I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

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Mira
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I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by Mira » December 1st, 2010, 4:24 pm

Is this true? I love chick lit. Why? Why would they kill off something so delightful and fun? Who killed it off? Who?

I would think, in a troubled economic time, something as fun and light as Chick Lit would be flourishing.

Anyone know the scoop here?

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HillaryJ
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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by HillaryJ » December 1st, 2010, 6:39 pm

The Chick Lit bubble burst (after inflating rapidly) and now the term is frowned upon. Chick Lit-type books still exist, but they tend to be sold under the genre they most closely fit, or as women's fiction.
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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by Moni12 » December 1st, 2010, 9:04 pm

Like HillaryJ said, it's mostly called Women's Fiction now. I've noticed on several agent blogs that they don't like the term "chick lit". I think it's kind of like in movies, whether it's a chick flick or a romantic comedy. I'm sure the genre isn't dead, though, maybe just evolving.

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Bryan Russell/Ink
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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by Bryan Russell/Ink » December 2nd, 2010, 5:40 pm

Someone call Nancy Drew. She'll get to the bottom of this.
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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by HillaryJ » December 2nd, 2010, 8:48 pm

Bryan Russell/Ink wrote:Someone call Nancy Drew. She'll get to the bottom of this.
I think if the issue is with Chick Lit, you have to call Stephanie Plum.
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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by Mira » December 4th, 2010, 3:23 pm

Bryan Russell/Ink wrote:Someone call Nancy Drew. She'll get to the bottom of this.
Ha!

And I love Stephanie Plum! Great example of Chick Lit.

So, it sounds like the term has died, but the genre lives on? I didn't even know there was a women's fiction section in the bookstore. I am SO out of it. But now I feel very informed, so thank you guys!

I am, however, going to keep using the term Chick Lit, because....well, it's sort of wonderful. I like the way it rolls off my tongue. Chick Lit. They can frown at me all they want, I'm shall be practicing my Chick Lit freedom and smile warmly back at them.

Thanks again guys!

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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by Jessica Peter » December 9th, 2010, 11:19 pm

Yep, it looks like the term has died and so have the pink covers - so chick lit is harder to find, masquerading under the larger women's fiction banner. The only exception is for popular series' that are already running. They can keep their pink and their "chick lit" title!
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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by Quill » December 10th, 2010, 12:32 am

Dude Lit. Testoster-Lit. That's what I want to see. Hunting trips. War. Corporate takeovers. Red-plaid covers. Football and hot chicken wing motifs. The Man Cave Murders. Detective Street Racer stops the Bass Boat Dope Smugglers. Keg Party Lit. Yar.

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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by HillaryJ » December 10th, 2010, 2:07 am

Quill wrote:Dude Lit. Testoster-Lit. That's what I want to see. Hunting trips. War. Corporate takeovers. Red-plaid covers. Football and hot chicken wing motifs. The Man Cave Murders. Detective Street Racer stops the Bass Boat Dope Smugglers. Keg Party Lit. Yar.
I'm sorry, Quill. "Testoster-Lit" sounds like a disease, or at least an undesirable condition. :) Red-plaid covers, however, are hilarious.
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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by J. T. SHEA » December 10th, 2010, 3:49 pm

DETECTIVE STREET RACER STOPS THE BASS BOAT DOPE SMUGGLERS, Quill? Yaarrr indeed! I can hardly wait!

One thing, though. Dude lit? Chic lit refers to female poultry, so shouldn't man stuff be called Coc...Oh, wait...Rooster lit?

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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by Mira » December 10th, 2010, 6:14 pm

I'd say it was sad what happened to my lovely thread, except it wasn't lovely, it was more sort of mild to middling attractive. Besides, the whole thing strikes me as pretty nutty to begin with - to try to kill off a whole genre because......I still can't figure out why. It's all just......bizarre.

But I have faith. Chick Lit will rise from the ashes! It can not be kept down! The world can not abide such a tragedy! Chick Lit shall live again! Booyah!!

And Man literature is called....well, Literature. For anyone who was wondering when this would become about gender politics, well, there you are. Always willing to go there. Yep, good times. :)

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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by J. T. SHEA » December 10th, 2010, 6:46 pm

Yes, Mira. Chic lit SHALL arise from the ashes! Like a Phoenix!

Well, more like a chicken. Or some other kind of female bird. Female FIREPROOF bird.

Yes! Chic lit shall arise from the ashes like an asbestos chicken!

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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by HillaryJ » December 10th, 2010, 7:15 pm

Pretty sure that, if I saw an asbestos chicken rise from the ashes of anything, I wouldn't be that impressed. Just kind of like meh.
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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by rose » December 10th, 2010, 9:29 pm

Oh, dear. I'm not going there, JT. I was thinking Chicklets. I was ahem, just poking my nose in to give Quill props for the very same line:

Detecti
ve Street Racer stops the Bass Boat Dope Smugglers. Keg Party Lit. Yar.
Carry on, Mira. I see you may have some willing fodder stepping up to the plate. <g>

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Re: I just found out Chick Lit is dead?

Post by steve » December 11th, 2010, 1:44 pm

Good article in the Times about the success of chick romance ebooks; basically it posits the success is due to the fact that people are embarrassed to be seen with chick books and the ebook format removes that stigma.

My favorite chick lit books are THE RAINBOW and WOMEN IN LOVE by D.H. Lawrence.
Read one of the best stories by Borges.

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