurker - Henry and Clare? Shock Why????

OP posts:
PandaEis · 31/08/2010 17:18

chickens i was gonna say thatGrin great book thoughSmile

Henry Bowers in It by Stephen King aswellGrin

George Harvey in The Lovely Bones by Alice Seibold.

Eddies dad in 5 people you meet in heaven by Mitch Albom.

there are loadsSmile

Miggsie · 31/08/2010 17:16

In my humblest opinion, Heathcliff's awfulness fades beside that of his ghastly offspring....Linton Heathcliff.
Self centred, self absorbed, narcissistic little git.

clam · 31/08/2010 17:13

Mrs Norris in Mansfield Park. Another one who, like Lydia Bennett, never quite got what she deserved.

QueenofDreams · 31/08/2010 17:09

I'd second Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice. he is awful!

I used to hate Heathcliffe until I read Jasper Fforde, and now I can only think of him masquerading as a porn star called Buck Stallion Blush

Miggsie · 31/08/2010 17:00

Mr Tulkinghorn in Bleak House

Any male character in a Brett Easton Ellis book

Narrator in My Cousin Rachel

Sir Percival Glyde