by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD, MFA
It seems as though the world is divided into two camps:
1) Those who believe that reading fiction is essential to life;
2) Those who believe that reading fiction is frivolous and shallow and serves only as an escape from reality.
To say that I belong to the first camp is quite obvious, since I am not only an avid reader of fiction, but I also write fiction. Plus, I would not have started this blog if I didn't think that reading fiction is absolutely essential to the well-being of readers and writers alike.
So how does reading fiction benefit you, the reader? Here are some proven reasons:
1) Reading fiction fosters empathy and compassion. If you tend to be on the lower end of the sensitivity spectrum, then reading fiction will help you to relate better to people.
Recent scientific studies reveal fascinating discoveries on the relationship between reading fiction and developing empathy in real-life relationships. These studies have shown that reading fiction activates the same parts of the brain that are activated in our efforts to understand those with whom we are in relationship.
Research psychologist Raymond Mar did an analysis of 86 fMRI studies and noticed a significant overlap in the areas of the brain that are used to understand fiction and the areas of the brain that are used to navigate our human relationships.
In his fascinating thesis study titled Exploring the Link between Reading Fiction and Empathy, Mar notes the following: "Exposure to fiction was positively correlated with social support. Exposure to nonfiction, in contrast, was associated with loneliness, and negatively related to social support."
One reason for this development of empathy by reading fiction is that when we read about the situations and feelings of the characters in a novel, it's as if we are feeling those feelings ourselves. Upon scanning the brains of fiction readers, it was discovered that, while reading fiction, their brains responded in nearly the same way as though the readers were actually living the very situations they were reading about.
2. Reading fiction relieves stress. It puts our brains into a relaxed state in which we can relax and unwind. After only a few minutes of silent reading, our heart rates slow and muscle tension diminishes.
3. Reading fiction helps us to navigate relationships. Dr. Keith Oatley, professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, says that "novels, stories and dramas can help us understand the complexities of social life." Indeed!
When we read about characters who apply certain principles to overcome their problems, we learn how to apply those same principles to our own lives to overcome our own problems. As writing coach Lisa Cron so aptly notes, "We don't turn to Story to escape reality; we turn to Story to navigate reality."
So the next time you are accused of being frivolous and shallow by reading fiction, politely give your accuser these three reasons above that prove reading fiction is good for your health.
One final caveat: While reading fiction is indeed good for your health, the fiction you read must show the triumph of good over evil. In other words, it must align with truth. If it does not align with truth, then, in the long run, it could be more harmful than good. So keep this in mind as you choose what authors and stories to read.
Now it's your turn. How has reading fiction been beneficial to your well-being? Please share your comments in the comment box below.
Until next time, keep reading!
Before you leave, be sure to check out my Goodreads Giveaway. I will be giving away 100 e-book copies of my popular, award-winning novel, IN BLACK AND WHITE.
First Place Winner in Historical Fiction in the 2020 Christian Indie Awards Contest, this novel is the story of a white woman, a black man, and their forbidden love.
Summary:
Can endurance and faith sustain the love between a white woman and a black man threatened by rejection, guilt, and racioal injustice? Can love alone reconcile their starkly different worlds, lighting the way to a bright future together?
When graduate student Tori Pendola, a white American woman, and Jebuni Kalitsi, a Ghanaian exchange student and heir to his tribe's chieftaincy, fall deeply in love, they must face not only their own inner demons of rejection and guilt but also the demons of societal hatred bent on destroying their relationships. Will their love survive the cruel and bitter attacks against them? Or will hatred and prejudice gain the upper hand?
In Black and White is a deeply moving story about the power of God's love to restore all that is broken in our lives.
Here is the link to enter the Giveaway:
ENTER GOODREADS GIVEAWAY HERE!
My Featured Novel of the Week . . .
The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky
Summary:
Two women—a century apart—embark on a journey to healing, faith, forgiveness, and romance.
In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England's Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford--the owner's handsome grandson--who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd's staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she's left searching for answers.
In 1912, after her father's death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte's grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.
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Sources cited:
___Mar, Raymond A., Oatley, Keith, and Peterson, Jordan B. "Exploring the link between reading fiction
and empathy: Ruling out individual differences
and examining outcomes."
___"Can Fiction Stories Make Us More Empathetic"
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