What is fiction?

Submitted by Stephanie Boothe on July 26, 2009 - 1:39pm

I'm getting ready to read "In Cold Blood," having given up on Chelsea Handler.
 
I admit, I'm more intrigued with how Truman Capote wrote this novel than the story behind it (although the story is compelling, too). The idea that he could remember all the details without taking notes on some of his subjects. I'm really excited to start this book because I've been telling myself FOREVER that I had to read it.
 
But before I start, I want to find out your opinion on Capote and other authors whose work has been challenged because people doubt the accuracy of the details.
 
Tim O'Brien and Frank McCourt come to mind. McCourt's autobiography "Angela's Ashes" is found in the autobiography section of the bookstore, but I remember when the book was in its prime that people doubted whether a 5-year-old could remember such vivid images.
 
O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" is billed as fiction, even though the author based his book on his real-life experiences. Some of the facts in the story are different than O'Brien's real life (he never killed a man during the war and has no children).
 
So here's my question. Is there a thin line between fiction and non-fiction or is it simply a black and white issue? Does an author have the luxury to stretched the truth in a story about his or her own life? And what if the story you're writing is true to the "best of your abilities?"
 
What is the difference between fiction and non-fiction in the retelling of story generally based on facts?

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Comments

Stephanie, I just got my newsletter from Columbia and it has a summer read that it encourages all incomming freshman to read, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hasseini. I googled it and read the reviews and was trying to figure out the Universities reasoning on its recommendation. It's based on a current events of the Afgan war and I assume the characters are fictional yet the story line of the cultural events for that place in the world could be very real. I think the Univ is trying to create a common subject and stimulate intellectual dialogue in an academic setting. We won't be seeing Blog University any time soon. I read the book was also made into a movie. I didn't see it, I wonder if it was Fox-worthy though

Submitted by dshrout on July 31, 2009 - 5:03pm.

I'll definitely have to check that out! Thanks so much for the recommendation!

Submitted by Stephanie Boothe on July 31, 2009 - 5:36pm.

....the difference between fiction and non fiction?........TRUTH.....writer's license?......bending the truth....changing the actual truth value from 100 percent to something less.....does a "watered down" version make for more interesting reading?.....depends on the writer.....I'm convinced that many times it may be a matter of "recall"......other times it may be an intentional attempt to alter "truth and reality"......to make a "good story".....maybe to "make some money".......there are many good fiction writers on this blog Stephanie......I'm sure they'll weigh in here and help us out....ROFL......I like James Patterson for fiction......purely indulging in a "story"......I like many books about "True Crime".....biographys....I read J.R. Tolkein in college......Les Miserables in the 90's.......so many books....so little time......good post by the way.....

eldoggg

Submitted by eldoggg on July 26, 2009 - 2:22pm.