--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For those who resist the notion that the…" description: "\"For those who resist the notion that the mainstream is a genre, we recommend that they browse the shelves of their local bookstore. For if the mainstre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/james-patrick-kelly-65871_adventure_for-those-who-resist-the-notion-that-the_1945951.png" --- # For those who resist the notion that the mainstream is a… ![“For those who resist the notion that the mainstream is a genre, we recommend that they browse the shelves of their local bookstore. For if the mainstream is not a genre, then it must necessarily embrace all kinds of writing: romance, adventure, horror, thriller, crime, and, yes, science fiction.” quote by James Patrick Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/james-patrick-kelly-65871_adventure_for-those-who-resist-the-notion-that-the_1945951.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/james-patrick-kelly-65871_adventure_for-those-who-resist-the-notion-that-the_1945951.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f72/james-patrick-kelly-65871_adventure_for-those-who-resist-the-notion-that-the_1945951.png) > “For those who resist the notion that the mainstream is a genre, we recommend that they browse the shelves of their local bookstore. For if the mainstream is not a genre, then it must necessarily embrace all kinds of writing: romance, adventure, horror, thriller, crime, and, yes, science fiction.” James Patrick Kelly ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that mainstream literature encompasses all genres, so dismissing it as a single genre ignores its diversity. **In simple terms:** Mainstream includes many genres. Key Takeaway Recognize the breadth of mainstream writing. Themes literature genre diversity reading culture Mood thoughtful analytical curious Type observational critical When to use this quote - bookstore browsing - reading recommendations - literary analysis - genre studies - library curation Key Concepts genre theory literary criticism inclusivity Questions to Reflect On - How does genre classification affect readers' choices? - What benefits arise from viewing mainstream as a genre? A Different Perspective The claim may overlook distinct market trends and audience expectations that shape genre identities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Bookstores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookstores/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) [Thrillers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrillers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The rom-com genre is not something that necessarily lights my jets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/the-rom-com-genre-is-not-something-that-necessarily-lights-my-jets/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [I see now that dismissing YA books because you're not a young adult is a little bit like refusing to watch thrillers on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-see-now-that-dismissing-ya-books-because-you-re-not-a-young-adult-2/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [I had some very, very fond memories of the people I worked with and the authors I worked with - and I won't mention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-had-some-very-very-fond-memories-of-the-people-i-worked-with-and/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [I love walking into a bookstore. It's like all my friends are sitting on shelves, waving their pages at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-love-walking-into-a-bookstore-it-s-like-all-my-friends-are-sitting/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [I'd never heard of the 'Lord of the Rings', actually. So I went to the bookstore and there it was, three shelves of books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/i-d-never-heard-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-actually-so-i-went-to-the/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [Here is a biblical and churchly spirituality so needed today as an alternative to the new age nostrums that crowd the mall bookstore shelves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-fackre/here-is-a-biblical-and-churchly-spirituality-so-needed-today-as-an/) [Gabriel Fackre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-fackre/) > [A civilization without retail bookstores is unimaginable. Like shrines and other sacred meeting places, bookstores are essential artifacts of human nature. The feel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-epstein/a-civilization-without-retail-bookstores-is-unimaginable-like-shrines/) [Jason Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-epstein/) > [Also, if nothing else, writing this book has really changed the way I experience bookstores. I have a whole different appreciation for the amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-james-garrett/also-if-nothing-else-writing-this-book-has-really-changed-the-way-i/) [Jesse James Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-james-garrett/) > [Books lined the shelves of bookstores like kids standing in a row to play baseball or soccer, and mine was the gangly, unathletic kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/books-lined-the-shelves-of-bookstores-like-kids-standing-in-a-row-to/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [My books are often shelved around those of Chinua Achebe and Margaret Atwood, or Chimamanda Adichie and Monica Ali. All of this depends, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-abani/my-books-are-often-shelved-around-those-of-chinua-achebe-and-margaret/) [Chris Abani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-abani/) > [The pursuit of happiness is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence as a right of all Americans, as well as on the self-improvement shelves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/the-pursuit-of-happiness-is-enshrined-in-the-declaration-of/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [If you want to know who the oppressed minorities in America are, simply look at who gets their own shelf in the bookstore. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armistead-maupin/if-you-want-to-know-who-the-oppressed-minorities-in-america-are/) [Armistead Maupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armistead-maupin/) > [Evangelical Christians and I can sit down and talk one on one about how much we love Jesus, and yet I'm not carried in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/evangelical-christians-and-i-can-sit-down-and-talk-one-on-one-about/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Intercourse is one thing, Intimacy is everything. Be encouraged”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-e-wagner/intercourse-is-one-thing-intimacy-is-everything-be-encouraged/) [Kerry E. Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-e-wagner/) > [A man in a bookstore buys a book on loneliness and every woman in the store hits on him. A woman buys a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/a-man-in-a-bookstore-buys-a-book-on-loneliness-and-every-woman-in-the/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## More by James Patrick Kelly > [“This your brain. This is your brain on Facebook. Any questions?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patrick-kelly/this-your-brain-this-is-your-brain-on-facebook-any-questions/) James Patrick Kelly > [Zachary Jernigan's short stories are in deep conversation with the history of the genre while maintaining a thoroughly modern sensibility. Here’s a new writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patrick-kelly/zachary-jernigan-s-short-stories-are-in-deep-conversation-with-the/) James Patrick Kelly > [“The walls are everywhere. Limits. You're not smart enough, not rich enough. You get tired. You die. Some people like to pretend they've broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patrick-kelly/the-walls-are-everywhere-limits-you-re-not-smart-enough-not-rich/) James Patrick Kelly Explore all 4 James Patrick Kelly quotes ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. 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