So far, I think I’ve managed to avoid a diatribe about critical perspectives on female-centric literature, aka, the chick-lit wars. Basically, as a) a woman, who b) reads, and c) writes what is generally thought of as chick-lit, it’s hard not for me to start fuming when people make sweeping, ill-informed, hugely derogatory statements about the genre I not only love, but pretty much spend hours every day working on. It’s cultural elitism, but with a handy sexist edge, so usually, I just raise my eyebrows, heave a sigh of disdain, and move on without raising my blood pressure too high.
And then I read Jincy Willett’s review of ‘Secrets to Happiness‘ in the New York Times. Now, I eagerly snapped up an advance copy of this book, because Sarah Dunn’s ‘The Big Love’ was one of the best of the early(ish) wave of chick-lit – a ’small’ book in terms of plot, but big on character, nuance, and lovely lines. And ‘Secrets to Happiness’ is wonderful too, in a darkly depressing way. I read it in one sitting, on a cold New York day, and then promptly despaired about the crappy morals and self-justification of all the disappointing people in the world. But in a good way!
Anyway, back to Jincy… She likes the book, I think, but only because she’s certain that it can’t possibly be chick-lit. “..Besides, it’s not about shoes. And the shopping is for books, at the Strand. Also, unlike chick lit, chick TV and chick movies, “Secrets to Happiness” is actually funny.”
And thus in one fell swoop, she ensures her review has absolutely no validity. It’s like me saying, ‘I liked Battlestar Galactica, but despite the way it was packaged, it’s not sci-fi. Besides, it’s not about aliens! Also, unlike sci-fi movies, books, and TV, BSG is actually entertaining.’ I mean, not only is that clearly incoherent, but it willfully misinterprets what ’sci-fi’ actually is in order to let me and my apparent anti-sci-fi bias justify liking the show.
Raised eyebrows. Disdainful sigh. Moving on.
I loved Sarah Dunn’s book, The Big Love, but I don’t consider it or Secrets of Happiness to be chick lit. I think her books are more literary, or upscale commercial fiction. I suppose a case could be made for The Big Love being chick lit, but definitely not Secrets of Happiness with it’s multiple POVs. Funny too, I loved The Big Love, have raved about it and read it more than once. Secrets of Happiness though has been harder for me to get into. As the reviewer mentioned, it’s not a page-turner. I started it and have put it down more than once. Eventually I’ll pick it up again.