Ever since I first read Bridget Jones’ Diary I've
been pretty much addicted to chick lit. I will seriously read just about any
chick lit novel I can get my hands on. I'm a serious reader who loves
collecting books to re-read over and over again. My home office has four
bookcases with one whole bookcase is dedicated to chick lit. Some of my
favorite authors and favorite books are chick lit. I think it was a pretty
natural transition for me to start writing in the genre as well.
So, what is chick lit, anyhow? I can’t tell you how often
I'm asked that question by people unfamiliar with the genre. If you ask five
authors that same question, chances are you’ll get five different answers. I
keep it simple when describing chick lit. In my mind, chick lit is any novel
with a strong female protagonist, a strong romantic element, and a humorous
and/or light feel. The biggest difference, in my humble opinion, between chick
lit and straight romance is that chick lit focuses primarily on the protagonist
and her journey whereas a romance novel focuses more on the romance element. A
chick lit book is more likely to deal with issues relating to the main
character’s career, her family, and her relationships. I think there’s a
misconception that all chick lit is completely fluffy and candy-coated with an
overabundance of stilettos and shopping. While I like shoes and shopping as
much as the next person, I think there’s definitely room in chick lit to deal
with more serious subjects.
Marian Keyes, author of such chick lit classics as Watermelon and This
Charming Man, is one of my favorite authors, and she definitely doesn't stick
to the light and fluffy. She tackles issues like domestic violence, drug
addiction, alcoholism, cheating, and infertility. Emily Giffin (Something
Borrowed, Where We Belong) has written about infidelity and teenage
pregnancy. Harriet Evans (Happily Ever After, I Remember You), has addressed
such complicated issues as alcoholism and abortion. But each of these authors,
and many others like them, somehow manage to write about these issues in a way
that is both humorous and fun. To me, that is the mark of a good chick lit
read.
I remember reading Bridget Jones’s Diary the first
time and thinking, this is how my friends talk. Helen Fielding gave
Bridget such a strong voice; she felt like a girl I knew, a girl I would want
to hang out with. She felt like me. I think that’s what brings me back to
the genre again and again; the relate-ability. Chick lit is generally told with
a very strong narrative voice. A good author can bring you right into the
protagonist’s head. You know how she feels about her life, about her friends,
about her romantic experiences. Before long, she starts to feel like a friend.
That’s what I always try to accomplish in my books. I look
to create a mix of light-heartedness, humor, and struggle to succeed for the
main character. In my new book, In Search of a Love Story, Emily Donovan
is searching for love with the help of her friends. She’s also struggling to
find success in her career, deal with the lingering effects of the loss of her
mother, and, perhaps most importantly, find her own voice. My hope is that I've
created a character that people can relate to, and a story that’s enjoyable to
read. Because really, isn't that what chick lit is all about?
Love the post- and chick lit! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for having me, this was a fun post!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more, Rachel. Fantastic piece about what fabulous chick lit is. (And why it is so much fun!!)
ReplyDelete