It is voyeurism, much the same way that True Crime books are. I wonder if some people read them for the same reason some people go to horror movies -- they like being scared, but they know there's going to be a happy(ish) ending? After all, the author recovered enough to write a book, things must have turned out okayish.
Personally it creeps me the heck out. Having those books available is one thing (as you say, they can be useful) but a whole Tragic Life Stories section? Brrrr.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2008-04-03 09:54 pm (UTC)Personally it creeps me the heck out. Having those books available is one thing (as you say, they can be useful) but a whole Tragic Life Stories section? Brrrr.