"Annoying characters let us admit that we might be annoying too. I appreciate biting satires, but I really adore a book that has affection for its difficult characters."
"I like watching a person make a bad decision and fully recognizing why they're doing it. This register of writing feels especially human."
"I recently read Daniel M. Lavery's forthcoming novel, Meeting New People, about an older woman named Barbara-and Barbara is a pill. Yet you can tell that Lavery likes her despite everything."
Characters in literature, both fiction and nonfiction, should be exasperating, reflecting the complexities of human nature. Annoying characters allow readers to recognize their own flaws. Works like Alison Bechdel's comic strip and Daniel M. Lavery's novel showcase characters that are difficult yet relatable. The appreciation for flawed characters emphasizes the importance of authenticity in storytelling, as it mirrors real-life imperfections and mistakes. This approach to character development fosters a deeper connection between readers and the narrative.
Read at The Atlantic
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