Why Isn’t It Fun To Read?

Suspense writer Ed Gorman pens this post arguing that American literature is on “a suicide path” because of the boring nature of literary fiction.

I couldn’t agree more. While much literary fiction is very good, most literary authors seem to disdain “page-turnability” as a critical component of their work.

I have a strong background in English literature (and the degree from Stanford to prove it), but I’ve said on many occasions (and in many a writing workshop) that the literary obsession with inner conflict and turmoil is unhealthy.

As I told my classmates after reading “Best American Short Stories 1994,” “After I finished the book, I felt like committing suicide. Man, what a downer!”

If you are interested in reading thought-provoking books that combine strong characterization with page-turnability, and you don’t mind reading “genre” fiction, I highly recommend the work of Lois McMaster-Bujold.