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Books with dislikable characters

164 replies

amillionnamechangeslater000 · 01/06/2020 21:45

Ok so weird request, but I have noticed that I tend to quite like books with unlikable and even pretty loathsome characters - think Gone Girl, The Casual Vacancy, and more recently The Recovery of Rose Gold.

So - can anyone recommend any books in this vein (yes I know it’s a bit weird)

OP posts:
ELM8 · 01/06/2020 22:40

My Lovely Wife - Samantha Downing

amillionnamechangeslater000 · 01/06/2020 22:41

So many great recommendations- thank you. It’s always tricky looking on amazon as well, as these types of books can often have mediocre ratings as ,of course, many readers don’t enjoy books with unlikeable characters. So can never tell if just a crap book or personal taste.

OP posts:
amillionnamechangeslater000 · 01/06/2020 22:42

@PegasusReturns one from me then - The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood - horrible horrible characters (and quite a grim subject).

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strawberrie · 01/06/2020 22:43

Fallen Angel, by Chris Brookmyre - it's pretty dark, but gripping and chock full of disagreeable characters!

KelpHelper · 01/06/2020 22:43

Jane Eyre. It’s a wonderful novel, but the older I get, the more I realise that Jane may be feisty, intelligent and aware of her own value, but she’s also self-righteous, priggish and deeply judgemental, especially of other women — she’s more forgiving of a man who tries to seduce her, his penniless teenage employee, and then tries to marry her bigamously than she is of Blanche Ingram, who is, after all, just trying to find someone eligible on the marriage market before her looks run out.

Crystal87 · 01/06/2020 22:44

The Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. Any main character by Dorothy Koomson is patronising and sarcastic too.

MattBerrysHair · 01/06/2020 22:50

I came on to say Wuthering Heights but several PP's have beaten me to it.

The People's Act of Love - James Meek, bloody terrifying the things the protagonist does.

Regeneration series by Pat Barker. I found Billy Prior rather unlikeable, but not hideous like many of the suggestions on here.

ittybittylivingspace · 01/06/2020 22:51

Catcher in the Rye

SanFrancisco49er · 01/06/2020 22:54

Jilly Cooper's Riders (although the way she writes it, it's still easy to imagine wanting to sleep with Rupert despite everything!)

elQuintoConyo · 01/06/2020 22:55

The Line of Beauty - I want to say the author is Alan Hollingsworth...? Or something. CBA to Google Grin

A Confederacy of Dunces - highly recommended by many, I found it as irritating as thrush!

bonsaidragon · 01/06/2020 22:57

I'm surprised that nobody has said The Hunting Party yet.

TrafalgarSquare · 01/06/2020 22:58

This Little Family. A dark read!

Likethebattle · 01/06/2020 23:00

Obsession by Amanda Robson, all cunts!

Teenybooboo · 01/06/2020 23:02

Quite a few good suggestions, one I haven’t see is The Count of Monte Cristo

MorbidMuch · 01/06/2020 23:14
  • Wuthering Heights
  • Rebecca
  • Perfume
  • Gormenghast Trilogy
  • Moll Flanders
  • Mansfield Park
  • Brave New World
margotsdevil · 01/06/2020 23:16

If you enjoyed Gone Girl then Sharp Objects is also worth a read - same author. The Talented Mr Ripley (Patricia Highsmith) - Mr Ripley is definitely not nice!

Xiaoxiong · 01/06/2020 23:28

Barchester Towers! Quite a few deliciously horrible characters but Mr Slope is the ultimate slimy baddie, made even worse that he isn't evil, just manipulative, scheming, gaslighting and narcissistic in a horribly normal and average way.

MyBlueMoonbeam · 01/06/2020 23:41

Anything by Dickens 😬

midsomermurderess · 01/06/2020 23:46

I agree with The Slap. Niceness, especially when it comes to creating drama, is very overrated.

JaneJeffer · 01/06/2020 23:47

Mansfield Park. Full of wankers.

RoryGillmoresEvilTwin · 01/06/2020 23:51

Wuthering heights. An amazing book about awful people.

Noti23 · 01/06/2020 23:58

According to Yes by Dawn French (awful, awful book)

The Girl on the Train

Bellabelles · 01/06/2020 23:59

Her and Alys, Always - both by Harriet Lane
Take me in and Lie with me - both by Sabine Durrant

BogRollBOGOF · 02/06/2020 00:04

Any chick lit that has lengthy descriptions about hair make-up or nails on the first page Grin

StampMc · 02/06/2020 00:05

The parasites- daphne du maurier . They’re all mostly awful
The talented mr ripley
The little stranger - sarah waters
The bell jar (the audiobook is fab)
Notes on a scandal