Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits, and it’s where we get to discuss certain topics, share our opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Check out the January 2024 Topics if you want to join in the bookish discussion fun.

This week’s topic asks us:

Seeing the Real World Through Books

Prompts: Many fiction books have messages about social issues, current events, and more. Some are underlying themes, and others are much more overt. Are you more drawn to books that dive into these serious topics, or do you prefer to have fiction be more of an escape from the world? What are some novels that have impacted you? What do you think are the most effective ways for authors to get their messages across?

Are you more drawn to books that dive into serious topics or do you prefer to have fiction be more of an escape from the world?

It’s a combination for me. As I’m sure many others here would agree, I mostly read to escape the real world and all its problems. I want that feeling of escapism and I want to be able to check out from all the tragic, heartbreaking, and scary news that’s plaguing the world. I acknowledge that it is a big privilege to be able to do so because a lot of people can’t escape their realities, which is also why I think it’s so important to have books that draw on social issues and current events; especially if it’s from the perspective of a minority or BIPOC or those who are directly impacted by a situation.

I started off my journey into the book community by reading literary and historical fiction which, I think, is where you can find plenty of stories where these issues are heavily present. But that’s not to say that these issues don’t also make appearances in contemporary fiction, romances, fantasy, and even horror. As much as fiction is an escape, I love learning from my reads and I have a great appreciation for stories that can introduce me to real-world issues that I otherwise would’ve had little to no knowledge about or had a different understanding/perspective of.

As a mood reader, whether I read purely for escapism or whether I’ll pick up a more “serious” read is highly dependent on what I’m feeling, thinking, and experiencing. Ultimately though, I think that it doesn’t matter what reason you read for as long as you’re reading and enjoying it. There’s enough gatekeeping in this world, and there’s no reason that we should police why, how, or what people read for especially if it doesn’t affect or harm you.

What are some novels that have impacted you?

I didn’t think that I would have so many but looking over my reads, I have in fact read plenty of impactful fiction that remain in the periphery of my mind. And I say that as someone who often can’t even remember what they did one day or one week ago, so it does mean something! 😂 These are mostly literary and historical fiction with sprinkles of fantasy and romance. I’d recommend all of these books though!

What do you think are the most effective ways for authors to get their messages across?

I feel like it would depend a lot on the reader and how receptive they are to the message that the author is conveying; whether it’s in a more heavy-handed, in-your-face kind of way or whether it’s more subtle and written into the undertones of the story. I personally don’t have an issue with books that are more overt with their messaging—sometimes it really does take being blunt about an issue for people to receive the message and whether they take that well or not, that’s entirely up to their worldview, I suppose. 😂

Writing from personal experience and own history are other effective ways to send a message but, and this might sound a bit corny, I think one of the most effective ways is writing with heart and passion. Beyond writing backed by thorough research and even lived experience, it’s writing about issues in a way that reaches people in a way they can empathise with and understand. Readers can tell if an author is passionate about a subject and when that comes through in the writing I think it helps readers feel more connected.

Do you read for the escape or do you seek books that cover social issues and current events? Or do you enjoy a mix of both like me? Either way, like I said in my post, it doesn’t matter what, how or why you’re reading, as long as you’re reading and enjoying yourselves! 💜

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