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

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1001-Books Scavenger Hunt, 2021 > Task 12: Read a book with a character you find irritating.

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message 1: by Karen (new)

Karen Hoehne | 1714 comments Mod
Use this Topic to discuss books you’re reading or that fit the 12th Scavenger Hunt task.


message 2: by S.L. (new)

S.L. Berry | 117 comments For this one, I read Cutter and Bone. Both Cutter and Bone were annoying but Cutter more so.


message 3: by Alice (new)

Alice Yoder | 466 comments The Rabbit series by John Updike. None of the characters had an redeeming qualities, especially Rabbit.


message 4: by Petra (new)

Petra Meadley | 82 comments Mod
I like this thread. I was wondering how I would know if a character is irritating or not, before I've read the book. Now I can see what other people think and choose a book on the chance that they may be irritating for me also.


message 5: by Sean (new)

Sean (fordest) | 988 comments Mod
S.L. wrote: "For this one, I read Cutter and Bone. Both Cutter and Bone were annoying but Cutter more so."

100% agree, Throw in Mo as well. I may use this too


message 6: by Sean (last edited Feb 15, 2021 09:53AM) (new)

Sean (fordest) | 988 comments Mod
Petra wrote: "I like this thread. I was wondering how I would know if a character is irritating or not, before I've read the book. Now I can see what other people think and choose a book on the chance that they ..."

haha. This would be very funny if not for this scavenger hunt. Imagine looking for a book with an irritating character on purpose...


message 7: by S.L. (new)

S.L. Berry | 117 comments Sean wrote: "S.L. wrote: "For this one, I read Cutter and Bone. Both Cutter and Bone were annoying but Cutter more so."

100% agree, Throw in Mo as well. I may use this too"


Yeah, but Mo was more pitiful than annoying though she did nothing to help herself out.


message 8: by Ellinor (new)

Ellinor (1001andmore) | 912 comments Mod
I read The People of Hemso and I found most of the characters very irritating.


message 9: by Valentina (new)

Valentina Di Nisio (ntina) | 13 comments Task 12 completed with Cutter and Bone. I did not found interesting any character in this book, but Cutter was really hateful.


message 10: by Bucket (new)

Bucket | 248 comments I'm thinking about Wuthering Heights for this one. But I'm worried that I may find the characters more on the intriguing side than the irritating side. Those who have read it, how did you feel about the characters?


message 11: by Bob (last edited Jul 01, 2021 08:32PM) (new)

Bob Kaufman (bobkaufman) | 680 comments Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock by Graham Greene


message 12: by Ellinor (new)

Ellinor (1001andmore) | 912 comments Mod
Bucket wrote: "I'm thinking about Wuthering Heights for this one. But I'm worried that I may find the characters more on the intriguing side than the irritating side. Those who have read it, how d..."

I read it years ago and found most of the characters very irritating. I've also watched two movie versions since and haven't changed my opinion.
There's the rumor that Emily Bronte wrote another novel similar to Wuthering Heights but her sister Charlotte burned it. If that's true I'm happy she did!


message 13: by Leona (new)

Leona (mnleona) | 24 comments Ellinor wrote: "Bucket wrote: "I'm thinking about Wuthering Heights for this one. But I'm worried that I may find the characters more on the intriguing side than the irritating side. Those who have..."

That is an interesting tidbit.
I agree on the main characters in Wuthering Heights.


message 14: by Bucket (new)

Bucket | 248 comments Wonderful, I'll give it a go (and hope to be irritated). Thanks Ellinor and Leona!


message 15: by Sean (new)

Sean (fordest) | 988 comments Mod
Hamida in Midaq Alley. I found her irritating. Then I felt sorry for her. Then I found her irritating again.... You will see. Wonder if you will agree


message 16: by Amanda (new)

Amanda Dawn | 265 comments I put Tropic of Cancer the writing was good but almost everyone in it is awful. I almost put Cutter and Bone too lol.


message 17: by Debbie (new)

Debbie (dragonryyder) | 113 comments I’m gonna go with the narrator in Slaughter House 5 by Kurt Vonnegut because he kept saying, “so be it” so much that it really freaking annoyed me at the end.


message 18: by Scott (new)

Scott Tyler | 5 comments I would say Rabbit, Run by John Updike. I really loathed the main character. What a selfish, brainless twit!


message 19: by Sid_rw (new)

Sid_rw | 13 comments Bucket wrote: "I'm thinking about Wuthering Heights for this one. But I'm worried that I may find the characters more on the intriguing side than the irritating side. Those who have read it, how d..."

It was beautifully written, atmospheric, immersive, but I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking the characters were pretty bonkers, to use a bit of UK slang, which means on the unsettled side with regard to their mental well-being.


message 20: by Irem (last edited Apr 05, 2021 01:47PM) (new)

Irem A | 60 comments How about we read books for the other 11 tasks and then we choose an irritating character from them? I am sure there will be no shortage.

Good?


message 21: by Sean (new)

Sean (fordest) | 988 comments Mod
Irem wrote: "How about we read books for the other 11 tasks and then we choose an irritating character from them? I am sure there will be no shortage.

Good?"


