I always felt that I'd be suspicious of Melanie if I met her in real life, she's a little too good to be true. I am too cynical.

Scarlett is infuriating but entertaining. Her main problem was that she was born about a century too early.

Lioness, I'm waiting to see if I can borrow the fourth book in the Twilight series. Having ploughed my way through the first three to see if anything happens, I might as well finish them. I'll not spend money on them though!

Oh! Gone With The Wind slipped my mind. I didn't have too much trouble with Scarlett or Melanie. Scarlett, as you said, Supersal, was a woman ahead of her time, and I realized right off Melanie was a "Steel Magnolia", representing all the best qualities of a true lady. There were however a few characters that truly got on my nerves. Principally, Scarlett's sister, Suellen.
Scarlett should have stuffed her down the well with the silver when the Yankees came to Tara. And if I had to live with someone like Aunt Pittypat, I would started drinking too.

Charly

Oh, I forgot to mention Cathy Earnshaw from "Wuthering Heights". I hate her.

I'd forgotten her as well. I only read the book as a school assignment, but even at that fairly early age I felt she needed a good slapping.

I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that I have no romance in my soul!

I don't know if any of you have experienced the same frustration, but if I see a film that has been adapted from a book, and I don't care for the actors, I end up disliking the characters in the book, as well.

For instance, my mother dragged me to a revival of "Dr. Zhivago" at our local cinema. I was far too young for the film and found it overly long, maudlin and entirely uninteresting. I saw it on television several times, and I still disliked it. Not an Omar Sharif fan, at all, so his portrayal of Yuri really coloured my perception of the character in the novel. When I had to read the book in English Lit, I thought of Pasha as a "straight up" villain, even though that was merely my mind returning to the very unfaithful film adaptation.

Years later, I finally read "Dr. Zhivago" in Russian. I loved the book, realised that the film version had taken wild liberties with the characters, and that Pasha, while guilty of committing absolute atrocities, was a truly conflicted character. Yuri still annoys the heck out of me!

Actually (whispers) Emma gets up my nose too...

I agree Ren. Emma's a bit too "Mrs, Grundy" for my taste. I don't care for the book, though I have enjoyed other novels by Austen. Emma, however is oh so dull. I think the most exciting thing in the whole thing is when Harriet thinks she encounters (gasp) a gypsy. The story needed a house fire, or some good old fashioned adultery, or Banquo's ghost. Anything to lighten its soporific effect.

I suppose I'm just not that crazy about a comedy of manners. Go back about 20 or 30 years and give me the Brontes instead.

I'll bet a lot of readers find those eccentric detectives that came into vogue with Sherlock Holmes to be among the most annoying characters ever. They may be superegotists (pardon my coinage!) but their brilliance is undeniable. (even though I suspect Archie Goodwin no doubt at times may have wanted to take a swing at Wolfe!)

The least annoying duo in mystery fiction, I think, are Travis McGee and Meyer.

Charles Dickens' Wilkins Micawber, from "David Copperfield", may seem annoying with his inability to support his family, but let's remember he's the one who brings down the despicably underhanded and all-too annoyingly sycophantic Uriah Heep (who overdoes his "umbleness"). Dora may seem annoying in her childlike innocence, but Agnes seems more so in her self-righteous bossiness.

Bob Crachit should have quit Scrooge!

And Peter Keating of Ayn Rand's "Fountainhead" is so annoying in his spinelessness and gladhanding, you can't see how even Howard Roark stands him. Heck, Keating lets a guy named Ellsworth Toohey (THAT'S a villain's name?) push him around!

tjoeb};>

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I always felt that I'd be suspicious of Melanie if I met her in real life, she's a little too good to be true.

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I can remember a time when I felt that way, too, Sal. Then I met a couple of soft spoken 'steel magnolias' of my own. They do exist -but because they generally don't try to promote themselves, have to be flushed out of hiding.

Well, I am reading the twilight series, and I can say that it is quite a good series, has me at the edge of my seat, know what I mean? I mean, Bella is very annoying, and I don't like the fact that she uses Jacob. I really like Jacob! He deserves better than her. As for Edward, I have a strange dislike and like towards him. Is that weird? I mean, the point between like and dislike, not exactly either. All in all, it is a very engaging read, though.

I agree with you there........I don't read Cornwall's books 'cos of that.

the first time I read GWTW I was very young and thought Scartlett was horrible. Reading as an adult I realized Melanie was a namby-pamby, Ashley was a spineless worm and Scarlett was the only one with the courage to do what had to be done. Selfish, yes...vain, yes......honest and real.....yes!!

I have to second Pagiedamon - Cathy from Wuthering Heights is right up there on the list of annoying characters - whinge, moan, whinge a bit more, oh poor poor me.
For me, the best thing about Wuthering Heights was the Kate Bush song!

There's a lovely bit in one of Jasper Fforde's "Thursday Next" books where she has to be a 'counsellor' and chair the group therapy session for the characters from Wuthering Heights while they all fight and argue among themselves... Wonderful