She discovers genre

So I've been reading something all my life which apparently, I now discover, is called literary fiction! So is it a genre or not?

Anyway, not to worry, because I've recently discovered the joy of genre! It started out with me reading thrillers in order to find out what makes them tick (after having inadvertently written a thriller for my nano-novel back over Easter). Then I progressed on to Sophie Kinsella, as recced my Mslexia, and found out that she was something called 'chick lit' and that this 'chick lit' all has similar covers, in pastels and pinks, with sixties-silhouettish drawings of long-legged girls with pointy heels, surrounded by arabesques. So I read a few of those.

Then, fired up by my new discoveries, I made a foray into crime, and now, after having perused back-issues of Mslexia, I've bought myself two sci-fi novels!

It is very interesting because I used to think I didn't like genre fiction. And that the only genre I was obsessed with was fanfic, and it was kind of a revelation to me to participate in this genre-fest, and know all the ins and outs and the dos and don'ts and the tropes and the conventions and the nuances and the way Orli's eyes are moccha and Elijah squeals when aroused.

But now I find I can enjoy all sorts of other genre fiction as well. And this comes after years of reading academic disquisitions on genre! *delves in*

P.S. This is all to do with my tranquillisers and anti-depression dealings of which more at some other time. :-)