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frozenfountain t1_j6nhe6b wrote

There's no subject matter I'll flat out refuse to read, and I don't think anything should be off limits entirely for writers; we need fiction that covers the whole range of what humans are capable of experiencing. That said, execution matters a lot. I find a lot of value in reading the viewpoints of truly reprehensible people, and in stories exploring the aftermath of the most horrific events you can imagine, but I'm not interested in schlocky, gratuitous revelling in these things.

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chummybuckett t1_j6nsr0s wrote

I full agree. It's not the subject matter as much as the manner in which it's written. Rape is a good example of a subject that has been handled appropriately by many authors and really grossly by many others.

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Merle8888 t1_j6oke4o wrote

I always feel like rape is the first/most common answer to these things. And it’s such a complicated topic.

First and foremost of course, all readers should take care of themselves and no one should feel pressured to read something they think will be bad for them, or to read on in something that is bad for them.

Second, I think it’s precisely because rape is so common that depicting it in fiction is so important. Many sexual assault survivors, as well as loved ones of survivors and just people preoccupied with fears of rape, find these books incredibly important for healing, connection, and understanding.

Third, obviously none of those goals can be met if the author isn’t approaching the material respectfully, with the understanding that an appreciable portion of their audience will have been sexually assaulted themselves. I’m fortunate enough that I haven’t, and I don’t mind depictions as long as they’re done well, but I draw the line at writing that seems to excuse or glorify rape or use it as cheap titillation—at this point I’ll tend to avoid male authors depicting male-on-female rape altogether. It’s not that it can’t be done well, I’m sure, but I also don’t think I’ve seen it. With female authors I rarely see those problems.

But I’ll still generally put down a book on sample if it begins with the rape—there’s a sense in which, not yet knowing or caring about the character in question, it automatically feels like these scenes are there for cheap shock/titillation.

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jenna_grows OP t1_j6nivg6 wrote

I don’t think writers should be censored, just saying I wouldn’t read certain books with certain subject matter. No matter how good it is.

The Kite Runner is my example because I know it deserves all the accolades. For me, though, it just was the moment that I realised I couldn’t bring myself to read certain types of books because they’re just too triggering.

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frozenfountain t1_j6nj7iu wrote

Oh, for sure - I didn't mean to imply your post was censorious, just throwing it out there. Certain subjects are a pretty hard sell for me, too, even if I wouldn't write them off entirely. You did the right thing by taking care of yourself!

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jenna_grows OP t1_j6nm1tv wrote

That makes sense. I wasn’t sure when I read it :’D

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belladonna_nectar t1_j6or95g wrote

The Kite Runner is a tough read even if you didn't experience any similar abuse as the main character. I made the "mistake" to read his other two books, but that's when I drew the line and decided I won't read anything hy him anymore, way too depressing

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Taminella_Grinderfal t1_j6nrfco wrote

I read a book called Tampa. I thought it was going to be a fictional psychological exploration of why women abuse teen boys and how it’s portrayed so differently in the media. Sort of a “reverse Lolita”. NOPE. It was filthy, horribly written smut. The author was a woman but it would have fit right in on r/menwritingwomen. Execution definitely matters.

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Merle8888 t1_j6oiwv6 wrote

If you’re still interested in something like that, you might try Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller.

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