Oh, I'm reading for fun, all right.

Last week there was an article in Newsweek titled "Does Jodi Picoult Hurt Literature--Why Is It a Sin to Read for Fun?"*

Well, that was just too good to pass up. If you can, I'd highly recommend the article, but if you don't have time, I can hit the high points for you.

"The young woman with blonde ringlets has a question: where did Jodi get her green-velvet hair scrunchie? Jodi, who has wavy red hair not unlike the blonde's, admits she stole it from her teenage daughter, then says she'll write down the name of the Web site where the blonde can order it."

That is totally my favorite part of book readings, learning where I can buy hair accessories. When I saw the awesome Melissa Bank in person, I didn't waste time with any reading or writing questions. I asked her what makeup she uses.

"But commercial writers such as Picoult are a thorny subject for the self-appointed literature police."

Hello, I'm Citizen Reader, and I'll be your self-appointed literature policewoman today.

"There is a formula to a Picoult book: each takes a controversial ethical issue—"designer babies," high-school shootings, child abuse, the death penalty—and pits sympathetic characters, often family members or best friends, on either side of the debate. "

Actually, that's a very handy summary of every Picoult book ever written.

"On her Web site, a fan in remission from leukemia wrote that she learned a lot more about her disease reading "My Sister's Keeper" than the doctors ever told her."

Actually, I believe that too. But that rather indicates to me more that there is something desperately wrong with our health care system, not that there is anything right about Picoult's writing.

"But it's reductive to lump Picoult in with all bestselling commercial writers. Her prose is smooth and never gets in its own way."

Hello, I'm Citizen Reader, and I'll be your reductive literature policewoman today. Picoult's prose is designed to impart information about the disease of the week she's writing about, and to pull you, by the halter if you balk, from one chapter to the next, which doesn't really equal "smooth."

And, last but not least...wait for it...

"Picoult sees herself more in the school of so-called literary writers such as Sue Miller, who also writes about domestic topics despite frequent downmarket comparisons, especially to "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer. "In terms of the literary content of the 'Twilight' books, they're totally escapist. I think technically I am maybe a cut above," she says."

Oh, Jodi, Jodi, Jodi. I don't care if you're out there selling hair scrunchies and selling lots of books. But please don't call yourself a literary writer.** And, frankly, I'm no Stephenie Meyer fan, but at least Stephenie had to dream up her story, rather than just ripping it from the day's headlines.

Hm. That WAS fun!

*A big shout-out to Minneapolis Sarah, for bringing this article to my attention.

**I haven't giggled at an author's statement so hard since Jennifer Chiaverini's (she's the author of roughly a million books about ladies who quilt) statement that her writing wasn't formulaic. Um, Jennifer? Your own titles, most of which include the word "quilter," beg to differ.

Comments

[Venta]

It was even more fun to read! Ever think of joining Newsweek's staff?

[Mrs. Thornton]

Three cheers for Citizen Reader! I laughed out loud reading your post.

[lesbrarian]

I have so very many problems with Jodi Picoult that it's hard to pick a single issue that stands out, but if I were forced to choose, I'd say that my chief problem is that she (and her publicists) market her as literary. She's not. She has no particular grace with putting one word in front of another. She does write about thought-provoking issues, but not in a very thought-provoking way. And if I were feeling charitable I suppose I might call her characters "complex," but I'm not feeling charitable, so instead I'll call them "irritating."

If her books were widely recognized as being so-so, I'd be fine. There's room for mediocre books out there. Quite often I LIKE mediocre books. But I don't like books that masquerade as Important Literature when they're not.

Stephenie Meyer isn't pretentious, and she tells a more compelling story. Maybe she's the one who's a cut above.

[Mrs. Thornton]

Three cheers for Lesbrarian! I laughed out loud reading your comment.

[Citizen Reader]

Venta!
Newsweek, if they're hiring writers who think Jodi Picoult's prose is smooth, wouldn't touch me with a ten-foot pole. And that's all right. Who really dreams of writing for Newsweek? (Vanity Fair, maybe, where I might have a shot at meeting William Langewiesche, THAT would be something.)

Mrs. Thornton,
Three cheers all round! Jodi's always amusing, I'll give her that.

