The passionate muse : exploring emotion in stories

The passionate muse Exploring emotion in stories

Keith Oatley

Book - 2012

A hybrid book that alternates sections of an original short story, "One another," with chapters that illuminate how emotion and fiction interact.

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Subjects
Emotions.
Psychology and literature.
Literature > Psychology.
Published
New York : Oxford University Press 2012.
Language
English
Main Author
Keith Oatley (-)
Physical Description
viii, 216 p. : ill. ; 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-208) and index.
ISBN
9780199767632
  • One another-- Part I
  • 1. Enjoyment
  • One another-- Part II
  • 2. The suspense of plot
  • One another-- Part III
  • 3. Falling in love
  • One another-- Part IV
  • 4. Loss and sadness
  • One another-- Part V
  • 5. Transformation
  • One another-- Part VI
  • 6. Anger and retribution
  • One another-- Part VII
  • 7. Other minds
  • 8. Reflection
  • Acknowledgments
  • Notes
  • Notes
Review by Library Journal Review

Cognitive psychologist and novelist Oatley (psychology, emeritus, Univ. of Toronto; Such Stuff as Dreams: The Psychology of Fiction; The Case of Emily V) here writes about how fiction expands readers' emotional capacity and empowers their social lives. Covering a wide range of cognitive research, this book provides hard evidence to support those who believe in the therapeutic value of books and stories. Interspersed with Oatley's nonfiction discussion of emotion in fiction are episodes from an original short story he wrote to illustrate his key ideas-a technique more distracting than illuminating. Although written for a general audience, there is a robust set of notes and references provided for those who want to explore bibliotherapy further. VERDICT This book will appeal to anyone curious about how and why literature (and art in general) can have a significant therapeutic impact. The research findings summarized here may also encourage teachers, parents, and counselors to advocate even more strongly for the value of fiction in children's lives.-Paula McMillen, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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