Submitted by sadlegbeard t3_10vw7ia in books
I’ve noticed a lot of people who seem to have somewhat of an elitist attitude towards reading…like nonfiction is somehow superior. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I encountered this, and it baffles me.
I’m gonna be real…nonfiction can be dry as all hell to me. Some of it is really well written and engrossing, like Radium Girls by Kate Moore. I think this is an incredibly well done book, but still, I tear through fiction much faster.
Fiction can be just as educational, maybe even more so. I just finished The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer. Did I have some knowledge of WWII Poland going into this? Sure. I vaguely remember reading about the initial invasion and ghettos in school. *Vaguely*. There was nothing personal or human about it, not like a book that includes people and intimate details. I feel like it just sticks with me better, and probably does with a lot of people…actually reading about characters starving, being grateful for finding scraps of food in trash cans, and participating in the Uprisings somehow hits harder than that being reduced to a matter-of-fact sentence or two.
Historical fiction is my favorite genre for this reason. After essentially being pulled out of school at age 12, I am grateful for any opportunity to educate myself and so far I’ve found no better way.
This is just me of course, different things work for different people and I'm not trying to knock nonfiction in any way. It has its place, equal to fiction!