I’m not a huge fan of literary fiction. I find it depressing, usually. Why are the characters always so desperate, and desperately unhappy? Why do they always have such depressing, gross sex lives, and why, WHY must books of literary fiction always contain a description of just how unappealing the protagonist’s body is? I mean, I live in a human body. I’m aware that most human bodies are very flawed. Do I have to read about Lotto’s stomach flab, and the way Mathilde’s finger can fit in his belly button up to her second knuckle? Why are Mathilde’s BO and Lotto’s bad skin of such profound interest to the author? I understand that the “golden couple” needs to be humanized, and I don’t think the characters in the books I read all need to be attractive, but these are details I can live without. I feel like authors of literary fiction equate “humanize” with “strip the character of dignity.” Most of all, why must literary fiction just be so depressing? Do people really enjoy the misery and drudgery that’s always on display?
I don’t know. I probably shouldn’t have even read Fates and Furies. I don’t read much literary fiction for exactly these reasons, but I thought this one might be different, with the amount of praise and attention it’s getting. It’s an interesting book, to be sure, and I do love the idea that even after living with someone for half a lifetime, there is so much about them that is unknowable. To be fair to Lauren Groff, she does a great job of exploring that, and the book absolutely held my interest. Mathilde and Lotto’s marriage is fascinating, and I liked seeing it from both sides, and learning more about Mathilde and why she turned out the way she did. I actually liked Mathilde, and I’m not sure I was supposed to.
The main issue I have with this book, beyond all the general complaints above (which mainly amount to me not wanting to be depressed by what I’m reading), is that it made me angry to read about the way Mathilde basically devoted all of her considerable intellect and energy to organizing Lotto’s world. I realize that this is the norm in many couples, and this dichotomy might even be necessary in couples where one partner is a creative type. I was mainly just infuriated that Lotto sailed through their life together, collecting accolades and adoration, and meanwhile Mathilde gets the nickname, “Dragon Wife.” This is not really a criticism of Groff, it’s mainly that I see enough of this in my day to day that I don’t want to read about it in my free time.
I guess that’s my main problem with this book, and most literary fiction. Reading is something I enjoy, and I want it to be fun. Literary fiction isn’t fun. Fates and Furies isn’t fun.
I’m nearly finished with this one and agree whole-heartedly.
Thank goodness. It’s so acclaimed that I thought maybe I was the only one. And I didn’t even get into how pretentious the writing is. The dialogue! Ugh, it made me cringe.
I always make an effort to read SOME lit fic every year because of all the acclaim and some of it is genuinely moving, but mostly, I agree with you. Call me lowbrow, but genre fiction is my jam. In my free time I prefer to be entertained.
Yes! Reading is a hobby for me so it should be fun. I keep giving literary fiction another chance but this might be the book that turns me off of it forever. Mysteries and fantasy, here I come. :)
Ha, several weeks later and my book club picks this for April. We’ll see how it goes!
Oh boy. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
Thank you for this review and particularly that first paragraph. I have always struggled with articulating what I hate about Lit Fic and you said it perfectly. There are ways to discuss the human condition without wallowing in misery.
It’s taken me a long time to figure out what exactly I hated so much about literary fiction. This book helped me figure it out, so I guess it wasn’t all bad.
If you already don’t like literary fiction, this is not going to convince you otherwise. I liked this novel well enough, but I already like lit-fic, and I really like Lauren Groff’s style. If you like more genre-based styles, I recommend giving her first novel, The Monsters of Templeton, a try. It’s more uplifting and has more of a fantasy aspect embedded. Plus, the female protagonist is sympathetic (even if she’s a bit of a hot mess), and there’s an enjoyable mystery.
If you ever want to try lit-fic again, my go-to recommendations are Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day (if you like classics and want something that’s a bit more contemporary) or Never Let Me Go (though some here at CBR are pretty meh on it, it’s one of my all-time favorite novels), or Margaret Atwood (who blends several styles seamlessly with a dark sense of humor). Most people have read The Handmaid’s Tale, but I really like her MaddAddam trilogy or The Blind Assassin. I am also a huge fan of Jhumpa Lahiri’s first two books, her short story collection The Interpreter of Maladies or the novel The Namesake.
Thanks for the recommendations! I did enjoy Never Let Me Go, so maybe I should give some of his other books a try. And I’m intrigued by your description of The Monsters of Templeton. I love mysteries and fantasy!
I can’t with Margaret Atwood, though. Her books are so upsetting. I know she’s a great author but her stuff practically gives me panic attacks because the things happening are so awful, and yet they seem like they really COULD happen. I read the first MaddAddam book on my Kindle while walking on the treadmill, and for weeks after I finished it, every time I walked into the workout room I would get this pit of dread in my stomach and have to reassure myself, it’s okay, you don’t have to read any more Oryx and Crake! The stuff that happens is so fantastical, but it seems like it could be true! Oh, I can’t take it. You are braver than me :)
See, what you’ve described is what I call BAD literary fiction. It’s fiction that so desperately wants to be important that it puffs up in recognizable ways. Look at the older classics like Austin or Faulker or Twain- literary classics that are still enjoyable reads. Even Amy Tan, whom I adore, and is definitely classified as literary fiction, is still enjoyable. I think that some authors forget that fiction is first and foremost a thing of entertainment and try to make so hard to make their works IMPORTANT that they neglect that entertainment aspect of it.
I agree completely. And you’re right, I should revisit some of those classics before completely writing off this genre.
I generally love lit-fic, but had serious issues with this book. Not what I’d call an enjoyable read.