frozenfountain t1_istmhm4 wrote on October 18, 2022 at 4:45 PM

"Traumatic" is an extremely strong word for any work of fiction. Yes, there's some scenes that involve remarkably inventive acts of brutality described in lascivious detail, and there's parts I had to skim even though I have a pretty strong stomach for gore. There's images and imagined pain that'll haunt you for a while, but I don't think anything in those pages will make anyone develop a psychiatric illness unless something was already going wrong.

That said, the book is one of my favourites and I do recommend forging ahead with it if you're not squeamish. It's really funny and insightful (accidentally, perhaps, by the sound of things) about consumerism and wealth and filling the void.

WankBanke OP t1_istmz2q wrote on October 18, 2022 at 4:48 PM

I have psychotic issues, already havd a fragile mind and have to take meds for it.

Do you think such a book can trigger something in someone who is prone to psychosis?

frozenfountain t1_istnocs wrote on October 18, 2022 at 4:52 PM

I wouldn't be comfortable giving you a yes or no answer, since I have no personal experience with psychosis and only a fairly surface level understanding of it. But if you're prone to being deeply upset by disturbing scenes in fiction and having things play on your mind to a debilitating degree, it might be a good idea to skip this one, or at least put it down when things start getting heavy. I really hope the treatment is going well and you're in a good place these days.