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this is a bit off topic, but out of curiousity... LadyLorraine Send a noteboard - 11/12/2011 06:28:35 AM
At what point does a book become literature versus trash fiction to you? What defines it as "genre fiction" versus "literature that has fantastical elements"? Or does the addition of such things immediate write it off to you?

I'm curious because books like Toni Morrison's Beloved certainly have some fantastical elements (if I remember correctly, it's classed as magical realism?), but are considered literature by at least some people. I don't see why the addition of fantastical elements would detract from the depth of a piece of literature just by being there. But it seems that most books that seem to have this nature don't end up being classed as fantasy novels.

Perhaps you could give me some examples of fantasy-type novels that would meet your definition of literature vs. genre fiction?
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Aren't the Tolkien comparisons getting a little...old? Dark Knight - 09/12/2011 09:51:39 PM 2848 Views
The comparison bothers me, but not because Tolkien isn't relevant. lord-of-shadow - 09/12/2011 10:05:22 PM 1716 Views
I agree with this. Nate - 09/12/2011 10:21:34 PM 1745 Views
Re: I agree with this. DomA - 10/12/2011 07:09:33 PM 1681 Views
Exactly *NM* ironclad - 12/12/2011 12:09:19 PM 855 Views
Only when shit works are being compared to him Larry - 09/12/2011 10:22:26 PM 1607 Views
Larry, Macharius - 10/12/2011 01:13:18 AM 1624 Views
Snide dismissal that will be passed off as for his own entertainment. Ghavrel - 10/12/2011 04:55:43 AM 1537 Views
We get a lot of that around here. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 10/12/2011 05:18:01 AM 639 Views
makes me wonder... LadyLorraine - 10/12/2011 04:37:33 PM 1524 Views
Re: makes me wonder... James - 11/12/2011 03:03:15 AM 1488 Views
Well-deserved condescension. Tom - 11/12/2011 03:54:27 AM 1655 Views
You're sure about that? A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 04:20:26 AM 1882 Views
Re: You're sure about that? James - 11/12/2011 05:25:08 AM 1609 Views
Re: You're sure about that? A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 06:03:02 AM 1473 Views
i think you shouldn't judge a whole world's school programs on your school LadyLorraine - 11/12/2011 06:42:30 AM 1526 Views
Yeah, I'm limited in my knowledge, lol A Deathwatch Guard - 11/12/2011 08:03:26 AM 1538 Views
My school was...not great. James - 11/12/2011 04:02:36 PM 1562 Views
I'm 24. James - 11/12/2011 03:49:06 PM 1480 Views
If you're arguing that children should be able to read genre fiction, fine. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:52:27 PM 1405 Views
Well, I suppose it depends on the type of genre being read Larry - 11/12/2011 09:36:16 PM 1641 Views
How often do you hear the challenging writers mentioned at this site? Tom - 12/12/2011 02:03:05 PM 1378 Views
Only when you, me, and a couple others write reviews Larry - 12/12/2011 04:21:14 PM 1781 Views
Oh, it was the same as it always is Tom - 12/12/2011 05:23:56 PM 1491 Views
True Larry - 12/12/2011 06:29:10 PM 1576 Views
One note nossy - 13/12/2011 12:17:48 AM 1582 Views
Perhaps Larry - 13/12/2011 12:49:34 AM 1517 Views
*Sighs* Such is the plight of those shining few intelects... Narg - 23/12/2011 01:15:47 AM 1564 Views
Much of the actual "Classics", that is, Greek and Latin originals, kids would eat up. Dan - 12/12/2011 03:13:03 AM 1390 Views
Try teaching Apuleius in schools... *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 04:12:49 AM 759 Views
Plato is exciting, brutal and scandalous? Legolas - 12/12/2011 09:59:13 PM 1455 Views
You're upfront and honest about it; he isn't. The difference matters to me. *NM* Ghavrel - 11/12/2011 05:18:42 AM 808 Views
Uhh...uh... Larry - 11/12/2011 05:34:23 AM 1491 Views
this is a bit off topic, but out of curiousity... LadyLorraine - 11/12/2011 06:28:35 AM 1600 Views
I've discussed this dozens of times at this site. Perhaps you've missed all of the posts. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:57:44 PM 1538 Views
mk I'll go look. I probably did miss it (or at least don't remember it!) LadyLorraine - 11/12/2011 09:08:02 PM 1504 Views
I have a successful career that was inspired by the video games I played as a child. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 11/12/2011 05:52:21 PM 838 Views
Now let's get all the people who just pissed their lives away with video games and see the %. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:58:42 PM 1640 Views
The majority of players neither waste their lives nor make a career out of it. lord-of-shadow - 11/12/2011 11:29:29 PM 1538 Views
Yeah, sorry, I don't think you could say that with a straight face in real life. *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 04:13:52 AM 774 Views
Then you have a closed mind on the subject. Ironic, considering your stance on edification. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 12/12/2011 05:47:50 AM 715 Views
No, just with respect to you. *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 02:00:15 PM 759 Views
