Interpretation and Escape Fiction
Interpretation and escape fiction can give us many moments of good reading. In interpretation reading we get enjoyment and understanding of the people and the world around us. From escape literature we get a sense of fun and high adventure. It takes us out of our every day world and into the world of imagination.
With so many history and non-fiction books filling the library shelves, why do we bother to read fiction anyway? The answer is enjoyment and understanding. How many books of fiction have you read that gave you a deep sense of understanding that you will not find in non-fiction? And how many pleasant hours have you spent curled up on a cold winter day reading a good mystery? Reading fiction serves to make life less tedious, more understandable and makes the hours pass more swiftly. Understanding and enjoyment is the object and needs nothing else to recommend it.
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Fiction can be separated into two divisions, works of interpretation and works of escape. An interpretive story presents us with an insight into nature and our life conditions. It gives us a keener awareness of of what it is to be human. It helps us understand ourselves and those around us. An interpretive story takes us out of ourselves and says, Look, here is the world.
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On the opposite end of the scale is escape literature. The escape writer is full of surprises. He pulls rabbits out of hats,snatches brightly colored balls out of the air. He takes us on a wild exciting ride of the imagination on an impossible venture. He entertains us and allows us to escape from the mundane.
Now, there are two kinds of readers just as there are two kinds of fiction. The immature or inexperienced reader, even when he thinks he is reading for interpretation insists that what he reads always return him a pleasant image of himself or the world. Although most people may think they have moved on from fairy tales they may be mistaken. The signs of an inexperienced reader is that he demands and is disappointed unless his demands are met. He expects every story to conform to his expectations. He wants a happy outcome and a theme that confirms his opinion of the world. He wants stories that slip easily through the mind.
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The experienced reader, on the other hand, takes deep pleasure in fiction that deals with life rather than formula. He doesn’t reject escape fiction because it can be absorbing and well written. Remember these escape stories? “Peter Pan” and “Treasure Island” but too much of this kind of reading can give us a false sense of life and distort our sense of reality. The harmless kind of escapism never pretends to be other than it is and never asks to be taken seriously. The second kind wears a mask and pretends to be a faithful rendition of life. In its shallowness it falsifies life and may lead us to expect from life what life doesn’t provide.
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There are so many good books to read. We can never read them all. Our problem then is to get the most out of the reading time we have. We need to choose the best books that will repay us for our time and attention. If you don’t know where to start you might ask your librarian for a list of suggested books to set you on the path to good reading.
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Good article, Ruby. Thanks for the insight.
Wonderful article! I love reading and going to libraries ^_^
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I enjoyed your separation of readership. Hadn’t given it any thought. If I don’t like an ending I simply create a new one.
nice article
Set me thinking what kind of a reader I am.
I am an avid reader and enjoyed this analysis of readers and reading material.
Chistine
I think it is impossible to compare the pleasure of reading to those who do not read for pleasure. I love reading and sometimes I go to a book I have enjoyed and I read it again, I almost always get more from the book the second time.
Indeed, a well-presented post.
well written
I choose to read books on topics that interest me, Great article.
Libraries are my home. Too bad, I’m not in school anymore. Nice post, Ruby. Thanks.
I always look forward to opening a new book and sniff the aroma of freshly printed pages. Great insight and article.;)
Excellent
excellant share….thanks for it
One of the many things that I miss about my hometown–going to the library
Very well done…
I like to read lots of types of books.
You are inspiring me to use more images
i love libraries…they were my hide outs those days….lol
One thing it’s becoming clear and that is the fact of I always can count on you to bring insightful wonderful articles to the reader’s attention, and I thank you. Really enjoy reading yours and Sunshine’s( Marla) entries as well as a few other dynamic writers on Triond.
you have used good pics
I enjoyed while reading this article,Thank you
I love to read, can’t get enough. Loved your article, so well written and such excellent pace. I never thought of the two types of readers, but I guess you start being one and turn into the other, with time.
Excellent article
hmm nice article
Great article, Ruby. I love to read, thanks for sharing.
Love to read fiction and fantasy foremost the only wasy I can afford to get away—enjoyed this
l’ve really enjoyed your articles on different areas of history but find in my everyday reading I want to escape into fiction and fantasy. I always have a book going.
This is a wonderful read, Ruby. It made me think about the type of reader I am. I love to read fiction and non fiction books.
Fantastic write Ruby! I very muched enjoyed reading this as with your descriptions,very interesting!
I am an avid read always have been since I was about 5. I guess that is why I used to get made fun of a lot for being a bookworm.lol As a child my favorite story was little women,however;my favorite fiction writers now are Sydney Sheldon and Dan Brown.I love both fiction and non fiction books.
i liked it!
it was quite an interesting topic, with great visuals…
great read!=D
Wonderful analysis of readers and reading. Thank you for a great article.
Good advice when we are in a library. Well done.
A great informative read. Thanks for the share, Ruby.
Totally agree with your point of view. A good article
it’s really good article
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excellent article… reading can be very enjoyable and relaxing.