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Every Hop we are asked to answer a thought provoking question-this week the question is
Must all literary writing be difficult? Can you think of examples of literary writing that was not difficult?
Just today I posted on three short stories that are for sure examples of literary writing. One by O Henry that is very uncomplicated (and may not be seen as literary by some), one by Sherwood Anderson and one by Guy de Maupassant. None of these stories were "difficult" reads. I am ok with difficult texts if comes from a work of high value that is difficult because it is rich in content. Difficulty should be from the need to communicate much in a few words.
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Mel u
I like how you mentioned the "showing off" bit, Mel. I'd wanted to mention this in post, but then it got too long, and examples weren't at the tip of my tongue to put them down as evidence. But yes...I feel sometimes that writers tend to be way too verbose just to show off their command of the language. And I sometimes feel some writers deliberately look for weird ways in which to present their story or write a story solely to show that they are different - I also suspect they're the only ones who enjoy it. I'm not saying that being different is bad. There are writers who pull it off so well because they have the talent.
ReplyDeleteRisa-I liked the comment you left on your blog a lot-I think if a work is difficult than it must be of high value to justify it-I have no problems or issues with difficult works and love a number of them but I do have issues with pretentious works that do not repay the efforts they ask of their readers.
ReplyDeleteI definitely understand what you are saying. There are some literary books that I wish the author had simplified the language a little in order to make the story more accessible. I don't know its necessarily about showing off - I suspect that the authors are just really skilled and that is what comes naturally to them.
ReplyDeleteIt would just be nice sometimes if they went through and make it just that little bit easier to understand. But then maybe its must me and my little brain :-)
Stopping by via Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your comments about the "pay-off" of great literary fiction, and think that this is often the case. Some books are just so exquisitely written, evoke such wonderful imagery, or are so thematically strong that I'm prepared for a challenge. Of course, there are others that rely on illusions and don't offer the reader much beyond false promises and pretension!
Fortunately I tend to come across less of the latter than I do of the former. :)
I like the terminology "rich in content." I don't think that having a "difficult" experience is required for reading to be worthwhile. However, I do think that things can be deceptively simple, and to really get all that they have to offer, the reader has to take an active role as well.
ReplyDeleteHere is my post.