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.
Textbooks and Memoirs are not held to the same bar of truth, I hope you understand. While textbooks aim to inform and teach its audience, memoirs are there to tell a life event and maybe give us a lesson in life. Is it truly a tragedy that James Frey lied about his his prison sentences and the amount of drugs he OD on? No! He still faced adversity and conquered his battle. Insiration comes to those who are willing to listen, but if you drown out what others have to teach because of literary hyperbile then who is it that's ignorant?
ReplyDeleteIf they are both under the catagory non-fiction then should they not be equally true no matter the plot?
DeleteI think certain books like textbooks should definitley be 100% true, and memoirs should be true, also. But can we always know that what we are reading is true?
ReplyDeleteI agree. If you write lies, and make things up, then you should stick to fiction. If the plot is based off of something that didn't happen, it's no longer nonfiction.
ReplyDeleteThey should be true, but can they be 100% true? Can you remember what you said to someone back when you were 15 if you are 35 now? They should have the same idea and stroyline, but some parts can be added or subtracted if the author wants. It's their book.
ReplyDeleteShould the author try to write a non-fiction book on a topic he doesn't wholly remember in the first place?
DeleteI totally agree that memoirs should be all true! If the author lies about one detail what can make us believe they couldn't make the whole thing up?!
ReplyDeleteI agree. For a book to be non-fiction it has to be all true other wise you wont know what will be true and what will be a lie in the book. if somehing is made up it is not non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteThe classics have no purpose in today’s world, we have newer better books to read now that do a much better job and are more fun to read.
ReplyDeleteThere are new books, yes. Most people like them better, yes. But the classics are still loved by some, not me but others. Should we get rid of them all together, no. Should we use them less, possibly.
DeleteI agree you can't change non fiction ecspecially if it is a textbook or somthing else for learning
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about a story that's based on non-fiction, is still fiction because it's not the whole truth. I also agree with having the plot be the main idea, and messing with details messes with the plot.
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