This episode of The Intelligence explores the perennial debate between 'pulp fiction' and 'classics' in summer reading. The Economist's bookworms discuss the value of escapist reads versus literary fiction, examining how different genres—from romance and sci-fi to thrillers—offer diverse pleasures and insights. The conversation emphasizes that a 'good book' can be both enjoyable and well-crafted, and that readers should feel free to choose without snobbery.
Summarized by Podsumo
The panel debates the distinction between 'good writing' and 'enjoyable reads,' noting that books like Jilly Cooper's are beloved but often dismissed as 'not great literature' due to their clear heroes and villains.
Sci-fi and LitRPG (literary role-playing game) genres, like 'Dungeon Crawler Carl,' are gaining popularity for offering familiar tropes and pure escapism, sometimes translating video game mechanics into fiction.
The discussion highlights that bestseller lists and 'books to read before you die' lists often reflect how people want to be seen, favoring works like 'Middlemarch' over commercial genre fiction.
Thrillers, like Tom Clancy's 'The Hunt for Red October,' are praised for their plot-driven escapism and ability to offer insights into real-world topics like military strategy.
The panel concludes that readers can enjoy both heavy literary fiction and pulpy escapism at different times, just as one chooses different types of travel or food.
"A good escapist novel... doesn't write a book, they create a world, and that you want to step into it."
"Catherine Nixie"
"We don't have to pick one and we can choose just as we do in lots and lots of other areas of our lives to try different things at different times."
"Tom Sandage"
"The only reason to read is because you're enjoying it."
"Catherine Nixie (citing Philip Larkin)"