joejoh's review against another edition
3.0
While I find the idea and the conceit of Reality Hunger interesting, it failed to deliver on its promise. It is far too shallow and spends too much time expounding on the idea that all true art is built upon the work that came before . Anyone who would be a candidate to read this book would know that already. The second half is more compelling, but ultimately, I'm not convinced that Fiction is dead and that we crave reality. The discussions about the areas where fiction and non-fiction collide (collage, the lyrical essay, and memoir) was interesting, and I agree that these are currently the areas where a lot of the innovation is happening. But in the end, I don't think Shields made the case for the end of fiction.
lifesaverscandyofficial's review against another edition
often exhilarating and liked what it was going for from time to time, but it's wild how a book about nonfiction/post-fact/merging of genre from 2010 can already feel so dated! a testament to the medium, maybe. would be curious to see what an updated version looks like?
cate_bird's review against another edition
3.0
A classmate said "I really dislike the actual reading "Reality Hunger" by David Shields, but goddamn does it make me think and give me tons of good ideas". I would not call that an inaccurate review?
mjanssen's review against another edition
4.0
This book explores a lot of overlapping and complex areas of inquiry -- why we read; the difference between fiction and non-; the evolving nature of the artist in our time; and much more. In form it echoes the content by collaging together many observations by dozens of other writers and creators throughout history. Depending on how you approach the book, it is often unclear whether you are reading Shields' words or someone else's -- which is part of his argument.
I enjoyed this in part because Shields challenged me to examine my own motivations for reading -- what about reading gives me pleasure? What is the function of narrative? Is it, as Shields argues, obsolete? I have been thinking about it and thinking maybe so, for me at least -- I'm not sure that I personally get any pleasure from seeing a plot evolve and resolve. It's what the writer talks about along the way that is more interesting. For example, Murakami sort of rambles a lot in his books, and his narratives aren't especially complicated, but he's one of my favorite writers.
Give this a try. I had to expend some effort to stick with it, and I still think one read might not be enough. I don't want to say too much more about it because I don't want to color anyone's perceptions of it too much. It is also likely to significantly expand your reading list.
I enjoyed this in part because Shields challenged me to examine my own motivations for reading -- what about reading gives me pleasure? What is the function of narrative? Is it, as Shields argues, obsolete? I have been thinking about it and thinking maybe so, for me at least -- I'm not sure that I personally get any pleasure from seeing a plot evolve and resolve. It's what the writer talks about along the way that is more interesting. For example, Murakami sort of rambles a lot in his books, and his narratives aren't especially complicated, but he's one of my favorite writers.
Give this a try. I had to expend some effort to stick with it, and I still think one read might not be enough. I don't want to say too much more about it because I don't want to color anyone's perceptions of it too much. It is also likely to significantly expand your reading list.
superfamoustia's review against another edition
Alternately inspired me and pissed me off. Maybe that's what I get for reading a manifesto?
I love the idea of fuzzying boundaries, mingling fiction & non-fiction, making something new...a third party, not beholden to the conventions of the other two. Yes! I embrace this idea! Huzzah! But unlike Shields, I do so with a stack of novels on my bedside table--novels that have nothing to do with "reality hunger" as he would describe it, but are invested in Truth nonetheless. I am not yet tired of such volumes. My hunger is for mingled forms *and* pure. Both. All. There is something for me in both Proust AND Marquez.
I cannot sign on for the annihilation of the novel-as-we-know-it.
And I have no taste for reality tv.
Am I a dinosaur?
I love the idea of fuzzying boundaries, mingling fiction & non-fiction, making something new...a third party, not beholden to the conventions of the other two. Yes! I embrace this idea! Huzzah! But unlike Shields, I do so with a stack of novels on my bedside table--novels that have nothing to do with "reality hunger" as he would describe it, but are invested in Truth nonetheless. I am not yet tired of such volumes. My hunger is for mingled forms *and* pure. Both. All. There is something for me in both Proust AND Marquez.
I cannot sign on for the annihilation of the novel-as-we-know-it.
And I have no taste for reality tv.
Am I a dinosaur?
superdilettante's review against another edition
4.0
Sort of glib at times, and completely heavy-handed at others, but what can you expect from something that is an amalgam of quotes and citations that the author chose because they matched his own musings and opinions about fiction, reality, and self? Still, I copied down a good four pages of quotations in my notebook, so file it under "influential."