There's this funny sort of book called the Facttracker by Jason Carter Eaton, illustrations by Pascale Constantin, due out end of this month from Harper US. It's about this town where their commodity is facts. Then something happens and the people's true stories are replaced by tall tales! Now, sounds sort of interesting, huh? I thought the premise was quite cool, probably for the kids who liked Captain Underpants but grew out of theirs, so need something a little less yucky but just as hilarious. But the main reason for bringing this up is it put me in the mind of something totally different which i've been thinking of these two weeks.

The other day (sometime back, probably three Mondays back), i was going home from work and on the way down the escalator, i overheard one gentleman state and with some pride, that he never reads fiction. 'Oh, I only read non-fiction. If I want fiction, I can make up my own'. The man was standing in front of me. So i may be wrong, but did he sound disgustingly pompous. I wonder how the lady could still nod and agree with him.

Jay (who is our Humanities si-fu) doesn't read fiction either. She says it's because she cannot stop thinking that it is all not true. But we've been trying to convert her, one book by one book, though she may still think they are untrue (everyone knows they are not true, d-uh!), i was quite surprised the other day when she said she enjoyed The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Luis Zafon. Well, well, well ... not bad. Seeing some light, lately.

But back to those who rub their heels with fiction.

i mean, it's like fiction is worthless and for the dummies or people with no imagination. For your information (eh-hem), great fiction require a lot of skill, imagination and legwork (read research) to write. And the true beauty of fiction allows it to be as fantastical as it is believable and unbelievable at the same time. Take fantasy as an example, the setting may be out of this world, yet firmly we are able to accept it. It is all due to the writer's description that makes it seem real to the reader. Or those reality-based novels, where the exciting happen in an everyday setting, how skilled the pen of the author, to make the mundane majestic.

Fiction rings more true at times for people become less afraid to state what is true in a fantastic situation.

And non-fiction. Don't get me wrong - I love to read non-fiction, too. History is cool. Being Arian, i am only second to Librans (my mother), in absorbing information. And i will be the first to raise both hands to say that it also requires great skill to write non-fiction. If not, it's be dry and boring and so for those stuffy academicians. And it also has to be factually correct, to some point or other.

And sure, everyone is allowed to diss fiction for being not true, a waste of time (reading non-fiction is like studying) and probably not even worth buying.

Then here's my question to you. How do you know non-fiction is all facts? That everything you read is true? That there is not one piece of stated fact which isn't as it seem? Two different field experts with the same information may interpret them into opposing solutions, could they not? Then do you believe one and call the other fiction?

Yes, yes. You will also say, it is all a matter of opinion and deduction based on the true facts. But if you like to read about History, you will realise that some biographies take some creative license into making the story come to life. The only badge that gives them authenticity is a bibliography the size of a chapter. Fiction will probably have an accompanying note from the author, one para long - not even worth mentioning.

And where does this lead us?

Non-fiction is where facts are written creatively to tell a true story. Fiction is where stories are creatively wrought to sound true. Both require good writing (eh-hem again, storytelling) skills, some imagination or ideas and sound research. They both have their strengths and exist to fill the need to feed different sides of our brain. The logical side of the brain for non-fiction and the creative part loves fiction. Kids like Jay don't read fiction, but still enjoy music, film and other arts so they are fulfilling their creative hunger.

Fiction and Non-fiction fans are always at loggerheads but really, these two complement each other. i, for one, love both. And those non-believers of fiction or non-fiction, remember that they are NOT opposite poles, they belong to different parts - Left and Right.

And parents, puh-lease know this. Kids need some of both to feed and nurture a proper Brain. So STOP and think before you end up buying them dictionaries and atlases only. Stories are important, too - fake but still crucial. (and yes, i'm done for now)