Modern Good Reads discussion

I have a question which is probably more directed to you as readers rather than authors. How likeable do you think a narrating main character needs to be? Can you think of any books which you really enjoyed in spite of not liking/relating to the narrator?

I've read a couple books where I didn't care for the main character, but the book was good. I think the book has to be really good and I need something to pull for, if I'm not rooting for the main character. I prefer books where I at least like the main character well enough and want them to succeed.

I know a lot of people loved Gone Girl and I thought both of the main characters in that book were pretty miserable people. I'm one of the few that didn't really care for the book, but that was writing style as well. Plus, I don't like unreliable narrators, though some people love that type of twist.

✭Sunshine✭ wrote: "I've read a couple books where I didn't care for the main character, but the book was good. I think the book has to be really good and I need something to pull for, if I'm not rooting for the main ..."

Thanks for that Sunshine. I am grappling with this for something I am writing atm and I have been of the opinion that a narrating main character needs to be likeable enough that readers will be interested in hearing out 'their side of the story'. I'm at the point where I am considering doing it in third person instead.

Interestingly, I did love Gone Girl, which is a great example of the narrating characters not being likeable - I wonder if that is because I was tricked into thinking Amy was likeable in the beginning? I think I must be some kind of reading masochist because I love it when the author stays a few steps ahead of me and throws in a twist I didn't see coming.

In a first-person narrative, the narrator may be loveable, considerate, brave, and strong or despicable, narcissistic, cowardly, and weak. As long as the character is believable and real, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that, throughout the entire story, their perception and opinion of whatever or whomever they are describing must remain consistent with their personality, personal beliefs, and psyche, as established by the author.

Even though readers only see, hear, and experience what the narrator does, their interpretation of events may often differ from that of the narrator.

It is the author's technical writing and story-telling skills that will determine whether or not the book is a success or failure, not the character's personality.

Paige wrote: "I'm of the opinion that as long as your narrator is interesting, it doesn't matter if he's likeable or not. I hated Victor Frankenstein, but I still enjoyed his story because it was interesting. Th..."
Ooh, Frankenstein is another one of my all-time favourite books! Now I am wondering if am actually drawn to books where the narrator isn't all that likeable ...

Jim wrote: "In a first-person narrative, the narrator may be loveable, coniderate, brave, and strong or despicable, narcissistic, cowardly, and weak. As long as the character is believable and real, it doesn't..."

Thanks Jim, that sounds like a good take on it, especially now as I have been reminded of a couple of books which I love, and which have been widely enjoyed, where the narrator is actually rather despicable.

If the narrating characters annoying I find it kinda embarrassing to read

I think this is really a matter of taste. I admit my own narrow-mindedness as a reader in this. I really enjoy books where I like the narrator. I don't have to identify with the narrator or main character per se. I've loved books about old men as a young woman. I've loved books about young boys as a middle aged woman. But I have a strong bias in favor of likable narrators with some spunk. I generally like ethical narrators but I have loved a few stories where the narrator or main character was a compulsive liar or thief for some understandable reason. So, I think it is all a matter of taste. The most important thing when writing is to figure out who your "ideal reader" is. If you know of people who like to read complex stories with morally unclear, not-necessarily likable main characters, then write for that person.

I guarantee that there are readers out there who will like it if it is done well and in a way that appeals to that kin of reader. But I also guarantee that not everyone will like it no matter what you do.

I completely agree with Jim and could not have stated it better. Definitely the writing makes all the difference.

With that said, I think it may be more difficult for people to buy into a book when the main character is someone they don't like. Not impossible, just more difficult and that is why the writing is so important.

Just some free-flowing thoughts:
I think it helps, if a main character is not a likeable character, for them to have a redeeming quality or something you can grasp on to as a reader, a thread of hopefulness that this character might be good deep down or making decisions for some sort of good, even if you don't agree with the decision, or at least not as bad you might think. I like to see a trait that you are hoping could be positive, even if you're not sure.

Or if the opposing character or whatever is happening to them is even worse than they are, so the "lesser of two evils".

On the other side is the character that is just so awful that you can't stop reading. I think that's the case with Gone Girl. The major twist is in the middle and you keep reading. I think people were stunned and couldn't believe it. It's like people that slow down on the highway to see the car crashes.

Hope those all make sense. Again, I don't think any of the above is necessary if the story and the writing are great. These were just some random thoughts I thought I'd share.

Good luck with your writing!

Thanks for your comments, everyone. This has definitely helped. My gut feel has been that a character needs to be either relatable or thoroughly intriguing, and that doesn't necessarily mean that they are altogether likeable.

Consider "Olive Kitteridge"-- Olive is not an entirely likable character. The Pulitzer Prize winning book is NYTimes bestseller. As long as the author creates an empathetic or compelling character that readers can relate to, it's okay to be unlikable.

I think the narrator has to be either impartial or likeable if not it really ruins the book for me. I'll end up spending most of the time grumbling about the annoying narrator than focusing on the plot.

If done well, I like the twist of the unreliable narrator. I don't think it's necessary that the main character be likeable if it's done for the right reason and suits the tone of the novel. Of there are multiple points of view, it could be to show differing perspectives. Consider Scarlett O'Hara, spoiled, selfish, but she's strong when she needs to be, even if she never completely changes. Look at the popularity of Downton Abbey. Many people dislike Lady Mary, but they're fascinated by her. There's Gone Girl, as has already been mentioned.

In the book I'm working on right now, I had a beta reader say my main character is like watching "a beautiful train wreck", you will not like her but you can't look away from her. Then out of nowhere, you'll find yourself cheering for her, only to hate her again ten pages later. I think it comes down to whether the character is redeemable, or there is meant to be "the shock".

I don't think the narrator needs to be likable as long as the narrator is entertaining.