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Is there a tendency to regard books which make us feel bad as "better" than ones which don't? (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm dragging myself through an "award-winning" "best-selling" "recommended" book I got from the library and wishing I hadn't. (Yes I know those phrases mean little and I can stop, though I'm nearing the end after hoping it would stop being so hopeless. Yes I can be naively optimistic ;) .) The characters and story are all stereotypes and clichés. It's not realistic or slice of life.
The Korean drama I'm watching is top rated on MyDramaList and is well done but it also tells a sad story every episode. I'm halfway through and I don't think it's that much better than some lower rated ones with more moments of happiness.
Anyway, this has me thinking about whether there's a general trend to regard books - stories of any kind really, including real life ones - as "better" if they upset us.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Exactly. Said it better than I could have.

There's a societal view that play is for kids. We need more adults playing! Play is so important for mental health and building social bonds.

It's a shame some adults only play when there's the "excuse" of playing with children. Even worse are parents who won't play with their own kids.

I think "fun books" fall prey to the same cultural bias.