Sad, I know. People who know me find it mind boggling that I don't considering how good of a reader I am, how I'm so articulate and full of factoids, etc. but I never, ever read. As in you know, reading a fictional novel. I read newspapers, essays(political), non-fiction(mainly history), and even comic books a lot but I don't read fictional novels. I'm really picky. I can never find stories that are interesting enough. To me, reading about the real world seems more interesting. Everyone touts reading as being the most educational activity so wouldn't reading non-fiction be even more so? Yet, certain people I know seem convinced its not "real reading". I guess what they mean is literature(doesn't that apply to just fictional writing).
Naa, i wouldn't call it sad. It doesn't sound like you are actually neglecting yourself of any knowledge by not reading fiction. I enjoy reading non-fiction just as much as i enjoy fiction, but both for different reasons. While non-fiction teaches me straight facts about the world, fiction is much more metaphorical and poetic, and teaches lessons about life and emotions that you wouldn't find in any work of non-fiction. However i can't see the logic in classifiying non-fiction as 'not real reading'. At least you CAN read, and you read what you WANT to read, there are many many people on this planet who don't have that privilege
Classics are books that everyone wants say they have read, but nobody wants to actually read. If you ever get started reading fictions, you might start off with some pop fiction rather than classics. It will probably hold your attention better.
I have never heard of reading nonfiction being considered ‘not real reading’- I think reading is reading, and hey, nonfiction things, historical stuff, that can take a lot more intelligence than fiction often requires, to get something out of it. I go through phases of both, I like reading all kinds of different things.
I'm kind of the same way. I'd rather read a good biography or some other work of non-fiction than a novel — most of which are the equivalent of made-for-tv movies and are preposterously unbelievable. And I'm not talking about fantasy or supernatural novels, which are fine if that's what you're into. Right now I'm reading a book about Christian nationalism, which is interesting but I'm going to need something with a story for my next read.
I love a good story, and am a writer of fiction. One of my books is available to read online, and I think it's pretty good!
