[AryaUnderfoot]

I have to admit that my initial reaction was that maybe some of the scenes were for simple shock value alone. But the more I think on it, the more I wonder how an author could otherwise convey the utter terror and chaos of a country that has experienced such upheaval? It would be a simple matter to say "the Mountain raped people," but this would leave GRRM's audience totally unaffected by it. The grisly detail, the horror of the experiences- this things are all important to making us feel like we are actually involved in the story. Hearing about a car crash on the news is nothing compared to seeing one with your very eyes.
So yes- it was shocking to be with Brienne while her face was chewed, and yes, Cersei's homoerotic experience did seem to be a bit much. To GRRM's credit, though, it wasn't simply "Clan of the Cave Bears" material. There were actual thoughts and feelings that went along with Cersei's experience that revealed what a true mess she has become. It goes beyond simply wishing she was a man. She has an extreme lust for power. Unfortunately, she has not been educated as a man would have been. When it comes to the Game of Thrones, Cersei has only been trained to play with one card: her sexuality. Her father did not train her in intrigue, war, leadership, or even how to balance a checkbook, as it were. She has no idea how to operate, except by using her sexuality as a tool for manipulation. Tywin would have done better to educate all three of his children the same, instead of using Jaime as a sword, Tyrion as a brain, and Cersei as a bribe.