Is it June already? It seems like only yesterday I was running around the shops buying Christmas presents and here I am today in June with the sun streaming through my windows on a blazing hot summer's day!
I haven't had much time to blog this past month so apologies to those who may have dropped in hoping to find a new post, but once the real world gets a hold on you, sometimes it does not seem to want to let you go. But I still have managed to fit in a couple of books and to read a couple of blogs and one recent blog I read on the Guardian website gave me pause for thought.
The article was about the wonderful Daphne Du Maurier, the writer whose wonderful novels like Rebecca, The House on the Strand and Frenchman's Creek, still have the power to enchant and captivate women everywhere with their masterful blend of suspense, drama and intensity. The article entitled "Let's not get carried away by Daphne Du Maurier" was written by a Professor of English who stated that Daphne du Maurier, although capable of tapping into our most profound fears, was not much of a writer. Words like "breathy prose", that much hated word by critics "romantic" and the word which I loathe and despise when applied to books "formula" pepper John Mullan's article and it's perfectly clear that for Prof Mullan, writers of popular fiction like Du Maurier are not worthy of being celebrated, admired or studied by academics because it's commerical and not literary fiction.
The definition of great literature has always puzzled me. I've always read voraciously and my bookshelves heave with M&Bs, historical romances, classics, thrillers, biographies and even literary novels. I've always read because I derive pleasure out of reading and the kind of criticism which Prof Mullan seems to be spouting totally derides readers and writers of popular fiction for once again he is suggesting that we should all be ashamed when reading popular novels because they are substandard when compared to more literary fiction because shock horror they give pleasure to readers all over the world.
I love popular fiction and if I live to be a hundred I'll still love it. Popular fiction has been my constant companion for most of my life and it has the ability to make me laugh and cry, to escape as well as to educate and entertain me (And if you don't believe me, ask yourself how many of us own our knowledge of history to Jean Plaidy and Georgette Heyer). Now, that is the definition of greatness.
1 comment:
Great to see you post, Julie, I've been worried about you. Good to know you are OK - just busy.
I couldn't agree more with your comments about the learned Prof and his strange ideas on books and reading. It is most odd that people believe that if anyone actually enjoys reading, and, heaven forbid the books are popular, there must be something wrong. Or that one should only read what is literay, worthy, difficult and, often, unpopular.
The joy of reading is a lifelong gift open to anyone of any age and in any state of health. We all lead such busy lives full of ups and downs, so thank goodness for the world of fiction into which we can all escape for entertainment, enjoyment and learning as the mood takes us.
No matter what genre most appeals to us, we can all find joy in books. Reading - whatever books we choose as individuals - should be celebrated, not dismissed as trivial or unworthy.
Be proud to enjoy one of the greatest gifts and read on!
Love,
Mags
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