[Originally published on 25 August 2013]
Fictional literature reflects the culture in which the author was raised. And culture is rooted on its geographical region. Here are some examples:
South-American literature describes supernatural scenes like they are perfectly real and possible. These scenes are always connected with emotions, so in a way it’s like the emotions get out of the person who feels them and present themselves as real events. This reflects the mystic culture of South-American Indians and the great sensitivity of Latin people. The best examples are One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel García Márquez and Like Water For Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel.
Then, there’s North-American literature which is much more action-oriented. The important thing is to keep the reader on his/her feet wondering what is going to happen next. The reading is dynamic and fast. Actually the North-American culture is based on I-want-it-now-and-can’t-wait mentality together with the necessity of making a show out of everything. The best example is the The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown.
The British literature has a slower and quieter reading. It aims to show society how it is while telling a story. The UK has a society some what closed to itself and with its roots on the countryside. On the other hand, the British are very keen on History and on keeping things as they’ve always been. The best examples are the novels of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.
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