Books have power. While I may actively resist other forms of influence that surround me — advertising, culture, and, stubbornly, even the well-intentioned advice of friends and family — somehow I am easily influenced by books. I let books in and non-fiction has, on occasion, changed my life quickly, remarkably.
My transition to a vegan diet is an example. More than 20 years ago, I read Animal Liberation by Peter Singer and shortly thereafter became vegetarian, setting down my fork in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner. Four years ago, after reading The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, I adopted a plant-based diet henceforth blending smoothies, stirring soups and tossing salads. There's more to each story but, definitively and memorably, the books, which I happened across, were the turning point. The right book came into my hands at the right time. The logic therein changed my actions.
Many people have had similar experiences with these two books, but who's to say they will move you.
But fiction I love: to read, to ponder, to discuss. In more subtle ways, it's the fiction I've sought out and read over time that's shaped my values and perceptions. It's prepared me for change. As a guiding principle, I seek to align my values and actions. Often, I imagine, the fictions I read strum those values until a single work of non-fiction plucks the string.
I've seen how, "Change happens very sudden and very slow," as Dorothy Bryant says in her novel The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You.
Perhaps, the fiction is responsible for the "very slow" part. It's the crescendo.
And everyone may appreciate a good story meant to take your thoughts off whither they will — so long as you are inspired!
Many of the dearest stories I have read fall into a category I'm calling vegan fiction. How do I define "vegan fiction"? Well, it's fairly loose, as you'll see. My list includes:
I've compiled my list into a series of seven blog posts each with a few fictions included. The final post is a summary of favorites and recommendations. Here are the posts, forthcoming this week:
My transition to a vegan diet is an example. More than 20 years ago, I read Animal Liberation by Peter Singer and shortly thereafter became vegetarian, setting down my fork in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner. Four years ago, after reading The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, I adopted a plant-based diet henceforth blending smoothies, stirring soups and tossing salads. There's more to each story but, definitively and memorably, the books, which I happened across, were the turning point. The right book came into my hands at the right time. The logic therein changed my actions. Many people have had similar experiences with these two books, but who's to say they will move you.
But fiction I love: to read, to ponder, to discuss. In more subtle ways, it's the fiction I've sought out and read over time that's shaped my values and perceptions. It's prepared me for change. As a guiding principle, I seek to align my values and actions. Often, I imagine, the fictions I read strum those values until a single work of non-fiction plucks the string.
I've seen how, "Change happens very sudden and very slow," as Dorothy Bryant says in her novel The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You.
Perhaps, the fiction is responsible for the "very slow" part. It's the crescendo.
And everyone may appreciate a good story meant to take your thoughts off whither they will — so long as you are inspired!
Many of the dearest stories I have read fall into a category I'm calling vegan fiction. How do I define "vegan fiction"? Well, it's fairly loose, as you'll see. My list includes:
- mostly novels from classics to contemporary (1818-2013) but also comics, graphic novels and a short story and poem;
- works that feature animal protagonists, but some that don't have any animals in them at all;
- books by authors I know are vegetarian or vegan, although in most cases I'm unsure;
- characters who are vegetarian or vegan and some who are not; and
- a few titles with overtly vegan themes along with a number that may not mention animals, but all share sympathies or perceptions that encourage compassion toward a broader spectrum of life.
I've compiled my list into a series of seven blog posts each with a few fictions included. The final post is a summary of favorites and recommendations. Here are the posts, forthcoming this week:
Thanks so much for this. Nice to know there is some fiction that doesn't focus on terrorists, murderers, thieves and the rest of the sad cast portrayed with such enthusiasm for our sick society. Bravo!
ReplyDelete