Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Tales of Evil of 1001 - which ones are they?

While I have yet to read it, I'm thinking Humbert Humbert of Lolita must be right up there.

Surely Jean-Baptiste Grenouille of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer makes the list.

I'd say American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis and The Collector by John Fowles would fit. Both are pretty disturbing tales of evil.

I haven't read American Psycho yet but am somewhat disturbed that I really liked all of the other books mentioned so far - tis a bit disconcerting. How about The hotel in The Shining and the titular Monk in The Monk?

Good question. But it might very well depend on your definition of evil.

For me, I think the male protagonists in books like Bel Ami and Love in the Time of Cholera encapsulate evil because they use women for their own ends while at the same time telling them they love them. This to me is the antithesis of love and therefore these stories are tales of evil... perhaps more insidious than the outright evil of Patrick Bateman.

I think you're allowed to define evil for yourself in this discussion. Agreed, not everyone will define it the same way.

I'll add Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock. 60 pages to go, so I reserve the right to change my mind.

heh heh... don't think you will, especially after that ending!

Arukiyomi wrote: "heh heh... don't think you will, especially after that ending!"

see? Beauty (and, apparently, evil) are in the eye of the beholder.

The Woman in White, Count Fosco is one of the evilest characters.

Arukiyomi wrote: "Good question. But it might very well depend on your definition of evil..."

And also on whether a minor but very evil character is sufficient for the book as a whole to be a "tale of evil".

In Cold Blood- this is definitely a tale of evil......

How about the nasty Alaskan bush pilot in Drop City? Name escapes me...

Or the nasty addict who ruined The Bunner Sisters lil ' world?

And please, who out of all the possibles in the Wasp Factory were truly evil?

Random musing...

The 120 Days of Sodom. Pure evil

Interesting thread to start, Elizabeth!
I think there is a difference between "tales of evil" and characters who are evil, a point raised by Cecily.
Das Perfume or Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, I did not think felt "evil" although the character of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille could certainly qualify. Although I am willing to admit that my impressions could have been clouded by the fact that I had seen the movie years before I picked up the book.
Likewise I enjoyed the book Bel-Ami but wanted to beat the character with the book. :)
A book I read this year on the list that felt drenched with evil was The Killer Inside Me. Not only was Sheriff Lou Ford evil and his evil was not limited or segmented within his life but the "evil" felt as if it permeated the novel. I had American Psycho on my nightstand TBR pile and put it back on the bookshelf because I did not feel up to it after The Killer Inside Me.
The book I am NOT looking forward to on this list and think it would probably be classified as a Tale of Evil would be Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire. Again though, my impression could be clouded by the movie in which I felt touched by evil.

Hmmm, I'm thinking perhaps A Clockwork Orange? Although in the end of the book it does actually suggest that good wins out over an evil person's soul. So maybe not.

Surely Blood Meridian could be classified as a Tale of Evil? There doesn't seem to be any really good, honest likeable character in the whole book. the Indians slaughter people, the Americans slaughters people, the Clanton Gang slaughters people. Throughout the book it just seems like the world is one unremitting slaughter-house in which there and no good guys or bad gusy, but just death. Chaotic, unstoppable death.

I actually never finished the book, but from what I can gather it's a pretty much a pitch black ride from beginning to end.

How about I'm Not Scared?