| Question Home |
Position:Home>Books & Authors> What would you say to someone who thinks....?Question: What would you say to someone who thinks!.!.!.!.!? What would you say to someone who thinks fictional literature is completely pointless!? (And I'm not talking about Twilight, I'm talking about literature such as Pride and Prejudice, Grapes Of Wrath, The Secret Life Of Bees, Atonement, etc!.) FYI, this person is my uncle, and I'm totally into fiction, so how would you argue this!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I read all kinds of books!. I love books!. Fiction is written for entertainment, bit it is also a learning tool!. Classic literature has a lot to offer, imo!. It examines the mindset of the characters in a specific time frame!. So, to use modern terms, you are learning psychology, sociology, history, english usage, and linguistics/slang for that era!. So, in summary, fiction is not useless at all!. If someone is getting enjoyment out of it, it is not useless to them!. My Dad, has a saying," Your never to old to learn, and if you read, you will keep your mind sharp!."Www@QuestionHome@Com Does he watch tv or movies!? if so, make a point of telling him that most tv programmes and movies are fictional, and you suggest that he stops watching them as it is pointless!. He may stop bugging you about it then!. Whats it got to do with him what you read anyway!? surely he'd rather you read books than magazines!. you could try getting a magazine out instead when you are around him, perhaps playboy or something, and then say "least its not fiction"Www@QuestionHome@Com As a fellow writer once remarked to me when I noted a gentleman the same age as me (28) said reading is boring and he hates to do it: "He's a muttonhead!." To put simply: An idiot!. Your uncle is certainly entitled to his opinions but if he is that ignorant about the joys of reading then I suggest you allow him to stew in his ignorance and let it go!. There is no changing the minds of people like him!. Those types are amusing to say the least!. Nothing to say but dumb commentary!.Www@QuestionHome@Com First of all, everyone is entitled to their own opinions!. If he doesn't want to read it, that's okay!. I do hope he at least gives it a try though!. You could find something he's interested in and suggest a book pertaining to that!. If he's interested in things like government and dystopias, try Orwell's "1984!." I also suggest "To Kill a Mockingbird" because I've heard many positive things about that!. (It's next on my reading list, I swear!.) I also suggest that he takes a look at Goldman's "The Princess Bride!." I fear that this reply isn't very helpful, and for that I am sorry!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I would say, to each their own!.!.!.unless they were trying to push their opinions on others!. Fiction, good fiction, is a reflection of the human condition, even at its most fantastical, even involving characters that are aliens or animals!. Since humans write it, how can it be any other way!? If your uncle is trying to push you away from fiction, just smile, nod your head!.!.!.and then go back to that novel you're reading!.Www@QuestionHome@Com the point of reading it is for your own personal enjoyment!. Everyone likes different things!. Your uncle may not enjoy reading fiction so therefore it has not point to him, but you obviously do enjoy reading fiction and it has a point to you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com you have to tell him to watch the movies and then judge them!. because i love pride and prejudice!. one of my favorite movies!. i think he has to watch some of these good movies!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Honestly, I wouldn't have much to say at all!. Fiction has a point to it, that's why we read it in high school!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |