Speaking of books: How many of you buy a book and can't hardly read it for the swear words ?

Question

and the gratuitous sex for no reason? I just hate that. Every once in a while a book will look pretty good and then I will be so disappointed by the fourth page they are into some sort of garbage. I just throw them out.

Answer 1

Yes that does get old and irritating. One of my very favorite authors usually adds too many with swear words and nine times out of ten if there is some avowed Christian he ends up being the bad guy. I guess now days that is the norm for the media in general.

Answer 2

What criteria tells you that a book "looks pretty good?" It seems that you should change the criteria you use to judge whether or not a book is worth buying. Often, if I can find the book on the supermarket shelf, it isn't worth my time. I sometimes play "book roulette" at the thrift store, but even then, I usually have something in mind, i.e., science fiction, history, Japanese culture, etc. and I go looking for that. Occasionally I am disappointed, but there have been a few times that paid off handsomely. If I want certainty, I go to Amazon.com and search until I find something that looks interesting and then I read all the reviews I can stand. It gives me a better idea of what the book will be about. There have been a few I just toss aside (usually because of unbelievable storylines or dull/confusing prose), but they aren't that many.

Another thing you can try is going to a book reading forum and asking is it worth it to try a new book you're considering. Those who have read it will warn you away or encourage you, based on what they thought of the book. (If you tell them you're trying to avoid gratuitous sex and swearing, it helps.) Sometimes those formula supermarket series novels have a formula that requires a sex scene. The writer, under pressure of the publisher, will have to insert one where he or she never intended in some cases. The books are so rushed into production too that often it looks like the scene was placed there gratuitously when really it was required in the contract and the writer never wanted it there in the first place. Funny, huh?

Answer 3

I never do that because I can generally tell by the cover and get the gist of the style of book by simply reading the back cover.
Maybe you buy online, but perhaps you should try going to a bookstore and actually reading the first 4 pages before buying the book. Many stores have chairs/sofas etc. set up with this in mind.
If you don't like the sex, skip the page, if it goes on for longer than one page, the book is probably useless anyway (unless it's a specifically erotic novel). In addition, skipping romance novels would help this problem.
"Swear" words are pretty common in all forms of entertainment and media these days, so they're more difficult to dodge. But, if you're a Christian, keep in mind, the only real "swear" words are Jesus, Christ, Jehovah and YHWH (Hebrew for Jehovah). The rest is just profanity.

Answer 4

As far as profanity goes, I've never seen one with so much as to make it unreadable. (Then again, I have a high tolerance for profanity.) Generally, 'gratuitous' sex isn't 'for no reason' - in most cases where you see it, gratuitous sex *is* the reason for the book. In other cases a writer will throw in gratuitous sex to spice up an otherwise dull book, or they may just be a bad writer with no sense.

If it bothers you, toss the book or give it to someone else who might like it. Second hand (pardon the pun) porn books are the basis for a small but consistent market.

Answer 5

I love the swear words and gratuitous sex, maybe you should try reading a Victorian novel? Oh that's right, there are swear words and gratuitous sex in those too.

Answer 6

What kind of books are YOU reading? O_o I don't think I've ever read a book before with gratuitous sex or cursing in it. I've read a lot too. Try some of the classics.

Answer 7

You seem to be buying a lot of the same type of book and repeating the same mistake. Maybe you enjoy the opportunity to 'tut-tut' a lot...
But assuming you are looking for a good read, then perhaps choose your books by author in a well-stocked bookshop that doesn't cater for one-time buyers or train passengers. There are plenty of great books out there!

Answer 8

That's your problem. There is a lot of Christian fiction, even chick-lit, if you want alternatives. Or you can just accept that not everyone will think or live as you do, and find the good stuff instead of trying to be on the lookout for sin. A user here, and I wish I could remember his name, said it was a shame how so many modern Christians look harder for Satan than Jesus. This reminded me of that.

Answer 9

If a book has swear words in it, I won't buy it. It shows me the writer has a heart problem, so he/she won't be a good inspiration for me.

I safely purchase books at Christian websites or stores. But not LDS or JWs or Islamic books. Jesus hates false doctrines (to the 7 churches, Revelation).

Answer 10

Always check the Search Inside the Book feature available on line at major bookstores first. That way you cannot be disappointed.
I spend hours nightly searching through pages of new material--books that deal with unveiled secrets, major research breakthroughs, decoding of ancient data, ancient scrolls translations, books that report they might have found one more Mohegan --that sort of stuff that increases my gray matter.

Boaz.