I was recently informed of two new genres; "Romantasy" and - say, what? - "Cosy Horror". As a librarian and former bookstore owner, who could always converse broadly across genres, I suddenly felt old and vaguely tired.
My brother and I, of late, have been trading messages about how incredibly creepy was The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. To live with a stalker. If she goes out for a walk on the beach, he stares at her through a telescope. (The TV show; my memory of the film is vague.)
Oh, I loved the Ghost and Mrs. Muir, but I would say more Cozy Haunting than Cozy Horror. Bewitched, more Domestic BeWitchery. How about I Dream of Jeannie?
thx for shout-out to my favorite radio comedian, fred allen, artisan of the observation: "you can take all the sincerity in hollywood and stuff it in a flea's navel, and have room left over for an agent's heart."
So good, I kept thinking "ah that is true in art as well!" A whole world of (mostly) made up categories and contrivances seeking validation in material form. Just try to keep up with it all.
thanks for this description of the taylorization of life seen through the lens of the book trade…. if your inquiry leads you outside of your field's prescribed niches you become a threat to the whole economic machine, or at least perceived so by gatekeepers and those who have bought in to the ‘enchantment'… reminds me…charles ludlam wrote a play… ‘the enchanted pig'
Through your recommendation I’m now reading Ring Lardner, and he strikes me as a figure of who is a writer. I don’t think one can clearly define him in a specific category. But I do greatly enjoy him!
The new Brookyn Barnes and Nobel has renamed Self-Help as Self-Transformation. I’ve been told that publishers aren’t buying memoir right now and that I should write proscriptive non-fiction instead.
Once you're inured to endless subgenres, you're prepared to see your needs met in every bookstore aisle. Not long after giving birth to my kids I went into Barnes & Noble and thought the Nursing section referred to Breastfeeding.
I was recently informed of two new genres; "Romantasy" and - say, what? - "Cosy Horror". As a librarian and former bookstore owner, who could always converse broadly across genres, I suddenly felt old and vaguely tired.
Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Was The Ghost and Mrs. Muir cozy horror? Bewitched?
My brother and I, of late, have been trading messages about how incredibly creepy was The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. To live with a stalker. If she goes out for a walk on the beach, he stares at her through a telescope. (The TV show; my memory of the film is vague.)
Oh, I loved the Ghost and Mrs. Muir, but I would say more Cozy Haunting than Cozy Horror. Bewitched, more Domestic BeWitchery. How about I Dream of Jeannie?
thx for shout-out to my favorite radio comedian, fred allen, artisan of the observation: "you can take all the sincerity in hollywood and stuff it in a flea's navel, and have room left over for an agent's heart."
So good, I kept thinking "ah that is true in art as well!" A whole world of (mostly) made up categories and contrivances seeking validation in material form. Just try to keep up with it all.
thanks for this description of the taylorization of life seen through the lens of the book trade…. if your inquiry leads you outside of your field's prescribed niches you become a threat to the whole economic machine, or at least perceived so by gatekeepers and those who have bought in to the ‘enchantment'… reminds me…charles ludlam wrote a play… ‘the enchanted pig'
I appreciate the sneaky Frank Sinatra reference.
Check out James Brown's version if you haven't.
This was the first recording of the song, by Marian Montgomery:
https://youtu.be/VvME0RlSAbA?si=rmv19TGk9UEtcRvn
Wink.
A brilliant overview, however depressing (though I do like the quasi-optimistic turn at the end). Thank you!
Through your recommendation I’m now reading Ring Lardner, and he strikes me as a figure of who is a writer. I don’t think one can clearly define him in a specific category. But I do greatly enjoy him!
He caught the American voice better than almost anybody, and his wild humor shows anguish underneath.
I had the same youthful expedience with “Probate” it sounded untoward, somehow
Probe prostate.
I had the same
The new Brookyn Barnes and Nobel has renamed Self-Help as Self-Transformation. I’ve been told that publishers aren’t buying memoir right now and that I should write proscriptive non-fiction instead.
Proscriptive!
Whoever told you that should be proscribed.
God! Thank you 🙏🏽 🤲🏽
This sneaks up on you before revealing itself as the most life-affirming post of the year.
Once you're inured to endless subgenres, you're prepared to see your needs met in every bookstore aisle. Not long after giving birth to my kids I went into Barnes & Noble and thought the Nursing section referred to Breastfeeding.
Just did a quick second read of this post. Bucking up!
Love this piece. No more cogs. No more categories. No more capitulation.