If a book is going to be dubbed non-fiction then I believe it should be 100% accurate and without fabrication. “Literature or cinema that is not fictional,” is the working definition by Merriam Webster and “the branch of literature comprising works of narrative prose dealing with or offering opinions or conjectures upon facts and reality, including biography, history, and the essay,” is how dictionary.com classifies what the genre of non-fiction is. In both definitions I don’t see anything about “5%” fabrication and only a few pages that are fictional. If it is going to take the foundation of non-fiction (definitions above) then it should hold the integrity of what it represents. More importantly, it is the author who needs to hold the integrity. Sure Mortenson didn’t do anything illegal with his actions in regard to fictionalizing the truth, but sometimes it is reputation that is most affected and sometimes it is worse than doing something illegal. That’s why writers, no matter what platform they are performing on, must keep their integrity with their writing. Now obviously, that has a lot to do with non-fiction, memoirs, and other fact-based novels but even in fiction the story and the author has to stay true to the writing. Like we talked about in class, it is hard to believe the rest of a story which had “5%” of fabrication, even if it is that small.
I completely agree with the idea that nonfiction shouldn't be fabricated. If the book contains speculation as to the accuracy of the events call it a mix of fiction and nonfiction but don't lie just to sell books.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that the reputation of the writer is completely at stake in every book they write. If they're story doesn't hold up even once, people will be doubtful of them forever.
ReplyDeleteI pretty much agree with what you have to say, other than the fact that I think a small bit of not exactly fabriaction but artisic liberty may be taken when writing. Yes, nothing major should be changed but small things in my mind may be changed in order to futher the story.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you James-boy. Non-fiction should be 100% accurate, not 95% true with 5% fabrication, then that would make it fiction.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree!!! I think it was clever to look up the proper definition. I don't think that these authors have a dictionary or if they do they need to consult it cause this is the TRUE definition!
ReplyDeleteI agree with that authors need to keep their integrity, but it doesn't happen because they get too greed for all that money.
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