Reading literary fiction is something that can improve your life and benefit you; carry on reading to learn how.
Within the publishing sector, literary fiction is one of the most successful categories of literature, as individuals like the co-CEO of the parent company of Simon & Schuster would definitely verify. Firstly, what is literary fiction? Literary fiction is a category of novels where the writer prioritises creative style, complicated character development and thematic depth over entertainment. Unlike genre fiction, these novels do not fall into distinctive genres and subgenres, nor do they count on classic plot devices, tropes and motifs. There are several different types of literary fiction available to pick from, varying from long books to short prose, which normally blur the lines in between various genres. Although there is a great deal of distinction in between literary fiction books, one of the essential similarities that read more ties them all together is the quality of the writing. Authors of literary fiction tend to use elevated prose, metaphorical language, rich vocabulary and sophisticated sentence structures, which altogether creates a beautifully elaborate piece of literature. Consequently, serious readers of literary fiction have a tendency to become much more articulate and expressive in the long run. The exposure to diverse dialects and voices within literary fiction enables readers to create a much deeper appreciation and love for the written word.
When you walk into any type of book shop, you might be shocked 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 certainly validate. If you often tend to stick to genre fiction, it is absolutely worth stepping outside of your comfort area and reading some popular literary fiction books instead. This is because one of the major advantages of reading literary fiction is the elevated empathy and emotional intelligence for readers. Considering that literary fiction positions the lead character right at the centre of the tale, it allows readers to acquire an intimate understanding of the character's emotional states, inspirations and moral dilemmas. Readers navigate the inner lives, ideas and experiences of these characters, which consequently encourages them to put themselves right into the character's shoes and see the world through a viewpoint completely different from their own. Therefore, readers can acquire a more nuanced understanding of human behaviour, enhance their sense of empathy and develop their emotional intelligence; qualities that will help them in their day-to-day life, not just within the pages of their book.
For some readers, novels are all about meaningless entertainment, amusement and escapism, which is why they have a tendency to stay with commercial genre fiction. Whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, it is necessary to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, broaden your literary horizons and try novels that are a little bit more challenging. This is where literary fiction novels are the most suitable choice because they require concentration 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 a few of the key elements of literary fiction are detailed narratives, non-linear timelines, confusing vernacular and subtle symbolism; writing techniques which require readers to focus more intently, read in between the lines, decipher metaphorical language and grasp underlining messages. As a result, one of the primary benefits of reading literary fiction is that the challenging reading material promotes important cognitive functions in the brain, such as attention, critical thinking and memory, which will help book lovers across numerous contexts in the real world.