Reading a Fiction Book...

GadgetMan · 12-23-2012, 07:30 PM

I just started reading my first Fiction book since a long time back.. (The Racketeer).. seems kinda strange... I have to look up and out the window every 5 mins and ask myself.. why am I reading this?.. but it's a great book.. I just need to improve my imagination skills and realize this is not true and hopefully it may be based on a true story.. your thoughts..?
DG

Ripplinger · 12-23-2012, 08:08 PM

Do you watch TV at all or go to movies?

BWinmill · 12-23-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

Do you watch TV at all or go to movies?

I do watch the TV news from time to time, so I suppose there is a lot of fiction in my life already.

My reaction to fiction was actually the opposite of GadgetMan's. I had been reading a lot of non-fiction for a very long time and no non-fiction. Reading was starting to become a chore because of that. I started reading fiction again, and reading in general became much more pleasurable.

But that didn't lead to a life of TV and movie watching. Movies are too expensive. TV is usually too shallow.

jgaiser · 12-23-2012, 08:34 PM

Watch no television. Don't watch movies until their out on DVD. Read tons of fiction and quite a bit of non-fiction.

Non-fiction to add to my knowlege. Non-fiction for pure enjoyment.

GadgetMan · 12-23-2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

Do you watch TV at all or go to movies?

Yes I do watch TV and Movies. but reading a Fiction book just kinda seems so much different.. hard to explain... maybe my mind will adjust.. I'm trying to figure it out in my head.. LOL..
DG

DuskyRose · 12-23-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GadgetMan

I have to look up and out the window every 5 mins and ask myself.. why am I reading this?.. but it's a great book.. I just need to improve my imagination skills and realize this is not true and hopefully it may be based on a true story.. your thoughts..?
DG

If it doesn't interest you enough to keep reading, put it down and find something else to read. I can't think it's really a 'great book' if you keep getting distracted by the outside world every five minutes. When I'm in a great book, very little will distract me! I won't want to be distracted. (And the old saying "I couldn't put it down!" has been litterally true in some cases.)

No one is going to reward you for reading something that can't keep your interest. Not unless it's for a class, a reading group or you have to review it for some reason and its a mandatory read. Otherwise, you're the only person you have to please.

In this case, if you have to ask "why?" then find something you like better. It's your time, spend it well.

ucfgrad93 · 12-23-2012, 09:30 PM

I read a mixture of both. I am currently reading a non-fiction book. I love them both and don't find it difficult at all to switch between the two formats.

MrDoug · 12-23-2012, 10:01 PM

I guess it could be in my mind kinda like Sci-Fiction which maybe put a red mark in my head. I guess it's 80% mental and the other half is past issues.

DG.

Ripplinger · 12-23-2012, 11:49 PM

OP got my point about the question. It's no different than watching TV or movies, all of which is fiction except for documentaries (and don't anyone mention reality shows as non-fiction or I might have to hurt you).

While I do read purely for knowledge as well, I don't enjoy it near as much as getting lost in a good fiction. Maybe it's not the right fiction for you, I'd probably gag at romance novels for instance. Try another genre that you might enjoy better, crime, thriller, horror, old classics, etc.

Corkobo · 12-24-2012, 05:57 AM

GadgetMan, the previous posters have it right I think, the book should keep you "captive" for a longer period of time than just five minutes.

In my opinion, the point of fiction is to trigger emotions in the reader. To do that the reader has to identify/empathise with one or more characters enough so that the reader cares what happens to them.
If the reader cares then the reader will be curious to know what happens (or in some cases when the ending is not a secret how it happens) to the characters and how the story progresses.
Thus the reader will become so immersed, so absorbed, that a partially voluntary suspension of disbelief will take place and a part of the reader's mind will think the story and its world are real for the duration of reading.

Some stories are simply more captivating than others. Does not always make them better. But I think you should start with such stories first. In time, you may even conclude that your favourite film genre is not the same as your favourite book genre.

My suggestion would be to decide what you favourite genre of films is. Then open a Thread here in MR (preferably in Reading Recommendations) and ask people for their suggestion of the most captivating (not necessarily the best) book or books in the genre you like most.
Then try and read some of them.

You are probably right in your last post insofar that your mind needs to adjust a little but the fiction reading "muscle" can be exercised better with a captivating book.

kennyc · 12-24-2012, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWinmill

I do watch the TV news from time to time, so I suppose there is a lot of fiction in my life already.

My reaction to fiction was actually the opposite of GadgetMan's. I had been reading a lot of non-fiction for a very long time and no non-fiction. Reading was starting to become a chore because of that. I started reading fiction again, and reading in general became much more pleasurable.

But that didn't lead to a life of TV and movie watching. Movies are too expensive. TV is usually too shallow.

