Finding Solace: Thoughts on Trauma in Books
I was recently scrolling through reviews of one of my favorite books, A Little Life, when I was caught off guard by a lot of the responses the book was getting. People were using phrases like “trauma porn” and “torturous” when I found the book anything but. There is a difference between glorifying and educating, but it got me thinking; when writing a book that inflicts trauma on its characters, how much is too much? Is there even such a thing?
Like a lot of people, I had a rough childhood. Before I was adopted, I was raised by drug addicts; and although I wish I could say that's an uncommon occurrence with people born in the late 90s/early 2000s, it’s not. To me, reading was always an escape from that life. It allowed me to get my bearings in worlds other than my own, and that has stayed true throughout the entirety of my (short) adulthood. But such remarks about A Little Life really had me contemplating the books I gravitate towards. I constantly find myself referring to themes of heartbreak and abuse and other things I endured while living under the care of my biological parents, and never understood why.
Why would I want to relive such moments?
Well, the answer is simple. It’s a way of recalling them from the sidelines, with the control in my hands. Like writing, reading is cathartic to me. It provides me with a sense that even though it felt like I was, I was not alone through what I endured; that someone was always watching, pen in hand, just writing it down. With books such as A Little Life, if it got too much for me, I could just shut the page. I can’t do that in real life. Sometimes, in that way, it’s better to live in a story than your own world.
What does that mean for writers, though? Are you “allowed” to write traumatic events without having experienced that same trauma? In my opinion, the answer is yes, as long as you pay attention to those who have been through it (if there are any). Empathy is vital when writing, it’s the only way we writers can fully get into the minds of our characters; and through our characters, we can then reach the reader. The only way to learn empathy when you haven't already, is to listen to those who have.
Even though some writers may not be able to fully empathize with the trauma they write, it’s worth it to let them try to at least understand it. In the end, isn't that what writing is all about?
“A story was a form of telepathy. By means of inking symbols onto a page, she was able to send thoughts and feelings from her mind to her readers. It was a magical process, so commonplace that no one stopped to wonder atit.” - Ian McEwan, Atonement
About Lila Grace
Lila is an English student at Arizona State University who hopes to become a published author one day. She is passionate about advocating for children and their mental health, as she has worked with kids since she was 16. She also runs a small "booktok" where she posts reviews of her favorite books. You can find her on Instagram and Tiktok, @LilaGraceReads.
