Thursday, July 21, 2011

Literary Hop - Bibliotherapy

Literary Blog Hop
It's hot. This isn't news, unless you're watching the weather channel, then it's the only news. I don't like the heat. I find it very distracting. It makes me want to curl up in a ball on the kitchen floor and lay in front of the vent and read something less than literary. Hell, less than an actual book. I've been reading old Not Always Right posts for like two days. Mindless reading for the win. Which brings me to today's Literary Hop question:


Discuss Bibliotherapy. Do you believe literature can be a viable form of therapy? Is literary writing more or less therapeutic than pop lit or nonfiction? 


I'd never heard of Bibliotherapy before reading this weeks question but  I guess it's something that I, and I assume a lot of other bookish folk use regularly. I know when I'm feeling down, or in need of someone or something to relate to I often look for a book dealing with the same subject. However I find that my literary snobbery tends to go out the window when I'm looking for a pick-me-up. In fact, something light and easy to read without a heavy message is usually more uplifting. Not to say that literary fiction can't be those things, but pop fiction tends to cover that cheery quick read area better. Really it's just about finding the right book at the right time, which I think Christina said in her post.

5 comments:

Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chick said...

Exactly. Everybody is different on what is their therapeutic go-to device!

Anja K. said...

I too hate the heat and I love reading Not Always Right posts! Here's my response: http://reading2011.blogspot.com/

Susan @ Reading World said...

I prefer the heat to the cold. I generally get out of my car, walk into my air-conditioned house, complain, and put on a sweatshirt. My kids make fun of me. But even I have to agree, it's hot!
Bibliotherapy works for me, but I have to read what I'm in the mood for. And that can be all over the map.

Em said...

Every so often, I like a nice uplifting read as well. However, I realise that I have become more fussy in this type of reading, which can be quite annoying because I keep wasting time reading books that don't do much for me until I find that comforting book I was looking for.

LBC said...

I think a lot of us use reading therapeutically. It is a good distraction; especially the type of escapist reads you are referring to. Hope you are surviving the heat!

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