Quote:
Originally Posted by JDK1962
A strict definition would be pretty hard. Personally, I consider literary fiction to be fiction written by people who give the craft of writing their top priority. Genre writers (SF, romance, thriller, mystery, etc.) can get away with simply telling a story, or creating compelling characters and putting them through their paces (so-called "franchise novels"). Some genre writers are really good writers, some...not so much. Expectations for the writing itself seem to be lower in genre work; if you stick with the conventions of your genre and your prose is serviceable, you can have some success.
|
I agree with this. Too often, I found that literary fiction is too hung up on fancy writing styles, allegory, and other fancy stylistic choices. I'm with JRR Tolkien on allegory: "I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence."
I read a lot of literary fiction in HS and college and I'm not generally a huge fan. I think it's a mistake to make high school students read the stuff they do, but that's another discussion.
Once in a while there's an exception, a literary classic I actually like (like
Alas, Babylon....)then again that's really sci-fi of a sort and a genre I'm comfortable in.