Today’s Monday contest highlights three standout May releases: Jennifer Haigh‘s Faith, Arthur Phillips‘ The Tragedy of Arthur and Mitchell Zuckoff‘s Lost in Shangri-La. All authors were inspired by true stories or people, but two of them spun fact into fiction (or at least a fiction/memoir hybrid—more on that later).
“When I moved to Boston from Iowa in 2002, the city was reeling from revelations that Catholic priests had molested children, and that the Archdiocese had covered up the abuse. . . . Faith was my attempt to explain the inexplicable, to understand what I couldn’t make sense of in any other way,” Haigh told us in a Q&A.
In The Tragedy of Arthur—which has a main character named Arthur Phillips and includes the full text of Shakespeare’s lost play (which may or may not have actually been written by author Arthur Phillips . . .)—we are forced to ask: “What do I really know about any author that puts text in front of me, now or from four centuries ago?” At least, that’s what Phillips wants us to ask, per a recent Q&A with novelist Tasha Alexander.
Meanwhile, a truth that was stranger than fiction is the foundation of Zuckoff’s Lost in Shangri-La, one of the few remaining untold stories of World War II. “My eyes were bulging, my jaw dropped to the floor and my tongue rolled out,” he says of his reaction when he discovered the tale. “By the time I pulled myself together, I knew I couldn’t pursue the other story.” Nonfiction editor Kate Pritchard agreed—the book was our nonfiction top pick for May.
Are you intrigued? read our interviews with Haigh, Phillips and Zuckoff for more, and then come back to enter a contest to all three both books.
TO ENTER: Tell us if you prefer fiction or nonfiction—and why—in the comments.
CONTEST DETAILS: The prize is one copy of Faith by Jennifer Haigh, one copy of The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips and one copy of Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff. Contest open to North American residents only. One winner will be chosen using random.org from among the comments received by 6 p.m. CST on May 20.
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ETA: Congrats to Dorothy, this week’s winner! Dorothy is a fiction fan for the thrill of the escape, but she enjoys “all well written books.”
Contest is now closed.
I love to read anything and almost everything–fiction, historical fiction, suspense and memoirs
I enjoy them both, but I think if I’m going to read something just for fun I usually choose fiction. Mostly because I’m a grad student and read lots of nonfiction for school.
This is a tough one. On the one hand, reading non-fiction is a great way for me to learn about unfamiliar topics, new and old. Even reading a memoir exposes me to worlds I haven’t imagined. On the other hand, fiction is magical because it’s a world invented by the author. I guess if I had to pick, it would be fiction with a foundation in fact, like well-researched historical fiction because I get the best of both worlds. I can learn something about a specific time period, culture or event but the author isn’t limited to reporting the facts and can make the subject matter fanTAStic!
I’ve always enjoyed non-fiction more than fiction. It started with a biography of Abigail Adams when I was in 3rd grade!
When I read non-fiction, my reactions to the subject are often sharper because the story is true. It makes horror more “horrible” and a funny story even funnier because it’s not made up. However, fiction can be more outrageous – Stephanie Plum, for instance.
And, let us not forget that fiction often begets ideas that turn into real products. Who ever thought we would all have Star Trek style communicators by now?
I like both. Fiction takes me to places I’ve been, haven’t been, and places that don’t exist. Nonfiction does the same (except for places that don’t exist) and if written well teaches me about or provides facts about places, people, etc.
I prefer Fiction. It takes you places you may never experience and situations that you might never experience in your life. Fiction lets you put yourself in the book and make believe you could be the characters.
As a rule, I prefer fiction because it allows for more of an escape. However, I also enjoy memoirs and historical fiction. So, I think I’d appreciate these hybrids of fiction and non-fiction. Basically, I just love a good story. And if I learn something new, all the better.
I find as I get older I’m reading more non-fiction. Recent favorites include Unbroken and Packing for Mars. I decided that I enjoy any books that are memorable. That is, if the title is mentioned to me a month or a year from now, I’ll be able to recollect that book and what it was about. Too many books are just entertainment (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but you forget them as soon as you’re done reading them.
Traditionally, I prefer fiction. I’ve been branching out of my comfort zone more often lately and have been reading some creative nonfiction as well as some memoirs. I don’t know why I haven’t dug more into nonfiction before, it’s a terrific genre. Definitely looking to beef up my repertoire!
I read a mix of fiction and non-fiction, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be historical fiction. Good historical fiction has the power to transport me to a different place and time. Thanks for another great contest!
I read both, but when I want to escape from my daily trials and trevails I choose fiction. I love stories, and I especially love a good mystery.
Both are my favorites but if I need a pick up,a fiction it is..but I love to read. Historical non fiction gets me,especially moving stories that make you so happy to know great things still happen ,before and now
Prefer fiction for the stories presented. I love reading and the new worlds it opens it for me.
For escapism, I prefer fiction. I also enjoy nonfiction that reads like fiction, such as Erik Larson and Robert Kurson. I find audiobooks a good way to read nonfiction.
Fiction is my PASSION. I get enough real life everyday. When I escape, I want to truly get away. Even if the fiction is based on reality or historical fiction. There is always that element of, this isn’t real. Yes, I do denial well!!!
I would normally say fiction, but I have to admit I’ve been reading a LOT of nonfiction lately. I think there have just been so many great nonfiction books coming out lately! I really enjoy reading history books, especially histories that are narrow in subject & read like fiction — like Erik Larson or Howard Blum (I just finished his new one). I’ve also been reading a lot of science-related nonfiction, like Mary Roach and Holly Tucker.
I mostly read fiction, but do love a good non-fiction. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was one of my favorite books last year and that was non-fiction.
I occasionally read non-fiction, but as a working mom and wife with a busy schedule, the escapism factor of fiction combined with limited reading time usually tips the scales to fiction reading…
i don’t have a preference, but i have moods. sometimes i’m in a straight adult fiction mood and that’s when i can get into things like the larsson trilogy or under the dome by king. then i get into a non-fiction mood, where bios like glass castle or life compete with nickel and dimed for my attention. then, of course, there’s the YA genre, where books like when you reach me, invention of hugo cabret and the book thief can whisk me off. i love it all and the tragedy of arthur is already on my TBR list so help a girl out, why doncha?
I read both, but I love fiction the most. I especially enjoy British and Irish authors.
Usually I perfer fiction but I do like memoirs and autobiographies alot too! But I’d say the majority of what I read is fiction.
I read more fiction than nonfiction. I love plots and stories, and fiction supplies that.
How can you possibly choose? Fiction when I want to escape the world; non-fiction when I want to understand it.
I think I am one of only a handful of women who prefers to read nonfiction. I’m not talking technical stuff here (which I too have to do a lot of for work), but just incredible true stories of amazing strength and incredible places. This is not to say I don’t enjoy great fiction, but mostly it is classics, nonfiction, and memoirs for me.
I have to agree with many of the other posts. I enjoy both equally. I love to find the facts in the fiction and the fiction in the non-fiction.
Lately, I’ve been leaning towards nonfiction. I love cramming random facts into my brain.
I just love reading,but fiction is more to my liking now.I may love non next month..but a good story true or not is great to me…Reading opened a new world for me,very young
Non-fiction is always in my pile to read; fiction is most often what I do read.
Hard to say, but I’d have to go with fiction. I know they say truth is stranger than fiction, but I have to say I prefer the crazy and fantastic worlds to be found in fiction.
My original love is nonfiction. I have been working to adapt and open to more fiction.
I tend to switch from fiction to non-fiction. I like the escape of fiction and the ability to broaden my knowledge and better understand the world through non-fiction.
I generally prefer to read fiction
I love fiction…I love being transported to other worlds that I don’t necessarily inhabit and other emotions and world views that aren’t mine. If a book is particularly good, I always write the author and thank them for their wonderful gift to me.
Everyone has a story to tell. Some of us prefer to shape the truth to fit our needs: hence, fiction. Others prefer to “tell it like it is”; hence, nonfiction. It is our story; tell it the way we want. Now that it is told, let the reader choose. (I relish both!)
I prefer fiction –great escape! An added bonus is if there is some factual background that I’m unfamiliar with so that I don’t consider the escape a total waste of time.
Mostly fiction–it’s an escape.
Nine times out of ten, I’ll reach for fiction; if my hand happens to land on a book of non-fiction, it’s usually something with a strong narrative thread, the truth glossed up with a fictive style. I prefer fiction because it feels so much more flexible, not rigidly bound to the truth.
