Friday, December 7, 2018

Discussion: Characters Behaving Badly


This Week’s Topic: Characters Behaving Badly


Lately, I have been reading more and more books, where the characters make some questionable decisions. Some of these badly behaving characters were in books, which I ended up loving. However, not everyone was as ok with their behavior as I was. In fact, many other readers ended up HATING these books, because the behavior bothered them so much.

So, why am I ok with it?
  1. I always give a little leeway, because these books are works of fiction. Though, I must admit, none of these characters did things that were unforgivable for me.


  2. They weren't behaving badly for no reason. The authors did a good job of providing an explanation for why these characters did the things they did. They let me into the mind of the character, and I was able to understand their motivation, even if I would make the same choices myself.


  3. The indiscretion served to move the plot along. Let's face it, I read a book for the story and to be entertained. If the bad behavior served no purpose, it would bother me more, but I can roll with it, if it pushes the story in the right direction.


  4. There were consequences. I have yet to read a book where the character got away with what they did scot free. They always lost something or paid some price.

Now it's your turn!

Do a character's bad decisions make or break a book for you? 
Let us know in the comments!

45 comments:

  1. For me, it's more about whether I like the characters or not. If I hate the MC I don't often finish the book as I don't care what happens to them. Bad decisions can annoy me and make me scream but on their own it won't make me quit or hate a book. The exception would be if it was happening all the time and every decision was dumb-i might think twice then!

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    1. I read a lot of character driven novels, therefore, liking the characters is really, really important. And if I like them, I am probably more likely to forgive them too, now that I think about it. Too many bad decisions would probably put me off as well.

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  2. I guess it depends if the bad decision has a purpose. If it moves the plot and develops the characters, I don’t have a problem with it. If people are just acting stupid for no reason, I’ll probably get annoyed.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. As with most things that are sad or bad, I can forgive it IF there is a point to it. I hate gratuitous anything in movies/books/TV, but if it serves a purpose, I can understand incorporating it.

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  3. Love the post. I can relate to it. I think a lot of people forget that IT"S FICTION. Sometimes my favorite character is the worst of the lot. lol
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. I have already done a whole post about the fact that this is fiction. I don't necessarily expect everything to be 100% realistic. That would be boring. I am partial to characters, who redeem themselves. I really have issues if they are the same at the end of the book as they were at the beginning. Growth is everything.

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  4. I'm a sucker for villains and anti-heroes as long as there is a reason for them to be the way they are :) Great post Sam :)

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    1. A lot of conflict in a story hinges on a "villain". I read mostly contemporary, so it's the characters generally making bad choices that puts them in that category.

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  5. I’m caught between wanting the plot to rise from the character and yet, keeping the pacing of the story moving. Character is very important to me and randomness drives me crazy. At the same time, I love following an author and watch them grow as a writer. Great post Sam! ❤️❤️

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    1. Random bad behavior makes no sense to me, and then it would be just like random nudity in movies - unnecessary. I feel anything negative in a book needs to have a purpose

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  6. I am often one of those who shakes my head at a main character. Unless I can tell that the author has intent with the poor actions, I usually give up. Before I Fall was one that had me hating the MC, but it was obvious as the story progressed it would get better. Awesome post! You definitely gave me some food for thought. :)

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    1. I abhorred Samantha, when I first started reading Before I Fall. By the end, I was crying for her. She learned from her bad behavior and she grew and changed, and that is my number one expectation, when characters behave badly

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  7. I'm okay with the kinds of actions you're describing. If they end up having good reasons, I can forgive them. My pet peeve is when characters make idiotic decisions with no reason whatsoever! Even if there are consequences, I can't look past it. Great discussion!

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    1. I agree. I need that action to serve a purpose, otherwise, what was the point? To upset me? To annoy me? I don't know. I really haven't read any books that fit into the category though. The authors all seem to use the indiscretion as a catalyst for change.

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  8. It's very situational for me. People in real life make bad decisions, so I try to give characters some leeway, but sometimes they just make decisions are too absolutely beyond any sense. I think it almost annoys me more when it's done just to push a plot point forward though because then it feels so forced. But like I said, it really depends!

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    1. I can understand that. I think I am pretty easy going about what accounts for making sense or not in fiction, or maybe I am just lucky that in the books I have read, the authors did a good job explaining why the character acted in such a way.

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  9. I can understand one or two questionable decisions from a main character but when that character keeps repeating a variation of that same "mistake"/bad action over and over again without learning anything from it or evolving in some sort of way I stop reading the book. I think that happens because to some degree I end up projecting what I would/could reasonably do if I were in that situation and it almost never lines up with what actually happens :/

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    1. I don't think I have ever seen that in a book. I feel like the authors usually have a plan, and need that mistake to push the character towards change.

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  10. Well sam if there is a reason for their behavior, if they learn from their mistakes and grow then it does not bother me. We are all (in real life)imperfect and make mistakes. Sometimes they are small other times bif so who would I be to judge right? Sophie @bewareofthereader

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  11. It really depends. If it doesn't seem in character for them or used as a device just to keep the tension going for a few more chapters than no. I also like when people get called out or otherwise acknowledge the bad behavior. (if they're the MC)

    But you need some sort of conflict and if it's the point of the story (redemption) then I'm fine.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. The few books I am thinking of where I saw a good amount of negativity towards the character's bad behavior fit that case. The character's actions were called out, there was fallout, and they had to atone for it. I think that is why it didn't hit me in a negative way.

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  12. I feel that everyone makes bad decisions sometimes for a whole multitude of reasons and even though a book is a work of fiction, I don't believe the people in it should behave any differently.

