Jacob Finch Bonner comes across as arrogant and self-absorbed.

All Jacob Finch Bonner had ever wanted to be was a writer. It seems like he expected it to be easy, like he was entitled to big success. He comes off as arrogant and self-absorbed, and maybe a bit lazy. He had one critically acclaimed novel at a young age, but then his career fizzled from there. He hasn't written anything of note for years and is currently teaching at third-rate MFA program. Somehow he manages to maintain a lofty self-image as the only talented writer in the room, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. The opening of the book sets us up to dislike this prickly fellow. It makes me wonder if we'll feel sympathetic toward him at some point in the future?