MY favorites are historical fiction, mysteries, biographies or memoirs.
I have no preference. It depends on my mood. I like to read!
I prefer to read fiction but with a few nonfiction thrown into the mix to break the chain so that each fiction seems fresh.
I love to read fiction. It’s the best way to relax and ignore work. My imagination is so much better than anything they put on TV.
I love reading all genres of books. I’m into historical fiction right now, but I also have some fiction books going. I think the scales would tip toward fiction, however, as my favorite reading venue.
I read almost exclusively fiction. If I read a nonfiction book it is most often a bio of a writer, or possibly a book about 60s music. I read fiction because it tells me more about how the world is, how people fit into it, how people relate to one another.
It depends on my mood because I enjoy both fiction & non-fiction alike!
I will read everything from a cereal box to a weighty tome. Given my choice, I would rather escape into the comforting embrace of a well-written novel. It’s like a warm, soothing bath after coming in from the cold rain.
Fiction…I can go anywhere, anytime I want!
I would say that I read more fiction, but I try to add in some non-fiction in between to mix it up a bit.
I definitely read more Fiction than non fiction. I have read some good biographies and am currently reading ‘Unbroken’ by Laura Hillenbrand. I really like historical fiction. I don’t really have a specific reason I prefer one over the other.
Fiction will always be my first love–I want to be transported and transfixed.
I prefer fiction over non-fiction because my LIFE is non-fiction! I want to live through other people when I read.
I enjoy both fiction and nonfiction, but my favorite is fiction. I love getting into a beautifully written story, no matter what genre it is.
I just love reading! It doesn’t matter if it’s nonfiction or fiction. I love them both. I especially like to read chick lit, mysteries, and memoirs. I also like to read inspirational books.
Fiction- I want to be taken to someplace different that doesn’t have to be held down by history and facts.
I enjoy a book I can get lost in. Usually that seems to be fiction but over the years there have been some non fiction accounts that have been so fascinating I wouldn’t want to have missed them.
Summer and fiction are a great combo – seems like cooler weather and I’m drawn to bios and non-fiction offerings. Never thought about it, but looks like the season impacts my reading.
I love reading fiction because the ideas and twists in stories can be so creative and absorbing!
I prefer to read fiction. It’s the escape to other places, times & even worlds. Mysteries being the 1st choice of escape.
Liz
I prefer fiction, but well written non-fiction is also good. I like fiction because it allows me to believe in things that may sound unreal in non-fiction!
I generally prefer fiction. I look to reading to help me escape. Like fine wine, a good fiction book can relieve stress and relax me.
While I read mostly fiction (mysteries & others) when I think of some of my favorite books, they are non-fiction. One example: The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Love to read, and I keep a list of books read including author, yr published and a short ‘book report’ on each one.
I love both, but my preference is non-fiction. I’m fascinated by people’s lives, what happens to them, and why they do the things they do.
I love memoirs, so I guess I’d have to say I prefer non-fiction. There’s just something about watching someone overcome their obstacles.
I enjoy to read both. But I suppose I would choose to read fiction (by only a teeny tiny bit). I love to escape into someone else’s world and view life through their eyes and experiences and feelings.
I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction. Fiction is my go-to for relaxing.
I love both really because while non-fiction can show me true happenings of something i may be interesting it, I have to say fiction can take me to places I know I will never get to experience in real life. I live through the characters and imagine I am that character and it makes the book come to life for me.
If I can only pick one favorite, I would have to pick fiction. But I do like fiction books that have a little history lesson in them, like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.
I love both but there is more choice in fiction so I will go with Fiction.
I can’t even answer this question. As a book lover, it is impossible to give a sweeping preference to one or the other. It totally depends on the book I love both fiction and nonfiction and am usually deeply involved in both types of book at the same time, reading one or the other depending on my mood. I’m a two fisted reader!
Great non-fiction blows a it’s equivalent in a novel out of the water. In a memoir, it exposes you to the a fascinating experience of someone else; in other non-fiction books it often provokes great conversations about real issues.
I prefer FICTION because I love getting lost in the characters’ lives through the style and craft of the author.
I read both but most enjoy fiction………a chance to go to a world not my own and to live there for a while.
I prefer fiction over non-fiction. Its great to see how creative authors are with story ideas, and I like the structure of character and plot development that non-fiction doesn’t have as much opportunity to display.
I definitely prefer fiction, but enjoy the occasional historical non-fiction.
I have to admit I prefer fiction because it takes me to so many different places, but I do enjoy reading non fiction because there is so much to learn!
I prefer fiction. I want to get lost in the book I read and most non fiction books I have read are NOT a story I would want to be in!
I enjoy Non-Fiction because it teaches me about my world, BUT I prefer Fiction because it helps me to escape from the day to day of life, to enjoy imaginary worlds which help recharge me.
Fiction earns my benediction!
Fiction’s long been my addiction.
Fiction, because an author can explore “what if” byways about characters, motivations, consequences.
While I do enjoy non-fiction, I prefer to read fiction. I love getting lost in a different world from my own and getting to know new characters. Reading fiction is my daily getaway!
Fiction preferred. As much as I attempt to read Non-fiction, I always come back to fiction. I really love historical fiction. I love learning something i wasn’t aware of along the way. There are some wonderful authors to be read.
I like fiction best because you can get lost in another world!
Although I love both fiction and non-fiction, I read more fiction as there are so many more interesting topics in fiction. The best book I’ve read this year was a non-fiction by Laura Hillenbrand, “Unbroken…”
Fiction because it takes me away!
I enjoy both, but non-fiction is my favorite. I love to learn!
Historical Fiction has to be my favorite way to escape what is going on in the world ! (as though there were no problems in history!). Follow closely with Science Fiction, and I become a totally happy camper, somewhere out there in the universe.
I prefer fiction as I read fiction books as a way to escape reality for a while, but I also enjoy non-fiction since I learn so much from it!
I prefer fiction…nonfiction is real life and I like to read to escape real life and live vicariously through the fictional characters!
I definitely prefer fiction, much of which is based on non fiction. I want to read books that touch both my heart and my mind, and I have found that good literary fiction does both.
Both! I love fiction and non-fiction. Good writing makes all the difference to me. I especially like historical fiction; as it is sometimes said, truth is stanger than fiction.
Fiction is the way to go, especially Sci-Fi. It would be awesome to be out in space, traveling around just like you were at home.
fiction is just easier to follow.
Nonfiction–reality must be confronted
I like both fiction and non…it just depends on what I’m in the mood for reading!
I prefer fiction, it is a get away from the ordinary everyday routine. I do read some non-fiction, but it is more developmental type of ‘stuff”. I find that helpful also, but have to be in the mood to process it and not just sit and enjoy a story.
I think I perfer fiction. A good made up story is my favorite way to dtrift away from reality. However, I enjoy realist fiction and often find that nonfiction can be just as exciting.
I love any good book.
I prefer fiction, but I love to read and wouldn’t push away any nonfiction that comes in my path.
I prefer fiction. I like a story to take me away from reality.
I like both fiction and non-fiction as long as they are well written but I have to admit I do prefer fiction because it provides an entertaining escape.
I prefer fiction, though there are times when my mood for nonfiction is perfect, and then nothing satisfies like a true story.
I prefer fiction. I am continually amazed at the wonderful stories that my favorite authors can create. Reading fiction is escapism. Good fiction will take me out of my world for a little while and allow me to enter the imagination of the author. Nothing better than a really good book.
It depends on my mood at any particular time; I usually have both non-fiction and fiction books that I’m in the process of reading. Fiction is more relaxing but I wouldn’t give up the great books on science, history, and comparative religion that I’ve read.
Depends on my mood. In my salad days, I read mostly fiction. As I age, I find I read about 60/40 fiction/nonfiction. But as I look at my “to read” list, more and more nonfiction titles are showing up.
I prefer fiction. I read for entertainment and can get lost in a story without having to have feelings about a real person’s story.
I like both fiction and nonfiction so long as it’s well written! Most of what I read is fiction but I will go in spurts and catch up on interesting nonfiction!
I prefer Fiction – preferably historical, Oh, but then there are so many good non-fiction histories that are Better than reading an excellent novel. Any book by Barbara Tuchman is a winner. I’m pretty indecisive. Just give me a good book!
I prefer realistic fiction with well-developed characters.
