Politician defends reading fiction

It isn’t very often that politicians talk about the novels they love or that the subject of reading novels versus non-fiction hits the national press. This week, the Sydney Morning Herald had a wonderful article by Chris Bowen, federal Assistant Treasurer and Member for Prospect (SMH March 11, 2009).

Chris Bowen was responding to a recent boast by a federal politician that he hadn't read a fiction book since he left school. Chris Bowen said:

“This revelation from a parliamentary colleague got me thinking. Where would we be if we all lost the lessons of some of the great works of fiction? Where would we be if young people listened to this politician and stopped reading anything but textbooks? Is it a good thing that a leading politician would boast about cutting himself off from the world of novels? Why should we encourage young people to keep reading novels when there are so many other forms of modern entertainment?

People read for all sorts of reasons. Some novels are just rollicking good stories and others hold deeper lessons. A novel can be an enjoyable read and also expand the mind.

Fiction gives us an understanding of the motivations of people that is unmatched by any other art form. And that, of course is the beauty of fiction: it exposes every situation imaginable. Fiction provides a window into the human heart and human mind.

We all live one life, but readers can live thousands of lives. Novels can open the mind. Researchers have argued that people who read novels and who have to think about the connection between a character's thoughts and their actions are better at social interaction. Children who read novels are developing their imagination, and therefore their ability to "think outside the square" and solve problems.”

Lots of people in Gilgandra love to read fiction, so I think that many of us will agree with Chris Bowen’s comments. He went on to list his favourite novels. What are your favourite novels? Drop in to the Library to tell us what they are, or post them as a comment here. We could then publish a list of favourites, and use it to guide the Library towards future purchases. We hope you are enjoying whatever you are reading this week, whether fiction or nonfiction!