You can certainly do that. There are plenty of irritating characters on this list!


message 22: by James (new)

James Spencer (jspencer78) | 258 comments Forgot to post this. Finished The Journey to the West and I found both Tripitaka and Idiot massively irritating.


message 23: by Bob (new)

Bob Kaufman (bobkaufman) | 680 comments Patrick Bateman from American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis


message 24: by James (new)

James Spencer (jspencer78) | 258 comments I would suggest Bateman is WAY beyond “irritating”. ;)


message 25: by Valentina (new)

Valentina Di Nisio (ntina) | 13 comments Sean wrote: "Hamida in Midaq Alley. I found her irritating. Then I felt sorry for her. Then I found her irritating again.... You will see. Wonder if you will agree"

I do Sean! She's really irritating indeed.... but also other characters in this book weren't less appropriate for this task! Do we want to talk about Mr. Kirsha?


message 26: by Sean (new)

Sean (fordest) | 988 comments Mod
Valentina wrote: "I do Sean! She's really irritating indeed.... but also other characters in this book weren't less appropriate for this task! Do we want to talk about Mr. Kirsha?."

We can. But to me, he was not so much irritating as more upsetting in the way he treated his wife. He would make a great discussion over on the group read thread.


message 27: by Bob (new)

Bob Kaufman (bobkaufman) | 680 comments James wrote: "I would suggest Bateman is WAY beyond “irritating”. ;)"
Yes, he's irritating cubed, or more.


message 28: by Fishy (last edited Apr 13, 2021 08:31AM) (new)

Fishy | 11 comments I know this is meant for characters from books but by far the most annoying character I've ever read about is Rashta from a webcomic called "The Remarried Empress". She is so annoying that the online community have dubbed her "Trashta". The webcomic is adapted from a Korean novel though so maybe it can count as a "book"... haha

If anyone is interested, the webcomic can be found here:
https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/t...


message 29: by Maddy (new)

Maddy | 86 comments I'm surprised no one mentioned The Great Gatsby yet. When I finished the book, all I wanted to do was shake some sense into Gatsby.


message 30: by Kimberly (new)

Kimberly | 164 comments Valentina wrote: "Sean wrote: "Hamida in Midaq Alley. I found her irritating. Then I felt sorry for her. Then I found her irritating again.... You will see. Wonder if you will agree"

I do Sean! She's re..."


I also agree!


message 31: by SaraSian (new)

SaraSian | 77 comments Blood and Guts in High School by Kathy Acker - all of the characters and the author. I can respect what she was trying to do but I did not enjoy it at all.


message 32: by Kimberly (last edited Jun 20, 2021 10:35AM) (new)

Kimberly | 164 comments Not a difficult choice at all. I found the two main characters in The Summer Book to be extremely irritating.


message 33: by Yrinsyde (new)

Yrinsyde | 295 comments I found Bendrix in The End of the Affair by G Greene to be self centred, self pitying and irritating. Massive guilt complex but trying to call it hatred.


message 34: by Yrinsyde (new)

Yrinsyde | 295 comments "Hamida in Midaq Alley. I found her irritating. Then I felt sorry for her. Then I found her irritating again.... You will see. Wonder if you will agree"

Ditto!


message 35: by Shereen (new)

Shereen | 78 comments I read Wuthering Heights and found most of the characters irritating.


message 36: by Mel (new)

Mel | 23 comments Charity Royale from Summer by Edith Wharton. Maybe she reminded me too much of my younger self LOL. As frustrating as she is I fell in love with this book and want to read everything Edith Wharton has written now. 5 stars.


message 37: by Jo (new)

Jo Sé | 6 comments Almost every Stephen King novel, that man writes some of the most irritating bad guys I’ve ever read. Rhea of the Coos from the Dark Tower: Wizard & Glass actually made me put the book down so I could cool down once or twice!


message 38: by Sean (new)

Sean (fordest) | 988 comments Mod
Jo wrote: "Almost every Stephen King novel, that man writes some of the most irritating bad guys I’ve ever read. Rhea of the Coos from the Dark Tower: Wizard & Glass actually made me put the book down so I co..."

I'd have to agree with you. But what about The Shining? Since that's the only King book on Boxall's list.... Do you feel the same way about Jack Torrence?


message 39: by MelC (new)

MelC | 16 comments Just finished my very first book from the scavenger hunt, task 12: most irritating person. I have said Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights but its kind of tragic. Although he was irritating, I do understand how he got that way, but I'm very annoyed that he didn't use the opportunity to break the cycle of meanness.

Will I finish 12 tasks by the end of this year? That's the big question! I bet my daughter £150 I would, so watch this space to see if I would be quids in, or quids lost. Better get on with my reading. LOL :)


message 40: by Pillsonista (new)

Pillsonista | 22 comments Easy: Ferdinand in The Tempest. Shakespeare should have drowned his ass in the opening scene.


message 41: by Karen (new)

Karen Hoehne | 1714 comments Mod
Pillsonista wrote: "Easy: Ferdinand in The Tempest. Shakespeare should have drowned his ass in the opening scene."

I love The Tempest, but unfortunately, there isn't any Shakespeare on the Boxall list.


message 42: by Sean (new)

Sean (fordest) | 988 comments Mod
MelC wrote: "Just finished my very first book from the scavenger hunt, task 12: most irritating person. I have said Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights but its kind of tragic. Although he was irritating, I do und..."

That's awesome. Hope you win it. But, ahem, you might wanna pick up the pace... :P


message 43: by MelC (new)

MelC | 16 comments Sean wrote: "MelC wrote: "Just finished my very first book from the scavenger hunt, task 12: most irritating person. I have said Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights but its kind of tragic. Although he was irritat..."

haha! Yes indeed! I do need to get my cotton socks on. The reason she bet me so high is because she is under the impression I wouldn't do it, but I will surprise her. :D


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