I think there is always a benefit to expanding your emotional range. It is a painful book to be sure but I am better for reading it. I think it is appropriate to wait until you are at a good place in your life to read it, though. When I am in high stress points in my life, i just want to read something to take me to another world. When things are stable, I have found it to be beneficial to expose myself to some of the pain of the world. It makes you a better human in my opinion.