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Chick Lit Bubbly / Literature Tragic

by YvonneEve 18 May 2010 8 Comments

Last weekend, I listened to a panel of experts discussing the future of publishing in the USA. Among the many bullets of wisdom, one struck home for me. It went something like this:

Newspapers and magazines are in crisis mode…
… therefore they cut non-advertising space…
… including literary fiction reviews…
… which means readers don’t get to find out about the new releases…
… and book sales suffer.

Who would have thought that by budgeting magazines out of my life I would be contributing to the demise of literary fiction?

Driven by guilt, I headed out the double door straight into the tables of fresh-smelling latest literary fiction releases (the setting was a Writers’ and Readers’ Festival).

I really wanted to buy something. My literary fiction tastes run from Lionel Shriver and Jocelyn Jackson to Sarah Dunnett and Margaret Atwood. But… did I really want to read about a little girl dying detail by gruesome detail, or about war atrocities in Africa? Was I remotely interested in the emotional journey of a middle aged man who abused his student?

Not a single book looked like a “happy” read. Not a single one dealt with issues I was prepared to devote my time to. Not a single one promised to uplift me.

While I’m sure the experts are right about the absence of magazine reviews, I’d like to suggest there may be another reason lit fic is not selling….

Which brings me to chick lit. I don’t like Bridget Jones (too sad a role model, too irritating a heroine), I actually think that chick lit well done (think Sophie Kinsella) is worth a second look. Granted, some books go over the top straight into superficiality, but it is possible to combine beautiful prose with a meaningful plot that won’t drag you down right into a bottle of Prozac.

One day, I’m going to write such a book. A popular lit fic or a literary chick lit. For now though, a murder mystery whodunnit, anyone?

8 Comments »

Laurie Ryan said:

I’m always up for a good mystery.

# 18 May 2010 at 7:57 pm

Yvonne Walus (author) said:

LOL, Laurie, so am I!
I love the oldies: Agatha Christie and Patrick Quentin (despite their dated style), as well as the contemporaries (Harlan Coben, Minette Walters, Tamar Myers, The Cat Who Series) and am always on the lookout for new authors to read.

# 18 May 2010 at 10:13 pm

pattianncolt said:

I totally agree, Yvonne. I regularly wander through Borders and always think I should find a good literary read from among their displays. Ummmm, yeah. Doesn’t happen. In fact, what I find there makes me run to the romance aisle. A good mystery sounds like just the ticket for a lazy day by the pool.

# 19 May 2010 at 7:14 am

Silver James said:

Anyone looking for “cozy mysteries” should give Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mysteries a look. She has two out currently, HOMICIDE IN HARDCOVER and IF BOOKS COULD KILL. I laugh even while sitting on the edge of my seat.

Lit fiction is like watching “message movies.” That’s not why I watch or read. I want to be entertained, to escape from the real world for a bit of fluff and adventure. Yeah, I know. I’m a plebeian.

# 19 May 2010 at 7:23 am

Lavada Dee said:

When I read fiction I look for good story tellers before good writing. Like Silver, I want to be entertained. And, I love a good mystery. A few years ago I opened my first Mary Higgins Clark and I’m pretty sure I’ve since read everything she’s written. Harlan Coben is another favorite.

Love discussing reads this morning. Good blog.

# 19 May 2010 at 10:00 am

Yvonne Walus (author) said:

Ah, the eternal debate: should books / movies be entertaining or life-changing? Should they make you laugh or make you think? I know the answer is supposed to be “both”, but given the choice, I’ll take “The Invention of Lying” or “While you were sleeping” over “My Sister’s Keeper” any day!

# 19 May 2010 at 6:27 pm

Yvonne Walus (author) said:

@Lavada, I know what you mean about preferring a good story over beautiful writing (though of course the writing style has to professional or I won’t be able to get into the story). Just to be contrary, I’m racking my brain (just googled the phrase and discovered it’s definitely racking not wracking, BTW, for the purists out there), so I’m racking my brain to provide a single example of a beautifully written book where the story was secondary… and can’t.

# 19 May 2010 at 6:32 pm

Yvonne Walus (author) said:

@Silver, I’ve ordered the Kate Carlisle books from my library, they sound like a great read, thanks!
@Lavada, a definite yes to Mary Higgins Clark (though some of her latest ones are not as gripping and I wonder whether she’s having them ghost-written). What I love about her books is the knowledge all will end well (something you don’t always get with Coben).

# 19 May 2010 at 6:35 pm