Is Nonfiction Really the Truth?
Or is it subjective "knowing"? With the onset of Nonfiction November, I have my self-help and my memoirs to-read, all lined up for the month. But, that got me thinking...are these kinds of stories really the truth? Research would suggest that findings are true, and yet, researchers seek what they wish to seek, or write what they understand to be the truth. Similarly, memoir seeks to outline ones perception and memory as the truth. As a memoirist, I am familiar with the notion of perceiving my thoughts as truth, compared to the same event experienced differently by someone else. I am not taking away from either experience, simply outlining that two opposing perceptions can be true at the same time, about the very same event. I know, because I've struggled through, trying to portray instances subjectively. Turns out it is impossible, because we cannot experience another's feelings for them. Therefore, what we write, is our truth. Okay, I realise these are heavy t...