It all depends on my mood. I do love a good true story though. When written well, it takes you into the life/story of something that actually happened.
I enjoy good stories; fiction and non-fiction. I especially enjoy if fiction that weaves in historical fact (Tracy Chevalier, Phillipa Gregory, etc.).
I had a hard time making the decision. Most of the time I prefer fiction but sometimes the non-fiction books tell you a story you would have never dreamed of really happening. I like to mix it up a little. Usually I have to books going at the same time, more then likely it is one fiction and one non.
I prefer fiction. I like the escape that you take when you follow someone’s journey. Nonfiction, if written as more of a memoir can be okay, but in general nf is usually too factual for me. I think I associate nonfiction with studying/learning and my main goal when reading is to relax and get lost in a story.
I always read fiction. For an author to make up a story, complete with characters, settings, and images that come alive, is like a musican that can write beautiful music from what is in his/her head. It’s magical, mystical and wonderful! I’m always amazed.
I definitely prefer fiction. For me reading is an escape from my regular world and obligations, so I like treating myself to something entertaining. Having said that, however, there are some non-fiction books which have really called for me to read them and I have enjoyed them because I learned something new.
I usually prefer fiction because I can get lost in a good fiction book but a well-written non-fiction, like anything by David McCullough, reads so easily that I get lost in it and still learn something. I like that!
I prefer fiction overall, but nothing is better than reading a non-fiction book that I can relate to or has me reading it cover to cover in record time.
The subject matter of either the fiction or non-fiction has to catch my attention! I just enjoy books!!!
While I will read almost anything, I enjoy fiction, both contemporary and classics. I feel it gives the reader a chance to learn more about people and the different circumstances others might encounter.
I read both, but lean towards fiction because I enjoy the escape and the excitement that precedes the turn of each page. Often I try to keep one of each going and then I have the best of both worlds.
I suppose I prefer fiction, because it lends itself more easily to escapism. I wouldn’t be without non-fiction and its opportunities for learning and understanding the world either. It’s like having cats and dogs, they answer to different needs.
I prefer fiction as it allows me to immerse myself in others lives and stories.
I can’t make a permanent choice of one over the other. Sometimes I want to be taken to a place that doesn’t really exist and watch it come alive. And sometimes I want to dig deeper into the truths and lies of real life. Both have such an important place in my life.
I have enough drama in my life. I NEED fiction.
I prefer fiction. I get enough non-fiction during the course of the day.
I usually read fiction. I love to immerse myself in a good mystery. Lately though, I have read some autibiographies that were very good. I may have to explore nonfiction a little more.
While I read both, I tend to gravitate more towards fiction. Within a few minutes of cracking open a great book, you can be transported to another time and place. What can be better than that?
FICTION! Books have always been my escape. And I have travelled to so many different countries, places and spaces, time periods, that are too numberous to count! From westerns to “bodice-rippers” I read many genres and am well entertained!
I prefer fiction. I read for entertainment and relaxation.
I definitely have to go with fiction as it’s tough enough to live with today’s actual real life events.
While I read both, I generally gravitate to nonfiction. True stories about what people have overcome really stick with me. And to find that they can write so eloquently about their experiences, particularly when they have never written before, is pretty amazing.
Fiction is my drug of choice. I work in an ER and I need it to calm me
back down to the “rhythm of the world” after I get home. I read for
medicimal purposes only! HA!
Depends on my mood and whats available to read! I love both. Fiction and Non-fiction have so many different choices. I enjoy Non-fiction because you are usually learning something new and interesting. Fiction can take you away from the real world and put you somewhere magical.
I have always preferred fiction – a great plot that keeps me glued to the very last page. I thought non-fiction was dry, too much like a textbook. But lately, I have run across some nonfiction and biographies that have been very interesting, not like a dry textbook at all. So, while I still read mostly fiction, some nonfiction out there is pretty good.
My favorite non-fiction book is “The Glass Castle.”
Beverly,I loved that book,also. It showed the triumph of the human spirit over tremendous odds. Even though it is non-fiction,it read like a novel. I also enjoyed her follow-up book,Half Broke Horses,about her grandmother.
I prefer fiction ———— I read novels to “get away” from real problems, my problems as well as others. It has helped make the problems easier to cope with.
I prefer realistic fiction,because it often reveals the dynamics in the relationships of families and individuals.
I prefer the escape of fiction, but enjoy all well written books.
I prefer fiction. I use books to “escape” from life for a few moments. I enjoy books that are funny, with some interesting characters. I also love books dealing with traveling to far away places. I really loved Julie and Julia, and for quick reads, love Janet Evanovich’s books! Great for beach reading!!!!
I prefer historical fiction. I know that liberties can be taken b/c it is fiction but I also love the idea that they are based on true events. My favorite era is the Italian Renaissance.
I prefer fiction to non-fiction because I’m living the non-fiction book 24/7. Fiction allows me to escape and experience something new everyday (if I choose).
I prefer fiction as reading provides an escape to more exotic places!
Fiction is my reading of choice. It allows me to escape into a world that for all intents and purposes is not like the world we live in.
I’m an avid fiction reader, but there are nonfiction books that grab my attention, and Lost in Shangra-La looks like one of those.
I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction. I started reading books before the era of TV, so I enjoyed reading “stories”. I read more fiction but find as I get older, I enjoy a well written non-fiction on a topic of interest.
Fiction, for all the usual reasons. I used to read only fiction (I was intellectually scarred as a child trying to read an incredibly boring book about the Wright brothers, one of the few books I’ve never finished), but these days I try to alternate between fiction & non. If it’s well-written & engaging, I’m pretty eclectic.
My reading choices tend toward memoirs, biographies! I read fiction in between. All of these books would be contenders on my stacks of books to be read
I forgot to say that I read the review of Lost in Shangri-La yesterday, & it’s definitely on my non-fiction reading list.
Nope. Don’t even think about doing that to me! 1. I’m terrible at decision making. 2. I love both fiction and non-fiction, and here I will also add self-help. Now thank you for your time; I need to get back to my book.
Until I joined a book discussion group I only read nonfiction.
But now I love escaping reality and getting lost in someone else’s world!
If I have to choose, then I prefer fiction. It is an escape, but also fiction, in those lucky moments, can provide the greater truths.
Since I like to read as an escape from the daily stresses of real life, I prefer fiction. I truly love a well-told journey through an imaginary world of characters and their conflicts, resolutions, and triumphs.
I prefer fiction because I can melt into a entirely different world and create my own visual representation of the characters and place setting.
I prefer fiction because it offers an escape from the here and now, and because anything and everything is possible.
I prefer fiction because it offers me the chance to escape to another time and place.
For me, it must be fiction. I read to relax and enjoy and fiction allows me to escape into the daily routine.
Both. Right now I am reading Unbroken. And next in line is A Dark Matter.
I usually read two books at a time. I read nonfiction during the day, but before going to bed I read fiction. If I had to choose only one type to read for the rest of my life I would choose fiction. Fiction allows a vacation for my mind.
Since reading has always been my way of relaxing and unwinding, fiction is my top choice; however, I love to mix in nonfiction for a change.
I read some formula fiction for brief escapes, but I prefer well-written non-fiction. Real life stories, e.g., of the Berlin Airlift, discovery of a submarine wreck off New York, John Adams’ life, Lincoln’s team of rivals, are as fascinating as good fiction and also enrich my understanding of history and the world.
For the most part fiction – but there are some great nonfiction titles out there.
Up until this spring, i’ve mainly (99%) read and enjoyed fiction. However, the last 3 books that i’ve read have been non-fiction and i’ve REALLY enjoyed them! I am now planning on regularly adding non-fiction to my reading rotation!
I like both, of course, but I prefer fiction. Reading is entertainment for me, and fiction is usually more entertaining and transports me to another time/place (especially any book set in Tuscany–I can feel the sun on my skin, taste the wine in my mouth), which is why I’m reading in the first place
I LOVE BOTH, FACT AND FICTION. LOVE TO GET LOST IN GOOD SEXY FICTION AND STORY. LOVED UNBROKEN, AND ALSO LOVED MATTERHORN. WAR STORIES ARE RIVITING I JUST LOVE TO READ! MY LIBRARY LOVES ME!
I prefer fiction for the element of escape it provides for me, but do enjoy reading non-fiction to broaden my knowledge of a person, culture, etc.
I enjoy non-fiction, but read a lot more fiction because often they are more entertaining and can choose whatever genre you feel like visiting at that time.
