Genre vs. Literary Fiction

Over on Laura Lippman's Memory Project blog, a discussion is being conducted in response to some statements made about thriller writer Stephen Hunter in a profile in the Baltimore Sun. (Hat tip to Sarah Weinman for directing me to this.)

The crux of the matter is that Hunter's former editor at the Sun dismisses Hunter's writing as inferior because it is "popular" rather than "serious" fiction. (I recommend reading Lippman's thoughts on the matter, as they are quite insightful.)

This kind of condescending attitude towards genre fiction is not as common as it used to be, I don't think, but it's still prevalent in certain circles.

What needs to be understood is that the whole concept of genre and its accompanying terminology (mystery, fantasy, suspense, etc.) is simply an attempt at forming a common language that allow us as readers, critics, booksellers, etc. to talk easily about books in a way that we can all understand.

Words like "literary fiction" or "thriller novel" are labels. They help us understand what each other is saying when we talk about or write about books. They help us know where to go in the bookstore when we're looking for a certain type of story. They are differences of TYPE not differences of KIND. (And they say nothing about the inherent merits or lack thereof of the book in question.)

Ultimately, there are only two types of books (Montgomery's Second Law): good ones and bad ones, and knowing the "genre" the book falls into will not tell you which type of book you're holding.

A book about a father searching for a missing daughter might be a crime novel or it might be a literary novel (to use those common terms). Those labels might tell us something about the way in which the story is told, or they may just tell us something about the way in which the book is being positioned. What they don't tell us is whether or not the book is any good, whether or not it is quality fiction, or if the author has any talent. Only reading the book and deciding for yourself can do that.

Comments

[Bill Peschel]

It may be more common than you believe. Jenny Cruise's blog points to someone criticizing a panel discussion involving the NBCC on this very subject. Her opinion was that it was a waste of time and that book critics should be taking genre readers by the hand and gently leading them toward the worthwhile reading.

I wonder if John Banville, the Booker winner who recently published a thriller, read that and said "Great! now I can hate myself."

[spyscribbler]

Fabulous post. Thank you!

[PJ Parrish]

David,
I can understand this attitude from critics (no offense!) and other quarters. But when I hear it from other writers, I go nuts. MJ Rose had an interesting entry on her blog recently from her "The Doctor Is In" contributor who was consoling a writer who has been unable to find a publisher for her book. Here is part of the writer's lament:

"I'm this wonderful writer, with no readers. I should be proud of what I've achieved, especially for a first novel, even if it's never published. So what if I write stuff that nobody will buy, especially not city people, especially not people whose idea of entertainment is anything with a jump-cut every thirty seconds? I have my integrity and my artistic pride....I can conclude that I've written a better book than the audience of ignoramuses deserves."

I can't abide writers who have contempt for readers. I can only guess that this writer's condescension flavors her fiction as well. Which might be why, as lovely as the writing might be, it has failed to strike a chord with another human being.

[Rae]

Nicely said, David. Couldn't agree more ;-)

[I.J.Parker]

Amen, David!

[guyot]

I likes them books where the peoples do lots of dirty stuff.

[Elaine Flinn]

You are not a voice in the wilderness.

[toni mcgee causey]

Beautifully, succinctly put, David. Thank you. That was one of the best explanations I've seen about the use of labeling and why it doesn't dictate quality.

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