books that use brain hammers

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I read alot of types of books and every once and a while, I come across a book or two that have authors that shove a message down your throat like a pan-galactic gargle blaster, and I don't mean books that are designed to make you think. I am talking about books that an author uses to promote a personal politcal agenda or other personal crusade. While I am not a fan of this type of brain bludgeoning, I am not saying that an author has to write with kid gloves or sugar coat a message, for there are some people who like in your face, ham-fisted messages for this is the way they communicate.

I admit, when I am passionate about something, I may seem like a run-away steam engine, but I do try not to inflict my opionions on someone in such a fashion that I leave them feelling like they just woke up from a TKO.

I try, and I do try hard, not to hammer a point so much that I turn it into a verbal spear. I know that some of my friends and some of my past child-care charges may argue heavily against that last remark, but all in all, I do try.

For example, I am not a big fan of christian fiction (may have something to do with going to a Lutheran school for grades 1-8, and being forced to read the genre for book reports....) but I have encountered a few here and there that have been very well done. They were not knock your brain around until you convert to our way of thinking, they were not "if you are a not christian you will suffer" kinds of books (unlike a few I read for those book reports...). I have no problem with someone being comfortable in their faith, but I do not like having someone else's values forcibly being injected into my valuable mental real-estate.

I know that some people are drawn to that kind of message and that's fine. That is a specific group that is being targeted, but what about the books that don't fit into one genre lable? Some people may think that Carl Hiaassen may be too heavy fisted with his environmental messages in his books for adults and tweens, some may not. I didn't, but there again, I am all for saving the planet.

What about the rest of you? Do you seek out books that bludgeon your little gray cells or do you shy away from those books? Have you banned an author from your shelves for that reason or added them for the same reason?

[Paul]

So I go to reply to the last topic, and it is gone???? What's up with that? Anyway, I absolutely ABHOR authors that take that concept and run with it. I do not mind someone being secure in their faith/beliefs and sharing somewhat in their writings. But unless the book is SPECIFICALLY targeted to those in the same mindset, it ruins the book to be so heavy-handed. I have never included or excluded an author from my bookshelves, but I HAVE banned or included a particular genre. For example, I REFUSE to have Christian books in my house because of the propensity for heavy-handed, jam-it-down-your-throat, accept-or-perish formatting of the story lines. There are some exceptions, such as the Narnian chronicles, which while transparently Christian, are a damned good read and do not leave me feeling like I just metaphorically deepthroated a whale. Save the preaching for the pulpit, give me a good read, and feel free to share your beliefs NICELY, then it's all good!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

Mea Culpa! I thought I was a little too harsh before, so I decided to re-think the last topic into this one. I thought this version was a little broader and less like an attack on a specific author that may not have deserved to be attacked. I agree with the Narnia books as being a good example of a view point brought to light with out the brain hammers. Brain fart on my part!:)