I am an almost exclusively non-fiction reader, as non-fiction satisfies my hunger for learning about our complex world–past, present, and future. I don’t deny that much can be learned from fiction–and, indeed, my favorite book of all time is a novel, “The Grapes of Wrath”–but in the end, it’s the non-fiction that speaks to my eclectic interests. Many people speak of fiction as a place to which they “escape”–funny, but I feel that I can escape into fact in the same fashion, and, perhaps, for the same reasons.
I love historical fiction. It is the best of both worlds. You learn from the historical part, yet it usually has enough fiction in it to make it even more interesting.
I mostly read fiction. Nothing beats a great story, so every once in a while I’m lucky enough to find a great non-fiction book that grabs my attention and doesn’t let it go!
I prefer fiction because it helps me to escape the stresses of everyday life as well as being a form of entertainment.
I prefer fiction. It just takes me away to where the book is going to.
fiction, my life is crazy enough and I like to escape into a book.
FICTION! I read to escape from everyday life, so I don’t usually like non-fiction. However, there are always exceptions! Fiction…..take me away!!
It really depends on the book. I read mainly fiction, but sometimes fact is stranger than fiction!
I prefer fiction as a rule because it helps me to escape, but lately I have been reading non-fiction and I am surprised at how much I enjoy it.
I prefer a good story, with a strong voice and vivid setting. Period. I most frequently find these things in fiction.
I love fiction, especially thrillers and mysteries. The amount of imagination it takes to think up and flesh out a complicated story of intrigue is amazing to me and often keeps me very captivated and lost in the story. However, nonfiction of historic events written up as somewhat fiction stories, such as Erik Larson writes, come in a close second and are almost always on my to read list.
Fiction! It’s my “therapy” and where I can truly escape reality. Our book club has read some great non-fiction books, and I’m glad to be forced to read them….once in awhile!
I love both: “Unbroken” was a recent favorite: but in general, the emotional truth in fiction is what touches my core.
While I try to alternate reading a non-fiction for every fiction book, I prefer fiction. While there are a great many non-fiction books that are amazing, there are absolutely no limits to the world of the fiction writer. You can even combine the real world in infinite combinations to create something new in a novel or short story. For every Lost City of Z, there is a novel like Fieldwork. I love both, but the writer in my has to proclaim fiction as the best!
fiction takes me away from my world and gives me another world to enjoy also.
I prefer whatever I am currently holding in my hands!
I prefer fiction. There’s nothing like an interesting well-written story with fully developed characters. Beats anything on T.V. most of the time, and you have a portable escape into another world anywhere you go. The best ones make you regret turning the last page, because the story is finished.
I like fictional stories based on real people and events. It is more entertaining to read about a person when they are talking and acting within the story setting rather than just stating facts towards you.
I read fiction most of the time, but love well-written, interesting non-fiction. Our book club, which has been all-fiction, has just chosen 3 non-fictions to add to our list of selections for next year. I am looking forward to the discussions.
Hey, no fair. How can a person pick fact over fiction and leave it at that?
Some days I like to curl up with a good fiction book (perhaps a mystery);
other times there are non-fiction books that reflect perfectly the day’s news and what we are interested in or worried about today.
Sometimes I think you don’t play fair!!
Fiction is my first choice. But I also read anything related to the history, people, and the natural resources of the mid-west state I live in.
I am a mood reader and usually prefer fiction, but I am discovering that you can find some great “stories” in non fiction as well.
When picking my next read, I reach for fiction. I love to place myself inside the story and be transported to other times and other places.
I read both, often discovering new fiction authors who have influenced the subjects in the non-fiction bios and memoirs I’m reading.
I generally prefer the escape of fiction. I do read nonfiction on occasion-usually because its a book club pick!
Hard to say … I really read both equally. I love history, so historical fiction is great … but then again, Stephen Ambrose, Erik Larson, and Hampton Sides are excellent nonfiction writers.
I love reading for the pure joy of reading; I’ve been that way since I learned to read. While I enjoy reading fiction to go to places I probably wouldn’t get to see otherwise and to escape from my everyday life, I actually prefer reading nonfiction. I love to discover the backstory behind someone I admire or something I may have heard/read about my entire life. One of the most intriguing books I have ever read was Samuel Goldwyn’s biography. It detailed his start in life and how he emigrated to the United States and got work as a glove-make [Gloversville, NY]. It explores how Hollywood got started; that part in itself was extremely interesting. A little-known fact is that although his name was in on the company, he was pushed out and never had a hand in his own company. How sad is that? I love learning tidbits of information like that. Another intriguing book was about Preston Tucker, later made into a moving starring Jeff Bridges. It is incredible that Tucker came up with all sorts of safety features and other ideas that were well ahead of their time. Unfortunately, they did not come to full fruition because the big 3 automakers didn’t want the competition. There are an infinite variety of nonfiction books similar to these. Sometimes, real life is stranger than fiction!
I prefer fiction because it allows me to escape from the real world and explore and “experience” things that I wouldn’t see in my world.
I prefer fiction to fact. First of all, I find biographies, autobiographies and memoirs less than honest. Authors inadvertently try to tell a better story by punching up the facts somewhat and making a more incredible story. Fiction is always the truth. You can find philosophy, psychology, history, science, law, humor, life lessons, true character and all that is relevant to humankind in a well told fictional tale. Fiction is more real than fact!
In general I prefer non-fiction, because no matter how fantastic or amazing the story, it’s extremely interesting because it’s true. I do enjoy well-written fiction, as long as the ending is not too contrived or predictable.
I enjoy fiction since it allows me to imagine, transports me to other realms and is pure entertainment.
I love both fiction and nonfiction, but at different times. In the summer, I prefer fiction. In the winter, nonfiction is my choice. Nonfiction is generally meatier and more interesting than most fiction.
I do read some non-fiction if it’s a topic I am interested in- but I really enjoy fiction more because it gives me an opportunity to escape into another world – which helps me to relax and expand my mind.
I like both. Fiction gives me a chance to enjoy reading for pleasure and adventure while non-fiction gives me a chance to identify or hear other people’s perspectives, problems and ideas.
I prefer fiction and the wondrous adventures I can go on as I immerse myself in the tales; but as a retired pastor, I also do considerable reading in non-fiction as it contributes to my spiritual journey.
I prefer fiction, mostly historical fiction, because I like to be taken back in time to see how others lived during certain periods of time. I occasionally will read non-fiction for a change of pace.
Ah, a real toss-up. But the historian in me goes for non-fiction. I love facts and I love reading about real people.
Both. I like to read fiction as a means to escape the stress and relax into another world. I like to read non-fiction as a way to learn about other people and about the world around us.
I would say fiction, only because I need an escape frequently. I do really enjoy non-fiction, but tend to gravitate towards the fiction genre.
I enjoy non fiction more than fiction
but do read both.
i do like inspirational fiction because there is always a moral there to learn.
I go back and forth. Right now I prefer fiction so I can get lost in a book. For me, it’s a stress-reliever and an escape, and it works.
I like both fiction and non-fiction however I find fiction much more exciting because your imagination runs wild and for the most part the stories are much more detailed and not as boring as non-fiction.
The best if non-fiction that READS as smoothly as fiction (i.e. – David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin).
I prefer fiction generally, it’s usually better written, not as pretentious, and if I get the rare chance to read (being a mom, working full time, going to school part time) then I want to ESCAPE!
I prefer fiction, mainly about survival. This can also include some non-fiction. In both cases, I have totally escaped my stresses in life and have often learned a few things!
I prefer to read fiction, but if a good non-fiction book comes along, I’m more than willing to give it a try. Of course, I also enjoy a fiction book that’s based on fact every now and then, too.
Usually I prefer fiction but have read a number of nonfiction books lately for book club that were very good. Historical fiction is very informative and usually easier to read than nonfiction. It also makes me research some of the events for further information.
Whether I prefer fiction or nonfiction depends on my ‘reading’ mood. I like a rousing suspense or light romance. In the nonfiction realm, I like to read books about history or biographies.
I love both, but I am always looking for the latest non-fiction. Celebrities bio’s and people that have survived horrendous upbringing’s or escapes from holocost’s, etc.
I enjoy fiction and non-fiction both. However, I have found that I especially like fiction that transports the reader into another culture and another time and place. Examples would be:
“The Piano Teacher,” by Janice Y. K. Lee
“Shanghai Girls,” by Lisa See
“Daughter of Fortune” by Isabel Allende.
