** I wrote this as a journal entry for my Fiction Writing Workshop class. The assignment was to read the short story, "Refresh, Refresh" by Benjamin Percy, and also read this article-- http://entertainment.time.com/2012/05/23/genre-fic... and then compare.
Throughout my reading of classic literature and modern fiction, I have always pondered what made one story literature, and another story not. I look at the works of Tolstoy, or Dumas, or Austen, and see a wonderful tale. These works of literature offer messages that stay relevant, regardless of the passing time since their creation. There is a point in Grossman's article where he mentions, “if the story moves, we, almost involuntarily, move with it," and to me this is important. Literature, especially, must "move" the reader, and make them "feel" something. The reader can feel sadness at the death of a character, or the pain of a character, as the reader becomes entwined with the characters and plot.
"Refresh, Refresh" read a little like Hemingway as I read it. Like the works of Hemingway, Percy is able to make the reader, me, feel for the characters. I could feel their pain of losing their fathers, and the pain of being bullied. I felt anxious when they went to get revenge on the football players, but relieved when he made note of taking their guns first. Also similar to Hemingway, was the fact that I expected a negative ending to the story-- the deaths of their fathers. However, Percy is able to twist this negative into powerful writing as he mentions again that these boys just want to make their fathers proud. This was first mentioned in the beginning of the story when they were fighting each other to toughen up. The ability to make a story go full circle, is something else that lends towards literary writing.
To make a point of how this story could be considered genre fiction, or supermarket aisle fiction, I'd weakly attempt by stating the context of the story. The underlying message is powerful, however, it is based in a small town on the west coast of the United States, a rural area, and not many people will necessarily feel a "genre" pull towards it. I can't fully explain what genre fiction is, such as I could not fully explain what makes a work literature, but I have an overwhelming sensation that genre is not as powerful as literature in any sense. In his article, Grossman mentions, " According to the escapist theory, people read genre fiction to leave behind the cares and sorrows of reality — a genre novel is, in Krystal’s words, “a narrative cocktail that helps us temporarily forget the narratives of our own humdrum lives.”" Now, I don't understand how any type of writing or reading can be grouped on the reader's desire to escape reality, as to me, that is the point of reading, or devouring stories by any means. Reading in general allows one to live many lives. I assume by the words of Kyrstal, that "Refresh, Refresh" could be considered genre fiction because I escaped my reality for a bit and delved into the porblems and reality of Gordon and Josh. But, that really isn't solid enough for me.
Now, Grossman also uses "Game of Thrones" as an example in his article. I personally love fantasy series'-- "Wheel of Time," "Sword of Truth," "Mistborn Trilogy," for example-- but I am not a fan of how "Game of Thrones" is written. This odium is not because the author-- George R.R. Martin-- tells a poor story, or is a weak writer, it's because I don't find enjoyment in bouncing all over the place with so many characters, but I do respect his ability to create it. I love the aforementioned series', as well as others, but regardless of their impact on me as a writer, or my entertainment, I would not list any as literature. So does that make them genre fiction? I may also be arrogant, in that I believe YA fiction is beneath me as an adult that has always been ahead of the reading curve as a kid, but YA fiction would be genre fiction, in the same way that Romance and Mystery would be, simply because that is how they are listed at the book store. Right?
If a friend or stranger approached me with the desire to know my opinion of what separates literature from basic fiction, I'd have a hard time elaborating on how literature is just better. Reading literature gives me a sense of intelligence in the writer, as well as sensing their strong desire to express a message towards their readers. There is pain and love, and the simple experiences gained from living, within their works, and that passion is what drives me to binge read for hours. Tolstoy's works, for example, are perfectly analyzed by the New Historicism and Marxist literary theories, because of his known routine to incorporate personal experiences into his works. Tolstoy used his own life in order to create the lives of his many characters, and thus creates stories that the realism draws readers in. This is the encompassment of the gut feeling I have. To be considered literary or literature, is a great compliment and achievement reserved for the best works, and that is something I strive for as a writer.
