A fiction or a non-fiction? ... What suits you better?
By getbiswa2000
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
India
March 4, 2010 1:22am CST
Hi dear friends,
There are two main categories of literature that we read everyday. The fiction, basically a story, an imitation of life, may be real or may be fantasy, but it is necessary to have some impersonators in a fiction. A fiction involves you greatly into itself. You may often think as the author wants you to think. The impersonator who you are having characteristic similarities with may even influence your lifestyle to a great extent. In literature there always has to be a message, a certain conclusion or achievement. This achievement is often not explicit in fictions. It is perhaps this subtle connotations that makes it more permanent, more graspable.
There is this other class of non-fictions which are more like collection of facts. They flood you with concrete information, views often quite straight, and transparent. Nothing remains hidden in a non-fiction because it never meant for beating around the bush. Two lines of a non-fiction has the same amount of information as in several pages of a fiction novel.
What would you prefer to read, a fiction or a non-fiction? Which one is better and in what respect?
Share with us your valuable considerations.
God bless you all
2 people like this
14 responses
@faridmadeabillion (1127)
• Bangladesh
15 Mar 10
Well, my friend.
As a reader, I also love reading stories, novels, articles etc. when in leisure time. I love to read both fictions and non-fictions. They have different characteristics in their respective fields giving the audience different pleasure for reading. Fictions help the reader roam around in his/her own world of imagination created from the effect of their plot, events and climaxes. On the other hand, non-fictions, as they are based on real event in most cases, surprises the reader giving the reader the reader the taste of reality. Though sometimes the author narrates the non-fictions with some minor changes in plot, events etc. there are such fictions which are written sometimes in the original format of events and time which leaves the reader stupefied with its originality. 'The Diary of Anne Frank' is a vivid example of such non-fiction. Both fictions and non-fictions are successful in satisfying the audience.
Have a pleasant reading.
1 person likes this
@faridmadeabillion (1127)
• Bangladesh
15 Mar 10
Hey friend,
Thank you very much for your prompt response. Yeah, now you've known how important both fictions and non-fictions are to please the reader.
May Allah bless you.
@faridmadeabillion (1127)
• Bangladesh
18 Mar 10
Sorry friend,
I forgot to mention a saying in my response to your discussion. That is: "Truth is stranger than fiction". Thank you for starting this discussion.
May Allah bless you.
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
15 Mar 10
Hello bro,
I am so glad to know that you give equal importance to both fiction and non-fiction. Yes, indeed they have their individual filed of excellence. One is actually complementing the other. An avid reader will find pleasure not only in fictions, but he will also learn to entertain himself with those real-life non-fictions.
Thanks so much for your response
God bless you
1 person likes this
@dangahol (71)
• Philippines
25 Mar 10
For me, i prefer reading fiction books because in fictional stories you get to make your imagination run wild and be excited with a lot of things especially if you are a fan of magic or supernatural things like vampires and the like. But i don't close myself to reading only fiction books since non-fiction books are also very educational. When i read non-fiction books, i usually like reading about books that help you deal with life or how to make yourself a better person, stuff like that. Anyway, reading is a lot of fun and reading a lot makes it even better since you get to know lots of things and you can engage into conversation with other people better. :)
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
25 Mar 10
Hi,
There is a saying that successful fiction writers take familiar things and make them look unfamiliar and exotic. They are like conjurers. The fictions are so engaging that you are almost carried away in an entirely different world. I am so glad to hear that you haven't limited yourself in fictions only. Non-fiction books are condensed sources of information. You can learn so many things by just going through several pages of such a book. Non-fictions pleases readers who wants to satisfy themselves with huge amount of knowledge. Thanks so much for contributing in this thread.
God bless you
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
6 Mar 10
I like to read both kinds of books and when I go to the library I usually borrow fiction as well as non-fiction. I enjoy novels and short stories, and I have read many great ones. When I want to relax for instanse before I fall asleep I prefer to read fiction, but when I want to learn something new I like to read non-fiction. I like to read books about many different topics for instanse psychology, psychiatry, art, other countries and cultures or history.
1 person likes this
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
7 Mar 10
Hello,
Novels usually have a sense of completeness. It is the entire story of something, beginning from the start of something and ends when it ends. But, a short story often leaves you unsatisfied. You wish the story could go a little longer. That sense of incompleteness is the essence of short story. I also read books of psychology, philology, history, though I am originally from and engineering background.
