Several months ago, I read Torn Apart by Diony George. I had intended to post a review much sooner, but this was right when things got so busy with my last show. 

Torn Apart is absolutely chilling. It is based on the true story of the author's first marriage. Her husband was a pornography addict and this book tells the heartbreaking story of how that addiction ultimately destroyed the marriage.

I was very quickly drawn in and found myself deeply involved in the tragedy that was unfolding--and although I guessed where the story was going based on the title, it was still suspenseful.

I was particularly impressed with two things. Diony writes about the husband character in an honest, but non-judgmental way. He is a tragic figure who makes choices that bring a lot of heartache. But he was not a cardboard villain. I admired her balance and even kindness in writing about him.

I was also impressed by the fact that the book did not leave me depressed, even though it's dealing with a very serious and seriously difficult problem. In fact, it actually ended happily, which was nice. 

As a society, we have not come to a consensus about pornography and whether it's harmless fun or dangerous. Stories like this provide some important ballast to our cultural trajectory and give food for thought.

I think reading Diony's book is helpful in terms of realizing just how badly pornography can damage people's lives--including those who are not actually involved. For that reason, I think everyone ought to read and think about her book. At the same time, just be aware when picking this book up that it does deal with some very sensitive issues, and although they are handled delicately, this is not a light read.