Shit-stirring provocation (was Women Crime Writers)

[Mark Kohut]

Kafka, "A book should crack the frozen ice within us". (or it isn't
worth reading, goes the unsaid).

Edmund Wilson wrote "Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?" [famous
Christie mystery; look it up if spoilers do not bother you.) In Which
he argued that no mystery could come close
to being Literature because, in having to resolve the mystery, the
murder, no work could
REALLY build to resonant themes, could not overarch and subsume the
greatest themes for a powerful work of art.
(just think of GR, for one example of an overarching (ouch, pun not
intended but...) theme of a book full of deep themes which builds to
that ending which contains the beginning and so much more).

Other Side: Crime, murder, is such an overarching (sorry. I like the
word. Stop reading if you don't) theme and natural metaphor of the
20th and 21st Centuries that the best 'mysteries', crime novels can
embody themes naturally that lift them about your average 'literary'
novel if done right, the best, etc.

Even though I am reading Hammet's Red Harvest today because I haven't
and because of one Plister's long-ago urging, I have sided with Wilson
most of my life (even when I read some crime writers steadily.)

But Wilson was wrong on Kafka--"second-rate, wouldn't last". [paraphrase]

And yes, of course, we can relax with a mystery even if we believe
Wilson, but that is not why I do (nor hope you who engage argue.) I
feel like I'm slumming; refurbishing my lucky privilege.

Take it on.



On Thu, Dec 31, 2015 at 11:40 AM, Becky Lindroos <bekker2 at icloud.com> wrote:
> Wow - thanks Ish - I’ve read both books - "Gone Girl" and "Girl on the Train" (and Woman in White for that matter).  I can’t really say which I enjoyed more -  "Gone Girl" is more twisty and surprising while "Girl on the Train” is more literary (I suppose - more interesting structure and character development,  great atmosphere,  what the reviewer said.)
>
> I’ve read other crime fiction focusing on women’s domestic scenes and issues -   "Elizabeth is Missing” by Emma Healey  was pretty good this past year (dementia)  as well as "Big, Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty from last year.  There are others - “Trespass” by Rose Tremain might fit this category.  The crimes are a bit different, the motives are different - I enjoy the well written ones,  not those written for the sensational impact.
>
> The author is totally right about the True Crime genre (real life)  influencing the fiction (just to add to that thread).
>
> Bek
>
>
>
>> On Dec 30, 2015, at 4:53 AM, ish mailian <ishmailian at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/dec/29/crime-fiction-gone-girl-on-the-train-2015
>>
>> On Tue, Dec 29, 2015 at 5:57 AM, ish mailian <ishmailian at gmail.com> wrote:
>> https://www.loa.org/news-and-views/1099-_women-crime-writers_-dolores-hitchens-resurgence-continues-with-four-new-e-books
>>
>> https://www.loa.org/news-and-views/1097-loas-_women-crime-writers_-goes-to-the-movies-with-week-long-new-york-city-series
>>
>> http://blog.loa.org/2015/08/sarah-weinman-women-crime-writers.html
>>
>
> -
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