Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month, which means that 5 Minutes for Books is hosting their monthly What’s On Your Nightstand? carnival. Click the graphic if you want to see what others are reading or if you’d like to participate.
So, what am I reading these days? Well, in addition to the gobs of catalogs that I’m perusing, as I try to come up with some good stocking stuffer ideas for Christmas, I’m reading The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer. It’s a fast-paced action/mystery-type book involving the age-old story of Cain and Abel; the 1930′s story of Jerry Siegel, who created Superman; and a modern-day father and son who’ve been reunited after a decades-long separation brought about by a family tragedy.
Whew!
I can’t judge yet whether I’ll love this book or not. But I can tell you this: it is one of those books that I picked up and — suddenly, it seemed — I was on page 100. The premise pulled me in, the action was nonstop, and I had trouble closing the book to go to sleep. I just kept turning pages.
Which leads me to something I’ve been thinking about for a while.
[Note: if you just stopped by to see what I was reading, feel free to stop right here. I won't be offended in the least!]
Not too long ago, I read a blog post in which the writer claimed that “literary fiction” is objectively better than fast-paced “genre fiction.” He claimed that because sentences are more carefully crafted, because metaphors are used to great effect, because the prose practically sings with beauty, and because the writing forces a reader to slow down and think, literary fiction is by necessity better than fiction that does not have beautiful sentences, poetic imagery, and well-used literary devices.
Do you agree with that?
The book I’m reading now is pure genre — there’s action, there’s suspense, there’s mystery, but there’s no singing prose. However, that’s okay with me.
Sometimes, I just want to be entertained with suspense and thrills, and I honestly think that a striking metaphor or other literary device would just be a distraction. The writing needs to be simple and concrete (though still well-done) in order to keep the focus on the rollicking ride.
Other times, I want to read a book with a slower pace that resonates and stirs and makes me say, “Wow! That was a beautifully-crafted paragraph.”
I don’t know, I guess I just think there’s a place for pure, fun storytelling, and a place for striking metaphors and resonating words. And I think, in general, it’s more a matter of personal preference than “objective value.”
Thoughts, opinions?
For me, a good book needs good guys who know what they are about… it needs bad guys who need some “dealing ” with.
Good guy wins, bad guy loses… and if necessary, the angst ridden conflicted people get therapy and turn out alright too.
Hmmm — I’m chewing on that.
I think it depends on what your definition of is is (sorry for that aside — I recalled that funny phrase from I don’t know where and had to include it). But seriously, it depends on what your definition of “good” is. Is “good writing” something that you don’t want to put down? Something that sticks with you long after you finished reading it? Something that makes you physically react (heart racing, jumping when someone surprises you)?
I think it can be all of those things, so I disagree with that dude’s assumption. I think you can definitely say that literary writing is more literary than genre writing, and I’m inching to his side here to say that perhaps you could say that the writing is of better quality (his standard of “good”), but does it make it a better book — not necessarily. I think we’ve all read literary books that are big ol’ clunkers in the plot department!
Just stoppin’ by to see what you are reading. Anything that is fast-paced and keeps me enthralled is a good book to me. Not sure that I feel qualified to weigh in on the debate. I do know that I’m not one to focus on sentence structure, though…
Jennifer – I think you and I are in agreement, but you worded it better than I did. If I were given a sentence or paragraph from a literary novel and one from a “pure genre” novel, I’d most likely feel that the literary one was “better-written.” But like you said — that does not necessarily make for an better book. I also think that (very rarely) there’s an author who can come close to having it all — page-turning suspense and wow-worthy prose.
I think there is a place for both. I know sometimes I need to read something that makes me think and use my brain and sometime I need to “check out” – my version of enjoying something just for entertainment’s sake like I would a movie or tv show.
I think there’s a place for both too! I mostly read for entertainment and to escape but from time to time really enjoy something that makes me think….those I have to savor a bit longer sometimes.
I find myself skeptical of the evaluation the other blogger makes, starting even with the categories “genre fiction” vs. “literary fiction.” Doesn’t every written artifact belong in both of these categories?
I think we apply different criteria of judgment to our reading all the time… or at least, we prioritize the criteria in different ways based on the effect a work has.
I agree with Gail. There is a space for both.. however, I tend to find myself not putting down the book that has lots of action even if it is not the most eloquently written book..
Well, when I think of the Narnia series I totally agree with the guy. It’s well-written fiction that “sings.” I think of The Mysterious Benedict Society and the author didn’t intend any great meaning but it’s now one of my favorite books ever. So that makes me want to disagree.
Interesting thoughts. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
That’s an interesting question, Katrina. I think when what we regard as classics were written, they didn’t have the same criteria as we do now — “the plot grabbed me and drew me in,” “can’t put it down,” “a real page-turner,” etc. Those things can’t be said about most of the classics I’ve read, yet there is great depth and beauty and/or much food for thought in them. My first inclination is that literary fiction is better-written, higher- quality — but then it just depends on the standard. It takes a different kind of talent to write an action novel that stays interesting and plausible, yet a different talent to write mysteries that keep the reader guessing, etc. So I don’t know if it’s really a matter of one being inherently better than the other or just that different genres require different styles. Sometimes you just want something that grabs you right off the front page and takes you for a ride — sometimes you want something of sheer beauty that speaks to your soul.
I think I disagree with the “objective value” part. Books are very subjective based on the values of the reader at the moment of reading. Those values or preferences change from day to day. We really need both kinds of books – some to inspire our thoughts and others to escape our thoughts.
I laughed out loud when I read “objectively better”. The writer of that used a subjective opinion to state that one thing is objectively better. It’s all just too ironic!
This books sound great, though! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a story from Cain and Abel. Very interested.
I don’t think any particular genre that is “better.” Better is in the eye of the beholder. There are genres that are more intelligent and verbose and those that are short and to the point. I like literary fiction and chick lit, and if I’ve had a hard day, am tired and needing something to relax, chances are I’m not going to choose the literary fiction, even if it is more scholarly. There is a time and place for everything. Is that enough cliches for you?
After reading all the comments…my head is “spinning”, however you have piqued my interest in reading this book by Meltzer.