Declan Burke has published a number of novels, the most recent of which is ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL. As a journalist and critic, he writes and broadcasts on books and film for a variety of media outlets, including the Irish Times, RTE, the Irish Examiner and the Sunday Independent. He has an unfortunate habit of speaking about himself in the third person. All views expressed here are his own and are very likely to be contrary.
I often find it hard to find a one- or two-word "shorthand" to describe a book. I haven't read "Tenderwire" but the dilemma reminds me of Stef Penney's "Tenderness of Wolves" -- could you call that crime fiction? It is a murder investigation in one way, but is mainly about literal and metaphorical journeys. Another example is one I read over Christmas, "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield -- I had no idea that there was going to be a crime in it and a mystery to solve -- but there was, as we discover about 3/4 of the way in. Does this make it crime fiction? I have never heard this book described thus, but it could be.....it would not be wrong to do so, I think.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I find the adjective "literary" somewhat pretentious in describing books (or blogs, etc). I don't see a problem with calling something a mystery, thriller, crime or detective story, if that's what it is even if only in part.