--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in…" description: "\"The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in a bizarre way. It’s perceived as an accolade to be published as a ‘literary’ writer, but, actually, it’s pomp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/neil-cross-23838_accolades_the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-i_1227220.png" --- # The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in a bizarre way… ![“The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in a bizarre way. It’s perceived as an accolade to be published as a ‘literary’ writer, but, actually, it’s pompous and it’s fake. Literary fiction is often nothing more than a genre in itself. I’d always read omnivorously and often thought much literary…” quote by Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/neil-cross-23838_accolades_the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-i_1227220.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/neil-cross-23838_accolades_the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-i_1227220.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/neil-cross-23838_accolades_the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-i_1227220.png) > “The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in a bizarre way. It’s perceived as an accolade to be published as a ‘literary’ writer, but, actually, it’s pompous and it’s fake. Literary fiction is often nothing more than a genre in itself. I’d always read omnivorously and often thought much literary fiction is read by young men and women in their 20s, as substitutes for experience.” [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques the literary fiction label as pretentious, viewing it as a genre that often substitutes for real experience, especially among young adults. **In simple terms:** Literary fiction can be seen as pretentious and a substitute for experience. Key Takeaway Question the value of literary labels. Themes critique authenticity genre perception Mood skeptical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - reading groups - publishing decisions - creative writing workshops Key Concepts literary fiction genre criticism authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - Why do we value literary prestige? - Can genre labels limit readership? A Different Perspective May overlook merit of genuine literary works. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accolades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accolades/) [Bizarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bizarre/) [Booker Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/booker-thing-3780971/) [Catalyst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catalyst/) [Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake/) [Fake Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake-literary-3780970/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary/) [Literary fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-fiction/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Pompous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pompous/) [Substitutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substitutes/) [Thought Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-literary-2454971/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [It's perceived as an accolade to be published as a 'literary' writer, but, actually, it's pompous and it's fake. Literary fiction is often nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-published-as-a-literary-writer/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I'd always read omnivorously and often thought much literary fiction is read by young men and women in their 20s as substitutes for experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-d-always-read-omnivorously-and-often-thought-much-literary-fiction/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [If I could have made the change sooner I daresay I should never have given a thought to the literary delights of Paris or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/if-i-could-have-made-the-change-sooner-i-daresay-i-should-never-have/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Individual accolades are gonna take care of themselves when we put the work in as a team.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/individual-accolades-are-gonna-take-care-of-themselves-when-we-put/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I don't sense that I am someone's hero, though I'm happy when people like my work. I've learned how to be gracious about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-sense-that-i-am-someone-s-hero-though-i-m-happy-when-people/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Everybody wants to be a critic: a critic without the actual accolades to be a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/everybody-wants-to-be-a-critic-a-critic-without-the-actual-accolades/) [Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/) > [I don't worry about starting. I'm not worried about accolades or things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-don-t-worry-about-starting-i-m-not-worried-about-accolades-or/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [Aldo's game. You don't get those accolades that he's achieved, the accomplishments that he's achieved without being one of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-garbrandt/aldo-s-game-you-don-t-get-those-accolades-that-he-s-achieved-the/) [Cody Garbrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-garbrandt/) > [I don't even really know what it is I do for a living - the level of insecurity is very, very high. You're making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/i-don-t-even-really-know-what-it-is-i-do-for-a-living-the-level-of/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [What matters is that you enjoy doing something creative. And I'm more and more seeing that as the key. That success and money or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lucas/what-matters-is-that-you-enjoy-doing-something-creative-and-i-m-more/) [Josh Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lucas/) > [I was national amateur champion. I was 24 years old. My father was there, and I couldn't wait to see him, and my mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-was-national-amateur-champion-i-was-24-years-old-my-father-was/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [Accolades and lists may tell us about accomplishments, but life is meant to be experienced, not just accomplished. It's like the difference between reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/accolades-and-lists-may-tell-us-about-accomplishments-but-life-is/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [I've had a lot of accolades throughout my career, but that hasn't really changed me. I know that comes with the winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-accolades-throughout-my-career-but-that-hasn-t/) [Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/) > [If I were to go the major route, again, attention would probably be the first and foremost. You want attention, you want support, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/if-i-were-to-go-the-major-route-again-attention-would-probably-be-the/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) ## More by Neil Cross > [I'd always read omnivorously and often thought much literary fiction is read by young men and women in their 20s as substitutes for experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-d-always-read-omnivorously-and-often-thought-much-literary-fiction/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [People often express surprise that I'm not a psychopath. But it's not about what I want to do to other people, it's that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/people-often-express-surprise-that-i-m-not-a-psychopath-but-it-s-not/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I don't want to repeat myself. I hate the idea of coasting and of recycling the same ideas. Then, you're just subject to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-don-t-want-to-repeat-myself-i-hate-the-idea-of-coasting-and-of/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [And by the right thing, I mean that whatever step we take next, the first criteria we should consider is the people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/and-by-the-right-thing-i-mean-that-whatever-step-we-take-next-the/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I am very interested in theology. In fact, my first degree was in theology, so it's something that interests me greatly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-am-very-interested-in-theology-in-fact-my-first-degree-was-in/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [“Okay then. That's