I’m very conflicted about this novel by the young Norwegian writer Victoria Kielland. It’s beautifully written. Kielland is a major talent. At only 39, she delivered a seriously impressive work of art.
However, there is something that is giving me serious creeps about My Men. It’s based on the life and experiences of the first known female serial killer in the US, Belle Gunness. And it’s not just loosely based or vaguely inspired. The main character is called Belle Gunness, and all the relatives and victims and events are like those of the real Belle.
I’m probably a major prude but I can’t get over it. Imagine if somebody wrote a novel about Ted Bundy, portraying him as this sad, tender, wounded, misunderstood victim who didn’t really want to murder anybody but he was kind of provoked into it against his will. We’d all be repulsed. But then why is it less repulsive to romanticize a woman who chopped up a couple dozen men and children all over the Midwest?
As I said, brilliantly written, major talent. And I do understand that Kielland is trying to show that even the worst piece of garbage evildoer perceives herself as a long-suffering, sweet little lamb. I get it. But I can’t get over, this bitch left behind a pile of corpses and you are making it sound cute? I’m probably a bad literary critic if I can’t place myself completely above these mundane considerations and value art above all. It is what it is, though. I loved the writing but quite hated the book.
Clarissa's Blog 
You might find these essays useful from an Experiment in Criticism. It covers good bad books.
https://www.fadedpage.com/books/20140725/html.php
“I’m probably a bad literary critic if I can’t place myself completely above these mundane considerations and value art above all.”
You might also ask yourself, “what is art”? What is the relation to logos; the true, the beautiful, and the good? Perhaps return to pre-dialectic philosophy or the Church fathers to sort out the rationality behind the term you are using.
Another useful read is C.S. Lewis’ Study in Words which specifically addressed this word.
TL’DR It belatedly occurs to me that what you mean by “art” in English, is artfulness (denotation) or craftsmanship. There is no fault in recognizing and appreciating its excellence even in service to some wicked end, so long as one does not lose track of that end.
It’s what the cancelpigs grok, despite being morally retarded as to the ends.
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The title essay might also be useful: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NG86T7G/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
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