Don't be scared off by the plot description

Some books are difficult to read because their subject matter is troubling. I know many people, for example, who have stayed away from The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. A book narrated by a 14-year-old girl who is raped and murdered? No thank you, they say, edging away.

I understand the discomfort, but for some books, it's not enough reason to stay away. In fact, it's a reason to go forward into the heart of something fearful and awful — if the subject matter is handled in a way that is enriching rather than sensational.

My top example of a book that does this is Dorothy Allison's Bastard Out of Carolina. The book tells the story of Ruth Anne, nicknamed Bone, who is abused by her stepfather. Hearing the plot description, a potential reader might move along. And yet this is a book that I feel should be required reading for all. Allison's story is so thoughtfully told and so well written, it brings you through it with new insight.

Another excellent example of this sort of book is Kevin Powers' The Yellow Birds, a book published in 2012 to great acclaim, nominated for a National Book Award and chosen as one of The New York Times' notable books of 2012. The story is about two soldiers who went to war in Iraq, one of whom promises the other's mother that he will bring his friend safely home, but who fails to keep his promise.

War stories are, for many readers (myself among them), in the category of books to avoid. It is true that Powers' description of the brutal fighting in Iraq is graphic in places. And yet none of this description is gratuitous. Every word was carefully selected and put in place by this author poet, and the outcome is a powerful story not to be missed.

I will share one tiny yet significant detail that lingers with me from the book. I first read this book in my "Hot Off the Press" class and, after we had finished dissecting and digesting it for an hour and a half, we, a group of about 10, sat back in our chairs to silently ponder the book.

I thought the discussion had finished, but then one participant spoke up. "I wondered about the hyacinths," she said. "He mentions hyacinths a lot." It is true that these purple flowers are often mentioned as growing in Iraq and they bloom near many of the battle scenes. I had thought them mere plot décor but, to respond to her query, I Googled the symbolism of hyacinths. I learned, much to my surprise, that in Greek mythology, hyacinths bloom where the blood of young boys is spilt. To me, that is an amazing example of the depth and subtlety of this book.

It's powerful. It's disturbing. It's hard to read. Read it.

Note: Kevin Powers will be at an Author House Party wine & cheese I am organizing on Tuesday, Oct. 7. To learn more or sign up, email me at lynn@openbookphilly.com