Our group had to pick between 'Blood Meridian' and a cozy mystery for our next read

I pushed hard for the McCarthy book, arguing that real literature should be unsettling. We went with it, and now half the members are complaining it's too violent to get through. Anyone else have a club split over a book's tone like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_joel1mo ago

Ever try to get friends to watch a movie you love, only to have them walk out? I had that happen with a book club pick years ago. We read "American Psycho" and it caused a real split. Some of us saw the satire in all that graphic stuff, but a few members just could not get past the surface violence and dropped out. It taught me that pushing for challenging books needs a group that's ready for the ride. Sometimes the tone is just too much, and that's okay.

the_sarah1mo ago

It's a tough spot for sure. Your point about the group being ready is key, but I'd add that the book's intent matters too. From what I remember, "American Psycho" uses its violence to make a clear point about consumer culture. "Blood Meridian" feels different, like the violence is the point in a more basic way. It's not really a satire you can see past, it's just there. That can be a harder sell for a casual club.

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