She discovers genre

[lobelia321]

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. :-)

Comments

[ithiliana.livejournal.com]

Sheenagh Pugh calls it "litfic" which I adore!

Did you get my email? (Don't mean to be obnoxious, but am hoping it did not go astray)?????????

[sheldrake.livejournal.com]

Chicklit is about the only genre I've been totally put off by - I attempted a few but found them really boring and disliked all the characters. It's odd though, because if they were films I'd happily watch them, however bad. And it's not like I don't read all sorts of vaguely trashy rubbish. Only the good trashy rubbish though.

Not sure what I'm on about. I'm a bit tired...

[digdigil.livejournal.com]

I don't know....I think it's always exciting to discover a "new" genre in fiction (or even non-fiction, as when I felt the need back in 2002 to devour every single thing I could read on gardening, plants and especially trees). It makes me feel young again. Like when I discovered my first series at age 7....The Wizard of Oz and its sequels. *sigh* Those were the days....

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

For the past year or so, I've been reading a lot of genre fiction as well! I guess it would be called "Fantasy?" George R.R. Martin, Lois McMaster Bujold, Diana Gabaldon. Good, escapist fun!

But, I always come back to LitFic in the end. :-)

You're on drugs? Do tell!

[viva-gloria.livejournal.com]

"Good genre fiction is as good as good literary fiction." Discuss ...

I tend to read quite a bit of genre fiction (though not as much as I used to): having developed a taste for good writing, I'm pickier about what I read. But sometimes the plot of good genre (especially SF) makes up for all sorts of stylistic nasties.

[msilverstar]

It's like the storytelling juice went to genre and the stylistic juice to litfic. There are exceptions and books that do both, but they almost prove the rules. I know a ton of good SF and fantasy from the 70s and 80s, but have mostly stopped reading anything besides journals, fic, the daily paper and the New Yorker (rarely the fiction there, I find it dull).