Since no one has posted today, I thought I'd bring up an article I saw in today's Wall Street Journal. In the article ("Chick Lit Revisted," Nov. 26, 2005), Joanne Kaufman takes a scornful crack at the world of women’s fiction. She begins by mentioning the recent movie deal by the “unfathomably prolific” Danielle Steele, calling her work “contrived,” “cliched,” and filled with “Hallmark prose,” not to mention “plodding and dull-witted.” But instead of limiting her opinion to Ms. Steele’s work, she goes on to comment on the genre of women’s fiction as a whole. According to Ms. Kaufman, although the genre has evolved in recent times, “intelligent design isn’t a factor.” Judith Krantz? Barbara Taylor Bradford? According to Ms. Kaufman, “one does not discuss their books in terms of literary merit. They have very little of it.” (Although she does admit that their work ends with the reader being “uplifted by the protagonist’s successful struggle against the odds”). And the entire chick lit movement is discounted as filled with “brisk frothy reads”.
Now, Ms. Kaufman is certainly entitled to her opinion but I have to wonder where this scorn is coming from. Any guesses? And I'd think that rather than deriding women's fiction, Ms. Kaufman could write a far more interesting article about why this fiction is so popular.
8 comments:
i have 2 say, obviously this Ms.Kaufman hasn't read 2 many of these types of books. mind U, i am not a BIG danielle steele fan, but i do enjoy reading her books.she has no concept of wat intelligent design is if she doesn't think these woman do research 4 their books.i enjoy the mystery and intrique that these wonderful authors put in2 their books. Ms. Kaufman has not read these books, 4 if she had, she would know that alot of time, thought, effort, and their hearts go in2 each and every book that authors write. i realize evry one is allowed 2 have their own opinion, but if she is going 2 comment on the lack of intelligent design in a book, then i suggest that she read it first b4 making such an incredibly stupid statement. i enjoy many different authors, and i am an avid reader, so 2 hear sum one massacre an authors style of writing, really makes me mad. i will be checking further on this topic so if u have ne more info on this Ms. Kaufman, that would b great if u would post more of it. i am very happy 4 u and ur new book, i will be checking it out 4 sure.
Sounds to me like Ms. Kaufman is a sexist. What? She only considers a book 'literature' if it's by a man? (But I guess I shouldn't say that since I haven't read the article.)
Just irritates me...
That's all I have to say.
Okay so I said more.
ROFLOL, Stephanie, you are so right on the money *g*
I think some of the literary types get frustrated that commercial fiction sells and commercial authors tend to do better financially than literary authors, who are often up for literary awards where cash is the prize (our prize is royalties). I'm proud to write what I write and entertain people in the process. I don't need to unearth a deep, dark secret or hidden truth or leave the reader feeling depressed about themselves or the world.
When I'm confronted by these people, I tend to remind them that some of the big commercial authors 100 years ago are the "classics" of today.
Yes, my reaction is the same as all of yours. First, I have to wonder how many romance novels this journalist has actually read. It seems that those who despise romance the most either have never read romance, have read one book decades ago, or at most have read one or two current ones. My other reaction is to wonder if she is actually a frustrated novelist who can't sell her own work. After all, it isn't easy to sell fiction. And just because a work sells doesn't preclude it from having literary merit!
I once had a reviewer write of one of my books, "this book should never have been copywrited." She then went on to blast my book in a lengthy review that was full of meanness and vitriol. I realize that not everyone loves what I write, but to denigrate a book, mine or anyone else's, in such a meanspirited manner, says more about the reviewer than it does about the book she is reviewing.It reeks of envy and screams frustrated writer to me.
Well, and it makes me wonder whether these scornful people have ever experienced happiness. Happy endings DO happen. Not always, and maybe not often, but they do happen. Of course, it's tough to know when an ending is happy when you have to go through 50-plus years to have someone admit that's what it was...
(coming up on 30 years myself--I'd consider that happy...)
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