Is it wrong to read for fun?

There is a great article in the current Newsweek about reading for fun. The article "Why is it a Sin to Read for Fun" talks about author Jodi Picoult and whether it is ok to read for pleasure. My answer is yes. Literary fiction does have its place and I like to pick one up from time to time. There is a certain sense of accomplishment when finishing a difficult book. But reading should not be work. For that reason there will always be a place for popular fiction too.

I equate fiction with storytelling. Does anyone really think that our ancestors sat around the campfire telling literary stories? They told stories that engaged us. Stories that made us laugh, cry, shock, amaze, and illuminate the human condition. Stories that brought us together and showed us who and what we are. That is what good fiction does. I know there are plenty of people who look down their bespectacled noses and scoff at the works of James Patterson, Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts and their kind. But they have their rightful place in the pantheon of authors.

There is an old adage that says one should never apologize for what they read. I fully believe this and pass this along to everyone who questions a book or author. Reading should be fun. There is a time and place for more challenging literature. For me though on a late night curled up on the couch with a nice single malt scotch, I will prefer something a little lighter. But then again that is just me and I am not going to apologize for it...

Sci-Fi as the last great literature of ideas

I am a sci-fi fan. There I said it. It has not always been cool to admit that. Sure it is ok for a child or teen to say they enjoy sci-fi, but for an adult? For some reason we are supposed to grow out of this genre and move on to more weighty literature. What people do not realize is that sci-fi is literature and it explores the human condition at least as well as other genres. I would say it does it better even. Some may even say that sci-fi is the last great literature of ideas. So put down that tired old romance, mystery or western and head down to your local library to pick up a sci-fi book. It is time to be proud of our genre again.

Is there such a thing as the Great American Novel...

I came across this recently. I am still trying to decide how I feel about it. Is there such a thing as the Great American Novel? Can we pick just one? Or is it dependent on the time period? National attitudes change so can there just be one novel? I have to lean towards saying there is not such a thing. We are a large nation with a very diverse population. I don't see how one novel can captivate and enlighten us to the great American experience. There are novels that have come close though. And these novels must be read. By everyone. For no other reason than to experience what it can be like to live in this country. We do have a worthy body of literature to represent us. I just don't see how one novel can represent all of us which is what, in my opinion at least, the Great American Novel should do...