I was going to get the book, A Little Life, after a lot of people recommended it to me. My favorite genre of books are dark fiction and non-fiction books that go into the psychological plagues trauma brings upon a persons mind. I read them too to examine how an author dissects a traumatic event or events and brings the characters into those situations and how the characters progress. What always shocks me is seeing how other people react to these books. I suffered severe childhood trauma in various different ways. So reading these books is sometimes comforting, sometimes I read them with the intent to relate to a character, in the thoughts of the character towards an event that others might not have thought one would even experience. But watching some peoples reactions to books like A Little Life, and becoming nauseous or being in disbelief, I find it shocking. What are the experiences of people who read books who did not read it with intent to relate to the character. Why did you pick the book up? Im interested to see the other side of the coin. Does the emotional experiences of the characters resonate with you? Do you see any parallels within your our own life and the characters?

  • CreativeNameCosplay@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    I’ve been reading a lot of horror/bleak books within the last year and also find it comforting in a way, especially regarding grief, struggling with thoughts of suicide, or even characters who attempt/succeed.

    It’s been brought up by a few people that I might have OCD, and I’m working on figuring all that out, and honestly… Sometimes I wonder if reading these kinds of horrific books is the “compulsion” to the existential, downward spiral I was having. It’s been excessive and exhausting (past tense for the most part because I started medication, which has helped a lot with the suicidal ideation and rumination).

    The books that are most impactful have been ones without redemption or happiness in the end, it’s cathartic. I’m trying to get better, and I can’t help but continue reading this stuff.

    A Little Life is on my to-read list, and very soon.