“Elinor had read countless stories in which the main characters fell sick at some point because they were so unhappy. She had always thought that a very romantic idea, but she’d dismissed it as a pure invention of the world of books. All those wilting heroes and heroines who suddenly gave up the ghost just because of unrequited love or longing for something they’d lost! Elinor had always enjoyed their sufferings—as a reader will. After all, that was what you wanted from books: great emotions you’d never felt yourself, pain you could leave behind by closing the book if it got too bad. Death and destruction felt deliciously real conjured up with the right words, and you could leave them behind between the pages as you pleased, at no cost or risk to yourself.”
This always struck me as interesting and true, to an extent. Although sometimes when you're going through something, it can be almost intoxicating to read about the struggles of a fictional character dealing with the same thing.
On the other hand, for me it's never been a good idea to read depressing things when I'm sad or scary things when I'm stressed - it'll often compound the feeling. Doesn't mean I won't, but logic doesn't go into it.
This passage is truest for me when it comes to writing, rather than reading. I have to restrain myself from excessively punishing my main characters with fate and choice. I've read some of my character's profiles and had to tone down how miserable their pasts were. It's not as bad as it used to be though. Some of the things I wrote in Middle School were so over the top that I laugh just thinking about it.
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