misery memoirs love em or hate em???

[salsmum]

Most shops have a whole section now and I must admit I have read quite a few since 'A child called it' I don't know why but non-fiction seems to be very addictive. Whats your opinions? whats the best M.M. you've read?
Do we feel better about our own childhood when we read others tragic beginnings? thus being some kind of 'therapy'

you mean grief porn?

I think it's horrible - have posted on here about it before. Also not sure you can trust a lot of what is written which is a shame because it makes a mockery of people who really have been through awful stuff.

Personally I find it distasteful and don't understand why people have to wallow in other's suffering in this way.

Sorry, but you did ask

I loathe them

Agree with beanie

oh they are vile.

but then a lot of the coverages of cases like baby P borders on the pornographic anyway. Tales of child abuse being used to flog papers. Or alterantively I suppose you can turn to page 3 and see actual child abuse

I think it's horrible. I suppose for a few survivors of abuse it may be empowering to read about others who have experienced it and come out stronger, but I worry about people reading these books for the wrong reasons and getting a sadistic kick out of it.

And I hate the way they look so formulaic with their white covers.

Have never read any, and wouldn't want to.

Beyond vile. Sorry

salsmum, I have read a couple and find them tough, but still interesting

Hate them.

mincepie, I think it's a bit harsh to say people 'wallow' in others suffering I think that most people [including me] like to read the way that others have coped in the face of the difficulties they've had to live through. very often they have gone on to become valued members of society i.e judges, carers, lawyers etc..etc.. which then of course gives the happy ending that everyone wants

maybe salsmum, each to their own

I just hate the way that horrible suffering is marketed under the guise of "entertainment".

why don't they write a book about their successes then? Why spend so much of the books going over the details in such - well... detail? Personally I think some of teh people who read them get off on it!

its suffering, abuse, torture of children, vicarious distress as entertainment fgs

seems rather out of place in a civilised society

I think the terrm "grief porn" is very dismissive and quite interesting because I wonder why people feel so threatened by other people's memories? I've only read Angela's Ashes, which I suppose you might describe as grief porn, but I thought it was v. well written, full of humour and observation despite all the misery. I wouldn't actually use the term grief porn to describe that book.

I also think it's highly unlikely that wading through a book all about Constance Briscow's legal successes would be v. inteeresting...

WHY would anyone want to pay money for stuff like this?

WTF?!

Says a lot about society these days.

no angela's ashes is a different thing entirely. Somehow.

I think because it feels like it is about how shit it was growing up in that era generally, there is a political slant to it, and historical interest, whereas "a child like it"...well what is the point of stuff like that except to gawk and say "well I would never treat my child like that.

I find grief porn quite a good phrase, i do think people reading these books are getting off on other peoples misery

I would agree that Angela's Ashes is a bit different.

Hate them. Angela's Ashes is different I agree. Bit like East of East (the film) determined to see the humour in what is really quite tragic!

All those 'daddy sold me for a roll up" eurghghghgh, how depressing. Who would enjoy wallowing in that?

books like Angela's ashes are completely different.

Another really great book based upon a true childhood is 'the Liars club' by Mary Karr.

Loathe unless they are exceptional like Angela's Ashes.

Loathe unless they are exceptional like Angela's Ashes.