tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post5215163126560129161..comments2024-03-25T09:56:16.164+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: Five Villains I Love to Hate - Ellen RennerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-52468019889064892862010-07-04T15:21:50.680+01:002010-07-04T15:21:50.680+01:00The fairy stories give us so many villains its har...The fairy stories give us so many villains its hard to make a choice and they were utterly hateful and terrifying. But how we needed those extremes to make the story work. I think I'll pick the first ugly sister. I have a bit of a soft spot for the second one!Miriam Halahmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04935448538608020877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-78633877786871557842010-07-02T17:24:16.849+01:002010-07-02T17:24:16.849+01:00That's interesting, John - I never heard that ...That's interesting, John - I never heard that before. What a great idea. Now then - hmmmmmmmm.....Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-69223299285331648962010-07-02T10:22:44.434+01:002010-07-02T10:22:44.434+01:00Great list, Ellen! Another vote for Umbridge here ...Great list, Ellen! Another vote for Umbridge here - yes, she does lack evil charisma, but that's part of what makes her so plausible as a character. She embodies more the mundanity than the banality of evil.<br /><br />Long John Silver: who could argue with that? I read once that Stevenson based him on a friend, imagining what the man would be like with the same gifts and characteristics but without his sense of morality.John Doughertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937505376169411724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-13584822628164119612010-07-01T19:48:00.393+01:002010-07-01T19:48:00.393+01:00@Charlie. I've noticed we seem to like the sam...@Charlie. I've noticed we seem to like the same books!<br />@Gillian. Thanks! Yes, the Hester/Shrike relationship is compelling.<br />@Michelle. Yes, if the slant had been different would have included Slighcarp; and The Stolen Lake!!! LOVE Aiken<br />@Lucy. I couldn't get into the Charlie Bone books. Don't know why: Snow Spider trilogy is brilliant.<br />@Kathy. Yes, Umbridge is a much better villain; just dislike her so much didn't want to talk about her. She's ghastly, but totally lacking in evil charisma.<br />@James. That's what makes her so interesting: she's the pivot of the series. Poor old Tom becomes a bit of a non-entity after the first book, he's so nice.Ellen Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09409919041496631776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-33721765869410369292010-07-01T16:15:47.985+01:002010-07-01T16:15:47.985+01:00Great picks! I especially liked your pick of Heste...Great picks! I especially liked your pick of Hester Shaw, because I don't think she's a villain. She is, however, an exceptionally damaged character around whom several universes revolve. And, really, what purpose does a villain serve if not that? If there were no villains, the heroes would just sit around, drinking lattes.<br /><br />I'll have to think of my own picks and come up with a list on my blog.James Bowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11888307747088266395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-82453214932628972312010-07-01T16:08:47.224+01:002010-07-01T16:08:47.224+01:00I agree about Dolores Umbridge - I've taught w...I agree about Dolores Umbridge - I've taught with a couple of people like her!<br /><br />LindaLindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13912774665400125173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-1257235243668749452010-07-01T16:04:09.789+01:002010-07-01T16:04:09.789+01:00Carmody--he is just so unredeemably awful. And I ...Carmody--he is just so unredeemably awful. And I agree with Kathryn about Umbridge. Voldemort is almost a cartoon baddie--but I've come across Umbridges or their like. Only too believable. There are also excellent baddies in Jenny Nimmo's Charlie Bone series. A whole family of them!Lucy Coatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774389681477698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-22883911573386002402010-07-01T15:00:16.485+01:002010-07-01T15:00:16.485+01:00Really interesting, Ellen.
How about Miss Slighca...Really interesting, Ellen. <br />How about Miss Slighcarp in the Wolves of Willoughby Chase and the queen who eats the bleached bones of drowned little girls to preserve her complexion in The Stolen Lake ...?michelle lovrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01026972300195225090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-81882947781328077402010-07-01T14:54:02.234+01:002010-07-01T14:54:02.234+01:00That hideous toad woman Dolores Umbridge...far mor...That hideous toad woman Dolores Umbridge...far more terrifying than Voldermort....Kathryn Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439670363289229014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-50543132992040773452010-07-01T14:38:51.774+01:002010-07-01T14:38:51.774+01:00Miss Murdstone.
Or her counterpart for younger ch...Miss Murdstone.<br /><br />Or her counterpart for younger children, Aunt Fidget Wonkham Strong (who wore an iron hat and took no nonsense from anybody)frances thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717833251829537628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-46667914827355326332010-07-01T14:21:50.773+01:002010-07-01T14:21:50.773+01:00What a great post, Ellen - I don't know Aunt M...What a great post, Ellen - I don't know Aunt Maria (though as you point out, I - we all - know one or two Aunt Marias) and I will have to seek her out. And I adore Hester and Shrike. And is it wrong to say one can love to love a villain, as well as hate them? Lord Asriel certainly comes into that category for me.Gillian Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17775401199564200537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-36323678330138302642010-07-01T14:13:15.367+01:002010-07-01T14:13:15.367+01:00I'm so glad you mentioned Carmody Braque! He i...I'm so glad you mentioned Carmody Braque! He is one of my favourites - as is <i>The Changeover</i> in general. And yes, Aunt Maria is another great one, though my top DWJ villain has to be Laurel in <i>Fire and Hemlock</i>.Cathy Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03838615971611193743noreply@blogger.com