The novel 'filth'. Thoughts?

[Ilovebreakfast]

Anyone read the novel 'filth'? My dh is reading it at the moment. Didn't know what it was about. Just flicked through some of the pages. It is vile and woman hating. Not sure what to think really as dh is such a nice guy.

Eh? I've read some really dodgy books in my time and never wanted to act them out. Its like saying reading harry potter will make me want to take up magic.

Insane reasoning.

I'm not saying people want to act it out. But some weird people would. Not all people who watch porn want to replicate it, but SOME do.
It's just the language was so vile.

People who want to do vile things will use anything as an excuse...

True. I'm not over thinking it. Just trying to get my head around the pleasure in reading such grim stuff.

I think it's far more likely that people who have those urges will start by seeking out violent or pornographic films/books/photos... then escalate. You still find a lot of violent or sex offences in countries with high levels of censorship, remember.

I agree Jesus, and also some of the most violent, twisted killers have fetishised utterly normal and mundane things so that they don't need a naughty book to get their kicks - just a pair of ladies gloves or whatever.

If anything, my crap murder book fixation has led me to believe noones worth murdering. It's a lot of hard work and there is always a lurking Miss Marple or Lincoln Rhyme type waiting to catch you!

It's one of my favourite books! I've read all of Irvine Welsh's stuff and I don't think you'd really pick it up expecting it to be mainstream? Interestingly, Oldboy is also one of my favourite films, and I'm about as far from ragey violence as they come!!

For me, I hate run of the mill books and films, and just enjoy something a little more leftfield as I find it more engaging and interesting.

But you're supposed to hate Bruce, that's kind of a fundamental of the story!!!

I choose books to read for all sorts of reasons, not just pleasure and enjoyment. Your DH might not be experiencing those feelings when reading it, have you asked him?

Are you worried about your DP, OP?

I have read loads of books with horrible themes and it definitely doesn't mean I get a thrill out of reading about those particular things or that I would want to do them in real life.

I'm sure there are a tiny proportion of twisted horrible people who read this kind of thing because it gives them a sexual thrill or satisfies some kind of urge to know about it which might later translate into an urge to act out those things, but the vast majority of people who read it aren't reading it for those reasons at all.

For example recently I've been watching The Walking Dead, and although there is a lot of bloody, gory, close violence in that it's not something I could ever bring myself to do. I think I'd be useless in a zombie apocalypse - I'd be eaten because I wouldn't be able to kill anything!

I would look more at your DP's behaviour, conversation and general attitude towards life, that will tell you far more about his actual opinions, beliefs and personality than his choice of reading/watching material :)

I'm a fan of Irvin Welsh, but reading that put me off him for a while because it was so relentlessly grim and disgusting. Something about it was so depressing without any hope.

I'm not worried about my dh as he is lovely and kind. I was just surprised that he chose to read a book that us so graphically women hating and talking about women and sex in such a vile way. I genuinely don't understand why people 'enjoy' reading such horrid stuff.
It's not that I have a sheltered life, but the imagery created us truly awful. I suppose I didn't like the idea of my dh reading about rape, degrading sex and exploitation in bed and then rolling over and wanting sex with me. It just seems strange.

Its not just women hating though. Its people hating. Bruce pretty much hates everyone. He does vile things to both.

I do kind of get what you mean but unless he is actually aroused by the book I think you are over thinking it.

I read books like this and will put them down and have sex with my dp. I dont think about the book while doing it.

Eh?

Fiction.

Haven't read the book yet, went to see the film - was pretty disturbing and dark but I loved it. Looking forward to reading the book! Like everyone has said - total fiction. What about Lolita? Does reading that mean you're harbouring thoughts of paedophilia?

I haven't read this one, but I have for instance read others that can be nasty and are very graphic.
It's nothing to do with what I am. I don't enjoy the imagery and it doesn't make me want to copy it.

In the same way I enjoy Dexter, for example.

All of Welsh's stuff is like this, Trainspotting is no easy read either. It's in the same vein as stuff like Clockwork Orange, you're not meant to read it thinking "I want to be just like the main character"

I know it's fiction. It's just degrading to women and vile. It does represent the views if some awful men.

If anybody spoke like that in real life. They'd be lambasted.

Dh and I have a dd15, I just don't get why he would want to read about a 15 year old girl being forced to give oral sex. Reading us supposed to be a pleasure and enjoyable coast time.

They would be, and rightly so. But it's not real life, it's fiction.

Past time!

Yes but it's pretty grim fiction.

Sometimes reading isn't about "pleasure" and "enjoyable coast time". I like books like that sometimes, but a lot of the time I like books that engage stronger emotions (eg. disgust), that make me uncomfortable, that scare me, or that make me think.

Well, I've read non-fiction books about the horrors of life as a woman in China. That wasn't pleasurable, in fact it was grim - but I still think it's important to read. I read this book because of the black humour, following a mind down it's path.. It doesn't mean Irvine Welsh really feels this way about women/men/everyone else the main character is an arse about. It's almost a cartoon of the worst things in our society, IYSWIM.

"Reading is supposed to be a pleasure and enjoyable past time."

Stick to Harry Potter then. I'll keep to Trainspotting and Lolita.

Yes but whatever emotion you get if you choose to read these types if books you are getting 'pleasure' from that emotion.