I have an entire Theory of Bodie's Damage in This Novel, which I have even written out, but it will be spoilery until next Wednesday, so I am heroically not going to type it in now.

It's killing me.

You're right that starting with Doyle's backstory makes me understand him better and therefore have the feeling that I'm supposed to like him better. I don't know that I actually do. As we've said in so many comments, he seems unduly fragile and inexperienced.