 |
| Central Park |
"Let me underscore the obvious here:
Reading fiction is important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic beings.
Following complex story lines stretches our brains beyond the 140 characters of sound-bite thinking, and staying within the world of a novel gives us the ability to be quiet and alone, two skills that are disappearing faster than the polar icecaps."
Author Ann Patchett wrote this Op Ed in reaction to the Pulitzer Prize committee's failure to award a prize for fiction this year. I don't really have anything to say about that.
But I am mulling over her point, highlighted above, about the benefits of reading fiction. Interesting, no? Over the past few years, I've noticed in myself an increasing inability "to be quiet and alone." I attributed it partially to too much time spent on social-networking sites. Now I wonder if the antidote isn't a two-pronged solution: less of the Facebook and more of the other kind of books - that wonderful & wide world of fiction.
Can somebody recommend me a book I can go get lost in - quiet and alone - for a bit?
But I am mulling over her point, highlighted above, about the benefits of reading fiction. Interesting, no? Over the past few years, I've noticed in myself an increasing inability "to be quiet and alone." I attributed it partially to too much time spent on social-networking sites. Now I wonder if the antidote isn't a two-pronged solution: less of the Facebook and more of the other kind of books - that wonderful & wide world of fiction.
Can somebody recommend me a book I can go get lost in - quiet and alone - for a bit?
2 comments:
You should read some of Kris Radish's books. Fiction, yet as women we can all relate. Start with Annie Freeman's Traveling Funeral. I bet you'll like it. I'm now into about six of her books out of ten I think. All are great! If you read it, let me know what you think!
Nice! I'm going to check these out (they look fun!)
Post a Comment