tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670366217396414710.post1193571708742359270..comments2023-06-06T03:21:47.228-07:00Comments on In Order of Importance: How You Find Books, How Books Find YouJosh Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00525329381764185393noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670366217396414710.post-44974578473628283482013-09-13T07:27:51.871-07:002013-09-13T07:27:51.871-07:00Thanks for the comment, jimmie. To me, the differe...Thanks for the comment, jimmie. To me, the difference between entertainment and literature isn't based on the quality of the books, but on how they are best used by the readers. Books that are "literature," provide the most powerful experience to the reader, when the reader is an active participant in the creation of meaning; exploring implications, examining images and metaphors, and using the words of the work to think about the world beyond the book. Books that are "entertainment," provide the most powerful experience when the reader gives themselves over to the book and passively enjoys whatever emotions the book generates. <br /><br />These distinctions aren't absolute; works primarily of entertainment can have enough substance in them to make you think about the wider world and works primarily of literature can reward readers with the same kinds of emotions and experiences as entertainment, but the distinction exists. And I think, even if post-modernism and deconstruction have shown the dichotomy ultimately to be "false," I think the experience of reading is stronger with it in place.<br /><br />Your comment brings up a ton of other issues around reading, including how literature is taught and the fact that the same work can be either entertainment or literature depending on the state of the reader, but I'll conclude with one more important point. Distinguishing entertainment and literature doesn't inherently elevate one over the other. I know the terms come with a lot of cultural baggage, but they're still the most accurate terms I can think of. Literature is not better than entertainment, it's just different. Thanks again for taking the time to comment.Josh Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00525329381764185393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670366217396414710.post-13207578454228734432013-09-12T23:51:22.534-07:002013-09-12T23:51:22.534-07:00I would never say that Stephenie Meyer and Jennife...I would never say that Stephenie Meyer and Jennifer Egan are similar writers, but I don't like the implication that entertainment and literature are mutually exclusive. Perpetuating that false dichotomy in this climate, where interest in longreads of any sort seems to be waning, will just lead to more people abandoning books altogether. jimmiehttp://www.twitter.com/librosoverhosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670366217396414710.post-45654423086166843612013-09-12T05:23:03.470-07:002013-09-12T05:23:03.470-07:00Josh, this is a great essay. I think you should tr...Josh, this is a great essay. I think you should try to get this published. As the Crowe Flies and Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110661562901480120noreply@blogger.com