the nitty gritty

[Tiger the Lion]

And also, the world we're living in . . . is it still ok to write stories about raping women, raping children? I don't have a problem with it, because I know it's fiction. But, Leanne, I don't think Americans like Bukowski. We're not supposed to LIKE him.

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And before somebody gets bent all out of shape, I was simply referring to the fact that Bukowski writes such stories.

I think fiction needs to operate outside of politics or morality in order to exist with any meaning. Having said that, I think it also has the responsibility to carry a poignancy that precludes any accusation of depravity or intent to "shock" without some greater intended value or insight.