Thanks for the response
God bless you
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
7 Mar 10
Yeah, the main point is, you can get very precise and condensed form of knowledge from those books. A few pages of reading can flood you with millions of useful pieces of information.
@shynepapin101 (1879)
• United Arab Emirates
7 Mar 10
I do some educational reading too
1 person likes this
@peace001 (726)
• China
4 Mar 10
both maybe.i like to read fictions for the stories caomes from real life but it can be more artificial,i can dream about what you dream when you real those finctions,it brings me lots of happy and makes my easy,especially it can be release my tension.but others non-finctions can tell me what the real world it is.then i can learn lots of things,then i will do better in my daily life.
1 person likes this
@kitty42 (3923)
• United States
4 Mar 10
Hello my friend
I read a book a while back that book was so good, I had to make sure it was non-fiction because I was so upset, so for me it depends, I like a little of both honestly, always good to read about others people life/experiences as well as things that could/would/should happen 
Thanks.1 person likes this
@kitty42 (3923)
• United States
5 Mar 10
Hello my friend
This is so true, I recently responded to a discussion similar to your response, it took me a while to get to this point but there are so many lessons to be learned for some sooner than others, I was a late bloomer I guess, I always knew these things unfortunately I did not have the right resources to explain it to me in a way that I could understand back then, oh well I am there now so there is no turning back.
Thanks my friend.
This is so true, I recently responded to a discussion similar to your response, it took me a while to get to this point but there are so many lessons to be learned for some sooner than others, I was a late bloomer I guess, I always knew these things unfortunately I did not have the right resources to explain it to me in a way that I could understand back then, oh well I am there now so there is no turning back.
Thanks my friend.1 person likes this
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
5 Mar 10
Hi kitty,
When I read scriptures I just read them as if I am reading non-fictions. Everything to me is information to which we, the readers have to make some conclusion and then assimilate it. That is exactly what we do in our real life don't we? What is the use of memory? You should remember a certain event until you reach in a definite and positive conclusion. Once the conclusion is reach, the memory is erased, the conclusion stays, for life long. Once our mistakes are known, they are not mistakes anymore, they become education. The same thing applies to books. We need to find the essence, the extract of it, which we keep with us as long as we live.
Thanks once again for your invaluable contribution.
God bless you
@gogierm4ge (398)
• United States
4 Mar 10
Fiction is awesome! I love how fiction can make you feel more attracted and important. Almost as exhillerating as a movie. But I like both movies and books
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
5 Mar 10
Hi Gogiermage,
I too believe that fiction is awesome. Hey, what you told me reminds me of what one of my friends said. When I asked him to read a book newly published. He denied politely saying, "Ohh, common, I will just see the movie instead"..LolzzzHe was quite sure that some producer is gonna take the script and make a movie of it. He preferred to wait until then. I know its sounds confusing because you can never get the taste of a book from the movie that is based on the same book. I am so glad to know that you understand the difference and give importance to both of them, separately.
God bless you
He was quite sure that some producer is gonna take the script and make a movie of it. He preferred to wait until then. I know its sounds confusing because you can never get the taste of a book from the movie that is based on the same book. I am so glad to know that you understand the difference and give importance to both of them, separately.
God bless you
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
13 Mar 10
I like both. I love the idea of reading the facts on a subject that I get with non fiction.But I also love to read fiction.With fiction , I get told a great story.
1 person likes this
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
13 Mar 10
Hello Sarah,
You have commented to every discussion even the old one, and I really appreciate that. I too enjoy both of them. Fictions entertains us with story. But facts can be told in an entertaining way too. Non-fictions, told in an extraordinary way can even excel the enchantment of fictions. Thanks for the response dear
Take care
God bless you
1 person likes this
@bluehibiscus (702)
• United States
4 Mar 10
Non-Fiction the research is just so much fun for me, you can piece things together form what others have discovered. Sometimes that can inspire fiction even.
1 person likes this
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
5 Mar 10
Hello,
I absolutely agree. In order to make a fiction sound like real, the authors have to do a lot of study. These studies are actually based on some informative discussions on some other resources, especially non-fiction. Authors always prefer to do these research on the places, people and the entire backdrop. I personally went through couple of books on History and Architecture before writing a stuff.
