On Dec 12, 2004, at 10:57 AM, Howard Brazee wrote: > > I read the following in Steve's Weblog: > Sun Oct 3rd, 2004 6:25 PM > > > I've just read _Kushiel's Dart_ by Jacqueline Carey. It's > the first fantasy novel by someone I didn't know that has > excited me in longer than I care to remember. There is a cultural > and religious background that is wonderfully done--that in > itself being pretty rare--and runs in and out of the plot > bouncing off it in odd ways. The center of the story is palace > intrigue, and I can't think of it ever being done better since > Dumas. > > I could go on at some length, but skip that. Just read it. > > ========================================== > > So I am reading it. > > I read a couple of chapters and then get to masochism and sadism and > have to > stop. I just don't enjoy that stuff. I put the book aside and read > something quick and easy such as _Life of Pi_, then read another > chapter or > two until I get uncomfortable again. > > I had to give up reading Diane Mott Davidson in the first book when I > read > how she would go back to her first husband who purposefully broke her > knuckles with a hammer. I did read a review that in her latest book, > her > ex is the victim. > > My wife didn't have problems with either of these. Assassination is > one > thing. And even pain. I love the opening scene in the movie > _Lawrence of > Arabia_ where Lawrence explains the "trick" in letting a match go out > against his fingers. (the trick is not to mind). But associating > pain > with love doesn't work with me and messes up my enjoyment of the books. > > I wonder what other turn-offs readers have similar to this, causing us > to > not like otherwise enjoyable books. > I agree. When it got to the pain/love thing I just tossed it. The world was very well constructed and the culture was interesting but otherwise...meh