Evoking a reaction
When writers provoke a reaction from their writing, it is generally a joyous occasion - because the reader got "it." Right?
What if that reaction is a negative one? Not in a "I hate this book" reaction, or a "Wow, I suck and must change my actions" reaction. I'm talking about full on flash back to the emotional state when being abused type of reaction.
Should books come with warnings? How much warning should one provide?
When recommending books, do you give any warnings?
For example, I was recommended a book series (and discussed my strong reaction in a friend locked post) and was told it was rich world making with characters of depth. Many friends love the series. A few told me it was "dark." None warned it had rape and emotional/verbal abuse so strongly.
Yes, the book itself did not abuse me. But just as seeing Steel Magnolia's for the first time just two months after my best friend of 13 years died, I was brought right back to that hellish emotional place and it took me days to get back to an emotional stability. I don't blame the movie for my friend's death. But it makes me wary of ever watching it again, even though it has been 13 years since that death.
I would concede that many books do not need warnings. But not all books are recommended. Or have reviews easily available. Even in a store, while a clerk could help, they may not know how the death of old yeller would impact a child who just lost the family dog.
Is it too much to ask, that in the introduction that something be said as simply as "There are scenes of X." It's pretty common that certain things - death, drug/alcohol use, abuse, rape, abortion, etc - may cause triggers in some people. Some trigger stronger than others depending on the time between the instance(s) and the trigger and the depth of that instance(s).
So tell me. What is reasonable to expect? What is reasonable to ask?
What if that reaction is a negative one? Not in a "I hate this book" reaction, or a "Wow, I suck and must change my actions" reaction. I'm talking about full on flash back to the emotional state when being abused type of reaction.
Should books come with warnings? How much warning should one provide?
When recommending books, do you give any warnings?
For example, I was recommended a book series (and discussed my strong reaction in a friend locked post) and was told it was rich world making with characters of depth. Many friends love the series. A few told me it was "dark." None warned it had rape and emotional/verbal abuse so strongly.
Yes, the book itself did not abuse me. But just as seeing Steel Magnolia's for the first time just two months after my best friend of 13 years died, I was brought right back to that hellish emotional place and it took me days to get back to an emotional stability. I don't blame the movie for my friend's death. But it makes me wary of ever watching it again, even though it has been 13 years since that death.
I would concede that many books do not need warnings. But not all books are recommended. Or have reviews easily available. Even in a store, while a clerk could help, they may not know how the death of old yeller would impact a child who just lost the family dog.
Is it too much to ask, that in the introduction that something be said as simply as "There are scenes of X." It's pretty common that certain things - death, drug/alcohol use, abuse, rape, abortion, etc - may cause triggers in some people. Some trigger stronger than others depending on the time between the instance(s) and the trigger and the depth of that instance(s).
So tell me. What is reasonable to expect? What is reasonable to ask?