Agreed! But I think there's a typo (fiction/non-fiction)

I've always read both but there have been times when I've focused on one or the other. As far as both I tend to prefer shorter more concise works. Articles, short stories, poetry, but do enjoy longer instances of both novels, non-fiction books now and then. I'm pretty ruthless though, if it doesn't hold my interest I move one. Life's too short and I'm too near the end.

kennyc · 12-24-2012, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

.. (and don't anyone mention reality shows as non-fiction or I might have to hurt you).
....

got yer back on that one!

DustyDisks · 12-24-2012, 06:14 AM

Fiction is both a gift and a curse of human imagination, it helps make us who we are as a species. We would live very dull life's with out it!

Imho!

And sure reality shows are true and not scripted!

kennyc · 12-24-2012, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustyDisks

Fiction is both a gift and a curse of human imagination, it helps make us who we are as a species. We would live very dull life's with out it!

Imho!

And sure reality shows are true and not scripted!

Did you just make that up?

Apache · 12-24-2012, 06:36 AM

Maybe if they called them Fantasy Shows even more people might watch them.

Apache

12-23-2012, 07:30 PM	#1
GadgetMan Banned Posts: 31 Karma: 1141490 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Rapid City, SD Device: Kindles, iPads, Kobo, Nexus 7 and many others	Reading a Fiction Book... I just started reading my first Fiction book since a long time back.. (The Racketeer).. seems kinda strange... I have to look up and out the window every 5 mins and ask myself.. why am I reading this?.. but it's a great book.. I just need to improve my imagination skills and realize this is not true and hopefully it may be based on a true story.. your thoughts..? DG Last edited by GadgetMan; 12-23-2012 at 07:48 PM.

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12-23-2012, 08:08 PM	#2
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Do you watch TV at all or go to movies?

12-23-2012, 08:34 PM	#4
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	Watch no television. Don't watch movies until their out on DVD. Read tons of fiction and quite a bit of non-fiction. Non-fiction to add to my knowlege. Non-fiction for pure enjoyment.

12-23-2012, 09:30 PM	#7
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,370 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	I read a mixture of both. I am currently reading a non-fiction book. I love them both and don't find it difficult at all to switch between the two formats.

12-23-2012, 10:01 PM	#8
MrDoug Banned Posts: 302 Karma: 1658456 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Boise, Idaho Device: IPad - Kobo Glo - Nook Glo - Samsung Galaxy Note II	I guess it could be in my mind kinda like Sci-Fiction which maybe put a red mark in my head. I guess it's 80% mental and the other half is past issues. DG.

12-23-2012, 11:49 PM	#9
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	OP got my point about the question. It's no different than watching TV or movies, all of which is fiction except for documentaries (and don't anyone mention reality shows as non-fiction or I might have to hurt you). While I do read purely for knowledge as well, I don't enjoy it near as much as getting lost in a good fiction. Maybe it's not the right fiction for you, I'd probably gag at romance novels for instance. Try another genre that you might enjoy better, crime, thriller, horror, old classics, etc.

12-24-2012, 05:57 AM	#10
Corkobo Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 1053398 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Scotland Device: Kobo Glo, Nook Touch	GadgetMan, the previous posters have it right I think, the book should keep you "captive" for a longer period of time than just five minutes. In my opinion, the point of fiction is to trigger emotions in the reader. To do that the reader has to identify/empathise with one or more characters enough so that the reader cares what happens to them. If the reader cares then the reader will be curious to know what happens (or in some cases when the ending is not a secret how it happens) to the characters and how the story progresses. Thus the reader will become so immersed, so absorbed, that a partially voluntary suspension of disbelief will take place and a part of the reader's mind will think the story and its world are real for the duration of reading. Some stories are simply more captivating than others. Does not always make them better. But I think you should start with such stories first. In time, you may even conclude that your favourite film genre is not the same as your favourite book genre. My suggestion would be to decide what you favourite genre of films is. Then open a Thread here in MR (preferably in Reading Recommendations) and ask people for their suggestion of the most captivating (not necessarily the best) book or books in the genre you like most. Then try and read some of them. You are probably right in your last post insofar that your mind needs to adjust a little but the fiction reading "muscle" can be exercised better with a captivating book.

12-24-2012, 06:14 AM	#13
DustyDisks Old Fart In Training Posts: 534 Karma: 2742476 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Gladewater, Texas Device: K3+3g/KFHD 7"/Nexus 7/Nexus 7.2	Fiction is both a gift and a curse of human imagination, it helps make us who we are as a species. We would live very dull life's with out it! Imho! And sure reality shows are true and not scripted!

12-24-2012, 06:36 AM	#15
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,252 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	Maybe if they called them Fantasy Shows even more people might watch them. Apache

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