In defence of: Fiction

I was in Biology the other day when my friend asked me the question: "why do you read fiction?" She reads non-fiction solidly in one particular area, and that's great for her, but I don't want that.

I replied with "I want to read everything." I went to Cheltenham Literature Festival early this month which was absolutely fantastic and Maureen Johnson said the big difference between YA readers and adult readers was that YA readers were better (contrary to public opinion) because they were less close minded. YA readers contact the author and they are a lively and thoughtful readership. I want to be this demographic. I want to be openminded and lively and thoughtful and I don't want to limit myself. If I just read science-fiction and fantasy (like everyone at my school) I would never have read John Green or David Levithan or Jeffrey Eugenides or Mark Haddon. Likewise, if I had only ever read contemporary fiction I wouldn't have read Ernest Cline or Orson Scott Card.

I feel like fiction is regarded as lower quality than non-fiction and that those who read non-fiction are brighter and more educated. I feel these judgements aren't fair on fiction. I find that fiction is better written as authors place more emphasis on how the words sound, if their sentences are nice to read and with non-fiction it's placed on the facts. To read fiction you are probably reading for pleasure and how is that not educated? It is the most educated thing of all. You are doing something academic for fun instead of watching tv or spending all evening watching youtube videos *cough* or playing Call of Duty.

Fiction gets a bad rap because it is used for many people as a method of escaping their day to days life in an unhealthy way. I know when I'm having a rough time I do immerse myself in Harry Potter especially and will spend a lot of time on Mugglenet. However, I don't think that reading fiction and escaping reality is a bad thing (in moderation). I read something on ScienceDaily about how reading improves health in sick individuals. I don't see how non-fiction boosts these things in the same way.

I read Fahrenheit 451 this summer which was the only dystopian book to ever really hit home (that said, I have never read 1984 and that's supposed to be terrifying). Fahrenheit 451 was written in the 1960's but the prophecies that were made in that book have started to come true. We are reading less as a society. This is where we have to let fiction step in. It's enjoyable and this will stop us from turning into that society.

I've written 600 words about why I value fiction. To be honest, you've seen my blog, you already know that. So why do I read fiction? I read it to relax. When I finish a book it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I prefer it to TV because there is so much detail you can cram in and I love that. Most of all, with reading Fiction there is a community. A community that's strong. It bonds people together. I went to Waterstones today and the bookseller at the till and I had this easy conversation in a completely different way that an assistant at Topshop and I would have. I have friends where our friendships are bound and strengthened by books. Sophie. Neelam. Chitra.

I believe that Fiction is something that shouldn't be undervalued. It creates a force so strong you can't quantify.

Hi!
so my name's Aimee and Sophie has kindly offered to let me post some pictures of some f my nail art!
 I'm still learning and am desperately trying to improve my ability to paint my right hand because at the moment I am walking around with one hand painted reasonably well while my right.....well you can imagine....

I thought I'd start with a Halloween theme as that's coming up soon!! modeled by my brother's girlfriend this is just a basic black and white look, perfect for a party!

Thank you again Sophie!! x

Guest Bloggers

So the other day I announced that my friend Aimee would post pictures of her amazing nail art on my blog. I was excited because having more than one author on my blog was a really exciting concept for me because collaborating will always be something I really enjoy doing and I felt like my blog was picking up speed.

And then I got 500 views in a day.

It's mental. I thank each and everyone of you for that boost in figures. It means a lot to me because I'm very proud of my blog and it gave me a big confidence boost.

It got me thinking though.

I love collaborating. I want to do more collaborating within my blog because I know that I want to vary my content, and I do try to do that don't get me wrong, but I want this to be a good thing to read for you, not just for me to write.

I am friends with some incredibly talented people. I read their coursework last year and it was phenomenal. Some have blogs, some do not.

I have asked some of these friends to write pieces for my blog. They're writing on anything they want and it can take them as long as they want, so I can't promise release dates.

I'm slowly asking friends one by one so to spread them out but I'm really excited about this.

I hope you will be to.

Announcement of the CENTURY

My friend Aimee is super-talented at nail art. She's amazing at it and the stuff she creates looks amazingly professional, even her right hand.

So for the first time ever, this blog will have another author. Her name is Aimee Grace, we take the same train and we both go to the same school. She takes Biology, Chemistry, English and History.

She will post nail art on my blog and I'm super happy to have such a talented co-author.

Sophie out.

Autumn

I want to be a doctor #3 - The Drugs Don't Work review

So as a conscientious student with a book buying addiction I went to Daunt Books in Notting Hill and bought "The Drugs Don't Work - A Global Threat" by Professor Dame Sally C. Davies. I mainly did it because I haven't read any medical books since "The Emporer of All Maladies," which is size 7 font over 500 pages so I didn't finish it, and a little part of me that thought everyone in my school knows everything so I was trying to keep up (when in fact it's just the girl next to me who wants to go into Biochemistry when we have Chemistry and Biochemistry).

Did I enjoy the book? Not particularly.

Just to let you know my standard I have taken my Biology GCSE and got a grade I was really happy with and I am now studying Biology AS Level.

This book did not stretch me. It didn't stretch my sister. She's 13. It is incredibly basic and the science is very mundane (it literally tells you to wash your hands). The table at the back was quite interesting,  reading about the different antibiotics developed but everything else was very basic facts I had learned 3-5 years ago. I understand we have to raise awareness for the use of antibiotics but this book will not change anything.

