The Truth in Fiction

In order for something to truly impact its reader, it must speak the truth. Truth is both stranger and more powerful than fiction. In a fictional piece, the reader can be affected by the emotions and events shown in the writing but can also take comfort in that these events never occurred. In a work of nonfiction, the truth in the unfolding events can actually distress a reader. The veracity in the piece astounds the reader because these events actually happened, and these people actually existed. It's what makes "Angela's Ashes" more relevant than "Misery." "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" is stunning because Harriet witnessed and lived the events of which she writes. The validity of her words makes them stronger and more meaningful than the words of fiction. Because her words have not been edited or censored, her autobiography is authentic in its tone and its grammar to how Ms. Jacobs would have voiced her experiences. If the editor had rid the book of its sometimes salacious subplots, the book would have lost its shock-value and its unadulterated truth.