"Not necessarily. If someone is that obsessed with fiction that it's all they provide, and as you say, some torments have been drawn from them, then it's a fair bet that they are educational in the sense of making events slightly more predictable. For instance, if a book describes a fairly intense form of torture inflicted by a character therein and there's some sort of early warning, a well-read individual may be able to identify that sign and tell others, thereby preparing for - if not alleviating - the torment in question. All knowledge is worth having," he points out, raising his plate to his face and sniffing at a pile of beans with a relieved sigh.

"Either way, I'll still probably read as much as possible. Give me something to do on the days I'm feeling lazy and less adventurous."