What if you can't read you ER book?

I got a set of audio CDs for A Brief History of Seven Killings. The quality of both the writing and the narration are excellent, but the book is so violent that I can't face another session with it. It's not like you can skim over the violent parts, because most of the book is violent parts. I had no idea that the killings would be described in such detail, or that they would be so brutal. And I find the relentless abuse of women and children very disturbing.

I'll be happy to mail the book to another reader who thinks she can read it, but I just can't.

Actually, what you've written here is a perfectly good review. The only requirement LT gives is a 25 word minimum.

Agreed. If the description was as poor as you suggest - that a book with such a violent title was described as not actually being violent - then that review would be very helpful to prevent others from making the same mistake you did.

same- you have probably read enough to write a review

This happens to me frequently since I have trouble reading anything even remotely violent, dark, gory, etc, but books are very rarely labeled as such. What I do is read as much as I can (generally it ends up being about 1/4 before I realize what the book is going to be like), then I review it based on what I'd read so far. I think the point is that you did try to read it and are giving it an honest review. :)

The description probably wasn't as poor as I suggest. The description used the word violent, but I just didn't expect this relentless, over-the-top, detailed violence, sometimes described through the eyes of a young child. It is fictionalized history, and that makes it even harder to bear--it really happened. I saw the description as trying to describe a story that was as violent as a rough murder mystery, but this was much more. I just don't want to criticize a book for being what it claims to be.

>6 JackieCarroll: I agree that the publisher didn't mislead, but I think your OP would make a helpful review for those inclined to eschew violence. In this particular book, I don't think the violence is just misery for misery's sake—a common feature of contemporary literary fiction that's angling for a prize nomination. In James' book, the violence is pretty integral to the points about colonialism and systemic racism and endemic poverty that he's trying to convey. But, the work itself is not for every reader. You've noted what didn't work for you and also mentioned some things that were good. In all, it's a fair review and you shouldn't worry about posting it.

>6 JackieCarroll: But if you tell us that in your review, you are offering a major service to those who would be similarly affected. You don't have to see it as criticism, just an honest reaction to the book.