    For me, some decisions are deal-breakers and forever change how I feel about a character, but I can't say what decisions would do it in any given book for the circumstances around a decision - the reasons why, the consequences - will always be different and they'd shape my feelings on any matter as well as how I felt about the characters in the first place... Does that make sense?

    Plus, in fiction I can forgive a lot that in real life would have someone permanently on my shit list.

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    1. Ha! Yes, I definitely forgive things, that would rub me the wrong way in real life, but I think I am fairly forgiving, because forgiving is for me, not the other person. I think the motivation for the bad behavior is an important factor to consider. If the reasons were bad, I don't think I would be as understanding, but I would say most of the books I have read are not like that.

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  13. First off - I love your gifs LOL.

    I read all the comments and it sounds like most of us are in the same boat. I could especially relate to what Mikky said, "when that character keeps repeating a variation of that same "mistake"/bad action over and over again without learning anything from it or evolving in some sort of way I stop reading the book". I'm a sucker for a good villain (like Crowley in Supernatural), and when I read a YA book, I always keep in mind that kids are meant to make mistakes and impulsive/egocentric decisions - plus, if everyone was (near) perfect, there would be no book at all...but there has to be some growth in the characters, or a redemption of sort, or a valid reasons for the bad behaviour. I can't read books centered on "mean girls" or bullying for the sake of bullying for this very reason...

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    1. I feel like the character should learn from their mistakes, which would mean, we wouldn't see it happening over again and again. Growth and redemption are two thinks I love, and I think most YA authors are all about showing that we can make mistakes, but still be ok. I love gifs. I have no idea how we lived without them.

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  14. I'm usually okay with characters who make bad decisions. Yes, those decisions can be frustrating and make me want to yell at the characters, but if it's written in a realistic way so that I can totally imagine someone I know making that same bad decision, I'm good with it. Something outlandish and unrealistic would probably bother me a lot more, if that makes sense.

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    1. I read mostly contemporaries, so I think most of the "mistakes" are within reason, but my only real requirement is that it serves a purpose.

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  15. I can usually just go with whatever happens in a work of fiction. Sometimes if it doesn't feel authentic or it makes me hate the character it can lessen my enjoyment of the book. I tend to be a lot more forgiving of characters than I am of real people.

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    1. I am with you. I go with it, because, like you said - it's fiction. I struggle with enjoying books, where I hate the main character. I am a character driven reader, and I need to like them or empathize with them.

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  16. YES YES YES. I also rarely have a problem with characters behaving badly, especially in YA since, you know, the protagonists are teenagers (which I think people forget sometimes). I agree that often it serves to move the plot along! The only time I have a problem with characters' bad behavior is in case #4 if there *aren't* consequences for their actions.

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    1. Good point there. The main characters in YA books are teens, and they are far from learning all their life lessons. I think I am probably more understanding of their missteps than those of adult MCs. Consequences are the few realistic things I require, and I think, it's even more important for books geared towards teens. It's a hard life lesson, but a valuable one - understanding that making bad choices comes at a price.

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  17. I'm not sure... it depends on what "behaving badly" is. There are things that are bad behaviors that really aren't? I find behaving stupidly to be more problematic to me. Unless behaving badly has no rhyme or reason behind it.

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    1. I think, because I read a lot of YA, I will see characters do things that I, as an adult, shake my head at, but I definitely didn't know as much when I was a teen, and I know I did some things people would classify as stupid.

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  18. I think I tend to give a lot of leeway because hello, it's fiction. I'll allow for a lot in my books that I wouldn't in real life, including "bad behavior. It also depends on what the behavior is, why, and are there consequences. If someone is an absolute shrew for no reason and there's no change/growth, then no. I'd be annoyed and probably show that in my rating/review. But if there's a reason and if the character faces consequences and changes, I can go with it. I mean, whose perfect? People behave badly, make lousy decisions - as long as I'm provided a reasonable explanation I can usually play along. :)

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    1. I allow for mistakes in real life, but I probably hold more of grudge, than I do with fictional characters. I need a reason, I need change. I feel the same as you when it comes to those things. I think the only thing that really, really affects my ratings are endings. Other things seem to roll off my back.

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  19. I think as long as the author can get me into the head of what the character is doing I can forgive just about anything. Almost - ALMOST. Some things I just can't take in a book and them try to justify it. But I can give books the leeway to explain it to me.

    Mary

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    1. That is exactly how I am. I need to know why they are doing what they are doing. I can't have them acting badly for no good reason.

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  20. I don't mind when characters behave badly and they have good reasons and you can just TELL that that is probably a decision you'd make too if you were in that same situation. When we are a reader sometimes we have more insights that the characters don't have and that makes us judge them more harshly. But then at times characters make dumb decisions with no reasoning whatsoever and that I can't tolerate :P

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    1. I don't know if I would make the same decisions, but understanding why helps me reconcile what they did with my judgment.

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  21. So I feel that I am at times more forgiving to characters. If I adore them, connect with them and they find a place in my heart usually I can look past some stuff as long as there is logic involved. If it is understandable and not out of left field then usually I'm good. Especially since no ones perfect. So I always think, why should the characters I'm reading about be perfect. :)
    Jen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog

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    1. I do think it's easier to forgive those we like/love/connect with, than those we sort of hate. Though, I have read a few books with some villains I grew to understand.

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  22. For me, if the character repeatedly makes bad decisions, I get frustrated. But if I really like the character, I have a lot more grace.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. I can't say I have read books, where the character does something over and over again. Most writers seem to have the character err for a reason. And yes, I am definitely more forgiving if I like the characters.

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