what I'll do. I'll tell you a story. Can you hear them? All these people who lived in terror of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/okay-then-that-s-what-i-ll-do-i-ll-tell-you-a-story-can-you-hear-them/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [It's perceived as an accolade to be published as a 'literary' writer, but, actually, it's pompous and it's fake. Literary fiction is often nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/it-s-perceived-as-an-accolade-to-be-published-as-a-literary-writer/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I don't get on with novelists, don't enjoy their company. Once you've worked for a publisher, you understand the species, see them in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-don-t-get-on-with-novelists-don-t-enjoy-their-company-once-you-ve/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [The thematic bucket of vomit that I've been chained to since I was about 9 is the moral complexity of anti-heroism. I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-thematic-bucket-of-vomit-that-i-ve-been-chained-to-since-i-was/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [I love to see heroes who fuel some kind of moral furnace inside them, who are driven to take on the evils of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-love-to-see-heroes-who-fuel-some-kind-of-moral-furnace-inside-them/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [The fictional character with whom I most profoundly identified was Yossarian in Catch-22. Always did, still do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-fictional-character-with-whom-i-most-profoundly-identified-was/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [Because this exact leaf had to grow in that exact way, in that exact place, so that precise wind could tear it from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/because-this-exact-leaf-had-to-grow-in-that-exact-way-in-that-exact/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [Writing a novel is an intense and lonely business, but you have the reward at the end of a very direct dialogue between you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/writing-a-novel-is-an-intense-and-lonely-business-but-you-have-the/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > ['Luther' is absolutely a monster-of-the-week show. Although it's post-watershed and is rendered in intense graphic novel-style images, it's inspiration is not that different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/luther-is-absolutely-a-monster-of-the-week-show-although-it-s-post/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) > [“I have lived a long life, and I have seen a few things. I walked away from the Last Great Time War. I marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/i-have-lived-a-long-life-and-i-have-seen-a-few-things-i-walked-away/) [Neil Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) [Explore all 25 Neil Cross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/) ## More Accolades quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I don't sense that I am someone's hero, though I'm happy when people like my work. I've learned how to be gracious about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-sense-that-i-am-someone-s-hero-though-i-m-happy-when-people/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I was national amateur champion. I was 24 years old. My father was there, and I couldn't wait to see him, and my mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-was-national-amateur-champion-i-was-24-years-old-my-father-was/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [Individual accolades are gonna take care of themselves when we put the work in as a team.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/individual-accolades-are-gonna-take-care-of-themselves-when-we-put/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [If I were to go the major route, again, attention would probably be the first and foremost. You want attention, you want support, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/if-i-were-to-go-the-major-route-again-attention-would-probably-be-the/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [I've had a lot of accolades throughout my career, but that hasn't really changed me. I know that comes with the winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-accolades-throughout-my-career-but-that-hasn-t/) [Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/) > [Accolades and lists may tell us about accomplishments, but life is meant to be experienced, not just accomplished. It's like the difference between reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/accolades-and-lists-may-tell-us-about-accomplishments-but-life-is/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [What matters is that you enjoy doing something creative. And I'm more and more seeing that as the key. That success and money or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lucas/what-matters-is-that-you-enjoy-doing-something-creative-and-i-m-more/) [Josh Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lucas/) > [I don't even really know what it is I do for a living - the level of insecurity is very, very high. You're making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/i-don-t-even-really-know-what-it-is-i-do-for-a-living-the-level-of/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [Aldo's game. You don't get those accolades that he's achieved, the accomplishments that he's achieved without being one of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-garbrandt/aldo-s-game-you-don-t-get-those-accolades-that-he-s-achieved-the/) [Cody Garbrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-garbrandt/) > [I don't worry about starting. I'm not worried about accolades or things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-don-t-worry-about-starting-i-m-not-worried-about-accolades-or/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [Everybody wants to be a critic: a critic without the actual accolades to be a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/everybody-wants-to-be-a-critic-a-critic-without-the-actual-accolades/) [Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/) > [I'm happy to be getting accolades for my role in 'Endrendrum Punnagai;' I'm getting powerful roles and would star glamourously if the script demanded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jeremiah/i-m-happy-to-be-getting-accolades-for-my-role-in-endrendrum-punnagai/) [Andrea Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jeremiah/) > [The more I help out, the more successful I become. But I measure success in what it has done for the people around me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/the-more-i-help-out-the-more-successful-i-become-but-i-measure/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [If you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/if-you-think-and-achieve-as-a-team-the-individual-accolades-will-take/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) [Browse all 132 Accolades quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accolades/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in a bizarre way. It’s perceived as an accolade to be published as a ‘literary’ writer, but, actually, it’s pompous and it’s fake. Literary fiction is often nothing more than a genre in itself. I’d always read omnivorously and often thought much literary fiction is read by young men and women in their 20s, as substitutes for experience.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Cross" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-in-a-bizarre-way-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accolades" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-in-a-bizarre-way-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/neil-cross-23838_accolades_the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-i_1227220.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/neil-cross-23838_accolades_the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-i_1227220.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/neil-cross-23838_accolades_the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-i_1227220.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Booker thing was a catalyst for me in a bizarre way. It’s perceived as an accolade to be published as a…” — Neil Cross", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Neil Cross", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-cross/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Booker thing was a catalyst...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-in-a-bizarre-way-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-cross/the-booker-thing-was-a-catalyst-for-me-in-a-bizarre-way-it-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```