Except for Lee, whose book is a first novel, the other two writers have many other excellent novels that educate as well as entertain.
I prefer fiction, my life is already non-fiction and could use a little balance with a good, can’t put it down, fictional trip.
A tie because both fill a need. Non-fiction satisfies my love of history and reading about people who make a real difference in the world and fiction because of my creative side. Thomas Kinkade, Nicholas Evans, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Lisa Gardner and Jodi Picoult all create such wonderful characters and plots with twists and turns that keep me up all night long.
I read fiction and nonfiction, but prefer a good novel — mystery or thriller — most of all.
I like both depending on my mood but mostly fiction.
I like both fiction and non-fiction, but mostly things historical, because I am a big fan of history (love museums too!). I am also a fan of nature guide books, because we live in the midst of nature and it’s good to know what’s out there!
I read more fiction than non-fiction, mainly because I love to get caught up in a wonderful story line. I also enjoy reading a good non-fiction book, especially historical.
I like both fact and fiction, but when it comes to being entertained (rather than informed), give me a good (fiction) novel any day.
Primarily I read fiction to be entertained, but I also read nonfiction when I find an interesting book that entertains and informs.
I prefer reading fiction, as it gives me an escape and free entry into other worlds, other lives, and other historical periods.
I read more fiction, but love a good non-fiction book that both informs and entertains!
I prefer non-fiction because I can learn from these particular books vs.
reading as a means of escaping.
I prefer fiction. If it’s a really good book, I can completely lose myself in the characters, becoming oblivious to everything and everyone around me. I usually have a non-fiction book going also, tho, that I can pick up at random, unlike good fiction that draws me in and doesn’t let go.
My preference is whatever I am reading at that moment. I read both fiction and non-fiction because they both are interesting and entertaining.
I really prefer fiction. I enjoy reading fantasy and it takes me away from my pain. I also love to read biographies. When I hear about someone interesting I like to know more about them. Thank you.
makeupgirl21@comcast.net
non-fiction
Fiction usually grabs my attention more than non-fiction, and it’s “safer.” I get very attached to the characters in a good story and grieve if they die. Novels that are imaginative can be just as inspiring as memoirs and biographies, but they are not confined to actual events, footnotes, and verifiable documentation. That said, I have read and thoroughly enjoyed many non-fiction books because they were succinctly written and conveyed a message of hope without hype.
I read mostly fiction-I like how stories can unfold in fiction & I do enjoy a complete ending. I have been reading a lot of non-fiction as well: it keeps my love of learning alive.
Really prefer Non-fiction but do read both. I am not Jewish nor have relatives who were in the Holocaust but I have read and am still reading about the atrocities and heroism of that period. Also, love the books on Rwanda, Kenya, Palestine, etc. and the issues they have endured and come out of better for it all. Also, travel memoirs, especially of places I have visited.
That’s a tough question – it really depends on my mood at the moment. If I feel like learning about something new I choose non-fiction. If I feel like being entertained, taken away for a short time, I like fiction. Fiction usually wins out!
I really enjoy fiction more, even though I agree that truth can be more mind-boggling. The story lines of non-fiction or biographies don’t keep my interest as well. I find it’s something I can put down and not care if I ever pick up again, unlike fiction.
I enjoy both fiction and nonfiction. Its like peeking into someone elses life where I can learn from their mistakes or go place
s I would not normally go.
I love both fiction and nonfiction. Well written fiction books bring characters to life — they are real to me within the pages of the book, and often even after I finish the book. Well written non fiction books show us that people — well known or “ordinary” — have fascinating stories to tell.
I prefer fiction, mostly because I just love beautiful, lyrical and descriptive prose, along with awesome character development. I’m not really a plot driven reader. It’s all about the writing for me. I do occasionally read nonfiction, if it’s a subject that interests me. I’m also a book group coordinator, and for the most part, book clubs prefer fiction because of the character development, conflict and analysis. Also, many controversial subjects can be found in fiction.
I prefer fiction. Initially it was because I struggle to read a book without a plot line. I realize that now there is much non-fiction which is as carefully crafted as any novel, but my habit is firmly entrenched. I sometimes make an exception for a memoir. Fiction is also what I write.
I prefer fiction (although I do also enjoy memoirs) because I feel that there is more universal truth found in fiction than anywhere else. Those particular characters and stories might be fabricated, but the best ones can tell us the most about ourselves and our lives.
I enjoy both, but tend to favor fiction. It’s cause of the crafty imagination in fiction that keeps me looking for more.
Any book that looks at the question of meaning … usually biography and non-fiction books address this profound question, but not necessarily directly, letting the reader form her opinion. Illuminating!
I enjoy both, depending on my mood .. historical fiction teaches as well as lets me escape from everyday issues.
I enjoy both genres. For fiction, I love a good thriller but have also enjoyed book-discussion-type books. I also love a good nonfiction book such as The River of Doubt and John Adams. The three books to win sound very interesting. Thanks for this opportunity.
I love both! I love reading about the made-up world, the close to reality world, the so-far-fetched-there’s-no-way-it-can-be-true world, but I also love reading about the world that once used to be, the world that really is out there, and perhaps a glimpse of the world that just may become. I can’t choose. I’m sucked into reading British History right now, as well as delving into the world of The Help. Two sides of the world, both at the same time. I can’t get enough.
I prefer fiction and the book can be based on history and facts,but no non-fiction unless it is an autobiography by the person themselves not some author that exploits the personespecially after their death. Most get the true facts wrong.
I actually prefer a little of both, historical fiction. When I read historical fiction, I get to learn something from the past as well as enjoy the journey of those who may have traveled during such times. Writers of historical fiction do a lot of research and usually put forth great pains in keeping details accurate. Therefore, I get the best of both worlds when I read historicle fiction, the facts (non fiction) and the fantasy (fiction).
I prefer fiction. It is amazing to me how other people think. Fiction helps me realize that one can never REALLY know someone else – there is always an infintesimal part of anyone that only they know or will ever know.
Most of the time I prefer fiction. I was a history teacher for 34 years and read non-fiction a lot in preparation for teaching lessons. But then I developed an International Humanities course for high school students, and included a lot of fiction in order to get their minds fertilized about what could have been and what should be. I love literary fiction that references multiple aspects of the human condition, and find that people learn much more from identifying with characters rather than just facts.
I rather fiction instead of non-fiction, because sometimes non-fiction to me can be monotonous.
I tend to go in phases of reading nonfiction and then I switch to fiction. Right now I’m in an “anticipating summer and wanting light beach reads” mode! I’ll probably read several of those and then crave some heavier nonfiction/biographies. Over all, I’m a mystery lover and a historical fiction lover.
That’s like trying to pick a favorite child! I love books in general and have preferred each at different times. I used to read only fiction because it was an escape, but now that I’m older & happier, I read more non-fiction. I have more of a sense of history and how our nation was formed and I like to read the stories of the people who made us what we are today. I still escape into fiction, but not all of the time.
Love FICTION, I read to escape my everyday woes, so need to read about others!
I prefer fiction, though I am not sure there is as much of a distinction between the two genres. Some of the best “fiction” I have read seems very “real”, such as Mystic River and This is Where I Leave You. And good non fiction can read like a novel. I think of examples like Unbroken and Cocaine’s Son.
I love to read and do it every available moment, so I read both fiction and nonfiction. Years ago, there was a magazine whose slogan was “Truth is stranger than fiction” and I have always felt that way. I lean towards nonfiction as being more informative and entertaining.
Since I’m a librarian I try to read all types and genres of books. I do generally read both fiction and nonfiction. I certainly have customers that ask for my suggestions of both. I love to read the newest books so that I can suggest new items to customers.
fiction, most of the time, but the occasional non-fiction is helpful to one’s sanity.
I am definitely a fiction reader. I think it goes back to being an english major and also I just prefer novels. I do read non-fiction from time-to-time,when I come across a review that piques my interest or if it is a subject I am interested in. Recently I have read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and The Foremost Good Fortune because I have a Chinese daughter and I am very interested in the topic. I also hope to reda Lost in Shangri La.
I primarily read fiction with occasional forays into non-fiction. I particularly like historical fiction and mysteries and blends of the two. Over the past year, I’ve started to improve my experience of the classics and international writing. All in all, I love to read and always have a book near by. There is so much out there to enjoy.
