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Myfanwy's avatar

I love this, but I'm going to play devil's advocate and say the people who think they are gods - the Putins, the Johsnons, the Elon Musks - do not read novels like this. They probably don't read novels at all, though (perhaps) they may have been forced to read a few at school. And even if they did, they have none of the brain space to develop empathy and care for those "lesser" beings who provide their wealth/power.

BUT for those of us on the receiving end of their manipulations of the universe, novels give us a means to escape, to understand, to realise there are other ways of doing things. Hence so many novels being banned in so many places: they give us proles ideas and, worst of all, an escape, however temporary. Once we have tasted that freedom, what might we not do?

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Ann Rawson's avatar

I'm sure you're right, and I am always suspicious of anyone who doesn't read novels - although other fictional modes are available. TV, film graphic novels, etc

There was a judge recent;y who prescribed a course in reading to an offender - and I thought in some ways it was a good idea, although likely only to be used in particular situations and likely to be VERY discriminatory

But in nearly everything I think it's better to focus on what WE can do, and hope that helps.

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