Conversation overheard a little while ago. ( I’m not sure I was supposed to hear said conversation).
“I read crime fiction.” Good strong statement right?
{pause}
*whispers to friend*
“When I’m not reading real books of course.”
Silence.
Me? Very silently seething. Wafts of steam escaping from ears, but unless you were looking for it, you’d have no idea I’d heard this conversation or was remotely irked by it.
Why should this statement bother me?
Lets address some issues and please feel free to throw in your own thoughts on the matter.
Ok, I’m stuck. Why do some people have a literary snobbery against crime fiction?
Is it because they gauge the whole genre on those novels that contain some blood and gore and the parts of the world people would rather not see?
Does the fact that broken families,Β prostitutesΒ high end robberies and the such, bruise the delicacies of the readers? Or do they actually see the author themselves as below them because they choose to write such pain and hardship when they could be writing a novel masterpiece?
Crime writers, have a lot more to play with in their novels than most genres. Vast social issues can be addressed easily within a story. The massive science of psychology has been known to be relied upon to get certain characters traits believable. Real people, in real situations are finding themselves in situations never before encountered and its about how human nature reacts to such extreme and sudden situations. Either with greatness or foul.
There are a whole gamut of relationships, issues and character driven plots to keep a crime novel worthy of reading even adding in a good old murder.
There is also the point that not all crime fiction is that gory, or even contains all the characters and issues I just mentioned. Crime fiction could be cosy and quiet, it could be psychological, more mind games and what if”s worrying you page by page.
And why the hell is murder not a real book.
Book snobbery annoys me. Especially when aimed at my chosen subject, I’m bound to have a point of view and something to say about it.
There are books and genres I don’t particularly like, but it doesn’t mean I don’t class them as real books. No matter what your thoughts on the words within the pages, really? not a real book? Someone put their heart and soul into that book and I can tell you, it is a real genuine book.
Do you think crime fiction is the literary worlds poor relation?
Leanne Wain (@LeanneWain) says
I don’t know if this counts as snobbery or not, but personally I’m just not interested in crime fiction as a rule. The ones I’ve read I found to be a bit same-y. I just didn’t get the same satisfaction out of these novels than I do out of my usual ‘type’. Same with historical fiction. It just doesn’t push the right buttons with me.
Like you say, I’m sure there is crime fiction that tackles social and ethical issues, but from the limited few that I’ve read, they seem formulaic and dull. All slashed up women in the boots of cars/canals/in woods. But there’s badly written and boring novels in every single genre in every single decade, so it’s not exclusive to the crime genre.
Rebecca Bradley says
Leanne, Thank you for replying. I hadn’t realised when I wrote this I had scheduled it to come out. I thought I had just drafted it, so it wasn’t checked, edited or images added! You replied promptly to a half post, so thank you. There are a few more comments in the post itself now.
I know the type of novel you refer to and I know that’s not everyones cup of tea. That’s fair enough. I don’t enjoy every single crime novel, simply because it’s crime. There are whole genres I’m not a fan of, but I don’t class them as not being real books and that’s the part of the overheard comment that really irked me.
I don’t think not enjoying crime fiction puts you in the category of snob, that’s simply personal choice.
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – There’s a long history of regarding crime fiction as a ‘lower class’ genre. But the fact is, some world-class literature is crime fiction. Peter Temple’s Truth won Australia’s highest literary aware – literary award, not crime fiction award – a few years ago. And honestly, there are some other crime novels too that I consider literary masterpieces. Yes of course there’s poorly-written crime fiction. But there’s poorly-written literary fiction too. It’s not about genre to me; it’s about the quality of the writing.
Rebecca Bradley says
I absolutely agree Margot. The thing is though, people read what they enjoy, regardless of the label attached to it and crime fiction has a lot of fans so I’m not going to get overly bothered by comments like this.
Margot Kinberg says
Good on you, Rebecca. I don’t really let it upset me either.
Annalisa Crawford says
The only reason I don’t read crime is because they tend to be series(es) and I prefer standalone books (that’s probably some kind of literary snobbery too). I can’t add much to this debate because I wasn’t actually aware that crime was regarded as the poor relation!
Rebecca Bradley says
I’m the opposite Annalisa, I love series. It’s probably one of the things that got me hooked to be honest. When I decided to read the Patricia Cornwell, Kay Scarpetta books, about ten years after she started them, I had to start at the beginning so I knew what had happened in the lives of the characters. It took me a while to catch up, but I’m there now π
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I read some crime fiction. I always thought they were real books!
Rebecca Bradley says
So did I! Strange woman π
Leanne Wain (@LeanneWain) says
Haha, I thought the post looked a bit longer and more image-y than earlier…thought my browser was playing up!
At one point all fiction was thought to be barely worth mentioning. It was for impressionable bimbos, romantics and idiots. Poor relation to important, factual information about enlightenment, industry and other Victorian-gentlemen’s pursuits.
