Reply #15: Not necessarily

[Zomby Woof]

I understand your thesis is meant to be broad, and you make good points. But a few notable exceptions leap to mind.

Sinclair Lewis made his name exploring the angst and follies of the American upper middle class, with the right mixture of affection and scorn. He is usually thought of as being in the 'literary' canon, and not as much of the popular one.

John Updike was his heir, moving the characters to the post-WW2 suburbs and halls of academia. He has enjoyed the best of both the 'literary' and 'popular' worlds. In fact, it's wise to avoid making these distinctions mutually exclusive.

Neither writer made their characters Springer archetypes.


But rather than a laundry list of exceptions, I think it's safe to say there is no overriding theme to what constitutes "literary fiction". But one of the defining features of literature (if I may make my own generality) is that it often explores our common humanity.

(Having done tax prep work myself in the not-so-distant past, I say you deserve the much-needed rest for your hard work) :toast: