Comments on: My Problem with Fiction http://www.frozentoothpaste.com/2008/01/08/my-problem-with-fiction/ A Blog of Ideas Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:42:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Frozen Toothpaste » Considering Conspiracy Theories http://www.frozentoothpaste.com/2008/01/08/my-problem-with-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-3217 Frozen Toothpaste » Considering Conspiracy Theories Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:57:32 +0000 http://www.frozentoothpaste.com/2008/01/08/my-problem-with-fiction/#comment-3217 [...] people, like myself, don’t take in fiction from the pages of books we’re too lazy to read. And these [...] […] people, like myself, don’t take in fiction from the pages of books we’re too lazy to read. And these […]

]]> By: david http://www.frozentoothpaste.com/2008/01/08/my-problem-with-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-2067 david Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:48:27 +0000 http://www.frozentoothpaste.com/2008/01/08/my-problem-with-fiction/#comment-2067 rivergirlie, Escapism is something I didn't really mention but probably should have. The fact is I'm too lazy to escape into books much, so I escape into television or movies. And there's nothing wrong with escapism, but it needs to be recognized as such. Reading escapist fiction doesn't usually make a person wiser or more educated--at best it excites them and makes them curious. Another necessary point is that literary fiction is different from John Grisham or romance novels. And if I were to be even more fair, I'd also have to allow that some "escapist" fiction can be educating. I'm sure Grisham teaches people about America legal system. And that romance novels set in Tahiti could (I won't say do) teach people about the island. I didn't/don't want to categorically dismiss all fiction. It's fun and interesting. But I do sometimes with it were, well, more. And I do apologize for whatever extent I may have contributed to your existential crisis. rivergirlie,
Escapism is something I didn’t really mention but probably should have. The fact is I’m too lazy to escape into books much, so I escape into television or movies. And there’s nothing wrong with escapism, but it needs to be recognized as such. Reading escapist fiction doesn’t usually make a person wiser or more educated—at best it excites them and makes them curious. Another necessary point is that literary fiction is different from John Grisham or romance novels.

And if I were to be even more fair, I’d also have to allow that some “escapist” fiction can be educating. I’m sure Grisham teaches people about America legal system. And that romance novels set in Tahiti could (I won’t say do) teach people about the island. I didn’t/don’t want to categorically dismiss all fiction. It’s fun and interesting. But I do sometimes with it were, well, more.

And I do apologize for whatever extent I may have contributed to your existential crisis.

]]> By: rivergirlie http://www.frozentoothpaste.com/2008/01/08/my-problem-with-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-2064 rivergirlie Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:23:06 +0000 http://www.frozentoothpaste.com/2008/01/08/my-problem-with-fiction/#comment-2064 as a writer of fiction, i should probably leap in to defend. but actually, i think i tend to agree. my only point is, i spose, that people read fiction to escape from real life rather than to illuminate it. or maybe to feel less alone? bloody hell - how depressing. i fear i'm going to have an existential crisis ... as a writer of fiction, i should probably leap in to defend. but actually, i think i tend to agree. my only point is, i spose, that people read fiction to escape from real life rather than to illuminate it. or maybe to feel less alone?
bloody hell - how depressing. i fear i’m going to have an existential crisis …

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