SLCLS Genre Study discussion

Chick lit generally deals with issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. It also often includes romantic elements, but the heroine's relationship with her family or friends is often just as important as her romantic relationship(s).

Most people either love or hate chick lit, so where do you fall. What do you love about it? What drives you crazy about the subgenre?

Personally, I don't think of Chick Lit as romance. It doesn't often have a happily ever after and the focus is just as often on personal development--with the romantic relationship secondary.

Sarah wrote: "Personally, I don't think of Chick Lit as romance. It doesn't often have a happily ever after and the focus is just as often on personal development--with the romantic relationship secondary."

Good points. Chick Lit is definitely on the fringe of the romance genre, and, depending on the storyline, sometimes the classification may not fit.

Ann wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Personally, I don't think of Chick Lit as romance. It doesn't often have a happily ever after and the focus is just as often on personal development--with the romantic relationship s..."

But... we are probably never going to do a chick lit genre study, so let's talk about it here anyway. What do you think separates a chick lit from a romance?

Oh, I have no problem discussing it here, no problem at all. I just like romances and don't like chick lit. My feelings on chick lit are like my feelings on Red Velvet Cake. Everytime I eat Red Velvet cake I think it will be chocolatey and delicious, and it is never chocolatey enough. Similarly, if I stumble upon a chick lit I keep expecting the heroine to get her stuff together and get on with it, and they almost never do. Chick lit wouldn't be chick lit if the main character had her act together--they seem to all be about some girl fumbling through life. I do enough of that on my own, without needing to read about it.

Jennifer wrote: "But... we are probably never going to do a chick lit genre study, so let's talk about it here anyway. What do you think separates a chick lit from a romance?"

I'd say that one of the big differences is that there isn't a guarantee on whether things are going to work out romantically for the main character in Chick Lit. The relationship often does work out or shows promise by the end, but it's not like Romance, with its pretty much gold standard rule of the Happily Ever After ending.

Like most people, I read what I’m in the mood for at the time. (With chick lit I need to be kind of relaxed and a little bit silly.) So what is your mood when chick lit is the right genre for you?

When I'm looking for some brain candy!

I like Chick Lit when I want to read something funny and darker at the same time. A weird mood, does anyone else experience that?

Heather wrote: "I like Chick Lit when I want to read something funny and darker at the same time. A weird mood, does anyone else experience that?"

Totally makes sense to me. A lot of chick lit can deal with some heavy life issues, even though they often get billed as lighter quirkier writing. I enjoy how despite the serious issues that sometimes come up, humor often still finds a way to creep into situations or the main character's point of view.

Exactly! Remember that Irish writer, Marion something? The books were all about people with pretty failed lives from certain standpoints, but still very funny.

Chick Lit can can come in a range of tones and sometimes deals with some pretty heavy issues, but often gets billed as light weight or "fluff" reading. Of course, like any other genre there is a wide range in quality. What do you think makes "good" chick lit good and "not so good" chick not so good?

For me "good" chick lit offers an escape. Sometimes things are a little shallow-- or a lot-- but that can be fun, and help keep in mind that life isn't all responsibility and weighty matters. What drives me nuts, though, is when a character is overly stereotyped. I don't like a cardboard cutout version of a person when I pick up a book.

I usually enjoy Chick Lit if I can relate to the issues the character is dealing with besides the love interest--like money issues or in-law issues, etc. But the conflict has to be believable, and the characters can't be black and white.

So what do you consider good Chic Lit books? I am not a fan of the genre, because it usually makes me cry. I did read and like The Friday Night Knitting Club. I totally bawled at the end. I bet the others on the track thought I was crazy.

Marinda wrote: "So what do you consider good Chic Lit books? I am not a fan of the genre, because it usually makes me cry. I did read and like The Friday Night Knitting Club. I totally bawled at the e..."

Some I have liked were "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Austenland" because I enjoyed seeing how they played out the "Pride and Prejudice" story. I also liked the Reader's Choice book, "Ten Girls to Watch" because of the friendships the main character formed.

Marinda wrote: "So what do you consider good Chic Lit books? I am not a fan of the genre, because it usually makes me cry. I did read and like The Friday Night Knitting Club. I totally bawled at the e..."

When it comes to me I consider a book "good" if it I enjoyed it, it engaged me, or it fed some inner need I had--I know, wide open answer there, but hopefully one that acknowledges everyone's right to enjoy or dislike different reading material.

In case you haven't had a chance to check out the Women's Fiction Discussion. We've been debating the differences between Women's Fiction and Chick Lit. Are they the same things, or are there differences?

Is the label "Chick Lit" an inherently demeaning, or do you think there's a legitimate effort to hit on something of the nature of this genre with this name? Would less "loaded" terminology work better?

I fall somewhere in the middle. Sometimes, I just want a light-hearted book that's, as Ann put it, perfectly "less loaded." Some difference I see is that they focus more on the main character than necessarily on the romance. Is this pretty true to what you've seen or is it just based on what I've read?

On another note, I really liked "These Boots Weren't Made For Walking" by Melody Carlson. Funny chick-lit with romance about a girl who's life goes down the drain and she has to move back home with her mom. She piece her life back together all while finding a new beau and realizing there's a lot more to life than just a relationship.

Kira wrote: "I fall somewhere in the middle. Sometimes, I just want a light-hearted book that's, as Ann put it, perfectly "less loaded." Some difference I see is that they focus more on the main character than ..."

Definitely agree that Chick Lit isn't straight up romance, but generally provides a wider view of the character's life than just their romantic relationship(s).

These Boots Weren't Made for Walking sounds like a fun book that still contains some real-life wisdom. Anyone else have a favorite Chick Lit book they'd like to share, and give us a little briefing about?

Just read this NYT Opinionator blog post "Masters in Chick Lit." I enjoyed it, looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/...