The Great Gatsby is my reference point for this kind of thing: I had to read it 3 times to realise that I was confusing hating the character with hating the book. On the last reading I really appreciated the book. I won’t read it again though, because I still loathe the character and do not enjoy reading about people I can’t stand.

On the whole I do not like things too sweet & saccharine, but I don’t think it’s meanness that is the antidote to that.