I just want to preface this by saying that I’m aware that this is a ME problem, and not at all the fault of the writers themselves, nor the people that enjoy their works. I also in no way doubt the skills of these writers.
I know this is the type of post that gets downvoted to oblivion, but I was wondering if anyone else also get annoyed when books indulge themselves in contemporary things, especially when they do it to be sort of quirky? I’m not good at explaining things, but whenever writers make witty references to Starbucks, or the terrible smell of a modern cologne brand, I just hate it. This is especially true of the artsy books that are most acclaimed, where the writing style is very simple and consumable, but there’s still a subtly poetic way of explaining things, and the characters are always struggling people in Los Angeles who take a lot of drugs, are depressed, and are aspiring but lost (blanks) in their twenties. Although these books vary based on tone, story, and writing conventions, a recent example was that popular book “A Little Life”.
Like, I’m not necessarily saying that it is inauthentic, since it usually comes directly from the experiences of the author (or things that they have witnessed in their lifetime), but ironically, it somehow feel LESS authentic than if they were to explore a different period of time, or through a different lens. I also feel the same about the writing style itself, where’s its conversational and easygoing, but somehow manages to feel MORE forced and contrived when compared to a more formal writing style.
The same goes for those new poetry books (some of which were written by internet influencers), which also give me the feeling that they are trying SUPER hard to be deep, but also be all chill and casual about it (bc they’re struggling ‘losers’ but also really cool and deep at the same time).
It is absolutely worth noting that I’m only 16, so it could be argued that I can’t relate to the mindsets of these authors due to my general inexperience in life, but in fairness, I have read countless books that have had absolutely nothing to do with my place in life, or my lived experienced, and have found them extremely compelling. It’s also not like I find them boring just bc they aren’t fantasy-adventure books, because I actually much prefer grounded narratives.
Idk, this is probably a nonsensical rant, but do any of you share similar feelings about contemporary literature? Or perhaps, you have different perspectives that could shed light on why this style is popular? I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations for books that handle modern themes in a way that resonates authentically.
by Academic_Machine_609