[I]n adult literary fiction, stories are there on…
![“[I]n adult literary fiction, stories are there on sufferance. Other things are felt to be more important: technique, style, literary knowingness. Adult readers who do deal in straightforward stories find themselves sidelined into a genre such as crime or science fiction, where no one expects…” quote by Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/7a7/philip-pullman-525_books_i-n-adult-literary-fiction-stories-are-t_1804165.jpg)
““[I]n adult literary fiction, stories are there on sufferance. Other things are felt to be more important: technique, style, literary knowingness. Adult readers who do deal in straightforward stories find themselves sidelined into a genre such as crime or science fiction, where no one expects literary craftsmanship. But stories are vital. Stories never fail us, because, as Isaac Bashevis Singer says, "events never grow stale." There's more wisdom in a story than in volumes of philosophy. [Contemporary writers, however,] take up their stories as with a pair of tongs. They're embarrassed by them. If they could write novels without stories in them, they would. Sometimes they do.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Literary fiction often sacrifices story for technique, but stories hold essential wisdom and vitality.
In simple terms: Stories matter more than style alone.
Key Takeaway
Value narrative substance over form.
Themes
literature
storytelling
craft
culture
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- teaching
- reading
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
narrative importance
artistic integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do readers favor stories over abstract ideas?
- How can writers balance craft with narrative?
A Different Perspective
Emphasizing story may limit experimental forms.