This Book Went Too Far

#booktube

How dark is too dark for a book to go? In today’s video, I’m discussing two extremely bleak novels — Doggerland by Ben Smith and 1977 by David Peace — and exploring the difference between dark fiction that challenges us in healthy, meaningful ways… and dark fiction that crosses a line.

Many readers (myself included) turn to bleak, disturbing books because they force us to confront uncomfortable truths, build empathy, and reflect on the darker sides of humanity. But sometimes a book goes so far into graphic violence and despair that it stops being insightful and becomes gratuitous. So where is that line?

In this video, I share brief spoiler-free thoughts on both novels, what worked for me, what didn’t, and why one of these books felt powerful while the other felt harmful. If you enjoy dark literary fiction, bleak novels, and thought-provoking reading discussions, this one’s for you.

• Doggerland – Ben Smith
• Nineteen Seventy-Seven (1977) – David Peace

Join me on Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile...

#books #bookreview #sciencefiction #thriller #bookish