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Originally Posted by DiapDealer
If you're not careful, you guys are going to come full circle to the one and only point I was ever trying to make: the term "literary fiction" is not very helpful in describing a book.  |
I wouldn't go that far. Generally for me "literary" means intellectually challenging, with high quality prose and story-telling. I don't think you can describe those qualities through other genres.
Quote:
Originally Posted by DiapDealer
You've just finished a book that you thought was fantastic, insightful, innovative and artistic. When someone inevitably asks you what kind of book it is, how many of you can truthfully say that the first very first words out of your mouth will be; "Well, it's literary fiction!" ?
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Would your first words be, for example; "Well, it's historical fiction!" (or sci-fi or crime or thriller etc.)
If it is a book that can best be described by "literary", then yes, of course I'd describe it that way.