A Reader's Manifesto

I don't read much “Literary Fiction.” I stopped about 10 years ago when I realized it was as much of a genre as any other genre of fiction. And just as there are people who do not enjoy thrillers or speculative fiction, I simply do not enjoy most modern literary fiction. The poetic language and focus on crafting sentences wasn't what I sought in my fiction. If I want that, I read poetry. If I want well-written stories that focus on narrative and character development, I tend to read classic novels.

BR Myers wrote this book for people like me, to let us know that we are not alone. It was originally published as an essay in the Atlantic, and expanded to book form when the essay received a lot of attention, good and bad. In it, he takes on 5 highly praised writers, and the literary establishment in general. From the introduction: “Give me a time-tested masterpiece or what critics patronizingly call a fun read, Sister Carrie or just plain Carrie. Give me anything, in fact, as long as it isn't the latest must-read novel, complete with a prize jury's seal of approval on the front and a clutch of precious raves on the back.”

Through the next few chapters he then proceeds to explain why he thinks certain literary authors are not in fact very good writers and do not deserve the critical praise heaped upon them. His tone can be very snarky, and piles scorn upon the reviewers who praise these writers, but he does make some excellent points. (And, granted, with me he was preaching to the choir.)

From the conclusion, which summarizes his views succinctly: “...Oprah Winfrey told of calling Toni Morrison to say she had had to puzzle repeatedly over many of the latter's sentences. ...Morrison's reply was: ‘That, my dear, is called reading.' Sorry, my dear Toni, but it's actually called bad writing.”

If that line strikes a chord with you, or even makes you angry, then this is probably a book you should read, if for no other reason than to contend with Myers' ideas.