i liked the forever war. if i recall correctly the writing is kinda shite but the story carries it through
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I didn't interpret it as a dig. I replied like this because you gave (what I view as) an very inaccurate answer to a question John asked directly of me. I should probably state at this point that I have no particular gripe with children's literature, or indeed erotica. I just happen to strongly believe that to categorize these books in this way, is simply inaccurate, reductive and misleading.
I haven't read 'Nory' in a couple of years so I'm not going to risk summarizing off the top of my head, but it's certainly not children's fiction, and it's not young adult fiction either. Here's what's on the blurb of my Vintage paperback edition:
"The Everlasting Story of Nory is a funny, captivating, complicated book for grown-ups about the wisdom and strangeness that can exist in a child's mind."
From what I recall, I honestly don't think a decent, attentive reading of the novel could lead to any other conclusion.
The "FACT" that "most" libraries would catalogue a book a certain way is pretty meaningless to be honest, believe me, I know quite a bit about the eccentricities and imperfections of library cataloguing systems. Is 'What Maisie Knew' (very probably an influence on 'Nory') catalogued as young adult fiction? Is 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' catalogued under erotica? And as for wildly varying subject matter, surely subject matter is one of the least relevant things when it comes to fiction? I know it's way, way down, at the point of near irrelevance on my list of considerations.
I think you need to stop approaching it (literature) as a librarian, and instead, approach it as the sensible reader I'm sure you really are.
I hope none of this comes off as aggressive/over-earnest/patronizing (although I must say your own comment: "Not all childrens books have pictures and rhyme" is itself *extremely* patronizing), it's really not meant to be, tone is so tricky here though... and I'm quite tired...excuses, excuses...
blah blah blah blah The Outsiders… blah blah blah
Did you study S.E. Hinton in school? I notice the Outsiders is often on US curriculums. I'd love to have studied her in school. I think Rumblefish might be my favourite book ever
I hope none of this comes off as aggressive/over-earnest/patronizing ...
Well, we can agree to disagree then. For a one-sentence statement commenting on his spectrum, I stand by it. If I were writing an essay about his work I would no doubt go into more detail but I wasn’t. I consider the Fermata to be erotic fiction just as I would science fiction. Agreed, erotic literature as a genre is very broad but so is any genre by definition. It’s just a loose set of guidelines. Would I consider some works of D.H. Lawrence, Nin, or Miller to be erotic fiction? Yes, I would. Would I be the only one? No. Some might protest the lack of specification in library cataloguing but it serves a purpose, bringing ‘like’ (even if broadly) items together. It’s not that I need to put everything into a category rather I was just illustrating that many would also consider it as such when commenting on genre.
As for Nory, I still consider that young adult fiction despite what the book-jacket says. And yes, I read it attentively. Perhaps, I was a bit hasty with ‘childrens’ because I don’t see many up to the age of 12 sitting down to read it (although I know my 9 year old nephew could read and comprehend the concepts but he’s a pretty clever little guy) however it could be on any YA reading list. Just because it wasn’t marketed YA (as that’s a fairly recent thing) doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be consider as such. Oliver Twist, Catcher in the Rye, On the Road, Huck Finn, Little Women, The Outsiders… all considered young adult books.
Baker’s books go from highly sexual and voyeuristic to the curious mindset of a child, not to mention all that’s in between. It’s a large span. That was my point and despite our difference in terminology people got the gist, which can only really be offered from one sentence.
It does.
Really??? damn...
i didnt think so for the original post but now... heh heh
How do you categorize and discuss music? Do you create all these specific sub genres to fully describe each band?
On a personal note, I do find the fact that the examples used published back to back extremely interesting. To each his or her own.
Back to
What Book Did You Read Last Night???
Continuing on with books I've always meant to read but never did...
Just to focus on a small part of this seismic row: to dismiss the importance of subject matter so thoroughly is extremely decadent. Enjoy the temptations of style, St. Fechin. I hope they console you in hell.
You're an ill-educated woodcutter right?
I loved The Graveyard book so, so very much. It was full of absolutely great characters, and it absolutely terrified me. I liked the episodic nature, it felt like a book of short stories, but I can see where you're coming from, despite not being a fan of Pratchett.
That said the Tori Amos thing was sickening. She keep popping up on his books, she's quoted on the back of Neverwhere too.
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