Fiction v nonfiction – English literature's made-up divide

Some cultures do not distinguish between fiction and nonfiction – and instead talk of ‘stories’. Is that a barrier to English-language writers and publishers? Or should they just learn to enjoy telling tales?There’s a mighty canyon that runs down the middle of the world of the word, carving through bookshops, libraries and literary prizes, splitting them into fiction and nonfiction. Those who try to build bridges over this fissure may find themselves – like Geoff Dyer – rejecting the terms on which they are read, or, like Sheila Heti, arguing with their own book jackets. Those who are caught on the wrong side of the divide are attacked as frauds, pillioried or even – like James Frey – hounded out of their homes. Related: Julian Barnes: 'Biographical novels are kind of cheesy' The art is in the telling … the best storyteller is the one who recreates the anxiety of expectation and fulfils it[The distinction] serves as a useful guide to the kind of experience the reader is wanting to have Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #literary prizes #build bridges #geoff dyer #sheila heti #book jackets #wrong side #james frey #julian barnes

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Fiction v nonfiction – English literature's made-up divide'


The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2021

From epic voyages to haunting folk tales, here are the highlights of an otherworldly year. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-12-08 10:00:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fantasy books #science fiction


How Two Novelists and a Poet Made Me Change My Life

Are there certain books with topics you avoid? That you fear may leave you a little worse for wear? Here's what may happen if you read them. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-12-07 11:38:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #novelists


I write ‘women’s commercial fiction’ –why is my work still seen as inferior to men’s? | Emma Hughes

A recent roundup of the ‘best books of 2021’ had every possible genre of novel – with the unsurprising exception of romanceIn the four months since my first novel came out, I’ve had the same conversation probably a dozen times.“What’s it about?” a well-meaning stranger will ask. “Well,” I’ll... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-12-05 15:25:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #commercial fiction #dozen times #high heels #first novel


7 New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books to Read

Seven books comb through history, travel to distant planets and imagine our A.I. future. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-12-03 20:26:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fantasy books #science fiction


New Historical Fiction to Read

Twelve new yarns will whisk readers to the past, where life was every bit as complicated, dramatic and story-worthy as the present. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-12-03 14:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #historical fiction


Charco signs Tenório's Jabuti-winning English debut

Charo Press is to publish Jeferson Tenório's "forceful and timely" novel The Flipside of Skin, which has just been named the 2021 winner of Brazil's most prestigious literary prize, the Jabuti. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-03 03:05:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Unit Sales Rose 9.7% Last Week Led by Adult Fiction

Facing difficult comparisons to last year when Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land' was piling up huge sales numbers, unit sales still increased 9.7% last week over 2020 as adult fiction sales jumped 35.3%. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-12-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #week led #adult fiction #barack obama #promised land


Debut novel by ‘Russian Proust’ to be published in English for the first time

The translation of Deceit by ‘groundbreaking’ author Yuri Felsen, who died in Auschwitz in 1943, is set to come out next MayThe debut novel by Yuri Felsen, an author once regarded as the “Russian Proust” whose work has been forgotten since he died in Auschwitz in 1943, is set to be published in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-12-01 14:12:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #st petersburg #russian revolution #world war #debut novel


‘Rock Concert’ goes behind the scenes with the people who made the biggest shows happen

Marc Myers’s oral history looks at the explosion of rock concerts over four decades. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-12-01 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #oral history


Lake leaves Profile for W&N non-fiction role

Ed Lake is moving to Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the newly created role of publishing director for non-fiction after five years at Profile.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-01 10:49:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


World Literature Today’s 75—Make That 100—Notable Translations of 2021, by Michelle Johnson

Lit Lists 2021 was a robust year for literary translations. This list kept growing, and we didn’t resist. As always, though, we recognize there are, thankfully, many more and hope you’ll add them in the comments, along with those you’re eagerly... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-11-29 19:56:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #charlotte whittle #indie publisher #graphic novel


Literature event accessibility guide hits funding target after industry support

A project to develop a guide to make literature events accessible for disabled people has reached its research and development phase target budget following support from the industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-25 01:08:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Coming-of-Age Stories That Made Charlie Jane Anders

Charlie Jane Anders discusses the coming-of-age stories that shaped her award-winning science fiction and helped her confront the world in front of her. The post The Coming-of-Age Stories That Made Charlie Jane Anders appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2021-11-18 21:30:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coming-of-age stories #science fiction


Best science fiction, fantasy and horror of 2021

A look at the big hits and obscure winners that transported readers to other worlds. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-11-18 15:00:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science fiction #big hits


Appreciation: Sylvère Lotringer made book publishing safe for dangerous ideas

'Never give people what they want, or they'll hate you for it,' said Lotringer, founder of the influential publisher Semiotext(e), who died last week. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-11-18 14:30:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #give people #book publishing


Sheikh Zayed Book Award Longlists: Young Author and Children’s Literature

Based in Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award releases the first two of its eight longlists showcasing Arabic literature, scholarship, and writing. The post Sheikh Zayed Book Award Longlists: Young Author and Children’s Literature appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-18 01:57:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literature appeared #young author #abu dhabi #zayed book


Pacini starts social justice focused fiction publisher Disturbance Press

Society of Young Publishers member Marta Pacini has founded Disturbance Press, a new independent focused on publishing fiction with a social justice theme. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-17 17:51:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing fiction #fiction publisher


Patrick Radden Keefe has won the 2021 Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction.

Patrick Radden Keefe has won the UK’s prestigious 2021 Baillie Gifford Prize for his latest book Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, which investigates the legacy of the family behind Purdue Pharma, which produced and sold OxyContin and helped launch the opioid crisis.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-11-17 14:00:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #secret history #purdue pharma #helped launch #opioid crisis


Petra Mayer, NPR books editor who championed fantasy and romance fiction, dies at 46

Known to legions of radio listeners for her exuberant coverage of literature and culture, she was a self-described “resident nerd” at NPR. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-11-16 04:21:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #petra mayer #romance fiction #resident nerd #books editor


Storytel extends into English language market with $135m Audiobooks deal

Streaming company Storytel has signed a deal to acquire Audiobooks.com from owner KKR for $135m (£101m), extending its reach into English language audio market. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-12 01:57:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this |