I came across a weird contrast over the Xmas break whilst shopping for presents. Not sure if WH Smiths are alone in this, but they've created a section of their book department purely for those seeking comfort in other people's misery.
"TRAGIC LIFE STORIES" is a cornucopia of tales from scarred individuals dealing with long held issues generated through a childhood in social care and an adulthood in shame. It's a living I guess, and in some instances I would imagine it can prove quite liberating in a cathartic kind of way...but I'm not sure lumping them all in under this one catch all category does them justice. If anything, it just makes me feel that someone is trying to make a buck out of unhappiness, and it kind of leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
I'm hoping that some of the larger stores also have a "HAPPY LIFE STORIES" to provide the Ying to the "TRAGIC..." shelf's yang. Somehow I can't see it. I'm thinking of opening my own bookshop with no categories and no real order to anything. First come first served - you'll get what you're given and the synopsis simply states "may contain words and phrases. Page numbers are a guide and not a guarantee of logic or story progression".
Contrast that with this scribble found on the back of a bus seat on my way into town over the same festive season. Have no idea who wrote it, or why, but the simplicity of "I'm scared more than I will ever let on" opened up a torrent of speculation in my otherwise Christmas drenched head. I'm sure that somewhere in it's origin was a tale that may or may not end up on the shelves of WH Smith in said category of despair, but in truth I can only guess as to how it got there or under what circumstances this ended up being the only option for the scribe.
For all I know, it was some poor sod who'd forgotten that their holiday homework had been left in their locker at school and there was no way they'd be able to get it done and handed in on the first day back after the holiday. On the other hand....well, I'll never really know now will I?