I’m a sucker for a bad boy. I don’t mean those delicious hunks riding their motorcycles and playing by their own rules that you find in a lot of books (although I like those bad boys as well). I mean, the BAD guy, the one who plots and plans, and most often makes life difficult for our hero/heroine. I love a good villian.
But I really love it when the hero of the story is the bad guy. I just finished reading I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President. Even though it’s technically Middle Grade, the book is hysterical, and Oliver is the kind of twisted genius that you just want to hang out with. Who cares that he’s not going to slay any dragons? He has a shelter dog trained to pee on command. How awesomely evil is that?
I’m also eager to read Dan Wells’ I am Not a Serial Killer. Reviews compare it to Dexter, although whether that’s because it involves a serial killer or because the characters are similar, I’m not sure. But as soon as I get a chance to read it I’m going to find out.
But, of course, not all villains can be main characters. Sometimes they are banished to the shadows, like the creepy President Snow from the Hunger Games, or the fanatical Sisters from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. And then there’s always the bad guys aren’t really bad (or maybe just sympathetic), like Niall in the Wicked Lovely books. In fact, “bad guys” take on a lot of forms, which is probably what makes them so interesting
So who are your favorite villains? Are they main characters or supporting cast?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
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4 comments:
Wow, I have to think long and hard about this one--great question, by the way. As lame as it may sound, my fave villain would probably be Reggie Mantle from the Archie comic book series. He was the original Chuck Bass in my opinion. :)
There aren't too many villains that I remember from books I've read. American Gods by Neil Gaiman had an interesting angle in how the sides are split but the end changes how we see both sides of the new/old gods battle. My own villain was the one that surprised me the most. He had strange interactions with the hero to the point of being a bit weird. But I think it adds well to the story.
Heathcliff. Now and forever. Sigh.
LOVED that book (Genius)! We were a little disappointed with the ending, when he became a little more - well, normal. Feh.
While we hate to join the masses, Miss Ami has been madly in love with Snape since the first Harry Potter.
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