When Fiction Becomes More Relatable Than Non-fiction
Many people choose non-fiction over fiction due to the misconception that more imaginative stories are absolutely unrelatable. For instance, romantic fiction may be met with skepticism due to its over-exaggeration and unlikely coincidences leading to happy, predictable endings. Other subgenres like fantasy and dystopia are lampooned for their unrelatable plots and strangely perfect, talented leads. So, do only the perfect and talented get their stories told? In truth, many stories in the teen fiction category do deal with the imperfections, hardships, and negative aspects of life.
As a reader of the Divergent trilogy, I can clearly express how dystopian fiction novellas can be more relatable than any autobiography. The whole concept of the division of people into factions is similar to the concept of MBTIs and Enneagram tests. These tests help categorize a person by their strengths, weaknesses, and overall personality. The challenges that society may face in the future are brought to life through fiction, in a hyperbolic way. It is undeniable that the absurdity of such situations antagonizes many readers. However, true book lovers enjoy them, especially if they can decipher the true identity of characters behind symbolic representations.
Amongst others, teenage picks by John Green and Nicola Yoon are quite relatable due to the lack of misnomers and the most accurate portrayals of young adults from a variety of backgrounds. These books deal with the challenges faced by high school students worldwide - troubles with friendships, sexuality, grades, college applications, and general relations - all of which may get us sidetracked from work. Be it Albertalli’s Simon and the Homosapien’s Agenda or Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, these books reveal the unromanticized circumstances of being an introvert. Not only do they discuss the challenges of sexuality and depression that many introverts silently suffer from, but they also portray how introverts have difficulty bearing their hearts to people.
The genres of fantasy and mythological fiction are the least popular among adults, but the most popular among youngsters. These books - like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson - often have a premise that is hard to identify with. However, middle schoolers often find them exciting and relatable due to the recurring themes of friendship and resilience. These volumes are a good way to elude thoughts of the harsh reality of life. They allow young readers to find solace by creating fanatical characters that are impressionable. The movie adaptations of such books have a diverse audience, especially due to their gripping storylines and exciting scenarios that are impossible to portray through non-fiction.
Realists won’t often find solace in fiction. Nonetheless, an idealistic person can identify strongly with fictional books, as fact can be stranger than fiction. Clearly, not all fictional subgenres deal with dragons and secret organizations! Although certain books by authors like Dan Brown involve fictional storylines, they commonly incorporate conspiracy theories and true stories based on religion, history, science, and other themes. Thus, fictional books can impart knowledge while also enhancing a reader’s creativity and imagination. As a voracious reader, my only observation is that fiction is overall more relatable than nonfiction.
