In this week’s Let’s Talk Bookish, MIKAELA @ MIKAELA READS wants to know if there are certain topics that shouldn’t be represented in fiction?
Prompts: Are there certain topics that can’t or shouldn’t be represented in fiction? If so, why shouldn’t they be? Do you think problematic/controversial issues in society should remain strictly part of the real world, or should they be explored in fiction? Should the ability to write about problematic or controversial topics be limited to certain people?
I think that there are absolutely no topics that should be off-limits in fiction. Great literature is full of taboo topics, and processing and understanding the world through reading is critical.
However—and I get that this is controversial—if you are going to write about something controversial, I do think that it’s kind of imperative that if you are going to write about things that may be difficult for some to read that you provide adequate and accurate content warnings. I recently read a book with an unadvertised subplot featuring the death of a spouse, and as a new-ish widow, it was tough for me. I might have chosen to read the book anyway, but at least I would have been prepared.
What do you think? Should anything be out of bounds in a book?
The Let’s Talk Bookish meme is hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books & Dani @ Literary Lion.
fifty-two 
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Great post! I totally agree with what you’ve said. I think that you can write whatever you want but content/trigger warnings are really important. A lot of people don’t like them because they consider them “spoilers” but I really appreciate them; even if they don’t apply to me it’s always nice to see such care taken towards readers, as what may be a trigger to one person might not be to another and it’s still important to bear in mind.
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