--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Popular fiction's a strong and viable…" description: "\"“Popular fiction's a strong and viable force in literature. That's why it's popular.”\" — Nora Roberts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/nora-roberts-128_books_popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-fo_3090570.jpg" --- # Popular fiction's a strong and viable force in literature… ![“Popular fiction's a strong and viable force in literature. That's why it's popular.” quote by Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/nora-roberts-128_books_popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-fo_3090570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/nora-roberts-128_books_popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-fo_3090570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/nora-roberts-128_books_popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-fo_3090570.jpg) > ““Popular fiction's a strong and viable force in literature. That's why it's popular.”” [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Popular fiction holds significant literary value and broad appeal, making it a legitimate genre. **In simple terms:** Popular fiction is both valuable and widely read. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect genre diversity. Themes literature genre culture Mood appreciative thoughtful Type observational analytical When to use this quote - book clubs - library collections - publishing decisions - reading recommendations Key Concepts popular fiction literary merit mass appeal Questions to Reflect On - How does popular appeal affect literary criticism? - What defines 'viable' in literature? A Different Perspective May overlook literary depth in favor of marketability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I think the 'New York Times' reviews overall tend to overlook popular fiction, whether you're a man, woman, white, black, purple or pink. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-think-the-new-york-times-reviews-overall-tend-to-overlook-popular-2/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [And all over the world, the old literature, the popular literature, is the same. It consists of very dignified sorrow and very undignified fun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/and-all-over-the-world-the-old-literature-the-popular-literature-is/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“All literature and popular art contain themes that resonate with the audience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lambert/all-literature-and-popular-art-contain-themes-that-resonate-with-the/) Daniel Lambert > [“Thus, although life is by and large unthrilling, when we do find ourselves in the sort of situation upon which thrillers dote we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gruber/thus-although-life-is-by-and-large-unthrilling-when-we-do-find/) [Michael Gruber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gruber/) > [I didn't have the great American novel burning inside me, but I felt I could try my hand at popular fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-cussler/i-didn-t-have-the-great-american-novel-burning-inside-me-but-i-felt-i/) [Clive Cussler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-cussler/) > [Kane and Abel' is the best popular fiction of all time. As a kid, I wanted to be prime minister when I read 'First…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-mensch/kane-and-abel-is-the-best-popular-fiction-of-all-time-as-a-kid-i/) [Louise Mensch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-mensch/) > [You know, you can be really quite subversive in popular fiction, which is capable of taking on big issues of politics, war, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/you-know-you-can-be-really-quite-subversive-in-popular-fiction-which/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“literary fiction is fiction that examines the character of the people involved in the story, and that popular fiction is driven by plot. Whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-lott/literary-fiction-is-fiction-that-examines-the-character-of-the-people/) [Bret Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-lott/) > [I learned that lesson a long time ago. When you write popular fiction, you're going to get bashed by critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/i-learned-that-lesson-a-long-time-ago-when-you-write-popular-fiction/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [I had been very dismissive of popular fiction - in fact, I'd refused to read it. And then I started working on popular fiction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pavone/i-had-been-very-dismissive-of-popular-fiction-in-fact-i-d-refused-to/) [Chris Pavone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pavone/) > [I keep losing and regaining my equilibrium, which is the basic plot of all popular fiction. And I myself am a work of fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-keep-losing-and-regaining-my-equilibrium-which-is-the-basic-plot-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I struggle with the fact that men's popular fiction is talked about differently. Books like mine don't get as many reviews and probably won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/i-struggle-with-the-fact-that-men-s-popular-fiction-is-talked-about/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [I think the 'New York Times' reviews overall tend to overlook popular fiction, whether you're a man, woman, white, black, purple or pink. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-think-the-new-york-times-reviews-overall-tend-to-overlook-popular/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [With the possible exception of steampunk aficionados, many reasonable people must view my fascination with Victorian and Edwardian popular fiction - mysteries, fantasy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/with-the-possible-exception-of-steampunk-aficionados-many-reasonable/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [The same authorities who insist upon beginnings, middles, and ends, declare that Great Literature (by which they mean the stories they have been taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/the-same-authorities-who-insist-upon-beginnings-middles-and-ends/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) ## More by Nora Roberts > [“Why stop now? Seduce me, Brian.I dare you." "I've always found it hard to turn aside a dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/why-stop-now-seduce-me-brian-i-dare-you-i-ve-always-found-it-hard-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Flowers that had bloomed brilliant from spring through autumn blackened under the killing frost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/flowers-that-had-bloomed-brilliant-from-spring-through-autumn/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“He's back in Maine now.She did say he badgered her with questions. Of course, she didn't have the answer until she spoke to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/he-s-back-in-maine-now-she-did-say-he-badgered-her-with-questions-of/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Every professor worth his PhD should have a fireplace in his study.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/every-professor-worth-his-phd-should-have-a-fireplace-in-his-study/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Sorry, bad wing." When Theo kissed him, surprise and pleasure flustered him. He couldn't remember the last time this boy, this young man, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/sorry-bad-wing-when-theo-kissed-him-surprise-and-pleasure-flustered/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Because it's hard not to matter, even to someone you dislike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/because-it-s-hard-not-to-matter-even-to-someone-you-dislike/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“No point in wishing for what you can't have. - Blair What's the point in wishing for what you can and do? - Larken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/no-point-in-wishing-for-what-you-can-t-have-blair-what-s-the-point-in/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I've wanted to be with you when I didn't have the right to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ve-wanted-to-be-with-you-when-i-didn-t-have-the-right-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't write well what you don't read for pleasure. If it doesn't entertain you, it's not going to entertain anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-write-well-what-you-don-t-read-for-pleasure-if-it-doesn-t/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't edit a blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-edit-a-blank-page/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“There was a boy down at the stables." She laughed suddenly with her back comfortably nestled against Grant's chest. "Oh,Lord,he was a bit like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/there-was-a-boy-down-at-the-stables-she-laughed-suddenly-with-her/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Some people refuse to take the next step. You could refuse to take what you wanted most, because you're afraid someday you might lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/some-people-refuse-to-take-the-next-step-you-could-refuse-to-take/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Oh, i'm going to kick his ass, and when i'm done, i'm going to squeeze his balls blue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/oh-i-m-going-to-kick-his-ass-and-when-i-m-done-i-m-going-to-squeeze/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) [Explore all 1,138 Nora Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Popular fiction's a strong and viable force in literature. That's why it's popular.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nora Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-force-in-literature-that-s-why/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-force-in-literature-that-s-why/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/nora-roberts-128_books_popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-fo_3090570.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/nora-roberts-128_books_popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-fo_3090570.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/nora-roberts-128_books_popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-fo_3090570.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Popular fiction's a strong and viable force in literature. That's why it's popular.” — Nora Roberts", "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": "Nora Roberts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Popular fiction's a strong and viable...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-force-in-literature-that-s-why/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/popular-fiction-s-a-strong-and-viable-force-in-literature-that-s-why/#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 } } ] } ```