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. Personally, 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.
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.