A novel is not an allegory, I concluded. It is the experience, through our own senses, of another world. If you do not enter this world, if you do not hold your breath at the same time as the characters who populate it, if you do not get involved in what will happen to them, you will not know empathy, and the 'Empathy is at the heart of the novel. This is how you have to read fiction, inhaling the experience it offers you. So start to inspire.
📖 Azar Nafisi
In her memoir "Reading Lolita in Tehran," Azar Nafisi emphasizes that a novel transcends mere allegory; it immerses readers in a different reality. Engaging deeply with the text allows one to experience the characters’ emotions and situations, fostering empathy. Nafisi argues that true understanding comes from actively participating in the narrative, feeling alongside the characters as if holding one’s breath in anticipation of their fates.
Nafisi suggests that reading fiction requires a commitment to inhale the experiences offered by the narrative. This act of immersion not only enhances the enjoyment of the story but also cultivates a profound connection to the lives portrayed within. Ultimately, she believes that appreciating literature lies in embracing the experience and emotion it conveys.
