In my opinion, for a book to be considered non-fiction it must be true. Sure you can stretch the truth on dialogue because you’re obviously not going to remember word for word what was said. But if you stretch the truth too far by saying you killed someone when really you only we’re deeply affected by the death, then you should just consider it fiction. When you add characters that never existed and events that never happened into a non-fiction story, you take away from the credibility and readers start wondering what really happened.
I think half-truths are okay if the author makes note of it. They should tell you that some events in the story are stretched out and not entirely true, so that they can avoid a situation like James Frey had. It would have been wise for James Frey to come out and say that his story was stretched in areas when he first published the book. He could have even said his story was more fiction-like but inspired by true events.
When it comes to labeling things between fiction and non-fiction, it only matters a little bit. The reader should know if what they are reading is either true or fake, but whether the book is good or not is the main point. I could care less if we didn’t distinguish between other genres like romance, mystery, and comedy because in reality, most stories contain a little bit of each. In the end, all that matters to me is if what I am reading is a good book.
I agree with your last statement, all that matters to me is if what i am reading is a good book. =)
ReplyDeleteI agree, I don't think it matters whether a book is fiction or nonfiction, as long as it's good. So why would you say it's nonfiction if it's full of lies?
ReplyDeleteI agree that the dialuoge can be made up because you can't remember. I also like the book, line, and sinker thing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that non-fiction books need to be true because otherwise, they aren't really that credible. I don't think half-truths should be used, but if authors do use them, I agree that they should make note of them.
ReplyDeleteI agree stretching the truth is ok, you just have to be careful not to cross the line and lie.
ReplyDeleteI deffinitly agree that non-fiction should be completley true. I think it would be hard to find the author dependable if there were flaws in something the readers believed to be truth.
ReplyDeleteI agree that small things like the dialogue can be a little different than how it actually happened but the events have to be true
ReplyDeleteI DISAGREE! "it only matters a little bit."? Are you kidding me? Reading about mermaids that grow legs and fall in love with a prince is completely different than reading about a man's life experience at battling drugs. "In the end, all that matters to me is if what I am reading is a good book." This is a good sentiment, but it IS important what you are reading because each contains a different lesson or story.
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