Characters from books you HATE (that you're not supposed to!)

[Shiningdew]

I have just finished The House I Grew Up In (Lisa Jewell) and I liked it but I couldn't stand Meg, the oldest daughter.

I got the feeling she'd really, really annoy me if I knew her Smug, judgemental, bossy and mumsy.

I also didn't like Jill, of the Ruby Ferguson pony books, as a kid. She was always so intolerant of anyone nervy round horses!

Who are yours? I'm sure I have more ...

yy to Scarlett O'Hara. If ever there was someone who needed a good slap, then it's her. Rather glad Rhett saw through her in the end. Hope he never went back.

John Ridd from Lorna Doone.

What a boring bastard he is.

Mr Rochester. Brooding, romantic hero. Er no, not really.

Imprisons his first wife for being too passionate and womanly, and basically liking sex (if you want to do a Freudian reading of the text). And is only attracted to Jane because she is prim and passionless.

Yuck.

hackmum, I just tracked down that review! So much more of a joy to read than the novel itself. I promise you're missing nothing.

But Gwen, he was such a self absorbed twunt. Anti hero my arse was on the wrong side

Some deserving nominations here. I'll third or fourth
Jane Eyre (what a bore she would have been)
Everyone at The Chalet School (insufferable prigs)
The narrator of The Kite Runner.

And will add

Cassandra Mortmain from I Capture the Castle, in fact the whole Mortmain family who spawned countless real life and literary eccentric (i.e annoying) families who have no money but somehow still live in castles.

Anyself portraitfemale character in a Lisa St.Aubin de Teran book.

Horrid Henry - little shit.

And the two in Love in the Time of Cholera. I was desperate for them to die

Oh yes, Love in the Time of Cholera was such a dull book. I feel guilty saying that because it's so highly regarded but I just couldn't get into it.

Glad I'm not the only one that feels that way about Horrid Henry. DP and I are fairly liberal parents but neither of us could understand the love people seem to feel about the HH books - he's just vile and charmless. Also, it's always annoyed me that the idea is so blatantly stolen from Just William, but without the likeability and inventiveness. Why has nobody else (apparently) spotted this?

I would also say Fanny Price except I cannot imagine anyone feeling they should like her.

Mr Rochester, lying dick.

Cosette in Les Miserables. I much prefer Eponine as a character.

Loads of romantic leads; Mr Darcy, Mr Rochester. Angel Clare is the worst though; he is off with Tess's younger sister before Tess is even cold.

I don't think one is meant to like Angel Clare. I didn't get the impression Hardy liked him.

On the other hand Darcey we are meant to like and I don't. I don't like Elizabeth Bennett either (tbh all of Austen's heros and heroines annoy me)

I don't know. I think Angel Clare is just supposed to be very human and very of the time. He judges Tess from the moral standpoint of someone during that era. Yes he is a hypocrite and a coward, but its like he's fantastic up to that point. Which makes it all the more tragic. I don't think I disliked him so much as his choices and behavior.

Marianne Dashwood
Northey in Don't Tell Alfred. Did Nancy Mitford think she was likeable? Certainly Fanny and Alfred liked her but I think she comes over as smug and a sneak.

Everyone in Wuthering Heights. Just everyone.
I know it's not adult fiction, but Bella from Twilight can fuck the fuck off. Career suicide for Kirsten Stewart in the films.

Oh and Holden Caulfield from Catcher In The Rye. I like the book, I'm glad I read it, but jesus christ he's annoying.

Can't bear Victor Frankenstein; causes havoc and all he can think about is the effect on himself.

Anna Karenia, what a selfish, hard hearted woman! She was as bad as her two timing brother. Much preferred her husband.

Emma Bovary - self-centred and irritating, moaning over nothing. I felt sorry for her poor husband.

Agree Cosette, and add Desdemona! Can't see Mrs Crawley in DA without seeing Penelope Wilton as Desdemona in the version of Othello we saw at school about a million years ago. She played it brilliantly though

Maggie from 'Mill on The Floss'

Another vote for the Robin. I suspect she became a nun of the most sadistic kind, angel face or not.

I'm fully prepared to be flamed but when I finished The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, I had a fleeting half thought (before I stopped myself) of "good, I'm glad you died you annoying little twat" about the kid. The kid ffs. What is wrong with me?