I can't get the conversation between Stephen Miller and the photographer Christopher Anderson off my mind:
*“You know you have a lot of power in the discretion you use to be kind to someone in your photographs,” Miller said.
Anderson’s reply? “You know, you do too.”*
–and it brings up an old fascination of mine–
How do awful people deal with their infamy? Being talked about, hated, by so many? I can't handle the thought of one person even being mildly annoyed at me – let alone the collective fear, disdain, and ridicule of millions.
Can you recommend any books that explore this?
by creechor
6 Comments
It’s not the core topic of the book but I think yellowface does talk a bit about the mc being hated and having to deal with fame and infamy
I’m not sure if it’s quite right but Yellowface by RF Kuang touches on this a bit.
American Psycho and Less and Zero by Brett Easton Ellis deal with themes of people who do not deal with wealth well.
Gifted + Talented by Olivie Blake.
Really anything by Olivie Blake but def Gifted + Talented
*[The Traitor Baru Cormorant](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-traitor-baru-cormorant-seth-dickinson/9ead4cd82a23687f?ean=9780765380739&next=t&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pmax&utm_campaign=16243454879&utm_content=&utm_term=%7Bsearchterm%7D&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16235479093&gclid=CjwKCAiA09jKBhB9EiwAgB8l-KGAtP4t-nAFTEA8fBXLWYrdRo9DgkZXD3R40IJfSEVXWqvDv-_CZhoCY_wQAvD_BwE)* and the rest of that series hits an aspect of this pretty hard. It’s hard not to give spoilers, but the very general premise that gets introduced very early on in the book is, as the title implies, that the main character does horrible, horrible things in pursuit of a greater good. She earns the fear and hatred of a lot of very good people (and bad people) along the way for very valid reasons. It’s a fascinating moral quandary.
Another one that might fit more neatly into what you’re looking for is *[City of Stairs](https://bookshop.org/p/books/city-of-stairs-a-novel-robert-jackson-bennett/accaa2dccefeddb3?ean=9780804137188&next=t),* and that series, in which a person who really is good is just completely opposed by the community and gets a very bad reputation and a lot of hatred just because people are ignorant of what she’s actually doing. That’s a massive generalization but it’s the basic idea.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis sounds like a great fit for what you’re asking.
I mean, the book does a great job showing how someone fixated on appearances can be completely hollow inside, and how disturbing behavior can blend into everyday life.
I personally didn’t enjoy it, but no one asked for my opinion anyway lol