Lesbrarian,
Amen. I don't even know that most writers want to be Literary, but those who are Commercial with a capital C should just enjoy the label "commercial" and then laugh all the way to the bank.

Tee hee. I wonder how often I've tried to come off as complex and ended up with just "irritating."

[Brandon]

Didn't Uncle Steve King praise Picoult? I rest my case.

Since when was Sue Miller considered "literary"? I've read one of Miller's books, and I didn't think there was anything literary about it. Maybe Picoult operates under the assumption that depressing subject matter equals literary.

If you keep talking about Picoult, I'm going to read one of her books, just so I can find out more about your beef with her. She makes great blog fodder, at least for you.

However, I have a reputation to consider, so perhaps not. Picoult, from the look and sound of it, would be my undoing. No amount of Joyce or Nabokov could save me.

[Citizen Reader]

Brandon,
Why yes, Steven King did praise JP, which was also mentioned in the Newsweek article, but which I didn't have the heart to mention, because I've actually enjoyed some Steven King books (although NOT The Tommyknockers).

Your point about Sue Miller, incidentally, is a good one. That "literary" tag is a slippery little bugger.

I know, I pick on Jodi way too much. I mainly do it as a change from picking on Thomas Friedman (who, incidentally, is a much bigger book whore than Picoult--at least Picoult has never had the balls to re-release her books in more expensive hardcover editions). But...you have GOT to read one of her books. I triple dog dare you. It may hurt but it will be very illuminating, I promise you. Mainly because, for some reason, I think it's important to know how millions of suburban women think--after all, I bet they're pretty dedicated voters, too.

Come on! Read one! Do "Nineteen Minutes." I'd love to hear your take on her psychological take on school shooters.

[Bookie]

*snort* Read this http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/apr/21/digested-read-handle-with-care
I wish all of Picoult's fiction were half as entertaining as the digested version. What a laugh. On a sidebar, I realized that I sort of resemble that cartoon of Jodi Picoult *fights urge to say her last name over and over real fast*, except with dark brown hair. what. does. this. mean?

[Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)]

I saw this article yesterday but didn't get to read it right away because I had to get to work. But man, I really want to read it now!

I don't think I've actually read Jodi Picoult -- I feel like I should just so I can actually find her annoying -- but the idea that you can sum up every one of her books using the same (annoying) formula has me pretty convinced I won't like it at all.

[katharine]

I am in the middle of Jane Hamilton's new book, Laura Rider's Masterpiece" and loving it. I would call that literary writing and I'm guessing a Jodi Piccoult fan might run for the hills after the first Shakespeare reference. I put up a display of "jodi picoult readalikes" and put all my favorite literary novels on it in hopes to trick someone into reading something decent. I'm a sneaky librarian.

[Citizen Reader]

Oh, Bookie, you are the BEST. That is so awesome.

Kim,
Do read the article. Total Newsweek puff piece, and a good example of why I think Newsweek blows. And DO read a Jodi Picoult--the merciful thing about her books is that they're meant to be read fast, so at least if you don't enjoy it it's over with quickly.

Katharine,
You so sneaky. That's awesome. How'd you get that new Hamilton so fast? I'm WAY down on the waiting list. I hope you're enjoying it, Miss Sneaky Book Displayer!

[Becky]

Wheeeeee what a fun rant! I love it love it love it! Thanks for this!

[Melanie]

I would love to see a list of the book Katharine used in her book display. I have a few library patrons of my own that I'd like to "encourage" to read something different.

[Linette]

Katharine: I love this idea! I might have to steal it from you :)

[Citizen Reader]

Becky-Glad you liked it! Now you're dying to read a Picoult, aren't you?

Melanie, Linette, I too would like to see Katharine's list of books. Katharine? Remember what titles you put on that display?

[katharine]

I just went through the fiction section and pulled my favorites, stuff like Sarah Dunant's Birth of Venus and Jumpha Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth, titles that would probably pop up on any proper literary fiction list. So I just finished Hamilton's "Laura Rider's masterpiece" and loved it. The main character wants to be a writer and in one of the final scenes she attends a writing workshop where she lands a group that is working on the "literary" genre. It takes place at "Big Claw" resort in the Dells. Very funny, very sassy and Hamilton's even tackles the other "S" word, lots of sex.
I loved it. Highly recommend it.