What do you guys think about literary fiction?
What do you guys think about literary fiction?
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Fiction? I think it’s fair to say that we all like it.
I like it!
@Oscar @Jasneet i read in article saying that literature fiction is a ‘serious’ literature & how it differs from genre fiction. I thought that was interesting ?
I think you mean “literary” fiction. But I could be wrong.
@Oscar oh yes my mistake. It’s literary fiction. Thanks
Literary fiction is more drawn out, you don’t get all details as easily as genre fiction where things are more based on immediate action. Most often in literary fiction the protagonist is trying to overcome something or goes on a voyage of self-discovery. Dickens, Steinbeck, Austen are literary authors. Clancy, Verne, Wells are genre authors. Genre books are meant to be easy reading, often at an eighth grade reading level. Literary works are far heavier to read.
Yes. That’s what they said. Usually I dont really care about what is meant by literary fiction. I mean, fiction is still fiction no matter what. ? then I read on and on and found out that it differed from the genre fiction and some even said that literary fiction was a ‘serious’ fiction.
Love good writing that engages the mind and spirit, whatever you call it!
@Liza yeap, good writing is what matters. Always.
I’m in favor
Literary fiction is good for audio books and listening to while working manual tasks. Genre is better for relaxing.
It’s my understanding that literary fiction is the telling of ordinary people going through ordinary struggles. In most cases, I find it very dull.
Yeap, dullness, mundane, unremarkable. These words are always associated with literary fiction. Like they are inseparable. Very few I think read this kind of literature.
No not that few
One of the few differences about literary fiction from genre fiction is it’s emphasis on character, it
So yes it may seem a bit dull to some but it certainly is not boring. It is not plot driven so Yes, you can’t expect adrenaline pumping thrills.
But they have a depth of truth that the reader has to uncover not only by reading in a haze but by close reading, reading between the lines , understanding implications and insinuations.
The writers have usually gone through pain to produce something that just does not stand to entertain people but yes provides a deeper glimpse into truths that are at times difficult to understand and accept.
So I am sorry this has become too long
But I could write pages and spend hours explaining the beauty of literary fiction.
A
I enjoy both
But then again it is a matter of choice
@Bushra It’s alright. This is an open discussion. I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts. Yes, it’s a matter of choice and this genre has its own reader. Me including. My choice of reading always leaning towards this genre, without me realising it. And it’s an intetesting journey trying to understand the meaning behind the words from the authors. If you could find a book entitled The Unbearable Lightness of Being, I personally think that book is in this genre too.
I’ve never taken to it. To me, genre fiction is more creative and lends itself to better storytelling. For example, I just got done reading The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter. Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Justine Frankenstein, Catherine Moreau, and Beatrice Rappaccini team up with Holmes and Watson to find out why their fathers were doing the research they were doing, as they were the end result of said research.
Well according to its general characteristics, literary fiction is leaning more towards the complexities of its characters without leaving out the interesting plots. I really cant blame the readers, I mean they have their own choices. And not many would spend hours just to interpret why a particular character did that particular thing. While for the genre fiction, it’s still the same but journey of the plots is the most important thing. Most readers would love to read something that brings them that thrilling sensation. Again, it’s a matter of choice. And I’m a fan of genre fiction too. ? because what matters at the end is a piece of good writing.
Literary fiction is usually more character driven as opposed to genre fiction which is more plot driven. My tastes usually lean toward Literary Fiction.
The characters are the main focus but they dont necessarily ‘abandon’ the plot. Both are crucial. Maybe this is why some readers find this genre is dull.
That’s a great definition, I think! I love literary fiction for that very reason. I’m so interested in complex characters, especially ones that I don’t particularly like, but who I’m rooting for because they’re so complex and well-written.
Literary Fiction, and Historical fiction are my favourite genres. And when it’s the same book; oh boy!
Historical fiction is my favourite too.
