The Reading Vent & Rant Thread

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

I think of "literature" as an umbrella term for all types of written books, while the genre narrows it down.

I'd agree with the spirit of that, but almost no Literary Critic or Literature Awards accept that in practice.

[weateallthepies]

I've never really understood "literary genre", it is kind of meaningless given it's all literature regardless of what merit you think it has. I think modern "genre fiction" never really shrugged off it's pulpy roots and the disdain some people had for it. Literary fiction largely seems to be a way for those readers and authors to distance themselves from it despite quite often dabbling in the tropes that define genre fiction.

You see it quite a lot with obvious science fiction written by literary author's who will come up with all sorts of ridiculous reasons why their book isn't science fiction, though more often than not make snarky comments about little green men.

[rkomar]

I would say that literature has something about the structure or style of the writing that is interesting in itself. If it is just a story, it isn't literature.

[Sirtel]

In Estonian, literature means something that's been written and published, regardless of its topic, genre or quality.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by rkomar

I would say that literature has something about the structure or style of the writing that is interesting in itself. If it is just a story, it isn't literature.

But what's interesting to one person, usually isn't so to another. There's no written work in existence that's interesting to everyone or even to most people.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by rkomar

I would say that literature has something about the structure or style of the writing that is interesting in itself. If it is just a story, it isn't literature.

That's the view paid Literary critics have.

What makes something just a story?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by rkomar

I would say that literature has something about the structure or style of the writing that is interesting in itself. If it is just a story, it isn't literature.

So what's interesting about those three trashy romance novels?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Quoth

That's the view paid Literary critics have.

What makes something just a story?

Every fiction book is just a story.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Every fiction book is just a story.

In. Your. Opinion.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Every fiction book is just a story.

You missed the point.

prefixing a story with "just" is manipulative. Almost no written fiction is "just a story", that's a put down worse than "it's just a myth".

[rkomar]

I meant "just" as in "only". I wasn't belittling stories, as they are much more important than the literary aspects. However, if you are interested in the art and craft of writing, then a novel that exhibits those in some way will have something more than one that does not. It is as simple and real as that. It's okay if someone doesn't care about such things, but claiming elitist nonsense for those that do is defensive baloney.

[Quoth]

"Only stories" is the same meaning.

There are well written and badly written stories (literature). Some of each are rubbish and some of each are very good.

Length isn't a measure either. Essay / Short, Novella, Novel, Epic, Serial Novels.

EDIT:
There is no objective criteria for a "Literary Novel" in the British/American sense. It's purely subjective by self appointed "Literary Critics".

[JSWolf]

All fiction books are stories. That's the way it i like it or not.

[rkomar]

There is some subjectiveness in all genre categorizations, so why should the literary genre be any different? There are also thousands of books and courses on literary criticism, surely they haven't all made it up and have no actual content? There are real points of interest in literary criticism, and it is not wrong to point out the novels that merit appreciation on those points.

I wasn't trying to be insulting when I used "just" and "only", but I'm not sure that there was any way for me to describe books that don't fit into the literary genre without it being perceived as a slight by some.

[John F]

And back to my original rant, Overdrive/publishers should pick what should be listed under "Literature", not publishers marketing.