Fiction primarily but I read both. I especially enjoy historical fiction. I appreciate the way an author can weave an interesting story amongst historical facts.
I prefer Fiction because I can escape into the novel while I am reading it. I like non fiction books too but sometimes I don’t like to read the whole truth on some things.
I used to exclusively read fiction but over the past decade I have really come to enjoy non-fiction as well. I think it started after 9/11 when I was trying to get my hands on as much information as I could on a part of the world I- and we as a country- knew practically nothing about and wanted to understand. Now I’d say I read about 2 or 3 non-fiction works for every 10 books of fiction. That balance works well for me.
Fiction – I prefer the fantastical and unusual although I do enjoy the occasional non-fiction book
While I love both fiction and nonfiction, I tend to read books that are fiction based in fact, ie, historical fiction.
I tend to read more fiction. I like those books that completely take me away, but recently I’ve been trying to read outside of my comfort zone and have branched into non-fiction. I’m finding that I like to read about people’s lives to. Everybody has a story to tell.
I like fiction because it is my escape from the real world and the troubles and depression. I know it isn’t real but it is great to dream about it!!
I usually read fiction. But recently a few people recommended
“Secret Gift” by Ted Gup. I’m reading it now and learning so
much about the Depression era. I’ve heard a lot of “Depression”
stories from my parents and grandparents over the years but
this is a new perspective and a new setting, Canton, Ohio.
I highly recommend it. And it reads like fiction. Sometimes
nonfiction can be weighted down with facts.
Even as a librarian, reading both fiction and nonfiction, I prefer fiction. I like the escape. Olivia
How to choose between fiction and nonfiction since each portrays the truth, only each in a different guise.
I tend to bounce back and forth between fiction and nonfiction. When I was reading during a commute, the heavier nonfiction didn’t work too well, so I was mostly reading fiction for awhile, but hope to get back to more nonfiction soon.
FICTION….it is my escape…several books a week…
For a long time in my life, I read almost non-fiction books! Now, about
all I read are fiction books. When I read, I want an escape from
reality and to be absorbed into the characters and plot…
Many thanks, Cindi
I prefer fiction. It’s fun to explore places/ideas that in reality are too scary or too unsafe to be in.
I prefer historical fiction
About 75 percent of the books I read are fiction because I love to lose myself in the stories and the characters. However, I also enjoy non-fiction books. There is really no rhyme nor reason on how I select a book of that genre. If the subject matter piques my interest I add it to my list of books to read.
I like fiction best because I usually want to escape my reality when I read. Characters in fiction can go anywhere with their ends in an author’s hands and I can delve into their minds because the author has full power to create their thoughts and personalities.
I generally focus on fiction as I want to be carried away but I’ve found great reads in non-fiction like the recent book about Henrietta Lacks. It’s great to mix it up, making discoveries along the way.
I prefer fiction. I believe this to be so because I am still a student in college and have to read A LOT of non-fiction, AKA, textbooks. I like to go on an imaginary adventure. Although, NF can also take you on an adventure, I prefer fiction over non, but have been known to read both (by choice
) on occasion.
I used to read a bit more fiction than non-fiction, however, as I get older I tend to read novels paired up with works of non-fiction. That seems to work really well. I’m currently reading In the Garden of the Beast (non-fiction) by Erik Larson (author of Devil In the White City) and just finished Eden Springs (fiction) by Michigan author Laura Kisischke.
I like both fiction and non-fiction. I’m an avid reader and at times more than one book, so I like to read a different genre. I really enjoy memoirs and also travel, humor and such, as well as the latest bestseller.
Thank you for the entry! Have a great day.
I like to read both, but nothing beats a great fiction “escape”!
It is really hard to say because it depends on whose writing it, but if I had to pick only one then it would be fiction.
Both fiction and non-fiction suit my taste
I like both fiction and non-fiction and will alternate reading them. When I read a good non-fiction book, I’ll add it to our Staff Picks display. Recently, I’ve read several memoirs.
My favorite books to read are fiction, but an occasional non-fiction book might slip it’s way in.
Fiction is my thing, because it’s a way to escape the stress of real life. While I appreciate non-fiction, the best escape for me is to be an armchair detective, helping to right all the crimes of the world.
I love reading just about anything, but here’s what usually happens. I am reading fiction, and something in the story catches my interest, and I go Googling to find out more information about it. That usually leads to some interesting information, sometimes historical, sometimes based on truth, sometimes just things I didn’t know. Whichever it is, I am always learning something new!
I prefer to read nonfiction, yet my favorite books seem to be fiction. Either is welcome if the story is good.
I love a particular kind of non-fiction. I am an avid reader of memoirs!
Every person, even someone I’ve never heard of. has an interesting story. I will read anyone’s memoir. Maybe it’s because a good memoir reads like a good novel.
I prefer fiction to non-fiction because you can embellish your prose to make a character stand out and tell the story from different points of view. Also when you write non-fiction some of the characters may resent what you perceive about them and cause you all sorts of problems.
Most of the time I read fiction BUT I always make sure I read some timely nonfiction because I love good journalism almost as much as I love reading!
I have to say, I enjoy them equally. Non-fiction has improved so much in the past few years, that I find them so entertaining and informative.
I spent most of my life reading nonfiction self-help books in the belief that I could always improve on myself. Then, finally, at the tender age of 60, I came to realize, quite by accident, that you can learn and benefit as much by reading fiction (especially mysteries) as you can by reading nonfiction. I spent several weeks taking a writing course at a college of Oxford University and there was introduced to authors including Arthur Conan Doyle (with whom I’d had only a passing acquaintance until this time), P.D. James, Dorothy Sayers, Patricia Highsmith, Ruth Rendell, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Colin Dexter, etc. I was fascinated by their novels and the things I grew to understand from reading them — things about life, things about British culture, lessons in plotting, story lines, character development. All of it invaluable!
I have read fiction and have loved reading mysteries since I was about 10 years old and discovered NANCY DREW; Through out my reading life 70 plus years, I have read a variety of books but still to this day, mysteries from the USA to Iceland to the UK to FINLAND and SCANDINAVIA and other countries in this wide world have captured my reading fancy should make that FANTASY.
I prefer fiction because I’m most interested in story. Writers have more options available to tell a story when they don’t have to worry about sticking to the facts, although I’ve found that the fiction I like best sticks close to “truth” even though it’s made up.
I prefer fiction–especially British Mysteries/Detectives. Being an Anglophile and Beatles fan, I love all things British. Love to be taken out of myself-can do “real life” anytime. Need an escape across the pond once in a while.
I prefer fiction for the whole escape and adventure. I like tales that take place in real places, or historical fiction.
I do love a good autobiography or biography also.
And a good true life mystery.
And self help books, financial books, history books.
Hmm-mm. Come to think of it, I just love to read anything.
Fiction – I love to get lost in the pages and escape the real world for a while.
While I enjoy fiction I am intrigued by many non fiction books because they tell me a story that I would have never heard unless I knew the teller.
I have preferred fiction for my reading whether I love a light book or a dark heavy book. Being older I have now stepped into non-fiction and to my surprise, love it! I just read “On The Wings of Eagles” by Ken Follett and couldn’t put it down, read it in 2 days. Major fan of Follett with “Pillars of the Earth” and it’s sequel.
Also reading “Eat the cookie buy the shoes” by Joyce Meyer, shes brutually honest and very funny.
I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction but probably read more fiction. I
enjoy reading about people and how they deal with situations they
are placed in during their lives.
I prefer fiction because I like my reading time to be an escape from the world as we know it. But I’ll read anything!
I read and like both. For enjoyment, I prefer fiction with a happy ending!
I prefer fiction because it is a great escape from real life. However, real life can certainly be better than fiction sometimes!
its hard to choose, i read both. i enjoy a good action, fast paced story.
I prefer non-fiction because the events actually happened and the people are/were real. It’s easy for me to get lost in a novel, but what I would really like is to get lost into a memoir. Where the people actually lived and breath, and I know that there can be a real-life happily-ever-after.
I read much more fiction than non-fiction. If well done, fiction reveals more about human nature and truths about who we are. Non-fiction deals with facts from which truth can be gleaned. I prefer the limitless possibilities of imagination in fiction writing.
I prefer nonfiction, because the truth is usually stranger than fiction. If you made up the truth, no one would believe it!
