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[This is a discussion topic for the March 2016 book of the month Eating Bull by Carrie Rubin.]


Darwin. What a character. Well, that’s not a question. So here is one: What do you think of Darwin? Do you think he made a good villain?


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He made an interesting villain. The OCD, and his thing for puzzles? Very interesting, indeed.

Darwin made a great villain. I didn't like him, obviously, but thought his story was the more interesting one.

I thought Darwin was interesting. His severe OCD, his thing for puzzles, his feelings about killing made for an interesting character. He scared the snot out of me, but he was still interesting.

It always surprises me how much I like the villains in books (not like 'ooo i loooove darwin, hes wonderful!' but like 'wow, that is a good character. he is actually pretty believable and his motives make sense for his psyche's condition'). This one was really well written, and the little quirks the author gave him made him more human. He was twisted, compulsive, constantly talking to his inner voice. I found him fascinating. (albeit pretty nasty)

He was crazy, but in a believable way. If this book were a movie, I think I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off him. All of his quirks made him such an interesting character - the puzzles, the OCD hand-washing, the painful self-punishments.

I liked Darwin; I really wanted to learn more about his past and enjoy more of his psychosis. The fact that he was just an average crazy that did make mistakes and actually failed in a killing made him more credible. He was definitely fun.

He is hateful, which, I think makes a good villain. He is one interesting character and, well.. scary.

When Darwin went to get his preferred glue for his puzzle at the craft store, I was so creeped out when the person in the motorized scooter knocked him down and was so rude to him. I thought to myself about all the strangers I walk past in stores - maybe there is a murderer among them?!

bookowlie wrote:When Darwin went to get his preferred glue for his puzzle at the craft store, I was so creeped out when the person in the motorized scooter knocked him down and was so rude to him. I thought to myself about all the strangers I walk past in stores - maybe there is a murderer among them?!

Read enough about psycho killers and that thought will never leave your head

Seriously

I think I would wind up sleeping with one eye open.

I often wonder just how many people I encounter are one fender bender or stolen parking space or accidental shoulder bump away from just snapping. I thought the creepiest part of Darwin's tirades was when he flipped out at MFB over the treadmill. I've seen scenarios like that occur, and I wonder how many people have a double shot of homicidal maniac in their veins on a regular basis.

Most antagonists in a good book are very interesting characters. In fact, some of them are more interesting than the protagonists because they definitely have something to say. Darwin is not an exclusion. He had phobia and his so-called relationship with his phobia was very well executed to the readers. I don't like him for what he was doing but as a character he is very believable.

Scott wrote:[This is a discussion topic for the March 2016 book of the month Eating Bull by Carrie Rubin.]


Darwin. What a character. Well, that’s not a question. So here is one: What do you think of Darwin? Do you think he made a good villain?


***
View Eating Bull on Amazon | View Eating Bull on Bookshelves

I think he made an outstanding villain! And unlike other villains he actually had a cause to drive his insanity even farther. His psyche was deep and nigh unforgettable. His "discipline" was scary enough to give the reader a sense of discomfort without scaring them away. Not only that, but he went to extreme lengths to actually prove his point. He didn't just go and kill his main target - he actually made himself work up to that point. That was an interesting little feature that most serial killers in novels tend to leave out. You know the M.O. and the target but not necessarily the work that goes into it. This guy planned. It was premeditated, it was for a cause, it was earned to an extent. He was just perfect.

Honestly I found Darwin's portions the most interesting to read. I am fascinated by serial killers and their messed up psychology but this was just too great not to pass up. Every time I read a "Darwin portion" I felt like I was doing a case study of this guy and trying to get into his head. He had so many metaphors and beliefs and problems and just...everything about him oozed into the novel.

Not only was he interesting as a fictional character, but he was also realistic. That was freaking scary! You see murderers on T.V. all the time and don't really think twice, but the more you read about Darwin and his cause and his problems the more connections you could make to a real life killer. The distinctions of most serial killers are mental illness, problems (whether psychologically or mentally abusive) stemming from home, the feeling that no one listens to you, and compulsions or revulsions to a certain item or person that initiate a killing. Darwin had all of these little distinctions and to see Rubin write them so eloquently, so that you believed he was coming to get you, was just incredible. Well done.

Darwin did make a good villain, but I'm afraid that his character reinforced negative stereotypes of the mentally ill. People who exhibit symptoms such as his are typically victims, not aggressors.