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AtraMikaDelia t1_iwqojsv wrote

I mean, there's got to be hundreds, probably thousands, of great books out there, you can hardly be surprised if someone hasn't read one particular book that you happen to like.

The only reason TKAM and Great Gatsby are even half as well known as they are is because they're required reading in most American schools. People don't read those because they want to, they read them because a teacher tells them to. If you look at more serious discussions for what the 'Great American Novel' is, then Beloved is up there pretty much every single time. Its just not as easy to teach high schoolers with.

Also, what universe do you live in where TKAM doesn't focus on unpleasant themes?

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SurroundAcceptable85 OP t1_iwqz2hv wrote

I don't think TKAM doesn't focus on unpleasant themes - it overlaps in many places with topics Morrison would cover. I do, however, think that Beloved is much more graphic than TKAM. The point I guess I was trying to make is that books that make people confront the cruelty of humanity in the past in such a visceral way are sometimes avoided for that reason. I also don't mean to say that everyone should have read this specific book because I like it, I more mean that I was surprised it may not be taught as much. But, to your point, there are reasons for that.

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AtraMikaDelia t1_iwrf6nx wrote

I mean, the books you brought up as examples are commonly required reading for high schoolers (and I actually had to read TKAM in middle school), it should be obvious why they're a little less graphic.

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