Fiction vs. Non-fiction

I have always thought of non-fiction as the whole truth. I would think text books, dictionaries, and encyclopedias.  If we start adding half-lies and twists to stories then is it really true? The more we add the less non-fiction it is. If we base a story on a real life situation it is still fiction because it is only based on that situation. If you change just a few details it could dramatically affect the plot. The plot is the main idea we want to keep. If we change that then that minor detail wasn’t so minor. If it doesn’t affect the plot then it’s just for show and effects. But changing anything about the book would make the audience skeptical. Stretching one thing in a memoir will change what people think their background is and give them the wrong ideas when they think they’re right. Three months in prison instead of several hours like in the book A Million Little Pieces can really change a person and their personality And the outcome of the story. Causing someone to die in a train accident, as said in the same book, is different than knowing about it and feeling for it. Causing death for someone else is mentally and emotionally scarring and they would develop differently as a character. And if that character were to develop differently, then the story from that point on would be different making it and untrue story. I wouldn’t consider A Million Little Pieces non-fiction because there is to many flaws.

Genre in the Classroom

                    I think we should teach genre fiction at a young age then move slowly towards literary fiction as high school nears. If we teach genre fiction to kids in 3^rd or 4^th grade it could build a foundation for a love towards books. This way we could show them the fun of reading without the stress of analyzing it. As they get better and better we could move towards literary fiction allowing them to not only like books but to get an understanding on how to read and write books as well. The further they progress through school the more literary fiction that will be taught. When they reach high school it will mainly be literary fiction but they still can incorporate independent reading for genre fiction.

                    Literary fiction is important for those who wish to go above and beyond in reading and writing. Genre fiction is more for fun and entertainment. There needs to be a balance between the two. Genre is for keeping people entertained and enjoying fiction while Literary is for teaching specifics and understanding.

                     I agree with Melissa Thomas’ idea to teach fantasy in classes but too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing. Fantasy can be taught at an early age for those who haven’t found a love in books or developed life lessons yet. Later years they would read on their own and wouldn’t need to be explained be someone else.

"Odd Thomas" Book Trailer