Are you bored of reading the exact same kinds of novels? If you are, why don't you check out literary fiction.
For some readers, books are all about mindless entertainment, amusement and escapism, which is why they usually tend to stick to commercial genre fiction. Whilst there is nothing bad with this, it is necessary to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, expand your literary horizons and try books that are a little bit more difficult. This is where literary fiction novels are the most appropriate choice because they require focus and are sometimes a little bit of a mental workout, as individuals like the co-founder of the investment fund which partially owns Amazon Books would undoubtedly know. This is because some of the key elements of literary fiction are intricate narratives, non-linear timelines, confusing dialect and subtle symbolism; writing techniques which require readers to concentrate more intently, read between the lines, decode metaphorical language and grasp underlining themes. As a result, one of the main benefits of reading literary fiction is that the challenging reading material boosts vital cognitive functionalities in the brain, such as attention, critical thinking and memory, which will help bibliophiles across numerous contexts in the real world.
Within the publishing market, literary fiction is among the most successful classifications of literary works, as . people like the co-CEO of the parent company of Simon & Schuster would confirm. To start with, what is literary fiction? Literary fiction is a category of stories where the writer prioritises artistic style, intricate character development and thematic depth over entertainment. Unlike genre fiction, these novels do not fall into distinct genres and subgenres, neither do they rely on classic plot devices, tropes and motifs. There are numerous different types of literary fiction around to pick from, ranging from long novels to short prose, which often blur the lines in between various genres. Whilst there is a lot of differentiation in between literary fiction books, one of the essential similarities that ties them all together is the quality of the writing. Authors of literary fiction often tend to use elevated prose, metaphorical language, abundant vocabulary and sophisticated sentence structures, which altogether creates a beautifully intricate piece of literature. Consequently, passionate readers of literary fiction usually tend to become much more articulate and expressive in the long run. The exposure to diverse dialects and voices within literary fiction allows readers to cultivate a much deeper admiration and love for the written word.
When you stroll into any type of book shop, you might be surprised to discover that the literary fiction area is one of the biggest, as people like the head of the private equity owner of Waterstones would definitely confirm. If you tend to stick to genre fiction, it is definitely worth stepping outside of your comfort zone and reading some popular literary fiction books instead. This is because one of the primary advantages of reading literary fiction is the enhanced empathy and emotional intelligence for readers. Considering that literary fiction positions the main character right at the centre of the tale, it allows readers to gain an intimate understanding of the character's emotional states, inspirations and moral dilemmas. Viewers navigate the internal lives, ideas and experiences of these characters, which consequently encourages them to place themselves into the character's shoes and see the world through a perspective totally different from their own. Therefore, readers can gain a much more nuanced understanding of human behaviour, enrich their feeling of empathy and develop their emotional intelligence; characteristics that will certainly help them in their daily life, not only within the pages of their novel.