Maybe attitudes to crime have just taken a bit longer to catch up…
Rebecca Bradley says
To be honest, I’m not overly bothered by what people think I should be reading, I’ll read what I enjoy. It was just an interesting comment to hear. People watching (and listening, obviously) can be a real eye opener.
wurdylala says
Great post – and unfortunately your experience is all too familiar. As a romantic comedy writer (you know, the sort of author who is ‘retarding women’ according to some literary media commentators…) I am so tired of hearing people call books of my genre ‘worthless’, or ‘not proper literature’. I think what it comes down to is that crime fiction and so-called women’s fiction are guilty of that cardinal literary sin: BEING POPULAR. Is it a coincidence that these two genres happen to be the most popular fiction genres yet are the most attacked by literary snobs?
I don’t think anyone has the right to say what readers should or shouldn’t read: the loveliest thing about being a reader is that you have a choice. There will always be snobs, but I’ve yet to meet one who actually enjoys reading. Give me a cracking story over a ‘required read’ any day!
Rebecca Bradley says
Exactly! Readers are the people who are important. It’s all about choice and while I have certain loves in books, I wouldn’t judge someone else by the choices they make in their reading material.
Gina says
Crime fiction sounds interesting, but if I have other choices, count me out.
Rebecca Bradley says
And that the point Gina, everyone has choices. It’s about respecting those choices.
Kelly Louise says
As long as an author captures my attention I don’t care about genre. I just love a good story. Next time quirk a brow and in a bored, mildly condescending tone, mention that you write crime novels. When they give you that abashed look you can be magnanimous. Have fun -Kelly
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Kelly! I did keep quiet actually. Is that shame? I don’t think it was. I just didn’t want to get into a real debate about it because my opinion is pretty open. Read what you enjoy. I love your thoughts on it though, She would have been quite surprised had that popped out of my mouth I think!
Rachel Morgan says
I didn’t realise people had a literary snobbery about crime fiction! I thought more people were literary snobs about YA fiction … Like “When are you going to grow up and write a REAL (ie. adult) book?!” That’s when I start seething π
Rebecca Bradley says
It’s funny how we all perceive others perceptions isn’t it? I think there probably is some literary snobbery about anything that isn’t literary then. I’m not paying any attention to them (Whomever, “them” are) I’ll read what I like and enjoy it! π
Jane Isaac says
Hi Rebecca! This is a well debated topic. I once heard crime fiction described as ‘the gutter of the literary world’.
Personally, I love the umbrella of crime fiction for all of the issues you mention & also because it covers such a wide range from suspense to thrillers to police procedurals etc. etc.
Perhaps it’s the basic subject matter? We live in a very subjective world & some people simply do not wish to read about the world of crime and consider it less relevant in the literary world. Just a thought.
Rebecca Bradley says
The gutter?! Really? Wow. The snobbery of some people just amuses me.
Dee J Kirkby says
Crime fiction is my favourite genre to read so I was astounded to read this post. I know that not everyone enjoys reading crime fiction (good thing too for those of us who write other genres) but I was surprised that someone would consider it ‘not a real book’. I try not to be snobbish about any genre because some reader somewhere will love it but I do know book snobbery is alive and well as demonstrated so well by the person you wrote about.
Rebecca Bradley says
I had read that there was some literary snobbery, but to actually hear it coming out of someones mouth was a bizarre experience.
julierkendrick says
I think its funny that you reacted in that way, but of course you are passionate about your genre. My reaction would have been to pity that girl(?) she is obviously trying to impress the other person with her ‘worldy knowledge’ of books but instead she is an idiot who probably only reads the daily rag anyway.
Crime fiction rules and I wish I could write it.
J π
Rebecca Bradley says
Thanks Julie! I love that response. What I do pity is the short sightedness of the comment. The lack of interest and acceptance that everyone has different tastes. You’re right, it does deserve pity.
Julie Flanders says
I didn’t even know that crime fiction was considered to be so low-class! I love mysteries and psychological crime fiction so it’s incomprehensible to me. I don’t understand the point of bashing any genres. I am not usually a fan of “chick-lit” but I wouldn’t go around pretending it is somehow beneath me. I don’t understand why people can’t just accept that everyone has different tastes and what appeals to one person doesn’t necessarily appeal to someone else. There’s no need to bring snobbery into it.
Rebecca Bradley says
Absolutely spot on Julie. Reading is personal choice and being “snobbish” is not being accepting of fellow readers. Plain and simple.
Misha says
Hahahaha my one friend ONLY sees crime fiction as a real book. π
Fantasy and romance (both of which I write) also get quite a raw deal.
Misha says
P.S. Thrilled to see you back to blogging. π
Rebecca Bradley says
Thank you! And for coming by and commenting π
Rebecca Bradley says
Your friend has great taste! π
From the comments, it would seem that if it’s not literary, it’s not real…. That’s not what the readers are saying though!