Recently, in a FB post on a crime fiction readers group, someone asked the question of whether any of us felt bad that what we were reading wasn't perceived as 'worthy'.
Honestly, I'm not sure whether the intent was an honest answer because they were themselves struggling with a way to justify reading 'fluff'* or if their intent was merely to get a boatload of attention. They certainly got the latter. Dozens of comments - everything from blasting the original poster to defending their own choices. The most reasonable comments suggested what I ultimately also suggested - read what you like and don't worry about what other people think of your choices.
That's actually a good idea across the board. Don't worry about what other people think of your choices.
As for reading crime fiction, there's actually quite a bit of value to be found in those pages. Heroic stuff goes on in between the covers of a good crime novel. Things that make you think without making you feel like you were forced to think. There's also a fair amount of escapism in there. And a little bit of wish fulfilment. Seeing justice where justice is due. Simple entertainment. Hell, there are a lot of reasons to read crime fiction, which is what makes any fiction 'worthy'.
The person who posed the question pointed to War and Peace, Ulysses, and something else as examples of 'worthy' literature. Feh. I might agree with W&P... but I've never read it. Still, I haven't heard it's crap, so there ya go on that one. Ulysses, on the other hand, is crap. Even JJ admitted he wrote that as crap intentionally. (I read that ages ago, so don't ask me for the source.) I did try to read that one. Big nope. If the choice for what is worthy is crime fiction or Ulysses, give me crime fiction every day and twice on Sundays.
I'm not sure why so many people are so worried about what other people think of their reading choices. Who determines what you should or shouldn't read? Why do you care? At one time or another, so many different genres have been viewed as 'unworthy' by the powers that be, whoever the hell they are. Romance... Science Fiction... Fantasy... Mystery... I read them all. I don't read erotica. It's just not for me. But I don't walk around blasting people who do. I don't call into question their choice. You do you, baby.
So, next time someone calls into question your choices - reading or otherwise - consider the source and whether they are 'worthy' of your attention. ;o)
*their word, not mine.
Welcome to the world of romance authors. We've long be told that we aren't "real" writers, that our stuff is either fluff or porn, and it's a complete waste of shelf space in a bookstore or library. Interestingly, romance books account for well over 50% of the money made by publishers. Yet we don't get the big advances, the big talk shows, the big anything despite the fact that we are financing those "thoughtful, literary books" that make up the best seller lists.
ReplyDeleteYeah, hot button topic. Genre fiction--no matter the flavor--has always been the red-headed stepchild of publishing. Which is a shame. People should never be ashamed of what floats their boat and should just ignore those "intellectual elitists" who are full of pig stuffings.
PS. I HAVE read both W&P and Ulysses. W&P was mostly well written but boring. Ulysses was tripe, as Joyce intended it to be. Also, tripe technically IS pig stuffings. Just sayin'...