When it comes to reading I am absolutely a fiction reader, but that isn't entirely true is it? I am a student who reads for class, I answer reference questions for scientists in my library work, and I browse the papers on my coffee breaks. However when it comes to actual books it is rare for me to pick up a non-fiction work unless it's a purely informational resource. Youtube is my major source of non-fiction where I follow a lot of vlogs on current happening and LGBTQ life stories. I seem to like my fiction in under 10 minute doses.
That being said Behind the Beautiful Forevers wasn't a bad read. Though I will still agree it is longer than what I would tolerate for my own fictional interest. I honestly think reading more narrative non-fiction would give me a better view of events and things I don't understand, if I could dedicate myself to it. I am not the brightest crayon in the box and having a story that outlines some key concepts of reality immensely helps me grasp complicated world politics, history and global issues with not only a better sense of understanding but the important function of vivid recollection for later reference.
Non fiction's biggest bother to me is the focus on truth and
authenticity. When I am reading fiction, and largely fantasy, often
even simple rules like gravity are ignored without a thought, so I
don't think I'm the most skilled fact hunter when I get wrapped up in
a story. Knowing this maybe offsets some of the damage, but I would
probably be less likely to spot inaccuracies wrapped up in a story
than the average bear. That being said I come from a small community
where gossip has always been the preferred source of non-fiction, so
to say I don't have a basic ability to spot blatant fabrication when
I see it would be doing myself a disservice.I really liked Behind the Beautiful Forevers for the fact that it was narrative. A narrative format of information has always been easier for me to absorb than other formats of information, and while I could not relate to characters who were in such a different life situation than myself, it opened me up to a glimpse a perspective of the psychology, interactions and reactions of people in a state of poverty. I had hoped upon thinking on these concepts that it would give me information to draw parallels between poverty in my own country, and maybe understand things better, but I'm not sure it went that far for me, or perhaps I just need to mull over the concepts a little longer to make connections.
The sense of place in the novel was also a huge asset to the book and contributed greatly to my positive reading experience. Something for me that would have helped better my reading experience would have been expanded character description. I am used to having more than just a name to draw on to identify a character, especially in fantasy reading characters often have odd weapons, costumes, hair and eye colour that help you keep track of them, the characters in this book were at times rather thinly described, even with the cultural similarities I feel the author was capable of better character descriptions a I vividly remember her description of Meina in the book and it is the only one that stands out in my mind out of the host of characters.