I LOVE reading anything that takes me away from REAL drama of the world. And, both fiction and non-fiction (the ones I pick are usually about positive and happy ‘things!) can achieve this. Guilty pleasures are usually frilly chick fiction but I also enjoy the though-provoking religion/self-help types. Anything that takes me away and gets me thinking….if I had to choose one I’d say FICTION – it’s limitless!
I like both…it just depends on the mood I’m in. I am fascinated by authors who have the gift of being able to dream up ideas for fiction and then present it to their readers, totally absorbing them in the story.
As of late, I have been reading memoirs. I love hearing about the real lives of others, and the lessons that those memoirs teach.
Although I tend to read more fiction than non-fiction, what draws me most to a book is the story that is told, and how it is told. Books like “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and “Seabiscuit” are non-fiction, and while I wouldn’t consider myself a particular fan of either true crime or sports/horseracing books, each of these books told a fascinating story in a wonderful way.
In anywhere from a piece of fiction subtlety to fiction grandiose, I revel in being transcended through an almost real unreality.
I prefer fiction because it offers the best escape from the real world!
I prefer fiction because i like being transfered to another time and place where i can lose mysekf.
I enjoy both fiction and non fiction along with memoirs but guess my favorite is non fiction. Just like to read period!
Wow. Tough decision. I like to read both kinds of books. I like to read fiction because it takes me away and I don’t have to think about anything. I like to read non-fiction because it is real and it makes me think! It just depends on the mood I am in!
I prefer non fiction since I feel that I learn more from this type of book. I can also compare myself and my life with the situations in the story.
I prefer fiction to non-fiction because, honestly, the pacing is often quicker and writers are more apt to cut out the excess in fiction since they’re not so married to it as their own personal experience.
I prefer fiction….It is interesting to be taken away to different places and ways of life.
fiction to me is more relaxing.non-fiction can at times be a bore…i read and enjoy both.
Like most readaholics, any kind of print I will devour. But if I had to choose I would say fiction because it lets me lose myself in the story along with the characters. Every book has its purpose so I hate to eliminate any genre and make it feel left out. My moods change and that is when I will pull a different kind of book from my very abundant shelves!
I prefer fiction but would read non-fiction if I thought it would be entertaining enough, because that is what I read for…entertainment.
I will read anything, but love to escape my daily existence with fiction. With fiction, I can experience realms of experience far beyond my reality!
I prefer fiction to non-fiction because I want to be entertained rather than educated. I’ll read non-fiction but usually only if it’s a biography or autobiography that reads like a tabloid or a novel.
I probably read more fiction but enjoy non-fiction also. I enjoy seeing
how authors develop their characters and make them come alive for the
reader.
I prefer fiction. There’s nothing like reading a novel that makes you want to just keep turning the pages until you start getting close to the end and then you slow down so that it doesn’t end.
I prefer fiction. I enjoy the escape that a good novel provides. Plus, fiction can often enlighten me as much as a nonfiction book might.
I read fiction and non-fiction almost equally. A well-researched fictional book is as much of a learning experience as non-fiction. I read to be entertained but also to be enriched.
I love being immersed in the drama of another time and place.
Fiction will always be my favorite although I do enjoy reading an engaging memoir.
I LOVE fiction … especially fictional history set around the world of art, music or literature … my college major and passions!
That’s a hard one as I like both but probably read more fiction. Historical fiction is a bit of both which I also enjoy
I like to read both fiction & nonfiction. I probably enjoy historical fictions the most.
I always have a nonfiction book and at least one novel going simultaneously. I prefer fiction, however, because it’s a lighter read and I can relax with it in the evening.
I prefer fiction. If I read nonfiction it is usually a biography or a book about a famous murder.
I was an avid fiction reader, but read mostly non fiction now. Sapere aude!
I’m a fiction lover……with an occasional non-fiction thrown in …..but for me I like the escape and wonder that fiction can inspire.
Fiction is my favorite.I want to escape reality and enjoy stories not the people and things that are on the daily news.
I prefer well-written fiction or non.
I prefer well-written fiction or non-.
I like anything that’s well-writte1
It depends on my mood and the subject. All things being equal I prefer fiction to non-fiction, just because it is more entertaining to me, but if the subject really interests me, the non-fiction book will always win hands down.
I would tend to choose fiction – to escape into another world for awhile.
While I do read both, I would say that I prefer fiction a little more. It’s like taking a time out from time to time.
I prefer nonfiction. I like travel memoirs, memoirs, biographies, journals, ethnographies the best! I love stepping into someone else’s shoes, seeing their point of view, and gaining insight. I love to travel the world and experience other cultures after work. Mind you, I would love to actually do the travel, but work calls! I adore reading of others struggles, esp. when they triumph. It makes you appreciate what you have.
While I read fiction and nonfiction, I prefer to read fiction. Reading for me is an escape, a chance to step outside of my life and into the mind and world of another. I find that fiction allows me the opportunity to escape. I do however find that nonfiction books can be inspiring, they tend to stay in my mind and thoughts longer.
I enjoy both fiction & nonfiction, but historical fiction peeks my interest the most.
I prefer fiction. It’s a great way to escape after a long day after my non-fiction job. Books can take you places you’ve never been, places you’d love to go and places you’d never want to go.
I prefer fiction because I like to think that the sometimes horrific things that happen to people in books are not the sort of thing that would happen to people in real life, and it helps relieve my jealousy of the perfect lives of fictional characters because they aren’t real people and I don’t have to compete with them.
I enjoy non-fiction emensly, learning about various timeperios and the way people seen and enjoyed life,the actual facts of history taking place and how the characters lived, loved, laugh and the time periods of various parts of the world.
Fiction takes me to a mysterious place in time, and I am captured by the authors imagination.
I like both but if I had to choose I would say fiction. I enjoy being able to escape reality for a little while. Its a great way to relax and dream of what could be
I enjoy fiction because the story is fully under the control of the author. Until you get the the last page, the ending can go in any direction. I love picking up a book just because the title sounds interesting and being completely surprised. Also, if I don’t like the way things turn out, I can play the “what if” game, and create my own outcomes that would happen if only he didn’t walk through that door, or picked up that phone call.
I usually prefer fiction, but don’t exclude fact if I’m interested in the subject.
I say fiction! However, I must also that by exploring all options and reading nonfiction as well as fiction I find some true stories are more fantastic, exhilarating, and at times unbelievable as any fiction so I would never limit myself to one or the other.
I prefer fiction…I love to get lost in the story. I read some non-fiction, most often auto-biographies.
It depends on the story, if it intrigues me. I like real stories, such as The Big Burn and historical fiction as well. I particularly enjoy thriller genres such as mystery and suspense, say like Dan Brown’s books.
I prefer non-fiction. I love biographies because I am interested in how other people live their lives and also how they achieved success and/or fame in their lives. I also love true stories. It has to be true for me to want to read it. Occasionally I will read fiction, but non-fiction is always my first choice.
i love anything about the civil war i also like autobiography .gene
I tend to prefer fiction. There are several series that I follow where it’s enjoyable to see the character(s) develop and face a variety of situations.
Fiction! I do like to read non-fiction, but so much of fiction seems to be based on incidents, stories or fragments of authors’ lives…why not have the best of both worlds! My husband and I are devote Angliophiles, retired librarians and run a used bookstore. Historical fiction is a must for both of us. It takes us to other places while instilling some wonderful ideas and feelings. Kindles are nice, but long live a book that can be held in one’s hands!
I like both, but lately have been reading more non fiction.
I love fiction, especially fiction that is written in beautiful prose. I enjoy the creativity, the development of characters. And I feel like I learn from reading fiction, as many authors reveal much about their own emotional inner life through fiction than they ever would in non-fiction. I like many memoirs, for much the same reason.
It is true- truth is stranger than fiction. For this reason, I love a well told non fiction narrative. As they say, you just can’t make this stuff up! You can learn something and be captivated by a suspenseful, well told true tale at the same time.
Fiction because you just never know which direction a story will travel to.
Mostly I prefer fiction, but a well written non-fiction can be just as captivating. I especially like fiction that is based on some known event and embellished by “what might have happened”.
I love both! Fiction can take you away to almost any place! Non-fiction can relate a story about something you may have never heard anything about. I love to read!
I like fiction because it transports me to a world that I find different from the everyday. I can be depressed by the terrible things that are happening around me and a fiction book sends me to another planet or another era etc.
Fiction! It takes me away from the every day routines of life and drops me in the middle of a mystery, romance or a suspenful situation.
