Honestly I would also have been confused by the question. I don’t see fiction as being a source of personal growth. It is fiction, after all. Fiction is commentary, or escape, or exploration, but at its core, fiction is UNTRUE. This is why I get so confused about people citing “State of Fear” or “DaVinci Code” in a factual sense.
This is from a voracious reader of fiction since early childhood. But for personal growth, I read non-fiction.
There’s been some nonfiction that has changed my worldview, but fiction is fiction. Enjoyable, no doubt, wouldn’t want to live without it of course, but still fiction.
Which begs the question:
Your watershed novel would be…?
Mine would be either “Jitterbug Perfume” by Tom Robbins or “Cider House Rules” by John Irving.
Both of which I read when I was (hmmm) in my late teens.
Re: Which begs the question:
The thing is, I’m as flabberghasted as the typical guy in that survey. I can’t seem to correlate a specific book with a watershed moment.
Honestly I would also have been confused by the question. I don’t see fiction as being a source of personal growth. It is fiction, after all. Fiction is commentary, or escape, or exploration, but at its core, fiction is UNTRUE. This is why I get so confused about people citing “State of Fear” or “DaVinci Code” in a factual sense.
This is from a voracious reader of fiction since early childhood. But for personal growth, I read non-fiction.
I’m with you.
There’s been some nonfiction that has changed my worldview, but fiction is fiction. Enjoyable, no doubt, wouldn’t want to live without it of course, but still fiction.