Violence, Pain, Suffering -- Necessary in Meaningful Books?
Barbara's picture  Books speak the truth and truth can sometimes
be awful, terrifying, violent. We, as readers, come to the
"table" willingly to grow and learn in the painful truth of
books. When does it get too much? That the author is creating
violence, sex, and heart-break that has no meaning in the
characterization, plot, and style of the work.  Have you found a
work (maybe one that was read for your book club) that turned
you off because of gratuitous scenes of meaningless pain and
suffering? How about sex and swearing?  What are some books that
have pain, suffering, sex that counters and supports the true
meaning and theme of the book?  Share this   Our book club read
"The  Our book club read "The Gravedigger's Daughter" and many
found the language to be too much for them to continue reading
it. Sometimes the use of bad language is really what the
character calls for to fully depict who her or she was or how he
or she would really have spoken