I must say fiction; however, I do enjoy nonfiction. Historical fiction is my absolute favorite. I just love being taken to another time and place!
I tend to enjoy non-fiction, as I can learn new things and impart the knowledge to others. It gives me a sense of purpose that I can be productive while doing something relaxing as reading for pleasure. Now and then, I will dip into a fictional story to “clear my mind” and escape from reality. Reading is such a powerful activity, as it lends itself to almost any outcome.
I like fiction because I can be in places far and near, present, past and future, without leaving my favorite chair. I learn so much about the world through fiction.
I like non-fiction, fact because I like to read about people in history and not a “fictionalized” account of what the author made up.
I really am a lover of fiction, but I do appreciate an occasional non-fiction book. Especially really good ones, like my current read, John Adams by David McCullough.
Generally I prefer fiction as it allows me to lose myself in the story line.
Fiction first! There’s nothing quite like the creative web authors weave as they unfold their stories. I love being thoroughly immersed in a well written book, taken on its journey and arrive at an ending that pulls it all together. The best, for me, is when a sentence or paragraph stops me cold because it has hit me so profoundly that I have to close the book for a bit and think about it.
The older I get the more I enjoy non-fiction. That said, fiction does add a sparkle to my life.
Although I really enjoy reading non-fiction, particularly history books, I tend to choose novels when I am looking for something new to read. I find that all too often non-fiction books are just a collection of facts without a story that brings those events or people to life for me.
My vote would be for Fiction vs. Non-Fiction as I enjoy becoming lost in the story and like that the author can take liberties with the writing and change the book a bit to suit their taste, although I have recently read a bunch of great works of non-fiction.
I prefer fiction as I find the stories for the most part are more entertaining for me. That does not mean I don’t read and enjoy non-fiction periodically. I also prefer that w/ fiction I don’t know the ending whereas with many non fiction stories I frequently know how the story ends.
I have to say that I prefer fiction. However, I enjoy a good biography now and then too. Unfortunately, some non-fiction becomes “dated” rather quickly if it pertains to subjects such as current market trends. Bottom line is a good fiction novel never grows old, it just keeps providing pleasure for readers for many, many years to come.
Although I will read highly recommended nonfiction, I enjoy reading fiction more. Well-written fiction transports me to unlimited times, places, cultures, and inner lives of characters. Anything can happen, anything is possible.
I love the geography, time and space of nonfiction.
Well here we go again! just finished kristin hannaha’s new book Night Road, and cried my eyes out. Same with fire Fly Lane! this is why I adore fiction! All your frustations are carried away when u read a really good story. Made me feel like I washed my soul. LOVE,LOVE LOVE A GREAT STORY!!
I have a fundamental appreciation for both factual and fiction books and take the Albert Einstein approach to which book I choose and why Factual reading is necessary at times, however, as Einstein says, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” I believe that to be true.
I prefer reading great fiction to bad fiction and bad non-fiction. I also prefer reading great non-fiction to bad fiction and non-fiction. But abysmally bad fiction and non-fiction are preferable to mediocre stuff – at least you can get a good laugh. Note: I count autobiography as fiction.
I’ve always been a fiction fan. I read to get away from my everyday life and into someone else’s, but not someone real! Give me the made-up world any day, where almost always things turn out ‘Happily Ever After”!
I usually prefer fiction, mysteries are my favorite, but sweet christian fiction is very relaxing…i am learning to love non fiction, mostly biographies, and history, not so much the self help stuff…too much to digest…
I definitely prefer fiction, it gets me out of my head further, escapism at its best.
I much prefer fiction when it takes me somewhere! But non-fiction is great too, when it is the subject perfect for the reader. thanks for the chance to win these!
Although I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction, I suppose my preference goes to fiction. How liberating to escape reality once in awhile and get lost in a great story. I must say say that I find some autobiographies absolutely fascinating and highly enjoyable, but if I have to choose, again my choice is fiction.
Actually, I like both very much. I love fiction because of the escapism factor. Fiction allows your mind to sink into another place or into another time as you embrace the story. Fiction can fill you with images and creations from another person’s mind building a unique connection that you can only find in fiction writing.
Non-Fiction focuses the reader on grounded realism. Non-fiction allows you to learn about other people or situations aside from your own, but it can also unite people with understanding, knowledge and a sense of connectedness. Writers share their experiences or that of others which give a reader the sense they are not alone in their feelings, experiences, and perceptions. Non-fiction is a journey of learning, acceptance, and wisdom the writer shares with his or her readers in a form like no other.
I read both fiction and non-fiction but I prefer to fiction because there is no expectation of believability. I can immerse myself in a good story and let my imagination run with it.
Non fiction is an interpretative what happened. Fiction is what can happen, what would happen and what might have happened. Fiction is my choice.
I prefer fiction for the connection it makes to the author’s mind. In nonfiction, the writer is more restricted by obviously having to stick to the facts, even though the information can be presetned in a compelling fashion. In fiction, we’re treated to the inner workings of the author’s mind, how she or he fashions the story, what choices are being made each step of the way: I find fiction to really be an intimate encounter with the author.
I like both, but if I had to choose I would pick fiction. I like being swept away in a fantasy now and then.
Fiction! I like the story element to fiction….. it sparks the imagination in a way that non fiction can not.
I am an avid reader but prefer fiction over fact. When I read it is normally for pleasure and if for facts i prefer to see a bibliography accompanying the work. Lately I have picked up some fiction that also have facts woven into the story.
I prefer fiction–it takes me away from the everyday life and lets me step into someplace new every time I open a good book!
I prefer fiction since I read for relaxation and don’t want to be too challenged.
I like both fiction and non-fiction, but both for the same reason; I like to read to escape my everyday life and experience new places, ideas, and events. I am 70 yrs old and have been an avid reader since the age of 6. Much of my school days life was spend in libraries where I found a limitless source of adventure, suspense, and knowledge. I have never lost the fascination of books.
I primarily enjoy fiction, but I like fiction with lots of history or real information in it. I’ve heard some people coining the word “faction.” Take Elizabeth Lowell, for instance. She always picks an art form of some kind – weaving, illuminated manuscripts, gemstone cutting, etc. Her stories are excellent and you get to learn about an interesting career, too. So, I love to learn and just find learning wrapped in a good fiction story more pleasant than picking up a text book.
If I am reading for pleasure, I prefer fiction, often what I call recreational fiction (without much redeeming value). But if someone has written a book about an interesting topic or I want to learn about a certain topic, then I am fine reading non-fiction. My book club is reading “The Concubine’s Daughter” and I am finding it a fascinating epic novel about the history of China with all its intrigues and hatreds from 1906 on.
I mostly read fiction books. But will pick up biographies or historical books I find interesting.
I love both fiction and nonfiction. Couldn’t survive without both. Books like The Coming Population Crash and Hot, Flat and Crowded keep one current and always learning. Books like The Red Garden and
The Birth of Venus are such well written books that life just must include them. Both !
Really am a fiction reader. It is pure escapism. I have very few non-fiction on the bookshelf.
I read whatever seems interesting. but it is mostly fiction. if i want to experience real life all i have to do is watch people, lol. most of the time people are funny. i have to be careful thought if i read too much i am trying to escape from something that i need to deal with. reading is one of the pure enjoyments i have ever experienced. i actually found myself in the romance section a few months ago because i was looking for a certain vampire series, i had to ask the librarian where this section was having never been down it, lol. read is so special that i am a volunteer literacy tutor and get a lot of joy out of this. reading is my life. i am getting up there but i want to see about schooling for library sciences. reading is truly FUNdemental.
Fiction is my preference. I like to escape from the real world. There are some non-fiction writers that I like such as Mary Roach and Sarah Vowell.
I usually read fiction but saw a review on Lost in Shagri La and just had to read it. By the way a great book.
I prefer fiction based on fact because you can get some idea of the real story, but know that it is not always true. It gives it a hint of a mystery based on facts.
I prefer fiction although often I don’t realize I’m reading non-fiction until someone tells me. I recently read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and I was halfway through the book before a friend told me it was true story!
I prefer fiction because reading a good story let’s you escape/experience so many things through the characters adventures especially if its not reality as we know it…
I usually read fiction for enjoyment, relaxation.
I usually prefer fiction, but some non-fiction true crime books have also been among my favorites.
Love non-fiction; save to use for research. It ‘s amazing how many times you can refer to a book no matter how distant the subject.