I tend to use the sort of/kind of subjective definitions that are already in existence. I think of literary fiction as focusing more on style and character–in depth. Contemporary or popular fiction is more likely to focus on plot and narrative. When it gets right down to it though, even with these definitions, I still get confused. I tend to lump them all together and call them “fiction”.

Historical fiction, I think, can fall into either/or or both categories: popular or literary fiction. It can be a category unto itself too, I imagine. I am not sure what a good cut off is for historical fiction. Fifty years ago and earlier?

Many books today seem to cross the genre lines. Even in crime fiction. Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories is an example. It has that literary fiction feel to it but it’s also a crime fiction novel. Michael Chabon is an author that is often used as an example as well who mixes his book types. Genre and book type labels are fluid and not as clear cut as perhaps they once were–or as the bookstores would want us to believe.

That’s a topic I could go on and on about, but I’ll stop here. I was in the middle of writing my Sunday Salon post. I should get back to that, shouldn’t I?
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..TGIF: Random Fun. Not so Bookish Thoughts. Well, Mostly Not. =-.

And that contemporary fiction vs. literary fiction has me stumped too.

And all the different mystery subgenres confuse me too.

Haven’t I been a big help?
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Fishing Journals by Louis Gary Lamit =-.