295. Literary vs. Commercial Fiction ...

[at_midnight]

I'm warning you that this post will be a slightly long musing of the phenomenon of literary vs. commercial fiction. So if you're not interested, you might want to skip it.I stumbled into this blog by Sullivan Wheeler, whose m/m mystery book I am currently reading, and it comes to my attention about the "debate about NY Times being a boys' club"

Comments

[katayla]

This is something I've been ranting about for a while. Commercial fiction IS dismissed. And not just by the papers and the industry: BY READERS. It infuriates me the way some popular authors are dismissed by LJ users as "they're crappy, of course." WHAT? No, I enjoy the books I read. If I didn't, I wouldn't finish them

[at_midnight]

Thank you for joining the discussion ...

I think there's this perception--especially among people who don't read as much as you or I do--that if you're going to read something, it has to be something "quality." They'll watch commercial tv shows and have no problem admitting, but books? OH NO, we can't read anything like that. We can't admit we read romances or paranormal books or YA or anything like that. Or, if we do, we have to make sure everyone knows we don't REALLY like that stuff. We really only like "literature."EXACTLY!!! The elitist readers. I mean just because a book is deemed as commercial, it doesn't mean that it's NOT thought-provoking or having beautiful writing or touching social issues, darn it

[katayla]

I mean just because a book is deemed as commercial, it doesn't mean that it's NOT thought-provoking or having beautiful writing or touching social issues, darn it. You know, I think that's a really important point, too! I've been reading Kelley Armstrong's paranormal romances lately and she deals with a lot of issues and one of my friends and I have had a lot of somewhat serious discussions because of the books. But I know there's a huge segment of readers, even among my friends, who would still dismiss them as "bad

[tomatoe18]

Sorry to butt in, but I find this statement highly amusing. I actually LOL-ed hard reading it:

See, so many of the people I run into DON'T even actually read the NY Times reviewed books! But they feel guilty about it!My first thought was, "There are people who feel guilty for not reading the NYT reviewed books? Seriously? Why on earth would anyone feel guilty? How pompous!" I understand if someone gets annoyed for being unable to catch up with the trend (I feel that way, too, sometimes, because my job requires me to know anything and everything about book trends) but feeling guilty because you don't read a book that a newspaper recommended last weekend? Hmmm... I just don't see the logic in that feeling

[tomatoe18]

Interesting discussion. I wish I could contribute something worthwhile to read. :P As it is, seeing as my brain is not functioning properly (also, I'm busy taking care of a few things), I don't think I have anything of value to say to this discussion

[at_midnight]

Since you work in the book retail industry and have friends in publishing cmpanies, I think you know exactly what's going right? So even what you said about the list of authors, and how the male written books are those labeled as "Super Lead" and "Lead" titles, already give some inputs into the discussion.

Honestly, I also think like you. Reading is a matter of taste. Reading is a personal experience. I want to be able to ENJOY what I read. I don't need sanctimonious attitude from people who think that literary fiction is better than commercial fiction. Yes, just shove a hardback into their throats! :D

But the main issue that I want to say here is the discrimination AGAINST those so-called commercial fictions, that they do not get enough royal treatment or being looked down by the so-called-big paper reviews, JUST BECAUSE they are marketed or seen as commercial. That is just sad ... because a lot of people read those. Isn't vox populi vox Dei??

[tomatoe18]

Isn't vox populi vox Dei??

I don't think this argument will fly with the so-called pompous douchebags that run literary publications that matter. There's a reason why they're snobbish arsewipes -- they're so arrogant, they think they're god themselves... and everyone else can go hang. If they weren't snobs, there would never be a problem like the one we're discussing right now! :P

[at_midnight]

There's a reason why they're snobbish arsewipes -- they're so arrogant, they think they're god themselves... and everyone else can go hang

Sadly, this arrogance does not only apparent in publishing world, but also movies and music *sigh*

[storylikeascar]

Ha! I agree with you completely. Read what you enjoy not what you "think" you should be reading based on how society views it. WTF? I read any and everything that interests me without a care as to how popular it is or not. I mean, hello, Twilight was one of my favorite reads of 08. So what if it's not complicated read? I often get frustrated and put those books down. I mean who the hell has the time to be reaching for a dictionary every 5 minutes just to understand what you're reading? I'm not down with that.