Tom, you pulled the "Say that to my face!" line. You lost the right to talk about respect. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 12/12/2011 03:20:15 PM 807 Views
Once again, I really don't care what you think. *NM* Tom - 12/12/2011 03:37:40 PM 764 Views
Did I imply that you did? My apologies. I'd hate to insinuate that you'd stoop that low. *NM* lord-of-shadow - 12/12/2011 04:13:25 PM 734 Views
As well read as you seem to be, you think you'd be smart enough... MonCul - 11/12/2011 06:20:06 PM 1482 Views
I thought I have made it clear that I don't care if people don't like me here. Tom - 11/12/2011 08:44:58 PM 1403 Views
Re: I thought I have made it clear that I don't care if people don't like me here. Macharius - 12/12/2011 04:04:37 PM 1457 Views
That statement has just confused me. Tom - 12/12/2011 04:06:53 PM 1416 Views
Re: That statement has just confused me. Macharius - 12/12/2011 04:14:27 PM 1423 Views
I never learned Hittite. I had a book on pre-order for a long time but never ended up getting it. Tom - 12/12/2011 05:41:03 PM 1373 Views
What you have made clear, I think, is the fact that you deal in generalizations and stereotypes. MonCul - 12/12/2011 10:12:12 PM 1527 Views
There's an unintentional irony in what you say, alas Larry - 13/12/2011 12:44:26 AM 1443 Views
Tom, Dick, or Larry...you may use your true first name, but you're still an anonymous entity to most MonCul - 13/12/2011 04:49:35 AM 1646 Views
With such comeback skills, you must have ruled the playgrounds as a kid, no? Larry - 13/12/2011 05:21:42 AM 1655 Views
I thought it was a pretty good comeback. MonCul - 13/12/2011 12:37:15 PM 1615 Views
Think again, Skippy Larry - 13/12/2011 01:34:41 PM 1471 Views
There are no special snowflakes, are there? Larry - 11/12/2011 09:39:21 PM 1403 Views
There are many way of widening one's horizons and broadening one's mind. Legolas - 11/12/2011 10:08:24 PM 1166 Views
I said as much in my comment Larry - 11/12/2011 10:20:03 PM 1435 Views
What I don't like- rebelaessedai - 12/12/2011 04:28:55 AM 1521 Views
Why don't you name something, then? Tom - 12/12/2011 04:40:29 AM 1468 Views
Sure. rebelaessedai - 13/12/2011 07:30:56 AM 1299 Views
Mentioning Ender's Game pretty much shot your argument in the foot. Tom - 13/12/2011 02:02:59 PM 1411 Views
You dismiss the entire video game medium because many games lack value. lord-of-shadow - 13/12/2011 03:59:11 PM 1557 Views
You're like the McDonald's paid advocate trying to say Big Macs are actually healthy. Tom - 13/12/2011 05:46:37 PM 1363 Views
McDonalds food is inherently unhealthy. lord-of-shadow - 13/12/2011 06:02:18 PM 1502 Views
For the sake of argument ... Nate - 13/12/2011 04:09:51 PM 1405 Views
Stephenson is not literature, that's for damn sure. Tom - 13/12/2011 05:49:24 PM 1356 Views
Thank you, The Voice of Lews Therin. *NM* Vivien - 16/12/2011 05:14:42 AM 824 Views
I'll leave it up to others to define as they wish against their self-conceptions of me Larry - 10/12/2011 10:52:54 AM 1519 Views
that's alright. I really have no desire to stroke your twit-ego. *NM* LadyLorraine - 10/12/2011 04:36:56 PM 616 Views
Considering the firestorm I appear to have touched off, that may be best. Macharius - 12/12/2011 12:57:49 PM 1500 Views
I know, John Larry - 12/12/2011 04:27:04 PM 1393 Views
Re: I know, John Macharius - 12/12/2011 05:06:26 PM 1453 Views
As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100% Larry - 12/12/2011 06:33:52 PM 1391 Views
Re: As I've said in the past, I'd be scared if anyone agreed with me anywhere approaching 100% Macharius - 12/12/2011 07:13:37 PM 1465 Views
Same guy Larry - 12/12/2011 07:26:13 PM 1509 Views
Ha! Excellent point. *NM* Tom - 11/12/2011 03:44:52 AM 743 Views
Blurbs are not generally very original in their comparisons - would kind of defeat their purpose. Legolas - 09/12/2011 10:42:17 PM 1491 Views
I have to agree. ? - 09/12/2011 10:54:06 PM 1509 Views
They're there for marketing A Deathwatch Guard - 10/12/2011 12:20:17 AM 1489 Views
Most of those comparisons are like that anyway DomA - 10/12/2011 05:32:45 PM 1623 Views
Maybe if so much of the genre weren't crap derivative works it wouldn't be so common. *NM* Tom - 11/12/2011 03:44:24 AM 739 Views
To be fair, a lot of it isn't. rebelaessedai - 11/12/2011 04:06:07 AM 1439 Views
I suspect that if it really isn't derivative it's not being compared to Tolkien in the first place. Tom - 11/12/2011 04:18:57 AM 1374 Views
That's true. rebelaessedai - 11/12/2011 11:08:01 AM 1364 Views
But see, that's where things start to get referred back to Tolkien. Tom - 12/12/2011 04:30:12 AM 1520 Views
Maybe they mean something else by using his name. Cannoli - 11/12/2011 03:50:15 AM 1446 Views
When they don't work, yes. nossy - 11/12/2011 03:18:44 PM 1449 Views
The Tolkien fanaticism gets old. And yes, for me it is unreadable. everynametaken - 11/12/2011 11:37:53 PM 1436 Views
No, because the movies are very contemporary and relevant, thus he will remain so for quite a while. Dan - 12/12/2011 03:14:53 AM 1493 Views
Disagree all you want, but LotR is still the touchstone when it comes to works of fantasy. Vodalus - 12/12/2011 03:48:20 AM 1402 Views
Yes *NM* Hieshyn - 22/12/2011 07:08:38 PM 860 Views
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