OnlineBookClub.org

This is a discussion topic for the the August 2016 Book of the Month, The Lost Identity Casualties by Kim Ekemar.


In her official OnlineBookClub.org review, @stoppoppingtheP wrote about the book, "Several parts of the story may seem gruesome to some, as it describes the torture that the Russian Mafia put Callaghan through."

Is the Russian Mafia's torture of Callaghan too descriptive? Are people sensitive to this kind of description? Should it be toned down/watered-out?


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I have to say it was. Some scenes left me wincing.

Definitely gruesome and I didn't particularly like it, but I felt like it wasn't inappropriate for the story.

It was a little too gruesome, but it fit the story.

The torture scenes absolutely were gruesome but like others have said I definitely felt like they were a part of the story. I'm sure a lot of readers would find scenes like this sensitive and hard to read, but I don't necessarily think they should be toned down. I feel like the author really wanted to convey just what kind of torture Callaghan went through and descriptive scenes that make the reader uncomfortable is a really good way to do that. Though those scenes were not fun to read, I think it makes Callaghan's thirst for revenge that much more easy to understand.

Yes, they are gruesome, but I remember reading some scenes (A Game of Thrones) more gruesome than those. I think it's part of the message the book is trying to get across, that men can be, well.. ruthless and brutal. They may not be pleasant to read, but they affect the readers' emotions. So, I think it's good writing.

While the scenes seemed gruesome, I thought they were not overly so like some books have been. The details are needed for the story and the overall plot, so it was necessary gruesome, which I do not mind reading in books.

I thought the torture was very descriptive. I could imagine it happening because of the way it was described. I found my self touching my face and playing with my own fingers as I read. I think it was very relative to the story to have the torture described as it was meant to be: truly torturous.

The scenes were gruesome. There were several moments I had to take a break to recollect myself. Inevitably, it is part of the storyline. I believe the Russian Mafia torture is an important element of shaping his character.

I agree that the scene is gruesome, however, I didn't feel like it was over the top. The scene warrants brutality. To be abducted and tortured for information that inevitably lands you in a coma from which you wake to find that your identity is unknown and your body has been ruined in so many ways - this would have to be result of extreme torture. The descriptions make the brutality of the act more real and the results suffered by Callaghan to be more plausible.

The torture scenes were definitely gruesome. I found it difficult to read. However, it was an integral part of the plot. It makes it easier to see where Callaghan's overwhelming need for revenge comes from.

Momlovesbooks wrote:The torture scenes were definitely gruesome. I found it difficult to read. However, it was an integral part of the plot. It makes it easier to see where Callaghan's overwhelming need for revenge comes from.

I agree, it was integral to the story. I did read it, wincing often. However, I would probably not be able to watch the movie version of those scenes, should it ever come out on film.

While this was to descriptive I felt it fit well into the book. However that being said it definitely wasn't my cup of tea. I think if you are reading this book you should pe prepared ahead of time for how descriptive the book really is.

I agree that the violence was necessary to the plot. It didn't seem overly done and I know I have read more horrifying torture scenes. I had to stop reading a couple of times after the first pinky was cut just to calm my stomach.

Detailed torture scenes can be very gruesome and hard to read, but I feel it necessary in order to fully grasp what is happening to the characters.