Top Ten Tuesday- Frustration

Frustration. 

Holy hell, I know a thing or seventy-five about frustration. But for the sake of my sanity let's just stick to characters tonight- The Broke and the Bookish ask us for the top ten most frustrating characters, which I think is an interesting concept. Sometimes I am fully aware that characters are deliberately frustrating, but I think that sometimes they're the result of poor writing. A mix of both: 

1. The Girls from The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World by Jennifer Baggett- I'm going to be honest- I found this memoir of three friends who abandon their lives and travel the world for a year frustrating because I felt like they held back. There had to be more drama! More sex! More scandal!

2. Ron Weasley from Harry Potter by JK Rowling- Stop being so whiny! Be cooler! Stop being okay with the side-kick role!

3. Katniss from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- Make up your damn mind! Pick a boy! Stop being so melodramatic!

4. Cheryl from Wild by Cheryl Strayed- Since this is a nonfiction book I guess I was frustrated with the both the main "character" and author. She made the stupidest decision sometimes! While it ended up okay, deciding to hike the PCT was even pretty reckless. Her choices as to what to include in the book too were a little off at times, as well. 

5. Gregor* from The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka- I'm sorry, but if I woke up as a mothereffing bug I'd be a little pissed. In fact, I would demand that someone help me out. But no, Gregor opts to chill at home. A mothereffing bug. 

6. Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien- Whiner to the max. You don't want people partying in your house and eating your food? Tell them to leave. You don't want to go on an epic adventure? Don't go. Not liking the wild? Use your ring and hightail it home. 

7. Golden Richards* from The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall- Sick of your life being problematic? Only marry one woman! We're trouble enough! And while you're at it, stop screwing around with additional women! Make better decisions, man.

8. Raskolnikov* from Crime and Punishment by Fydor Dostoyevsky- This is one of my favorite books, but seriously, don't murder people if you don't want to feel like shit later. And if you feel so guilty turn yourself in or figure out a way to get over it. 

9. Chris McCandless from Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer- Again, a real character, but I found his inability to adequately prepare for his trek extremely infuriating. You can still live off the land and get in touch with your inner chi by bringing a map, compass, and some cash. 

10. Sally Jay from The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy- Constant flip-flopping between "oh, I want to be so independent" and "please, men, buy thing for me, pay for my stuff." 

* I'm being dramatic. I understand the literary integrity, don't you worry.

8 comments:

  1. lol I enjoyed reading your comments to each of these characters =) Your comments re: Katniss sounds like my feelings about every single love triangle there is out there...but also perhaps my feelings about Catherine Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights xP

    Here's my list of 10 irritating/frustrating characters =)

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  2. Haven't read any of these except the Hunger Games but I agree, she really was indecisive on the boys. I wish she would have picked the other boy though *mumble mumble*


    Alise @ Readers In Wonderland
    My Top 10

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  3. The hate on Ron Weasley surprised me initially but I totally see it. Totally agree with your Katniss comment. Most of the characters on my list make me angry cos they're all about the boys. And preeeetty much nothing else.

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  4. Interesting, I absolutely find Harry more frustrating than Ron. His whole, "it has to be me, alone, I can't ask for help," attitude makes me angry. Maybe it's because I'm more of a Ron, so his behavior was always completely understandable to me.*

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  5. Oh my god, Gregor. YES. Raskolnikov too. Good call. =)

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  6. Ron seems popular today! I guess I forgot that he did get pretty annoying near the end. And I agree about Crime and Punishment! It was an awesome books, but so true about him being guilty. Great list :)

    Here's my Top Ten!

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  7. I so agree about Cheryl Strayed! My book club thought she was inspiring; I thought she was a darn lucky ninny!

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