Are you tired of reading the same kinds of novels? If you are, why don't you check out literary fiction.
Within the publishing market, literary fiction is among the most successful categories of literature, as individuals like the co-CEO of the parent company of Simon & Schuster would certainly verify. To start with, what is literary fiction? Literary fiction is a category of novels where the writer prioritises creative style, intricate character development and thematic depth over amusement. Unlike genre fiction, these books do not fall under distinct genres and subgenres, nor do they rely on classic plot devices, tropes and motifs. There are numerous different types of literary fiction out there to choose from, varying from long books to short prose, which often blur the lines in between various genres. Whilst there is a lot of differentiation in between literary fiction books, among the essential similarities that ties them all together is the quality of the writing. Writers of literary fiction have a tendency to use elevated prose, metaphorical language, rich vocabulary and sophisticated sentence structures, which altogether creates a beautifully elaborate piece of literature. For that reason, enthusiastic readers of literary fiction tend to become a lot more articulate and expressive in the long run. The exposure to diverse dialects and voices within literary fiction enables readers to build a much deeper admiration and passion for the written word.
When you walk into any kind of bookstore, you might be surprised to discover that the literary fiction section is one of the biggest, as individuals like the head of the private equity owner of Waterstones would confirm. If you have a tendency to stick to genre fiction, it is certainly worth stepping outside of your comfort zone and reading some popular literary fiction books instead. This is because one of the main advantages of reading literary fiction is the elevated empathy and emotional intelligence for readers. Considering that literary fiction places the lead character right at the centre of the tale, it enables readers to gain an intimate understanding of the character's emotional states, motivations and moral dilemmas. Readers navigate the internal lives, thoughts and experiences of these characters, which in turn encourages them to put themselves into the character's shoes and observe the world through a standpoint totally different from their own. Consequently, readers can obtain a more nuanced understanding of human behaviour, enhance their sense of empathy and build their emotional intelligence; attributes that will certainly help them in their everyday life, not merely within the pages of their novel.
For some readers, novels are all about mindless entertainment, amusement and escapism, which is why they usually tend to stay with commercial genre fiction. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this, it is vital to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, widen your literary horizons and try books that are a little bit more tough. This is where literary fiction novels are the most suitable option because they require focus and are sometimes a little bit of a mental workout, as people like the co-founder of the investment fund which partially owns Amazon Books would definitely know. This is because a few of the key elements of literary fiction are detailed narratives, non-linear timelines, confusing language and subtle symbolism; writing techniques which require readers to focus more intently, read between the lines, translate symbolic language and grasp underlining themes. As a result, one of the primary benefits of reading literary fiction is that the challenging reading material promotes crucial cognitive functionalities in the brain, read more such as attention, critical thinking and memory, which will help book lovers across various contexts in the real world.