This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) topic is All About The Villains. As I was running through my list of notorious literary villains, I realized A) that it’s rare to find a book without a single villain and B) many of said villains were terrible to their own families. A few of my favorite villains also didn’t make it onto this list because casting them as villains would spoil the entire book.
The Burroughs Family from Bull Mountain by Brian Panowich
Murderous, vengeful, law-breaking.
The Cousins’s from Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (Parents)
Philanderer, completely uninterested in their children.
The Grandmother from Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
Starvation, whippings, hostage holding.
Pappy McAllen from Mudbound by Hillary Jordan (Father-in-Law)
Sexist, racist, unspeakably evil.
James Hillcoat from Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller (Father)
Absconds with his daughter to the wilderness, essentially holding her hostage.
The Lohman children from The Dinner by Herman Koch
Spoiled, entitled, heartless, self-absorbed.
Bull Meecham from The Great Santini by Pat Conroy (Father and Husband)
The first person I think of when I think of terrible literary fathers. Physically, mentally, and verbally abusive.
The men from The Shore by Sara Taylor (Fathers, Husbands)
Violent and abusive in every way.
Henry from The Truth And Other Lies by Sascha Arango (Husband)
A user of people.
Charlie McNeely from Where All Light Tends to Go by David Joy (Father)
Violent drug dealer who wants nothing better for his son.
Wow, Sarah, you certainly chose them well! So many villains at the far end of the spectrum! 🙂
There were surprisingly a ton to choose from – I left so many off the list!
I’ve only read a few of those books but agree with you on the ones I have read.
Haha – there wasn’t a ton of ambiguity with these!
Flowers in the Attic was definitely the book I sneaked off of our bookshelves at home and read way before I should have. I always thought the mom was terrifying too for just leaving them there (I might be remembering that wrong). Commonwealth is definitely one I’m hoping to read soon too!
I did too! I remember my mom reading it years after I did and being horrified that she hadn’t realize what I was reading and also really disturbed that I loved all those books.
Flowers in the Attic! That brings back my teenage reading memories. I was mesmerized and horrified all at the same time. I agree the Burroughs and Pappy McAllen are among the all time worst! Nice list.
I know, right?! My mom was completely disturbed when she realized what was in those books.
I totally put Grandma from Flowers in the Attic on my list as well! I haven’t read that book in YEARS but you never forget that character
Do you remember her name?! I tried to find it online and couldn’t! Corinne (the mother) probably could have gone on there too.
Flowers in the Attic still haunts me. One of the few books I remember vividly. The grandmother was so awful.
Wasn’t she?! And the mother too! I remember my mom reading it years after I did and being completely horrified that I actually liked those books. She thought there was definitely something wrong with me.
This is a great twist on the topic. I think that villainous parents/caregivers particularly haunt our dreams; the abuse of helpless children has to be the ultimate in evil.
Yep – sadly I came across more of those types of villains than any other when compiling this list.
Now the ones I’m curious about are the ones you don’t mention!
I think most of the books I read involve the kind of villain that’s mean to his/her own family. Although right now I’m reading about pirates – perfect for this week’s TTT!
Ha – pirates are great villains!
Ones who didn’t make list: characters from All Is Not Forgotten, Siracusa, and Gone Girl (on the very off chance someone still hadn’t read it).
Thanks!
I missed your review of Mudbound. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much; I did, too! Thanks for reminding me of Bull Mountain. That’s still sitting on the TBR pile.
Grab Bull Mountain when you’re looking for something unputdownable!
Absolutely LOVED Mudbound (and this blog is where I got the recommendation from)!
I’m so glad!!
I love your list! – The Shore – my goodness they were so terrible!
Thank you and yes they were!
Interesting list! This would be an interesting exercise to do. I’ve only read one book in this list (Dinner) and I didn’t even remember those kids. 🙁 I knew there were some naughty kids but I was focused more on their parents.
Those kids (whose names I can’t remember!) almost made my list!
Those Burroughs! Pure evil. Even though I read that book over a year ago, it has stuck with me.
I’d have to add everyone in The Couple Next Door. Except for the baby, they were all reprehensible.
Me too! And I haven’t read Couple Next Door, but have seen it around.
I have GOT to read The Shore!!
It’s probably too easy (and you did have another Conroy in there) but what about the parents in The Prince of Tides?! The father was physically abusive, but the mother was a psychological nightmare. Conroy was so good at that.
Oh yes – they were terrible!! I could also have thrown in the mother from Great Santini…she was terrible in a totally different way. I think Conroy was so good at that b/c he lived it 🙁