Award-winning novels leave me exhausted—preachy, pretentious, and predictable. Yet, I still chase the one that will change my mind. Maybe this is the curse of a reader.
Capitalism of courses pushes everything to the centre of every bell curve, where there is more mass, and as prizes work as organs of large conglomerate publishers, it is no surprising that shareholders’ insatiability, like voices harmonising in a crowd, forces everything into the same normie shape
Do you think, like other genre fiction tropes, Literary Fiction focuses on overcomplicated tragedy, overt "message," and subversive style as its "brand?"
Not literary fiction generally but the books that are getting 1 million dollar advances and called “literary fiction” which are a sort of trauma porn, yes
I'm with you. They're so hit and miss. I'll read one award winner or critical darling and think, 'yeah, not bad, I enjoyed that.' And then the next I want to fling across the room (book or kindle!) and I vow not to read anymore of these and stick to safer bets. I keep falling for them though.
This post on why we should read hard books seems like an interesting article to set side by side with yours https://subverse.substack.com/p/why-you-should-read-books-that-are. I've been intentionally reading books outside my comfort zone, including lit fic, to grow as a writer and I feel the same. But it's hard for me to tell if it's because I've been a genre reader for so long and all I really want is Fred Vargas.
This is a great post. Thank you for sharing it. I am the same way. I find reading books that challenge me as a writer and a reader enables growth. But unlike Natalie, my enjoyment quotient does not go up. In many cases, I think, "I get it, but I should have picked up the latest J Ryan Stradal instead." I want to enjoy it. I keep chasing the idea of it. But the odds are I will end with one big eye roll.
Don't know Stradal, going to check that out. Most of the lit fic I've read so far has been right on the line with commercial I think. Really enjoyed Elizabeth Strout which is Pulitzer stuff but pretty accessible. Reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy, next up The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (and the title made me wonder if that's the one you referenced). See you're in Oakland. My US home was Walnut Creek, so just a few minutes up the road but waaaaayyy more posh. I was the poor girl in town lol. Loved Oakland but also once got mugged at gunpoint there after a great Italian dinner with friends. Dude in a hoodie with a pistol and my ex-husband had the presence of mind to ask if he could keep his wallet and while the guy was saying no he slipped out his important cards. At any rate, glad I found your Substack.
Oh no! So sorry to hear that. I lived in Hayward, now I'm in Sacramento. Commercial Contemporary Fiction is my favorite. Lager Queen of Minnesota is fantastic. Great to meet you too!
The Guncle is out at my local library but they had The Guncle Abroad. So perfect as I'm looking for something gentle and relaxing to read. Thanks again
don’t read my novel then lol
Capitalism of courses pushes everything to the centre of every bell curve, where there is more mass, and as prizes work as organs of large conglomerate publishers, it is no surprising that shareholders’ insatiability, like voices harmonising in a crowd, forces everything into the same normie shape
Do you think, like other genre fiction tropes, Literary Fiction focuses on overcomplicated tragedy, overt "message," and subversive style as its "brand?"
Not literary fiction generally but the books that are getting 1 million dollar advances and called “literary fiction” which are a sort of trauma porn, yes
I'm with you. They're so hit and miss. I'll read one award winner or critical darling and think, 'yeah, not bad, I enjoyed that.' And then the next I want to fling across the room (book or kindle!) and I vow not to read anymore of these and stick to safer bets. I keep falling for them though.
It's almost as though you see Pulitzer or "national book award" winner and you put it back on the shelf.
This post on why we should read hard books seems like an interesting article to set side by side with yours https://subverse.substack.com/p/why-you-should-read-books-that-are. I've been intentionally reading books outside my comfort zone, including lit fic, to grow as a writer and I feel the same. But it's hard for me to tell if it's because I've been a genre reader for so long and all I really want is Fred Vargas.
This is a great post. Thank you for sharing it. I am the same way. I find reading books that challenge me as a writer and a reader enables growth. But unlike Natalie, my enjoyment quotient does not go up. In many cases, I think, "I get it, but I should have picked up the latest J Ryan Stradal instead." I want to enjoy it. I keep chasing the idea of it. But the odds are I will end with one big eye roll.
Don't know Stradal, going to check that out. Most of the lit fic I've read so far has been right on the line with commercial I think. Really enjoyed Elizabeth Strout which is Pulitzer stuff but pretty accessible. Reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy, next up The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (and the title made me wonder if that's the one you referenced). See you're in Oakland. My US home was Walnut Creek, so just a few minutes up the road but waaaaayyy more posh. I was the poor girl in town lol. Loved Oakland but also once got mugged at gunpoint there after a great Italian dinner with friends. Dude in a hoodie with a pistol and my ex-husband had the presence of mind to ask if he could keep his wallet and while the guy was saying no he slipped out his important cards. At any rate, glad I found your Substack.
Oh no! So sorry to hear that. I lived in Hayward, now I'm in Sacramento. Commercial Contemporary Fiction is my favorite. Lager Queen of Minnesota is fantastic. Great to meet you too!
Oh thanks for the Guncle suggestion though!
I guess you haven't read enough of these novels. Sounds maybe more like jealousy? There is room for all of us I promise.
Ive tried and most come off as overly self important and out of touch to me. But could it be jealousy? Maybe. More likely I don’t care for it.
The Guncle is great!
The Guncle is out at my local library but they had The Guncle Abroad. So perfect as I'm looking for something gentle and relaxing to read. Thanks again