Top 5 Wednesday

Top 5 Wednesday: Unlikeable Characters

Amanda @Cover2CoverMom

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Hello and welcome to my Top 5 Wednesday post!

T5W is a weekly meme is hosted by Sam @ThoughtsOnTomes.  You can visit the Goodreads T5W group for more info.

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This week’s theme is…

July 27th: Most Unlikable Characters
— NOT VILLAINS! These are protagonists or side characters that are unlikable! (These should lean more towards characters who aren’t intentionally unlikeable. Not villains, or mean girl/guys, etc.)

» Isabel Sherbourne, The Light Between Oceans by M.L.

Stedman

13158800Amazon • Goodreads

Let’s be real here.  Isabel goes a little bat shit crazy in The Light Between Oceans.  Whereas I did sympathize with her struggles of infertility, I could not bring myself to like her.  I found her very selfish and only interested in her own agenda.  She rationalized her actions in her mind to twist reality in her favor.

You can read my review here → Book Review: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

» Lilliet Berne, The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee

51OiUODZdPL._SX332_BO1,204,203,200_Amazon • Goodreads

I had a really hard time connecting with the main character in The Queen of the Night, Lilliet.  With as much misfortune that falls upon Lilliet in this book, you would think the reader would sympathize with her… but I found myself struggling to feel any compassion for her.  This was mostly due to the fact that Lilliet was emotionless throughout the book. I wanted to root for her to overcome adversity, and succeed, but I just couldn’t.  Lilliet just didn’t feel human to me.

You can read my review here → Book Review: The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee

» Mare Barrow, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

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Amazon • Goodreads

Mare was very hard to like in my opinion.  I felt she was self-centered and immature.  It made it very hard to root for her.

You can read my review here → Book Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

» Edward Cullen & Bella Swan, The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer

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Amazon • Goodreads

Obviously since Edward made this list you can assume I am NOT #TeamEdward.  Edward is very controlling and possessive of Bella.  On the flip side, Bella is very dependent upon Edward and basically falls apart when Edward leaves in the second book.  I don’t do co-dependent relationships.

» Christian Grey, 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James

51RhsdrKNHL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_Amazon • Goodreads

Speaking of controlling and possessive… If you think Edward is bad, Christian Grey takes the cake.  I could write an entire post about everything I loath about this series, but I will just stick to Christian for now.  Christian is a misogynistic sadist.  The end.

Which characters did you find unlikable?  Feel free to link to your own T5W post!

Published by Amanda @Cover2CoverMom

Amanda is a 33 year-old who was born and bred in Ohio. She is happily married to her high school sweetheart and they have two children aged 14 and 7. She is a part-time youth services librarian and currently pursuing her MLIS. When not juggling family, work, and grad school, she enjoys reading, being outdoors, and fitness.

27 thoughts on “Top 5 Wednesday: Unlikeable Characters”

  1. I agree with most of them, except for Isabelle 😛 I didn’t like Red Queen at all and I think it was because of the main character. And Bella… UGH. Christian is the worst, then again, I hate those books xD

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  2. Yes for Mare & Christian Grey!!!! I completely forgot about him when I was writing my list, but it’s nice to see someone else who hates these books and sees Mr. Grey as the abusive jerk he is! *sighs*

    Mare Barrow made the top of my list. I didn’t hate her as much in the first book, but the author managed to make her even more annoying and selfish in the second one.

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    1. I really don’t get it… Women actually named their kids ‘Christian’ after the character in that book. I cringe just thinking about it.

      I am now happy with my decision NOT to continue on with the series 😊

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      2. Exactly!!! Are these the types of books we want our children to read? Do we want our sons to think this is how they should treat a lady? Our daughters to think it’s acceptable to submit to torture at the hands of a man?!

        I could go on and on.

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  5. Haven’t read any of the books except Twilight, but I can certainly agree about Bella and Edward. I read the book when I was a teen, right around the time it was originally released, and I still kind of hated them both. Ok, that’s a strong word, but I didn’t realize how much I’d grow to dislike them until I became an adult. Oh, God. I never want to meet Christian Grey. Never. >.<

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  6. Edward and Bella’s relationship was so, so toxic. And the fact that the audience of those books was rather young, who romanticize their relationship is one of my main problems with Twilight. Adolescents are so susceptible to influence; it’s crazy how detrimental toxic relationships in books can be. Since Christian Grey was largely based off Edward Cullen, makes sense that he’s in your list too! Agreed about Mare as well; she was so dull.

    ~ Aimal @ Bookshelves & Paperbacks

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    1. Exactly! What are we teaching young girls with these types of books? I definitely wouldn’t want my daughter thinking these are healthy relationships. Healthy relationships are based off of mutual respect, not out of dominant/submissive roles. Unfortunately we don’t only have to worry about these books, there is also TV, Movies, Internet, Social Media, etc to worry about.

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  8. I strongly agree with Mare being unlikable and immature, she gets even worst in Glass Sword and I’m umming and ahhing about picking up the last book or not, I might because I like Maven but I’m not going to go out and buy it first thing. Great post!

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    1. That’s what I’ve been hearing. It sticks bc I really do think Victoria Aveyard is a talented writer. I am happy with my decision not to continue the series, but I hope we do see something different from her in the future.

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  10. Sooo much yes to Mare. I didn’t like Red Queen, admittedly, and Mare was a big part of why; she struck me as whiny and very damsel-in-distressy. I heard it didn’t get better in Glass Sword either – did you read that book?

    And Christian Grey does take the cake. That whole series is SO problematic, but I guess it’s not a surprise because the source material itself is already pretty bad… :/

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    1. Exactly! No I didn’t continue on with Glads Sword, a decision I’m glad I made! I am not opposed to reading more of Victoria Aveyard’s work in the future though. I think she definitely has potential.

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      1. I think she has potential, too, but I’ll be wary of choosing what I read of hers next! Hopefully the plot is a bit more original… Red Queen reminds me SO MUCH of all popular YA trends, I feel like there was barely anything new to it personally. D:

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  11. I don’t like controllin/possessive characters/people in general. Though sometimes it makes the romance very intriguing and, quite very intense, you’re right when you say that co-dependent is bad. I also didn’t like it when Edward left and Bella basically wanted to die without him. I do think lovers should ALWAYS have each other’s backs, but the Christian Grey way is not the right one, if you know what I mean. I wonder how your husband is to you 🙂

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    1. My husband and I are 50/50 partners. He knew he was getting an independent woman when he married me and has never tried to assert any type of dominance over me. We share a mutual respect for one another, as a marriage should 😊

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