How important is a character's likeability/relatability to you?

speakingtohe · 07-04-2014, 04:22 PM

It seems that it is important to me. I have read a few books lately that were well written interesting etc. And the protagonists were reasonable normal people, but for some reason I don't like them overly much. I certainly don't find them objectionable, and there are some evil characters in books and shows I like far more.

Just curious as I have encountered two in a row

Helen

CWatkinsNash · 07-04-2014, 04:34 PM

Whether or not a protagonist is likable or relatable isn't as important to me as whether or not the author sufficiently puts me in that character's "headspace" enough to understand the character's motivations and such.

jgaiser · 07-04-2014, 05:40 PM

Yeah. I've read lots of less than likable characters who's stories were worth the effort.

tubemonkey · 07-04-2014, 07:15 PM

Character development is secondary to plot for me.

susan_cassidy · 07-04-2014, 07:16 PM

I was wondering what "realtable" was. That's why I clicked on this post. I guess it meant "relatable".

cromag · 07-04-2014, 07:30 PM

The plot and story are more important to me, as long as the protagonist is well-conceived.

xg4bx · 07-04-2014, 07:52 PM

I have to at least like the characters, not necessarily due to their ''goodness'' but how 3 dimensional they are. There's nobody in, say, a Joe Abercrombie novel that's particularly good but they're so well written that I can't help but like them. I can't relate to evil but I can like evil characters.

Catlady · 07-04-2014, 10:48 PM

I need to relate to the characters; I usually don't need to like them.

wizwor · 07-05-2014, 10:33 AM

I like to close a book smarter or happier. Never read Stephen King, for instance.

crossi · 07-05-2014, 11:42 AM

I like characters to be people whose life I would like to share. I dislike sharing headspace with torturers or their victims. It leaves me feeling saddened and depressed. I like the J.D. Robb books for example but the ones like Creation In Death are my least favorite.

Crowl · 07-05-2014, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

Whether or not a protagonist is likable or relatable isn't as important to me as whether or not the author sufficiently puts me in that character's "headspace" enough to understand the character's motivations and such.

That is basically the same as for me, the characters have to be fully realised by the author because if they aren't then it doesn't matter how likable or relatable they are to me.

Blossom · 07-05-2014, 02:43 PM

I need at least one relatable character. I don't have to like them but I need to understand someone in the book I am reading.

theducks · 07-05-2014, 05:05 PM

I never understood characters that are just evil with no underlying reason for them to be so.

There are those that are evil because they are: Power Hungry above all else, by ineptness ('stoopid' or just accidentally start a chain of bad events and try a coverup)

I want a character I understand (not necessary to relate to).

speakingtohe · 07-05-2014, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

I was wondering what "realtable" was. That's why I clicked on this post. I guess it meant "relatable".

Sorry
Helen

speakingtohe · 07-05-2014, 07:36 PM

Seems it is just me. Usually I have to either like them or wish I was them or relate (realtable

) in some manner to make a must read of the next book by that author.

Even a completely evil or misogynic or psychopathic character can strike a cord that makes me want to read the next book in the series or more by that author. But sometimes even though I finish the book as it is interesting enough to finish, I just am left with a lack of wanting to know this person any farther.

Helen

07-04-2014, 04:22 PM	#1
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	How important is a character's likeability/relatability to you? It seems that it is important to me. I have read a few books lately that were well written interesting etc. And the protagonists were reasonable normal people, but for some reason I don't like them overly much. I certainly don't find them objectionable, and there are some evil characters in books and shows I like far more. Just curious as I have encountered two in a row Helen

07-05-2014, 07:36 PM	#15
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	Seems it is just me. Usually I have to either like them or wish I was them or relate (realtable) in some manner to make a must read of the next book by that author. Even a completely evil or misogynic or psychopathic character can strike a cord that makes me want to read the next book in the series or more by that author. But sometimes even though I finish the book as it is interesting enough to finish, I just am left with a lack of wanting to know this person any farther. Helen

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07-04-2014, 04:34 PM	#2
CWatkinsNash IOC Chief Archivist Posts: 3,950 Karma: 53868218 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Fruitland Park, FL, USA Device: Meebook M7, Paperwhite 2021, Fire HD 8+, Fire HD 10+, Lenovo Tab P12	Whether or not a protagonist is likable or relatable isn't as important to me as whether or not the author sufficiently puts me in that character's "headspace" enough to understand the character's motivations and such.

07-04-2014, 05:40 PM	#3
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Yeah. I've read lots of less than likable characters who's stories were worth the effort.

07-04-2014, 07:15 PM	#4
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,743 Karma: 158575914 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Character development is secondary to plot for me.

07-04-2014, 07:16 PM	#5
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	I was wondering what "realtable" was. That's why I clicked on this post. I guess it meant "relatable".

07-04-2014, 07:30 PM	#6
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 25,995 Karma: 459735575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	The plot and story are more important to me, as long as the protagonist is well-conceived.

07-04-2014, 07:52 PM	#7
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	I have to at least like the characters, not necessarily due to their ''goodness'' but how 3 dimensional they are. There's nobody in, say, a Joe Abercrombie novel that's particularly good but they're so well written that I can't help but like them. I can't relate to evil but I can like evil characters.

07-04-2014, 10:48 PM	#8
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,406 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I need to relate to the characters; I usually don't need to like them.

07-05-2014, 10:33 AM	#9
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	I like to close a book smarter or happier. Never read Stephen King, for instance.

07-05-2014, 11:42 AM	#10
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	I like characters to be people whose life I would like to share. I dislike sharing headspace with torturers or their victims. It leaves me feeling saddened and depressed. I like the J.D. Robb books for example but the ones like Creation In Death are my least favorite.

07-05-2014, 02:43 PM	#12
Blossom Treasure Seeker Posts: 18,708 Karma: 26026435 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Kobo HD Glo, Kindles, Kindle Fires, Andriod Devices	I need at least one relatable character. I don't have to like them but I need to understand someone in the book I am reading.

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07-05-2014, 05:05 PM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,887 Karma: 59840450 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I never understood characters that are just evil with no underlying reason for them to be so. There are those that are evil because they are: Power Hungry above all else, by ineptness ('stoopid' or just accidentally start a chain of bad events and try a coverup) I want a character I understand (not necessary to relate to).