Thanks for your response
God bless you
@MrKennedy (1978)
•
4 Mar 10
I prefer fiction to be honest because in fiction, the story is not bound by reality, so anything can happen
I love reading about things I can't necessarily experience in real-life, like adventure stories and such
I love reading about things I can't necessarily experience in real-life, like adventure stories and such1 person likes this
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
4 Mar 10
Lolzzzz 
That was my funniest remark of the day. Yeah, there are certain things that we would rather have happened to others. Fiction is always a dependable means of entertainment, whether it takes you in or out of the reality.
Thanks so much for such a sincere response
God bless you
That was my funniest remark of the day. Yeah, there are certain things that we would rather have happened to others. Fiction is always a dependable means of entertainment, whether it takes you in or out of the reality.
Thanks so much for such a sincere response
God bless you
@sushie93 (1355)
• France
20 Mar 10
My favorite book is fiction! I love reading this type of book because all thing that are impossible is real life are all possible in the books. Then, i read these books, i identify myself to the main character and it is fun to "be her/him", it is like i'm playing a video game.
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
23 Mar 10
Sushieeeeeeeee! Where have you been???
I appreciate your response here. Yes, I also think that fiction creates an entirely new world around you. A world where all your dreams come true. Its like playing a video game indeed. Its sometimes so real that you can't even differentiate between the two realities. But in order to enjoy a fiction to such a level, one has to open one's mind and totally surrender to the theme. Thanks once again for your participation.
God bless you @shynepapin101 (1879)
• United Arab Emirates
7 Mar 10
i read fictions, it keeps me engulfed in reading
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
7 Mar 10
Hello,
Yeah fictions have that capability. It can easily takes you in. But it totally depends on the subject matter and the style with which the pen of the author moves. Non-fictions can be interesting too. But, unfortunately, there are not many example of that.
Welcome to myLot
God bless you
@Beautyfactor (1512)
•
7 Mar 10
I use books as a form of escapism and to relax so I like outright fiction. Even though fiction still gives me something to think about I'm not bogged down with facts. I don't actually think I've read a non-fiction book since leaving college all those years ago.
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
8 Mar 10
Hello,
Yes, fiction can be an effective way to escape from the humdrum of reality around you. This is what makes fiction the most popular. Some non-fictions too can serve the same purpose though they have to be written in a very candid and intimate way. For example, some of the travel books also help you to escape and reach to a completely different corner of the world.
Thanks so much for your response.
God bless you
@mandeep_chahal (172)
• India
4 Mar 10
as i like adventure stories.......so i will prefer a good non fiction but if a fiction story ids there wid adventure thn.....i will perfer fiction story......bcz in tht advanture will be more...........
1 person likes this
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
5 Mar 10
Hi,
You know Mandeep, your words reminds me of the greatest adventure story I've ever read. Its about a sailor named Robinson Crusoe. This book changed my whole perspective of life. I loved this book so damn much, that I am still keeping it as if its some mystic article or a treasure vault. Adventure stories always boosts your testosterone. But novels like Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe has added wisdom that is quite capable of modifying and then changing your life, slowly, but surely.
Thanks for your response
God bless you
@CarmenA (127)
• United States
4 Mar 10
I enjoy fiction the most because it allows my mind to wander and feel about it how I want to feel. I can put myself into the story more. And at the end, I can put it down and say..it was just a story.. My latest read is The Devils Punchbowl by Greg Isles. It was really good if you can handle some greusome stuff involving dog fighting, and sexually explicit nature (negative)..
@getbiswa2000 (5544)
• India
5 Mar 10
Hello Carmen,
Welcome to myLot. There you've unveiled a psychological trait which we all share. When we do something important the fragments of our mind is suddenly pulled together and focused on the job. When we work for hours we strain our mind by constantly focusing into things. Now, when you are done with this job your mind will ask for something that is exactly the reverse. Then you take a fiction and start reading it and your mind wanders away. Its completely liberated and flows along with the fantasy, wherever the author wants you to be. And when you return you feel quite revitalized. Thats the beauty of fiction. It feels like you are quite an avid reader. I am glad to have your contribution in the discussion.
God bless you
