Random Book Musings: Unlikeable characters…….Do they make the story more interesting for you or make the story harder for you to enjoy and like? #travelingsistersread #BookBloggers

Posted on by mycoulee

Hello everyone and Happy Monday to you all!

Thought I better do my Book Musings question for this week since I forgot again last week. I am totally guilty that my mind hasn’t been necessarily on book related things lately…..it has been stuck in granddaughter/grandma mode. Which I am absolutely loving btw! Who would have known that being a grandma feels so darn good and satisfying. LOL I am totally smitten with that adorable little baby girl.

Anyway…..here is my question for this week.

I always have these random bookish questions that I’m curious about so I ask our Traveling Sisters a weekly (sometimes more) book related question. We thought it would be fun and interesting to take some of those questions to our blog and see what you all think or do. I hope that you will also join in on the discussion with us.

Norma’s Random Book Musings Question

Unlikeable characters…….Do they make the story more interesting for you or make the story harder for you to enjoy and like? 

Norma’s Answer

For the most part unlikeable characters make the story more interesting for me. I definitely don’t need to like the characters for me to enjoy the story but they do have to feel like they are contributing and moving the story forward for me to fully embrace and enjoy them. I am totally able to forgive and forget an unlikeable character though that I don’t necessarily like or have a problem with. I just usually chock it up to oh well if I am enjoying the story in a whole why does that little character need to ruin the whole book for me. LOL

Lindsay’s Answer

Unlikable characters are hit or miss with me too. Sometimes they can completely ruin a book and overshadow any sort of enjoyment I get from the story. Other times, as Diane mentioned with Maurice, they make the story highly appealing and intriguing. So I guess it all boils down to the writing and if the author has created this unlikable character to suit the story and move it forward, like Norma said. 

Brenda’s Answer

More interesting for me. I think they add contrast to the story. I like having characters to dislike and to like. If everyone is likeable or unlikable I find the dynamics between the characters a bit boring and unrealistic. Real life is hard and messy.

Well I was beyond excited when I won this #goodreadsgiveaway THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER by KAIRA ROUDA! This is a highly anticipated read for us as we absolutely loved BEST DAY EVER!

Now to the best part. Your answers. Please join in our discussion and let us know your answer. We would love to hear from you!

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Published by mycoulee

26 thoughts on “Random Book Musings: Unlikeable characters…….Do they make the story more interesting for you or make the story harder for you to enjoy and like? #travelingsistersread #BookBloggers”

    1. I don’t think an unlikeable character has ever ruined a book for me, not that I can remember anyway. 😝

      Thanks so much for sharing! 💜

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I used to believe that I had to like at least one character in a book in order to find it a fulfilling read…until I read Gone Girl. I’ve come to appreciate these type stories as they are most often well written and make for great storytelling. And, sometimes I just want to see them get their just rewards😏

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Sometimes I love them if the plot is great.. But if the plot goes nowhere and the characters are drinking and sleeping and drinking and not doing much else, being vague… Then I read the book superfast = skim read… Plot has to be strong then characters..

    Liked by 2 people

  5. I think it depends on how the book is written. I’ve read some books where the story wouldn’t be the same without the unlikeable character and others where it was a struggle to finish on account of disliking a character so much. Love the socks Norma! And the giveaway book you won!.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks so much, Carol! I’m so excited to read it!!

      Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on unlikeable characters.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I agree with Carol. It really depends on why I don’t like the character. If it’s someone I wouldn’t be able to tolerate in real life, chances are I’m not going to tolerate them in a book either

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Great topic! If I don’t like a character then I want to “love to hate them”. Or they need to have at least some redeeming quality for me to still root for them. I just finished a book that was enjoyable, but I absolutely did not care about any of the characters and so I never really felt suspense because I didn’t really care what happened to them.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I have definitely felt that way before where I felt no emotion whatsoever or care one way or another about a character.

      Liked by 2 people

  8. What a great question! I love them IF they are written well and compliments the overall story. Sometimes the unlikeable characters are the most memorable ones! Congrats on the giveaway, and I hope you enjoy it! Can’t wait to hear what you think of it!

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Great question! I think it depends on the plot and the author’s intent. If the character is set up to be a hero figure and I just don’t like them, then I struggle with the book overall. But when the character is intended to have shades of grey, it can make things interesting!

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    1. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on unlikeable characters, Lisa! I think you are so right when you say that it depends on the plot and the author’s intent.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I so agree with your comment on unlikeable characters, Yesha! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this question. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  12. Unlikeable characters don’t ruin a book for me but it can be hit or miss. There’s a thin line (for me) between unlikeable and oh, man I just don’t like you period.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. I have to agree with you all, it depends. I like a variety in the characters in a story. I have actually really connected to unlikable characters and loved how they moved the story along. As long as I feel something for a character, and they move the story along, bring on the unlikable.

    Liked by 1 person

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