MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Literary Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Chang

Bookpossum · 10-06-2014, 07:16 PM

Yes, I do see the problem that this book was written in too popular and "easy-to-read" a style to be classified as literature, and is also not rigorous enough to be classed as history.

I suppose part of the problem is that until we read it, we don't know that. So given that this book received largely positive reviews and I seem to remember was short-listed for a prize (not necessarily proof positive I know!), how are we to judge whether the book should be chosen or not?

It's a tricky problem and I'm not sure we can find the solution to it, short of not having non-fiction works unless they are by a recognised writer of literature. For example, Robert Graves' Goodbye to All That I think would qualify. On the other hand, such a writer might be much better at fiction than non-fiction!

Thanks for keeping us on our toes, issybird and desertblues.

10-06-2014, 07:16 PM	#35
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,146 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	Yes, I do see the problem that this book was written in too popular and "easy-to-read" a style to be classified as literature, and is also not rigorous enough to be classed as history. I suppose part of the problem is that until we read it, we don't know that. So given that this book received largely positive reviews and I seem to remember was short-listed for a prize (not necessarily proof positive I know!), how are we to judge whether the book should be chosen or not? It's a tricky problem and I'm not sure we can find the solution to it, short of not having non-fiction works unless they are by a recognised writer of literature. For example, Robert Graves' Goodbye to All That I think would qualify. On the other hand, such a writer might be much better at fiction than non-fiction! Thanks for keeping us on our toes, issybird and desertblues.