"Anything processed by memory is fiction."

For while, I honestly couldn't find the relevancy of this book to our class. Aside from the obvious "it's a collage" aspect. The author seemed content to argue the same points over and over: 1. Everything is a collage 2. No one reads fiction anymore (and I won't get into the problems I have with this statement....).

Around section e, the numbered sections became more disjointed. It became more apparent that Shields was using quotes to make up his page and I actually felt more secure with the book. It felt more relevant. I liked section e a lot--with the argument of reality, and representing reality, being fiction. And fiction being truth. After all, "all the best stories are true" and isn't truth and reality all we have to base our fiction on? Even at the core of the strangest sci-fi, the elements--the feelings--within the story are true. It's what gives a story its validity.

Shields' point is that everything is fiction and everything is a collage--to a point. Memoirs and nonfiction are, of course, a form of fiction, because memory is faulty and our minds fill in the blanks with fabrications. That people want to read true accounts can never be fulfilled. And of course, everyone steals from everyone else, so why should it be a problem?

The thing with society is they want what they think is reality and they don't want to find out otherwise. It's hard to believe there is no fiction in a memoir or no script in "reality" t.v. But people want to believe it.

I think, as a class, we're walking a tight rope. We write fiction by stealing other people's and we argue that it's okay. We also argue that everyone's precious nonfiction, their facts, are fiction in a sense, and we expect everyone to be okay with that.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I'm rambling so I'm going to stop now.