J.K. Rowling and the Running Grave

[Sunrisetabby]

Ugh. I confess that I stayed up most of last night reading straight through the 900-some pages of Rowling's the Running Grave. I could not stop reading, but I would definitely not recommend that anyone pick up the book. I enjoy reading about cults, indeed I often half jokingly remark that I wish I could find a cult that I believed in to join, but Rowling's treatment vis-a-vis character's reaction to suicides and murders that appear as suicide was disturbing to me. I read the book aware of the criticism of Rowling for her transphobia, but I did not know her views on mental health were also so vile. On the one hand, it was so wonderful to get so completely hooked by the story, but on the other, it felt like a act of self flagellation, not only destroying my hard fought for sleep routine, but also exposing myself to such pernicious views of mental health. I'm not going to spoil the book for anyone that chooses to read it, but I am angry with myself for reading and getting so absorbed and even caring about what some random author thinks.

[Dolphin14]

Rowling has a history of mental illness herself

Now you have me very curious

🐬

[Midori]

Thanks for the warning, It's the next book I have to read. Forewarned is forearmed!

Cheers, Midori

[Xene in reply to Midori]

Hi Midori, how are you doing? I bought this book the other day and when I buy a work of fiction especially about crime, murder etc. then there’s always the possibility that there could be some really bad explicit, dramatic events going on depending on the author’s colourful and descriptive imagination.

I’ve never read any of J k’s books before so who knows I might even end up buying the six other books in this series if I find it gripping enough. Have you read any of the other six books? I would be interested to hear from you or anyone else reading this response of their thoughts in general about the “Strike” series or any other works of fiction by her. Cheers, Xene.

[Midori in reply to Xene]

Yes, I have read them all up to this one; wasn't too fussed on The Ink Black Heart, which was the last before this, it was very strange. All the others I enjoyed. They are a bit dark, but not too dark, if you get my meaning.

Hope you enjoy them,

Cheers, Midori

[Xene in reply to Midori]

Thank you, I haven’t read a book in such a long time. Nothing really phases me anymore, just wondering if I’ll even get to the end of it if I get bored.😂

[Nothing_but_books]

Pretty good advertising. I didn't know she had a new book, but your review had me look it up. Honestly, since The Casual Vacancy, I don't bother to see what she's up to.

[Xene in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Hi NBB, what did you think of “The Casual Vacancy?” Good, bad anything in between? Cheers, Xene.

[Sunrisetabby in reply to Xene]

I loved the casual vacancy and it really resonated with me when I read it, but that was before my mental health fell apart. Thinking back, after time spent in impatient psychiatric care, the treatment of suicide in that book is also rather unhealthy.

[Xene in reply to Sunrisetabby]

Hi, not quite sure what by what you mean as fortunately I’ve never been an in patient for psychiatry but plenty for physical health and omg I could write a book and people would think it was a work of fiction even if classified as non fiction. Attitudes to mental health and suicide do vary massively in some cases though. Anyway cheers for the response and I’ll see what I think of it.

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Xene]

Dull, plus I thought it needed a good editor, as I've thought for a long time about her tomes. Someone in publishing has been letting her get away with it for too long.

[Xene in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Thank you, I’ll see how I go with it, knowing me I’ll prob still be reading it this time next year. 😂