Have you read any books that had a Hero that you just didn't like? I just finished a book that I thought was a total disaster. And I think a lot of the reason is because of the H.
He is a firefighter. All that's ok. Firefighters give off the aura of being alpha males--good looking, nice bodies, strong, heroic. But in this book he comes across as being abrupt with his son, depressed, cried at the drop of a hat. Come on...how believable is that? I got the impression that the tearing up was the author's attempt to create a "sensitive" man, but he just came across as a sniveler--not attractive at all.
And then there was the "falling in love" with the neighbor while leading his son on in the hope that he and his ex would get back together. Yuck!
There was a blog on fixer-uppers and whether women like them. Well, I think this guy would fit into the category of a "fixer-upper." He does not come across as being emotionally mature. In fact, by the end of the book I couldn't really find much of anything I liked in this H. At first, I did like the h, but as I think about it--why did she give him another chance?
Nancy
This hero really bothered
This hero really bothered you, didn't he? You've posted 2 blogs about him and one post in someone else's blog. So, the author must have done something right cuz she/he affected you mightily.
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
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He's a firefighting,
He's a firefighting, two-timing wus--there are several times the author refers to the tears in his eyes--he doesn't come across as sensitive--he comes across as weak. LOL
Nancy
RE: WHAT IF THE HERO JUST DOSEN'T CUT IT?
My God! Just don't go out with him and be done with it! Frankly, Missy, I'm sorry he's not the kind you want, but I'm getting a lot tired of your bitching!
"I went to a FIGHT the other night...and a HOCKEY GAME broke out!! "
HockeyDET@comcast.net
Please be more considerate
Tut-tut Marty, NOT the kind of behavior we condone here in our Community. Let's be tolerant and play nice, k? and LOL, Nancy I'm inclined to agree with the notion that something in the editorial worked in as much as it's moved and pushed your buttons. I just wish it were in a GOOD way. Oh well, you can't love ALL the books you read. Thank goodness we publish so many of them, and in so many flavors
In response to your question "What if the hero just doesn't cut it?" my answer would be. "Pick up a new book!"
Jayne
Community Manager
"We cannot really love anybody with whom we never laugh"—Agnes Repplier
RE: WHAT IF THE HERO JUST DOESN'T CUT IT?
I'm sure you're right Jayne. Both Nancy's and MY own "right buttons" have been pushed! I really don't know what was up with me behaviour, but stuff like this usually just goes right over me head. So I'm a moody Bloke -- what can I say?
And in case some of you folks are wondering, I DO READ & ENJOY sheandeen's reviews and comments!!
"I went to a FIGHT the other night...and a HOCKEY GAME broke out!! "
HockeyDET@comcast.net
And I'll accept you're
And I'll accept you're apology Marty.
Nancy
Interesting Subject
You know, you raise an interesting idea here. If I read a book where I do not like the hero, it does usually ruin the book for me.. or at least leave a bad taste in my mouth if the rest of the book is great.
On the other hand, if it is the heroine I don't like, I tend to roll my eyes and want to kick her out and complain that she didn't deserve the hero, but I would STILL like the romance if the hero was great.
I wonder if this is true in reverse for the men around here that read romances with us. Will you overlook a hero that gets on your nerves if you really like the heroine? And then conversely, would you chuck a book with a heroine you don't like even if the man was a great character?
Crystal
100,000 Books Blog: crystalrclass
Crystal, interesting
Crystal, interesting point. I may be more tolerant of the heroes. I really get upset when the heroine is a spineless, insipid, empty kind of vessel. However, one hero on one book was so horrible that I find it very hard to even talk about him in a public space. I think the message that book sends out is so anti-woman and so destructive to women, almost anti-romance, so maybe I should but he upset me so much that I find it very hard to find the right words. I really do wish the author and publisher would think a bit more before allowing this kind of stuff out there in the marketplace because of the message it sends. Other than that one book, I guess usually the heroine is the one that can annoy me. What really makes me more annoyed than either the hero or the heroine is when I read a book that just has no careful editing as to form or structure. Typos I can overlook if they aren't rampant but neeless repetitve scenes just to fill up pages or bigger form/structure issues do. Last year I read 2 books that I wanted to throw against the wall just because they were popular sellers but I felt the author was sloppy and just cranking out a book for $$$ with no consideration of the reader/no self respect for the craft of writing.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus
I hadn't....
really thought as to whether or not it is the hero or heroine that makes such a huge difference to me. I do know that insipid, sniveling heroines infuriate me though. Hmmmm.....
The D2K Paranormal Junkies 2008 Challenge
As mentioned by several of
As mentioned by several of you, it is the weak, spineless h that drives me nuts--but if the H is a well constructed character I will stay with the book. Likewise if there is a wonderful h and a jerk for the H, I will generally plow on through the book. It is only when I can't stand either one, or they are too one or two dimensional that I will leave the book without finishing it. Like Merri another deal breaker is the book that keeps repeating the conflict, treating the reader as brainless, that can cause me to set a book aside.
Nancy
RE: WHAT IF...?
I had my first a week or so ago -- a book I stopped reading because I didn't like it! It made no sense to me. the h I supposedly was to admire was a (at least) two-timing tart, and the H was an ignorant boob! No strong character ANYWHERE to glom onto and hang on! Usually I, just as another reader mentioned, realise the book won't go on forever, and will eventually end, so I stick with it -- but THIS ONE???? Jeesh!! I really do have a problem with moderne books, telly, and cinema that portray all men (but especially the single 20's&30's blokes) as stupid, thoughtless, sex-crazed, pornagraphy addicts (but that's fodder for another blog!). It seems to be part of the Men=bad/Women=good thing some are into (though in some instances it's true!). Our family knows one woman -- she could be considered 'olde-tyme' Irish -- that was worried since, coming to America, her 20-year old daughter wanted a CAREER, actually ENJOYED having a JOB, and HAD NO PLANS to marry anytime soon -- and she was 20!!!! OH MY!!!! After 20, no young man would want her for she would be too old, her time for "picking out of the orchard of lovliness" would be over! Part of the reason we read these books is because the h & H are good, strong upright people!
"I went to a FIGHT the other night...and a HOCKEY GAME broke out!! "
HockeyDET@comcast.net
I think ....
I have blogged about a few books where the man is just a big bully. I wouldnt put up with it in real life, and I dont put up with it in a book.
Most of the romance novels i have read are written by women. is this the kind of man they want in their lives? their daughters lives?
Since when is a self righteous, arrogant bully a hero?
Terri
Got Books?
The arrogant bully
Isn't there a well loved line of books that has that strong, alpha=arrogant, know-it-all as the H?
No real need to go there--that has been thoroughly discussed on another blog. But it is one of the reasons I don't usually read that imprint. That and the fact that the typical h is a much younger, naive, sweet, spineless lass. The imprint is very popular, therefore, there must be many that love the combination, but it is a major turn off for me.
I really like it when both the H/h have their strengths and their weaknesses and over the course of the book they work through their conflicts. I want H/h who are 3D. Flat 1D, or 2D characters are another turn-off. I enjoy fast paced books, but not at the expense of emotional depth.
Nancy
It's gotta be all or nothing!
Either way both characters have to have redeeming qualities. I just can't read about wimpy women or extremely dominating men who don't grow as characters. Who wants to read about a person who never changes!?!?!