Thursday, October 04, 2007
Decorum
Do you have “issues” with too much profanity or overly explicit (ahem) “romantic” scenes in books? Or do you take them in stride? Have issues like these ever caused you to close a book? Or do you go looking for more exactly like them? (grin)
I don't think it's really an issue for me. I mean profanity doesn't bother me too much, unless it is particularly offensive and just put in there for shock value rather than being part of the story. The same with sex scenes, it's only violent rape scenes that upset me. I came very close to givine up on American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis a few times party because of the violence and over the top sex and partly because of the really dull chapters on Genesis and cuff links inbetween... I did finish it though in the end, but I don't think I could bring myself to read it a second time. I do occassionally read erotic fiction, it's sexy and fun if you are in the mood. I don't really read romance novels though, not sure why just never found one I really enjoyed. Actually just thinking, what is sometimes annoying is reading a book where they have deliberately taken the profanities out and replaced them with words like "darn". It's usually in the more gritty teenage books or urban fantasy like Kelley Armstrong. In some of those situations, you just know the main character wouldn't hold back through not wishing to offend the reader.
My mother-in-law took the above photo (Morgaine is in the front) when the cats stayed with her for a week. Judging by the photo they had a pretty exhausting time!
13 comments:
Yep, I agree with pretty much everything you said!
Happy BTT!
PS. Cute kitties *G*
AYE! Nothing too offensive or pornish for me. Those I DO shun.
Happy BTT!
Aye, I can guarantee I've said worse than just about any curses a character could spew. That said, I want good-quality writing, and to me that means those curse words had better suit the character and be used for a reason (even if it's just characterization).
Actually it depends. But no hard core stuff. It completely puts me off!
I can't read rape scenes, any rape scene.
I love the pic, as usual! ^_^
For the most part I am okay with "scenes" as long as they are not excessive but if someone else is in the room I can't read it at all. Profanity I think is unnecessary in most cases but it doesn't bother me much.
As long as there's plot and it's done tastefully, I'm fine with it.
Cute kitty pic! :)
Sometimes the combination of sex and violence is too much for me too.
Donna
when i used to have a book club American Psycho was one of the books we were to read. i couldn't get into it at all. mostly on account of all the listing of the designers and tedious descriptions of clothing, furniture etc. i found myself skimming a lot as none of that meant anything to me. and i cannot stomach hardcore violence so i doubt i would have been to finish it anyway if the writing was less tedious.
I agree with what you said. Those things don't offend me, but if I feel that they don't add anything to the story they can put me off.
I agree with you about the unrealistic "darn"s. I only find sex and profanity off-putting in books when it's there just for the sake of it.
I use the word "darn" all the time. :-) I'm not a big curser. LOL
You mention that you read erotica but do not care for romance novels . . . I had just commented on Heather's blog that I wasn't sure I would like erotica (although I'm not opposed to someday trying it) because I don't often care for romance novels (sometimes I do, but not generally). So, you gave me hope that I might just be wrong. :-)
RYC: Thanks, and yes I did enjoy Wintersmith. Terry Pratchett is a favorite of mine. I am not bothered by sex in novels, and even a little depravity is okay, but violence has definitely turned me away from books. Janet Evanovich (have I spelled her right?) is sometimes too violent for me, and I can't read anything more violent than that. I'm a wimp.
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