Do You Read Very Depressing Books, And What Do You Gain From It?

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

This question has come up a few times in my real life, and my answer is always that interesting things always have some kind of depressing element. You read about a plane crash and its survivors and what caused the crash -- that's interesting. I doubt it would be interesting to read about some people who got on a plane, the mechanics and pilot did checks on the aircraft, everything looked good, plane flew to its destination, plane landed without incident, and everyone got off.

That's exactly what I think.

I read (or tried to read, rather) a memoir several months ago. The blurb talked about the author's crazy, controlling aunt and how she altered the family dynamics immeasurably. About a quarter of the way through, I thought "She's not crazy and controlling. I have an aunt exactly like that. That's normal." I stopped reading it. There was nothing interesting or -- at least to me -- abnormal about that family and its dynamics.

[sweetdreams2013]

Catharsis. I'm not a very happy go lucky person.

[greatblueheron]

I just listed two books until nonfiction must read...both could be depressing but the knowledge I gained from both was well worth the reads...

[Peony321]

I read depressing books to get a better understanding of people but in small amounts as one needs happiness sometimes .

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by tijlover

Do you shy away from reading depressing books? Scared to read them?

As a rule, I don't seek them out. I recall reading about two thirds of Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes years ago, and being so depressed by it that I didn't finish it.