Thursday, April 10, 2014

~What does the word FICTION mean to you?~

Perhaps this blog post is a small rant or maybe it can be an informative post for some, but I felt compelled to write it so please tell me, what does the word fiction mean to you?

The word FICTION is defined in several ways.  Here they are according to http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fiction

1.  the class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form.
2.  works of this class, as novels or short stories: detective fiction. 
3.  something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story: We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health. 
4.  the act of feigning, inventing, or imagining.
5.  an imaginary thing or event, postulated for the purposes of argument or explanation
Sadly, I feel, this is often forgotten when people are reading or writing reviews.  I only point out the obvious because well I read a lot of books (not as many as others but enough), as well as reviews of them and more often than not I come across comments such as these....

There are so many completely made-up details in this story that would never, ever happen in real life

Really? well maybe they wouldn't but isn't that what fiction is? a made up story?

Nobody would act that way

okay, probably not, BUT once again you are reading something that is made up and characters that are made up

This story was totally unrealistic

again I say Really?  Maybe these particular readers should try Non Fiction I dunno.

I won't give anything away, but the ending was contrived and unrealistic

I found some of the plot unrealistic.

Dumb and unrealistic

see a pattern here? lol

ok this makes me want to scream it's fiction fiction fiction LOL

I like to keep an open mind so maybe I don't fully understand, or some people prefer their fictional stories and characters to be on the realistic side.  They may also want it to just be, believable.  It's just not really a big deal for me because I read a lot of fiction to escape reality!  I want to live/be in or experience someone else's made up story :D

I'm not trying to be frumpy about it.  It just bothers me and yes, I will get over it.  We all have pet peeves, right?  I guess I just wish and hope that people think about what they are going to say(type) before they actually do it or perhaps proofread/go over what they have typed out. 

I suppose some of this could relate to immaturity (as we grow we change) or not knowing how to express one's thoughts properly.  Basically some of us speak before we think.  I am sure I have been guilty of this at one time or another.  I am not perfect and I certainly don't expect anyone else to be.  I just tend to see so many harsh reviews that don't make any sense to me with some of the verbiage that is used.

So.....

Talk to me/enlighten me.  I love to hear other peoples thoughts on the matter.  It's how I learn and maybe someone else will too.

Next topic will probably be on short stories!

4 comments:

  1. Most of us read fiction not only for the enjoyment of reading but to escape REALITY. To be taken away from the things that happen day - to - day in our lives.

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  2. If I want reality, I read true crime. If I want to be taken out of reality I read FICTION! Some people need to get a clue!

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  3. I LOVE fiction. Its an escape for me from the stresses of REAL life, but I do enjoy a believable story that blurs the lines of fiction and real life for me. With that said, I also love to read paranormal, which we all know is FICTION....not true...imagined...not of reality. I still find my escape whether the book mirrors reality or is so far fetched that I can still fall into the story line and connect with the characters and maybe even "pretend" to be one of the characters. The whole point of my reading fiction is to live another life vicariously through another's imagination for just a short while. Okay, so it's a long comment, but you did ask, you know. ;)

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  4. To all of those people who are mixing two worlds together..... welcome to the world where most of us live and the other world where some of us dream....

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