I think a lot of readers do enjoy it, but don’t know the difference. They hear the word literary and think it’s hard to get through or hard to understand. They’d be shocked to find out most of their favorites are literary and not genre. A great example of this is S. King’s The Stand. It’s even in the literary category on Amazon, but readers don’t look at the category because they searched it by his name.
Yes. I didnt know what the differences were at all, not until now.
I think there’s a time and place for both. I tend to prefer genre fiction, and if I’m interested in more serious reading I go for non-fiction. But I will admit that sometimes I find genre fiction starts to feel trite and poorly written to me and I will seek out some literary fiction to kind of balance things out.
I think non fiction is serious enough for me. ? And perhaps literary fiction can be fun too if you know how to enjoy it.
I like it all. I think the line is a little nebulous frankly.
Generally, literary fiction is well written. Almost any story can be good if well written. It’s what I prefer to read.
The fiction I read has literary merit; that’s why I read it. This term “literary fiction” seems unnecessary, a bookseller’s term, not a reader’s.
I found it online about the usage of this term and yup, this term is quite debatable.
Well…since I write it, I’m a little prejudiced. My problem with it nowadays is writers and literary agents want it to also cross over into commercial or upmarket fiction so it’s not what it used to be. And for me it depends on the subject matter and story line.
Many booksellers dont want to gamble over this subject because they afraid not many will like it. I pick that from the article that I read. I dunno. I think many would just love this subject.
I actually do not care for most literary fiction. I usually prefer non-fiction, and if i am going to do fiction then i usually stick with the fantasy genre.
I also usually dont care for historical fiction either.
I like it and describe it as heavy fiction. Some current authors I would put in this category Elizabeth Strout, Louise Erdrich, Anne Patchett, past authors like John Cheever, Yates, Welty, Capote, Waugh, many others.
I love it. I also think that the readers/critics are the ones who decide what is literary. A writer that is self-proclaimed as such is typically snobbish and overrated.
I’ve been told a few times my writing is literary and I took it as a great compliment. But I would never be so bold to say so myself.
Ditto.
Please define the term.
Great discussion! I personally enjoy literary fiction. There is a difference to me. I do read genre fiction but my favorite books are literary.
Lisa, can you recommend a few you really liked?
My all-time favorites: Pride & Prejudice. A Tale of Two Cities. Great Expectations. The Winter of Our Discontent. East of Eden. I’m having a hard time coming up with some contemporary stuff. ?
Snow Falling on Cedars, Belcanto, A Certain Slant of Light, Peace Like a River.
@Christy oh wait… here we go… A Gentleman in Moscow, The Golfinch, The Sense of an Ending…
@Christy oooh! I’ll check those out! I’m completely out of anything to read right now. ?
Lisa Sprouse Yup I enjoy them too. Because I dont even know that the book is categorised as a literary fiction. I thought the subjects were heavy & my choice of reading is always leaning that way.
It is my most favorite genre, but it’s a challenge to find these days.
It is… And my mood changes so sometimes I can really get into something and sometimes I can’t. For me it’s like… do I want a big salad or a quick peanut butter and jelly for lunch? ??♀️ I also notice I enjoy British mysteries and thrillers but not American. I think I just like getting into people’s heads. ?
I love British mystery! Can you tell me any you loved?
@Christy Do you like Ruth Ware? Clare Mackintosh?
B.A. Paris. I’ve read and enjoyed pretty much everything by those authors.
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinsborough.
Do you have any good recommendations?
I love a series by Allen Bradley. The first is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.
@Christy I’ll check it out. ?
My favorite literary fiction books by Michael Cunningham, Toni Morrison, Alice Munro, Donna Tartt, and C.E Morgan are great comforts to me. They tap into the marrow of humanity in such a startlingly keen way that leaves me both understood and understanding.
I like Donna Tartt.
Love all of them. My most recent addition would be Jesmyn Ward.
I absolutely love literary fiction. My favorite type is westerns and romances. I love to imagine myself as the heroine of the book.
Love it though I tend not be able to read a lot of it back to back. It can get depressing since it tends to deal in pretty emotional topics.