Two characters immediately sprang to mind when I saw this topic come up on Long and Short Reviews - one from classic fiction and one of my own.
The first is Angel Clare from "Tess of the D'Urbervilles". I read this mainly because it was set in my dad's home village (Marlott in the book, Marnhull in reality). I really did try to like it, but it's a deeply depressing read, primarily because Tess's love Angel Clare is such a hypocrite. The tragic conclusion comes as a direct result of Angel abandoning Tess for something that wasn't even her fault - he rejects her for lack of purity even while at the same time he tries to take one of her friends as his mistress. Oh, how I hate that man.
The other is Reed James from my three-book series "I Heard Your Voice", "Tamar Rising" and "Spiritwalker". Reed James is a celebrity medium, insufferably arrogant and incapable of considering anyone other than himself. I've had people come up to me and tell me they just wanted to give him a slap, which means I did my job, because I want to give him a slap too. He remains unredeemed, as I couldn't find a way to redeem him.
So which characters would you never want to meet?
I agree, Tanith, Tess of the D'Urbervilles is definitely depressing.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly not one I'll be re-reading.
DeleteTess was a DNF for me. Too dreary! (No offence to anyone who loved that book).
ReplyDeleteI was tempted to do that myself.
DeleteReed James sounds like an unpleasant character for sure.
ReplyDeleteHe definitely was. Everyone hated him.
DeleteI would avoid depressing characters for sure. Sounds like you created a real jerk with Reed. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/04/wednesday-weekly-blogging-challenge.html
I did my best :)
DeleteYep, you're right, Tess would do me in :)
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely a miserable read.
DeleteYeah, no argument on either of those choices. Though the mention of Tess of the D'Urbervilles is, oddly, making me want to go back and re-read Northanger Abby.
ReplyDeleteNow that one I've read many times and enjoyed.
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