Non-fiction vs. Fiction (1 Viewer)

ClockworkSoldier

Clockwork Army
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Messages
1,899
Location
Melbourne
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
I've noticed that there seems to be a divide between people who read non-fiction and those who read solely fiction.

Such as when people see a shelf full of fiction, they roll their eyes and become snarly/snobby; "I bet you only read fiction," (in a condescending tone).

I'm curious to find out why this is, because I don't often see devoted fiction readers doing this.

Does anyone have an objection to fiction? Or fiction-only readers? If so, why?

Vice versa if you'd like to state your objection to non-fiction... But I'm sure I already know your reasons :).
 
Last edited:

WeaselPowa

Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2012
Messages
195
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Lol, how interesting. You saying non-fiction readers discriminate against fiction readers?

No I don't have an objection to fiction. In fact, I love it. Don't know where my childhood would have went without reading Skulduggery Pleasant or Space Demons.
 

ClockworkSoldier

Clockwork Army
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Messages
1,899
Location
Melbourne
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
Lol, how interesting. You saying non-fiction readers discriminate against fiction readers?

No I don't have an objection to fiction. In fact, I love it. Don't know where my childhood would have went without reading Skulduggery Pleasant or Space Demons.
Just an observation. I read both, so meh.

Added a sentence to the OP anyway (re: fiction readers).

Edit: Space Demons?! I forgot about that book! I just nostalgia'd all over the floor...
 
Last edited:

jackiee236

New Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2012
Messages
6
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
I definitely do not have an objection to fiction! I read both fiction and non-fiction and enjoy both immensely.
I'd say people have an idea about said fiction when they see someone reading it - I'm sure 50 shades of grey and twilight don't help this notion.

But personally, I love both and think they both offer something, again, people who react in such a way probably don't read fiction and therefore have a set view about it, I don't know. :)
 

Kiraken

RISK EVERYTHING
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
1,908
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
i prefer reading fiction just because i like the sense of "escape" it gives me. Having said that, I don't mind reading non fiction from time to time. Really depends on my mood I guess
 

WeaselPowa

Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2012
Messages
195
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
Just an observation. I read both, so meh.

Added a sentence to the OP anyway (re: fiction readers).

Edit: Space Demons?! I forgot about that book! I just nostalgia'd all over the floor...
Oh. My. God.
You just became the coolest guy I know on this forum.
 

Drifting95

Should i change my DP?
Joined
Mar 14, 2012
Messages
3,160
Location
Point Piper
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
I have always disliked fiction since i was in primary, maybe that explains my horrible english...
 

Lentern

Active Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
4,980
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
Disliked fiction or reading in general? :p


I dunno... Am I?
More or less, Silvy, Philistine that he is, is a classic example of the uncouth right wing clot who veraciously reads non fiction like some sort of factual gym junkie but has no understanding or appreciation for the art of delicately woven meter in a good piece of fiction. He believes that "fiction is for girls"
 

ClockworkSoldier

Clockwork Army
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Messages
1,899
Location
Melbourne
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
More or less, Silvy, Philistine that he is, is a classic example of the uncouth right wing clot who veraciously reads non fiction like some sort of factual gym junkie but has no understanding or appreciation for the art of delicately woven meter in a good piece of fiction. He believes that "fiction is for girls"
Then Sylvester has the attitude I'm curious about.
 

ClockworkSoldier

Clockwork Army
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Messages
1,899
Location
Melbourne
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
i prefer reading fiction just because i like the sense of "escape" it gives me. Having said that, I don't mind reading non fiction from time to time. Really depends on my mood I guess
I've actually heard that some people dislike the 'escapism' that exists in fiction, yet they'll use other means to escape reality and not question that.

Confuses me.
 

SylviaB

Just Bee Yourself 🐝
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
6,897
Location
Lidcombe
Gender
Female
HSC
2021
Is lolita a good piece of fiction

I didnt mind that
 

strawberrye

Premium Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2012
Messages
3,292
Location
Sydney
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
Uni Grad
2018
I like to read a combination of fiction and non-fiction, I believe by reading different types of books, they serve as different lens by which I can expand my knowledge about the world I am living within. For example, some well written fiction can force you to reflect more deeply about the particular historical context it was written in and appreciate with the resonance of ideas that transcends beyond the book's contextual context-this sounds like a sentence straight out of the many HSC English essays I used to write, but it is when I finish my HSC do I slowly realise just how powerful some ideas in the texts I have viewed is. Some of the most brilliant fiction I think are actually political satires, I tend to really enjoy reading the biographies of famous people to satisfy my non-fiction appetite:)
 

obliviousninja

(╯°□°)╯━︵ ┻━┻ - - - -
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
6,624
Location
Sydney Girls
Gender
Female
HSC
2013
Uni Grad
2017
I prefer non fiction, but do enjoy fiction that is based on real life events.
 

anomalousdecay

Premium Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2013
Messages
5,766
Gender
Male
HSC
2013
I only read non-fiction because I get quite bored of fiction due to the fact that a lot of stuff is too wild that it is not too interesting or its too predictable. I would also rather watch a film instead on it as I'm lazy to set the scenes in a way which extend what is being told. I just imagine them when reading as told in the book, instead of an exotic manner.

I don't get very bored of non-fiction especially when its on how something works. Also, my imagination tends to not be lazy in this field and rather active and excited.
 
Last edited:

theoctopus

New Member
Joined
May 1, 2013
Messages
23
Gender
Female
HSC
2015
BOTH! :D It all depends on how the book is written, if it's written in an engaging way with good characters and an interesting plot, it makes no difference to me whether it's fiction or non-fiction. :)
 

AppleSauce

New Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
10
Gender
Female
HSC
N/A
Not sure whether the behavioural differences are biological or from socialisation, but males generally have more of a preference towards non-fiction. I generally read fiction more as a proportion of the books I read, probably for the escapism. Of the non-fiction, I generally read books to learn more about the world around me rather than biography. I've probably read less than 15 auto/biographies in my life.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top