Comments on Katidom: In Which Kati Ponders on the Meaning of Literature...

Well, since I know of marketing teams that refer t...

2009-12-02T01:05:35.695-05:00

Well, since I know of marketing teams that refer to their brochures as "literature," I'd say that the bar is low for the term.

I would say yes. I love the LoS suggestion. I wo...

2009-12-01T23:20:30.765-05:00

I would say yes. I love the LoS suggestion. I would also say Laura Lee Gurhke's Guilty Pleasure and In My Wildest Dreams by Christina Dodd, and Twilight (although I'm not sure that one counts, since it's YA).

literature for me is creative fiction that has val...

2009-12-01T19:08:07.289-05:00

literature for me is creative fiction that has value. The question then becomes WHOSE value. As a general rule of thumb, romance, sci-fi, horror, mystery, etc. are considered genre fiction simply because they're for the unwashed masses (take that NYT editors), while literature is something that's supposed to expand your mind.

Personally, I don't consider Jane Austen romance, it's social commentary with some romance. Ok, stop throwing the tomatoes. Austen's okay, I just don't think she's all that.

As for me, I don't care if someone calls me literature or not. I write for the pleasure of my readers and for myself. Literary critics be damned. *grin* (Besides they're just jealous because romance has such a HUGE section of the reader pie. *evil grin*)

I think for me the defining line for literature wo...

2009-12-01T18:23:35.160-05:00

I think for me the defining line for literature would be a story that can stand the test of time. Usually, it's because there is some kind of social/cultural commentary or insight that transcends the story.

I mean there were a lot of books written 100 or more years ago, but that doesn't mean that they automatically become "literature" because they are old.

And, just because something current is held up as "literary fiction" doesn't mean that it will be of any relevance to anyone 5, 25 or 50 years from now. (I always think of SNL's Jack Handey's "Deep Thoughts" when I think of a lot of this kind of fiction.)

Yet, there are some romances that I would consider literary contenders (though there would only be a few, imo). Lord of Scoundrels is one that rises to that bar for me.

Of course, I'm more than happy with my (mostly non-literary) romances, uf, spec fic, m/m! :-)

I guess in the end, literature is in the eye of the beholder.

i loved the books you use as examples, LoS vs Dark...

2009-12-01T16:57:57.134-05:00

i loved the books you use as examples, LoS vs Dark Lover, so true that every genre has a huge range in terms of writing style, form and universal interest.

i am hesitant to apply "literature" to romance novels since i feel like it invites immediate criticism, that, like yours with zombies, it would just be a knee jerk reaction to insult romance novels as never being anywhere near "literary quality."

so while i can't answer your question, i agree there are arguements for it.

secondarily i DETEST the term "literary fiction" for all these oprah's book club type books. i feel like that is giving too much credit (somehow? hard to explain?) to some novels that are just trying too hard to be seen as erudite and high brow.

Fantastic post Kati! You've really got me thin...

2009-12-01T15:56:45.949-05:00

Fantastic post Kati! You've really got me thinking...and I definitely believe certain romance novels could fall under the criteria of literature. I do not believe a HEA negates that.

Hmmm. Well, I adore Knave's Wager (a lesser well know Loretta Chase) and definitely think it should be included :) And what about Lisa Kleypas' contemporary romance novels?

*settles in to see what else the many brains of Kati's blog will suggest*