Chick Literature

SCOPE:   Women's fiction commonly referred to as “chick lit” is written in a style that is both breezy and humorous. The subject matter of the novels is often issue driven and deals with headline stories involving death, divorce, and family problems. Historically it was rooted in the 19th century typified by prominent women literary figures of the time:  Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, and the Brontes. Emotions and relationships take precedence over everything else and the central character  is a woman. The story does not have to have a happy ending.

In the mid 20th century the focus of this genre was domestic dramas. Some of the prominent works of the time were Grace Metalious's Peyton Place, Jacqueline Susan's Valley of the Dolls, and Erica Jong's Fear of Flying.  The feminist movement of the 1970s saw the publication of Marilyn French's novel The Women's Room.  Through the 1990s and mid 2000's saw the emergence of “chick lit” with the publication of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones Diary.

THEMES AND TYPES

General Women's Fiction

Examples:  Elizabeth Berg, Kristin Hannah, Joshilyn Jackson, Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, Fern Michaels. Adriana Trigiani, Jennifer Weiner, Rebecca Wells, Meg Wolitzer

Romantic: Features a love story that does not have to have a happy ending. The love story is not the key element to the main plot as other relationships and the main character herself are of primary focus.

Examples:  Sandra Brown, Meg Cabot, Claire Cook, Barbara Delinsly, Katie Fforde, Kristin Hannah, Nora Roberts, and Danielle Steel.

Chick Lit: Breezy and humorous fiction.

Examples:  Cecilia Ahearn, Meg Cabot, Helen Fielding, Jane Green, Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, and Jennifer Weiner.

Mommy Lit

Women of a Certain Age : fun to read novels dealing with more mature characters and life situations.

Examples:  Elizabeth Buchan, Maddie Dawson, Patricia Gaffney, and Cassandra King.

Issue-Driven:  Novels are fast-paces and emotional often dealing with from the headline stories. Other not so dramatic in tone, deal with death, divorce, and other family problems.

Examples:  Barbara Delinsky, Joy Fieldiing, Sue Miller, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Jodi Picoult, and Anita Shreve.

Humorous:  Women's fiction featuring catchy dialogue, sassy characters, and strange plots. Features contemporary settings and issues.

Examples:  Mary Kay Andrews, Meg Cabot, Fannie Flagg, Sophie Kinsella, and Haywood Smith.

Gentle :  Light fiction featuring stories of families, communities, and enduring friendships.

Examples:  Maeve Bindhy, Jenifer Chiaverini, Ann B. Ross, and Fannie Flagg.

Family Sagas: Multigenerational sagas that have historical and romantic elements. This type of fiction was very popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Many still enjoy reading them today.

Examples:  Barbara Taylor Bradford, Catherine Cookson, Rosamund Pilcher, and Belva Plain.

Family Fiction:  Centered on family relationships that  can be serious, gentle, or simply dysfunctional.

Examples:  Claire Cook, Eileen Goudge, Elin Hilderbrand, Jane Green, Jennifer Weiner, and Haywood Smith.



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