Why do we read fiction?

[hrosvit]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

What the heck else are you going to do with it?

--
Bill

"This fiction's not gonna read itself!"

[spindlegirl]

How else am I gonna know what the kids are calling it these days?

[Adoby]

Reality is nice, but it is not enough action. Boring.

Good fiction is reality, when you look under the surface, only with most of the boring parts left out. Efficiency rules!!!

Using fiction you can live, learn and experience a lot more. What is not to like about that?

[Gerry Skoyles]

Originally Posted by Moriarty's

In a sentence?

I like to visit other worlds.

Indeed! Who can say they never feel the need to escape for a while?

[Russell Brooks]

I see enough reality in the news. I love reading something creative.

[Ekaros]

It has been integral part of any culture for long time. Probably it's more hard-wired than just culture(evolution maybe?), as it's excellent way to share information and pass down the history... Cultural, social and maybe evolutionary reasons...

[sadievan]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I read fiction because that way I can be assured that justice will triumph and there will be a happy ending. In reality, those things happen all too infrequently.

I like that.

Karma to you.

[Namekuseijin]

Originally Posted by Russell Brooks

I see enough reality in the news. I love reading something creative.

me too. I love language sculptors like poets. Hate cheap elven-laden fantasy in distant worlds that feel just like ours, except a bit more gay.

To me, that's the difference between high literature classics and in-your-face-best-sellers: the high skilled mastery of language. I'm not talking about abusing baroque constructs or being too dense, just about giving the language the proper art treatment.

In the hands of a skilled story teller, any trivial story is great.

[Namekuseijin]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

It's because the story is always what people have been after. Great prose can enhance a story, but great prose without a great story falls flat.

http://www.online-literature.com/donne/1014/


it's the skill of the story-teller that makes it shine.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

http://www.online-literature.com/donne/1014/


it's the skill of the story-teller that makes it shine.

There still needs to be a story, not just a collection of well-crafted sentences and paragraphs.

First the writer needs to have a story to tell. Then he or she needs to tell it skillfully.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

me too. I love language sculptors like poets. Hate cheap elven-laden fantasy in distant worlds that feel just like ours, except a bit more gay.

To me, that's the difference between high literature classics and in-your-face-best-sellers: the high skilled mastery of language. I'm not talking about abusing baroque constructs or being too dense, just about giving the language the proper art treatment.

In the hands of a skilled story teller, any trivial story is great.

Aren't the emperor's new clothes fantastic?

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by Namekuseijin

me too. I love language sculptors like poets. Hate cheap elven-laden fantasy in distant worlds that feel just like ours, except a bit more gay.

To me, that's the difference between high literature classics and in-your-face-best-sellers: the high skilled mastery of language. I'm not talking about abusing baroque constructs or being too dense, just about giving the language the proper art treatment.

In the hands of a skilled story teller, any trivial story is great.

While I am not one for long descriptive passages or interjections of how to make the world better, many are.

I have read books with great plot ideas where the narrative seemed to go on and on, well past it's sell by date. Then I have read books where the plot seems trivial, but that make me laugh out loud, or even on occasion learn something.

Most books I read, you are pretty sure the good guys will prevail and often enough who the bad guys are. The value for me is usually not in the jouney from Point A to Point B, but the points of interest along the way.

Helen

[Namekuseijin]

Originally Posted by Catlady

There still needs to be a story, not just a collection of well-crafted sentences and paragraphs.

but the guy I was quoting said readers were after "great" stories. I replied that a skilful narrator makes any trivial story great.

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

Aren't the emperor's new clothes fantastic?

yes, amusing little story with simple narrative for teaching kids a straightforward moral lesson.

The conclusion here -- like in most fables intended for education -- is the selling point, not the story or narration.

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Most books I read, you are pretty sure the good guys will prevail and often enough who the bad guys are. The value for me is usually not in the jouney from Point A to Point B, but the points of interest along the way.

have you ever read any poetry at all?

[trocchietto]

Originally Posted by alanHd

i was thinking why i read fiction and i couldnt put it into a simple sentence.

If i say escapism does that mean i'm not happy with my life. i guess its a lot of little things, it sparks my imagination. i can experience places.


I'm curious about others take on this.

enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8Rv3tcReYI

[QuantumIguana]

It's the story that readers are after. Great prose enhances a story, but it can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.