Fiction_L Archives literary fiction Dates: 6/27/03,11:42 AM  through  6/27/03,7:28 PM  (6 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to June 2003 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: Mary Dunn <[removed]@lacrosse.lib.wi.us>
REC'D: 6/27/03, 11:42 AM

We are trying to determine exactly what literary fiction is. One staff
member says literary fiction are books that stand the test of time.
Another one says it's fiction that flows lyrically. Also what authors
would you consider benchmark literary fiction authors.

Thanks for all your ideas and suggestions.

--
Mary Dunn Voice: 608-789-7145
La Crosse Public Library Fax: 608-789-7106
800 Main St. [removed]@lacrosse.lib.wi.us
La Crosse WI 54601

FROM: "Cristine Mitchamore" <[removed]@sanantonio.gov>
REC'D: 6/27/03, 11:48 AM

How is an example of 'literary fiction' different from a 'classic'?

Cris Mitchamore
San Antonio Public Library
San Antonio, Texas
http://www.sanantonio.gov/library
Celebrating 100 years in 2003!

-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Dunn [[removed]@lacrosse.lib.wi.us]
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 11:35 AM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: literary fiction

We are trying to determine exactly what literary fiction is. One staff
member says literary fiction are books that stand the test of time.
Another one says it's fiction that flows lyrically. Also what authors
would you consider benchmark literary fiction authors.

Thanks for all your ideas and suggestions.

--
Mary Dunn Voice: 608-789-7145
La Crosse Public Library Fax: 608-789-7106
800 Main St. [removed]@lacrosse.lib.wi.us
La Crosse WI 54601

FROM: Candice Michalik <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 6/27/03, 12:27 PM

I am copying and pasting something from the Fiction_L
archhives a few years ago dealing with literary
fiction:

"FROM: "Jeffrey, Denise"
<[removed]@Central.tased.edu.au>
DATE: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 08:04:55 +1000

Here is a definition of literary fiction I have been
using in recent training sessions.

Literary fiction is chiefly characterised by the
creative use of narrative to explore significant
philosophical, psychological, social and linguistic
themes. It may be presented in a range of language
styles ranging from the simple and direct such as
Hemingway to the highly complex and inventive
works of James Joyce. It will often make conscious use
of rhetorical devices such as imagery and metaphor and
may make reference to other literary forms such as
poetry and drama, other works of fiction or other art
forms entirely. Literary fiction may be read as a
commentary upon these, or earlier treatments of
similar themes.

Literary fiction's principal intent is that of
original artistic expression (arguably to illuminate
aspects of the human condition) often illustrative
of aesthetic notions and it may or may not be
concerned to entertain although this is never its sole
objective.

Denise

Denise Jeffrey,
Selection Librarian,
State Library of Tasmania,"

=====
Candice Michalik
Reference Librarian
Lynchburg Public Library
Lynchburg, VA
[removed]@yahoo.com

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FROM: "Patricia Chupa" <[removed]@timberland.lib.wa.us>
REC'D: 6/27/03, 2:30 PM

In the bookselling business, "literary fiction" usually refers to what
are known as "midlist" fiction authors - appealing to a
more "intellectual audience," and which traditionally publishers do not
support with large print runs and publicity dollars (although Oprah has
made some inroads in this category, by choosing authors from the
midlist).These authors are usually given a small initial hardcover
print run, followed by a "trade" paperback softcover run. I don't know
if this helps at all, but if you think of the books in this format -
you instantly know which authors are "literary." Literary fiction also
tends to be more character and theme-driven - in the sense of the
original literary definition of a classic novel. Personally, I think of
these works as having a deeper layer of symbolism and psychology to
them - the characters usually have to struggle with more inner
conflict, and the author is intentionally constructing the underlying
structure of the writing in order to reveal those complexities.
----- Original Message -----
From: Mary Dunn <[removed]@lacrosse.lib.wi.us>
Date: Friday, June 27, 2003 9:34 am
Subject: literary fiction

> We are trying to determine exactly what literary fiction is. One
> staffmember says literary fiction are books that stand the test of
> time.Another one says it's fiction that flows lyrically. Also
> what authors
> would you consider benchmark literary fiction authors.
>
> Thanks for all your ideas and suggestions.
>
> --
> Mary Dunn Voice: 608-789-7145
> La Crosse Public Library Fax: 608-789-7106
> 800 Main St. [removed]@lacrosse.lib.wi.us
> La Crosse WI 54601
>
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>

FROM: "Smith, Jeff" <[removed]@marshall.usc.edu>
REC'D: 6/27/03, 4:52 PM

> How is an example of 'literary fiction' different from a 'classic'?
>

The difference -- in my understanding of these terms as commonly used --
is this: A work that fits the definition of "literary fiction" (see the
definitions others have given in this thread) can be so classified the
day it's published, whereas it can't be a "classic" until some time has
passed (some years, maybe a generation or more) and we know how well
it's endured. Plenty of new literary fiction appears all the time, fails
to attract Oprah's attention or get made into "serious" films, makes
little or no impression on readers and winds up, forgotten, in remainder
bins. This material wouldn't count as "classic."

Conversely, the term "classic" can apply to all kinds of things that
didn't necessarily start out trying to be literary or even especially
artistic, but that are nonetheless well-remembered and appreciated in
retrospect. Lots of books, movies, TV, cars, architectural and clothing
styles, etc. that were considered "pulp" or "mass-market" or even "junk"
when they first appeared might be called "classic" today. "Gilligan's
Island" is a "classic" TV show, for instance, even though its creators
certainly weren't trying for anything "literary."

In a phrase: Literary fiction is defined by intention (what its author
decides); a classic is defined by reception (what its audience or public
decides).

Jeff Smith

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 6/27/03, 7:28 PM

>From: "Cristine Mitchamore" <[removed]@sanantonio.gov>
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: RE: literary fiction
>Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 11:44:27 -0500
>
>How is an example of 'literary fiction' different from a 'classic'?
>

I'd say that "literary fiction" is something critics take seriously and
write up at length in all the better columns (like the NY Times). A
"classic" is something that has been around for a number of years and is
still either enjoyed or assigned in school!

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