Book Quote by Karen Russell
“Much of the way books get classified has to do with marketing decisions. I think it's more useful to think of literary books and sci-fi/fantasy books as existing on a continuum. To oppose them, to suggest that one category excludes the other, always feels bogus to me. The great Leonard Michaels line is "I wanted proximity to darkness, strangeness"? That's what I'd say I want from a book, regardless of where it falls on the fantastical spectrum - that suspense connected to a particular human character, rather than just some mechanized plot.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2022
Literary and genre categories are fluid; marketing creates artificial borders, but readers seek emotional depth and character connection regardless of label.
In simple terms: Books blend genres; focus on character and tension.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize story resonance over strict genre labels.
Themes
genre fluidity
marketing
character focus
emotional depth
literary vs genre
Mood
curious
reflective
analytical
Type
observational
critical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- book recommendations
- reading groups
- author talks
- library curation
Key Concepts
continuum
suspense
human connection
marketing influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does marketing shape your reading choices?
- Can a book be both literary and genre?
A Different Perspective
Genre labels can limit discovery and pigeonhole works.
