The People vs. Reading – Part I or The Story Trap

Much to my astonishment and terror, I was invited to a book club (in which one of my family members is prominent, which explains it: nepotism is a legitimate marketing tool) to discuss my book. The meeting was postponed, and at a different event I met one of the book club members, who confessed somewhat apologetically that she hadn’t yet read my book. Of course I encouraged her, by pointing out that my effort was not a literary masterpiece, or full of deep and complex meanings, but a story written for people to enjoy.

“Thank heavens,” she said, in summary. “I don’t want to read worthy books. I want something that’s fun. Easy to read. A story.” And just today I saw a Tweet which noted that a Creative Writing class made it very clear that romance – a very, very popular genre – wasn’t “approved”. (@aweaverwrites)

It got me thinking. Part of learning to write is learning to read – everything in sight, if you’re me, including the backs of cereal packets and road signs if there’s nothing better – but reading as widely as you can. I’ve read some of everything (I am not young!) from great classic authors through to Harlequin romance; science fiction and fantasy; detective stories; Westerns; spirituality to erotica and everything in between. I’ve read books that literary types would denounce as bubblegum rubbish (lots of them) and books of which the literati would approve (far fewer). In my previous life, I read, wrote and occasionally lectured on complex technical papers and book chapters. I still do read enormous amounts – just look at my library on Goodreads, which is only a fraction of what I’ve read since I haven’t put on all the physical books I’ve read or own.

But mostly, what I want to read is a story. Not necessarily an easy story, or a simple one: after all, people aren’t simple and they’re rarely easy. I appreciate complex cleverness, and great vocabulary, but I’d like it to be part of the story: a narrative I can follow with characters with whom I can connect – even if I hate them. I don’t think I’m alone in that.

So why do we, or Creative Writing classes, disparage the fun, page turning, and above all *popular* stories that most people like reading?

Thoughts welcomed, in the comment box. I'll return to this subject.

Death in Focus