What's literature anyway? Is it the writing style? I can tell you that I stumble into some amazing writings by these so called commercial authors as well. Again, I agree that I have no idea what classifies something as literature. Seriously I don't? And as you say is it the style? The time period it focuses on? What? I don't know. I won't tell you I hate literary novels though because I have quite a few that I love but at the same time there are plenty that are mundane and worthless. To each his own but yes don't judge me by

[at_midnight]

Heee, I trigger long comments with this post *lol*. To answer your question first: Can I ask from where did the fiery passion to vent about this arise? Like I said, I stumbled into a blog of an m/m author who leads me to that sparkling debate about liteature vs. commercial fiction. WHICH, started to get me thinking about the discrimination against commercial fiction AND ended up making me wanting to vent.

I won't tell you I hate literary novels though because I have quite a few that I love but at the same time there are plenty that are mundane and worthless.EXACTLY. You know me, Jo, I NEVER really care about what people think of my taste. I have a strong and firm believe that I know who I am and what I will like and screw other people's opinion. But you have to admit that there are people who look down on the commercial fictions just because they are "deemed" or marketed as commercials

[aftersix]

I'm gonna be honest - I've been slightly ignorant and been pondering for a long time what you mean whenever you mention "literature" books. Because to me, literature = books. Isn't that the original root of the word's meaning anyway? So I never had any idea what you're talking about but was too lazy to ask :P Either way, I never encountered people who read only those kinds of books and never feel judged myself, so I guess I've been happily ignorant all this time while I'm drowning in my commercial books.

[at_midnight]

I'm gonna be honest - I've been slightly ignorant and been pondering for a long time what you mean whenever you mention "literature" books. Because to me, literature = books. Isn't that the original root of the word's meaning anyway? So I never had any idea what you're talking about but was too lazy to ask

*LOL* Well, okay, since I did say that what was "literature" anyway, I think I really should not differentiate those of literary vs. commercial books, huh?

Well, what I meant by "literary fiction" or "literature" are usually those books that will fall under the category of literature fiction in bookstore or even retailer onlike like Amazon.com. They usually find themselves being reviewed by such likes of NYT or Kirkus Reviews. They ALSO usually cost more when they are out in paperback (though I do admit that YA books are also expensive :p).

[aftersix]

Is there a specific genre, though? I know it's fiction, but beyond that it seems hard to define. Does it have to have "heavy" and thought-provoking issues? Does it have to be serious and "adult"? If you think about it, it's really strange to even differentiate between "literary" and "commercial" because.. who came up with the rules? What makes something commercial?

[at_midnight]

who came up with the rules? What makes something commercial?

Exactly, right? But whenever you go shopping for books, you WILL find the such of genre as Literature Fiction (check Amazon.com if you don't believe me) or even at Kinokuniya Book Store. Even in Indonesian literature, you will see those deemed as literary fiction (for example from the such of Gunawan Muhammad, Ayu Utami, Seno Gumira, etc) vs. the commercial fictions (which unfortunately I don't really names because I don't read Indonesian fictions, but maybe those seen as Indonesian chic lit for lack of a better term?)

[anli]

See and that's the point: what is literature and who decides it??

I mean I study German literature and read lots of classic and so called literature and sometimes I asked myself why this is an important piece of literature! Some books I can say why it is and why it's so important but some books...simply I can't see it.

And what's so wrong to read commercial books? I also wanna be entertained by what I'm reading. I don't wanna read a book which only make my thoughtful. I wanna have fun while reading! And you're right: what the hell makes Nora Roberts so differend from Nicholas Sparks? Only that in his books in the end someone dies. <.< And Nora has living happy couples in the end...I don't see a big difference

[at_midnight]

Some books I can say why it is and why it's so important but some books...simply I can't see it.

I know, right? Who decides a piece of literature in the end anyway? For some cases, when they made cultural impact, like Tolkien, Austen, Shakespeares, I will clearly state that YES those are literatures. But the rest? *shrugs*

I don't wanna read a book which only make my thoughtful. I wanna have fun while reading!

Exactly my point.

And it's a pity for really good authors who doesn't get the attention thy should get. No matter which genre they write!

Again, exactly my point.