We need PSAs. It's taught in schools, but only at GCSE, and many people drop Biology before this point. This book will not save the world. Only nerds, like myself, will venture into the medical section of the bookshop and we already know everything you tell us to a more advanced level.

It is quite an enjoyable read. I wouldn't say it's well written but it's enjoyable.

Penguin, why did you publish this? Is it because she has a title? Is it because publishers are not scientists? Or is it the fact you thought you could make a difference? If it's the last reason, I'm sorry for you. This is not the way to save the world. The Book Doesn't Work - A Global Threat.

The Blog Post Graveyard

Welcome to my Blogger app, a.k.a. my blog post graveyard. Come, take a look around.

Over here we have the angry posts written in a fit of annoyance. I say annoyance because if you read them you'll see they are written in a fit of rage at society and politicians. Yes, that's the one about Time magazine and their article about our generation. Moving on.

Here are the dorky posts. Oh, so you've noticed the 600 word post about how Percy Jackson makes me cry? Yes, people aren't invited here very often. No photos, please. Ah, the post about how I don't drink? Facinating, isn't is, and a little terrifying that I was going to be so open on the net. Yes, I am exhausted when I write these so I lack judgement.

This dark corner is entitled, things I've never started. Yes, some of the ideas are quite good aren't they? Why didn't I write them? I wanted to sleep really. Didn't have enough time to write them. Missed my own personal "deadline" for them. Regardless, it's usually ridiculous.

And finally, posts I've taken down. It's very small but quite entertaining.

I'm afraid that ends our tour. Exit through the gift shop. Thank you.

I want to be a doctor #2 - ObamaCare

ObamaCare came into action on October 1st in the USA and the other day I took the time to understand what this is, how it affects Americans and why on earth the government shut down.

The main issue with the US health system is that it's too expensive. It's main objective is making profit and that's not right. Yes, every business has to make money because that's how growth occurs however, when your profiteering hurts people, and it does, what you are doing is wrong. The US citizens pay more tax proportionately than the UK in health care which is perverse as our health care is free.

ObamaCare is not like the NHS. That suprised me. The NHS provides every British citizen with free health care. ObamaCare provides everyone with insurance. The basic idea is that everyone is entitled to health care so everyone must have insurance. If you are below a certain level of the poverty line the government pays for your insurance and that is what the Republicans are against. There are also different levels of insurance depending on how much coverage you want.

This means now it is illegal to not have health insurance. However, now less wealthy people who are just above this poverty line have to pay for insurance, meaning that these people now have the biggest problems.

But what I don't get is why, WHY, the American Government shut down over this. Why is one political party in America against health care for all? Why shouldn't people pay so your country is healthy? Even if you support capitalism in the extremes, don't you want a fitter workforce? Not giving people free health care is similar to cave man civilisation:

If you are ill then you die.

It just feels like there's a lack of compassion within the Republicans and I feel like that is the biggest problem with American society, not the obesity, not books that will "ruin your children", not alcohol, not TV. It is your lack of caring towards those that need it most.

So start your government up. You are fighting an argument that has a moral argument that is so crystal clear I wonder what you're trying to prove.

Care about your people and they will care for you.

letter from sleep

To all my readers last month:

Thank you.

I created a blog in January. I got a few page views a day. I was happy. 

In March I wrote a controversial piece on advertising and wow, I got 20 page views in a day. In May I had almost 500 pages views and that was my top month. 

Until September. 

I had 627 page views overall and 74 page views on one individual day.

You see, I love to write. 

It's odd because I'm taking three science and two maths a levels and I struggle with mixing numbers and words together. I always have.

But when I'm here just writing, I feel peace. I feel calm. It's like a diary but productive. I feel like I may interest some people and I would love it if my blog brought people happiness. 

Writing has always been a medium I enjoy just I write more when I'm happy (though just the last week I've had writers block, I'm still ecstatic most of the time). I prefer it to art. I'm starting to read more broadly. I'm trying to post broadly.

To do this, I'm thinking of setting a "theme" a month. This also ties in with my be more Rookie campaign. 

I understand this post is sort of a shambles but frankly it's late at night and I'm copying the deep sense of peace I feel at night onto paper.

Goodnight readers.

Sophie x

Thank you.

late night feelings.

A man has dreams of walking with giants
To carve his niche in the edifice of time
Before the mortar of his zeal
Has a chance to congeal
The cup is dashed from his lips
The flame is snuffed aborning
He's brought to rack and ruin in his prime
My world was calm, well ordered, exemplary
Then came this person, with chaos in her wake
And now my life's ambitions go with one fell blow
It's quite a bitter pill to take

A spoonful of sugar that is all it takes
It changes bread and water into tea and cakes
A spoonful of sugar goes a long, long way
'Ave yourself a 'ealthy 'elpin' ev'ry day
You're a man of 'igh position
Esteemed by your peers
And when your little tykes are cryin'
You 'aven't time to dry their tears
And see them grateful little faces
Smilin' up at you
Because their dad, 'e always knows
Just what to do

You've got to grind grind grind at that grindstone

Though child'ood slips like sand through a sieve
And all too soon they've up grown
And then they've flown
And it's too late for you to give
Just that spoonful of sugar
To 'elp the medicine go down
The medicine go down, the medicine go down.