I love to find proof that reading is good for your brain. A new study suggests that reading literary fiction can improve one’s ability to interpret the emotional state of other people.
Pretty cool, huh? Word nerds are so perceptive.
The difference between literary fiction and genre fiction
Let me clarify some terms.
Genre fiction describes books that fall into easily recognized categories: mystery, thriller,
romance, etc. Usually, genre books emphasize plot over character development. These are the “page turners” one can find on best seller lists by authors like James Patterson, John Grisham, and Gillian Flynn. Think The Firm or The DaVinci Code.
In contrast, literary fiction emphasizes the internal life of characters and is usually described as “thought-provoking,” or “challenging.” Some examples of literary fiction include Peace Like a River or The Round House. Books selected for the National Book Award and other honors usually fall under literary fiction. These books have themes, motifs and symbolism that word nerds like me love to analyze and discuss. This is where my English major blood shows.
Note: In the current publishing climate, the lines between literary fiction and genre fiction are getting blurry. For the study, literary fiction pieces were taking from National Book Award nominees; genre fiction samples came from the Amazon best seller list.
The study
Two researchers from The New School for Social Research did a study to see how reading literary fiction affected participants’ “Theory of MInd”– the social skill of understanding the mental state of others.
Participants in the study were divided into three groups. Each group read pieces from one of three categories: genre fiction, literary fiction, and non-fiction. Afterward, the participants took tests to evaluate their “Theory of Mind” abilities, and the people who read literary fiction performed best on the tests.
The researchers surmised that since literary fiction requires readers to engage intellectually with the material, it stimulates better cognition and perception.
What does this mean for word nerds?
The press release from The New School for Social Research didn’t say how many people participated in the study or exactly which evaluation tools were used. Even if these results aren’t conclusive, I love that they demonstrate how reading can do more than just entertain. I’ve always thought that books improve our ability to relate to others and to experience the world around us. Now there’s a bit of evidence to prove it.
I enjoy all kinds of books: classics, literary fiction, and genre. (OK, I admit that I struggle with non-fiction.) Usually, I prefer novels that get me thinking. This great line from The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, has stuck with me for days:
People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it’s quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment.
Wow. These words have inspired me to look for the colors of my days. I’m not sure if The Book Thief counts as literary fiction, but it has definitely engaged my brain. That’s what matters.
What kind of books do you like to read: literary, genre, or non-fiction? Do you think that one type of book stimulates your mind better than others? Why? Or do you even care?
Thanks for stopping by!
Julia
Have never read Round House but Enger’s book is one of my ALL-TIME favorites. Couldn’t get into Book Thief but perhaps I was in an impatient mood. Should try again I keep hearing so many great things. I just read a scathing review of literary fiction – authors give themselves permission to write stories that lack a moral center versus Young Adult, which always has a moral center. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about this. One can do both in literary fiction, don’t you think? Write a great literary work and have a moral center – I find these are my favorite types of books. Anna Karenina for instance, had some poor moral behavior and yet it proves disastrous…
I definitely think that literary fiction can have a moral center- what a gross generalization! Peace Like a River is an excellent example of such a book. As is The Help. Yes, try The Book Thief again, although it is a little depressing for the cold months of the year…
Julia,
You certainly have a way of getting my mind to stretch – to consider new ideas in a different light with writing. Thank you. 😉 I like non-fiction, but am finding more of an interest in fiction (if it’s the right kind) — and esp. b/c my boys are book hounds and are carnivorious readers! 😉
Have a great weekend,
H’ 😉
Thanks Hester! Happy to help. It’s hard to keep up with voracious readers, isn’t it? But it’s a good problem to have.
Take care!
It makes sense that literary fiction is more thought-provoking than genre fiction. When I think of genre fiction, I think of quick, easy reads. The kind of books I can fly through without really thinking. Some times those are just what you need, but I usually prefer literary fiction. Non-fiction has to be really engaging to pull me in. I do LOVe memoirs though!
Memoirs, have you read the Glass Castle. Fabulous
I’m with you- I need non-fiction to be really interesting and engaging. Usually, I just want a good story, so I rarely even pick non-fiction up.
I’ve read The Round House, and I would say it’s a pretty easy read. I think it explores an adolescent mind and the Native American reservation life really well. (There’s also a slight mystery at the heart of it, but I think it’s really more about culture, family, and growing up.)
I’m a fan of fiction, both literary and genre. I prefer having some semblance of a plot, though. I liked Julian Barnes’ The Sense of an Ending (2011 Man Booker) but I wasn’t as impressed by Paul Harding’s Tinkers (2010 Pulitzer). I wonder what kind of individual that makes me in the end…
Thank you
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on The Round House– I’d definitely like to read it now. Thanks also for sharing some other interesting titles and your thoughts on them. As for your reading preferences, let’s call you discerning and eclectic! 😉
On that note, I hope that you are enjoying Eleanor and Park.
This stuff is really interesting, isn’t it, Julia? I also read this study. I got from it that our social skills are improved because lit fic makes us unconsciously analyze the characters’ thoughts and feelings from hints about expressions, etc, (which we have to do in real-life social situations) while genre fiction doesn’t go into what the character is thinking/feeling or why he/she does things, but is more heavily involved in plot, as you noted. Of course, the line is blurred, there are many authors of genre fiction that write beautifully and focus on character revelation at the same time as they write an intriguing plot. We call those, “literary sci fi” or “literary suspense”, etc.
Thanks for expanding on the study results and for sharing another way to classify “genre” books. I think that a good book can have great plot as well as thoughtful character development.
I love “bible study” type books…not sure how to classify that! A perfect example is the one I am reading now, Unglued. I love TerKeurst’s style of righting & her down to earth approach on bettering ourselves.
For enjoyment, I must admit I have always been a fan of Nicholas Sparks. Guess I am a sucker for romantic fiction (keyword, romantic, not smut).
On a side note, love the line you shared about our observation, or lack thereof, of colors in a day. Makes you wonder what else we may be missing?
I enjoyed Unglued too- very practical and real. I guess that’s “self-help”? And nothing wrong with reading for pleasure- us moms with MANY children need a fun escape sometimes. However, Nicolas Sparks often makes me cry. I loved The Notebook and was reading it on a plane trip. I remember turning to Bill with tears streaming down my face, thinking, this could be us. He looked at me and frowned. “Why are you reading that if it’s making you cry? Close that book!” He still refuses to see the movie with me because of that incident!
Yes indeed- what else are we missing? Have a great weekend!
Oh and another great one. The Cross and the switchblade
You would love The proof of Heaven
Is the Round House a easy read ? Do you recommend it for literature fiction ? Thank you
I am now reading The Wedding Gift, are you familiar with the book. Just wondering what categories that was in
I haven’t read The Round House, so I can’t recommend it yet. I think we can safely classify it as “literary fiction”. I’m not familiar with The Wedding Gift either- sorry not much help today! Sometimes, when you look up a book on Goodreads, you can figure out its category or at least see what shelves other readers have put it on. Have a great weekend.