Why do so many people turn to Westerns and mysteries, romances and techno-thrillers?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

I saw this article this morning at Literary Imagination -- a little on the academic side, but they specifically mention Jack Reacher & "24". Take a look:

http://litimag.oxfordjournals.org/con...

[Beverly]

Thanks, Nancy. I love looking on the academic side!

I appreciate how the article focuses on the allegorical nature of genre and other popular culture forms. It seems that thrillers are popular in part because its allegorical structures provide a "safe" place to think about (personal and national) safety and security concerns - privacy versus security, or the differences between paranoia and caution, as examples. They're also fun and exciting and interesting, but good for you too - it's like if they added vitamins to M&Ms!

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Beverly wrote: "Thanks, Nancy. I love looking on the academic side!

I appreciate how the article focuses on the allegorical nature of genre and other popular culture forms. It seems that thrillers are popular in ..."

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love the academic side too.

[Feliks]

Sounds like a worthy read. Dovetails with some of the discussions we've had here in the past.

ah'ma re-post that link for members of my groups, is that okay?

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Of course! No need to ask.

[Skye]

Excellent article: it raises many queries and ideas of literature with the penultimate line: “These collisions of values are of the essence of what they are and what we are."

[Skye]

Bruno Bettleheim also wrote a lovely treatise about the purpose, reason, and outcome of reading 'fairy tales,' which were never, ever fluffy.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Skye wrote: "Excellent article: it raises many queries and ideas of literature with the penultimate line: “These collisions of values are of the essence of what they are and what we are.""

I'm happy you found it interesting, Skye. I'm also glad to "see" you again!

[Feliks]

I'm a fan of folklore research and intrigued enough by mention of Bruno Bettleheim to look him up; because the name was not familiar to me.

He has an unusual background to say the least. I hope all the research he ever embarked upon was not marred by the extraordinary flim-flammery he apparently wielded in his other areas of interest (i.e., autism). What a strange figure.

[Feliks]

Its a rare case where no matter how keen I am on someone's theory..I can't overlook chicanery this blatant.

Unfortunately this kind of things is increasing in the digital era rather than diminishing. Researchers, scientists, and authors are scrambling for cheap internet fame, and setting aside their ethics in order to play 'bearer of tidings from afar'. Alarming.

[Skye]

Feliks; how wonderful you took the time to investigate Bettleheim. I find your comments interesting. Since Bettleheim is taught on university campuses, I never thought to embark upon independent research, and he was just a part of a psychology course that dealt with the value of fairy tales and folklore. BF Skinner has also written about writing arts and skills as they relate to his famous S-R theory: noted for his ideas on behaviorism.

[Phil]

People may be interested in my look at the continuing popularity of the rime novel.

http://culturematters.org.uk/arts-hub...

[Thomas]

Phil wrote: "People may be interested in my look at the continuing popularity of the rime novel.

http://culturematters.org.uk/arts-hub..."

Interesting article.

[Denise]

Nancy wrote: "I saw this article this morning at Literary Imagination -- a little on the academic side, but they specifically mention Jack Reacher & "24". Take a look:

http://litimag.oxfordjournals.org/con......"

Is there a way to look at this for free? I'd love to read it but it says I have to be a subscriber. I saw something that said "free" and chose PDF but nothing is showing up.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Denise wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I saw this article this morning at Literary Imagination -- a little on the academic side, but they specifically mention Jack Reacher & "24". Take a look:

http://litimag.oxfordjourna..."

I'll find out -- I have a lot of subscriptions to online stuff to read over coffee each morning so I don't remember what's free and what's not. But I'll check it out and get back to you. Maybe not today, but I will get definitely find out.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Denise wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I saw this article this morning at Literary Imagination -- a little on the academic side, but they specifically mention Jack Reacher & "24". Take a look:

http://litimag.oxfordjourna..."

Subscription only, I'm afraid. The "free" thingie was only an extract that you can view.

[Denise]

Nancy wrote: "Denise wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I saw this article this morning at Literary Imagination -- a little on the academic side, but they specifically mention Jack Reacher & "24". Take a look:

http://litim..."

thanks for checking

[Steven]

All,
Does "academic side" imply complexity? I like books with some meat to them, whether mystery, thriller, or sci-fi, or some combination, but a book can be complex (the proverbial "roller coaster ride") without overly going into details. While forensics are part of any crime scene investigation, for example, dwelling on the details can become "too academic," just like detauks about growing potatoes and other stuff became droll and unexciting in The Martian.
I'm detail-oriented as a person, but I don't like it in my reading. Moby Dick and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea are both bad books I remember in that sense, the first as a DIY-manual for turning whale blubber into lamp oil, the second as an exploration of undersea flora and fauna that reminded me of Bio 101.
I don't read Westerns or romances much, so I can't opine much there. The last Western I read, No Country for Old Men, was more a thriller and the closest to romances were some Neggers and Higgins Clark books. I like thrillers that have a nice mix--suspense, action, complex twists, and flawed characters with only a few "academic details" as background.
r/Steve

[[deleted user]]

If you like Golden Age writing, try early Ellery Queen for complex puzzle style mysteries.

If you like paranormal mystery mash-ups, I loved by Daniel O'Malley. I read an ARC of his next book and no match for The Rook. Complex world building and concept set in modern London.

Michael Connely is great at police procedurals with style.

My two favorite authors right now for 'western' (only in the sense they are set out west) are Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series and C.J. Box's Joe Pickett books - which are mystery thriller as a major reccuring character ( and lead in his current release just out in HC) is Nate Rowmanowski - a really wonderful character all by himself.

Another book you might like is Robert Crais's that tells the story of Joe Pike, the partner in his Elvis Cole PI series.

[[deleted user]]

On Nancy's original question, I always liked SOME techno-thrillers, assassin books, espionage, etc. Loved Hunt for Red October and a bunch of Clancy's early stuff. I also like Kyle Mills' Mark Beamon series.

If you asked my brother, he likes spy, action, espionage and mysteries - modern and historical - that have clear good and bad guys. I knew he'd love the Longmire series and Joe Pickett books, but also the Mitch Rapp and Scott Havarth books, but knew he'd hate Victor the Assassin, Gabriel Allon, or John Rain books - but I love them all. He's a very big fan of historical mysteries. Like me he liked the SPQR series by John Maddox Roberts and the Falco series by Lindsey Davis. He also likes the Issac Bell books by Justin Scott and Cussler. To Cussler is pure escapism and I like the shades of grey type espionage he hates.

As for romance, I think it's ok and I do enjoy it in lighter mysteries, but hate the angsty bad marriage thing that ran thru several British police procedurals. And other than 'romantic suspense' it can ruin lead character. I got a bit fed up with Robert Crais dragging out Elvis Coles romance in that series. You could never marry off Phillip Marlow or Sam Spade. It would literally kill the character, which is why Vince Flynn had Mitch Rapp's wife murdered. He'd written himself into a corner.

My brother reads more historical mysteries and espionage than I do. His wife and I like humorous mysteries and love the Jana Deleon Miss Fortune books. I also got her hooked on Donna Andrews and a bunch of historical mysteries.

I read a lot of paranormal mysteries, something neither would touch. I did convince my doctor, a hardcore fantasy and paranormal reader to try Josephine Tey's . There is no better book to lure a historical fiction, epic fantasy fan over to mystery. She's also read the SPQR and Falco books. :-) I love getting converts. LOL