Hello Loebandco,
My search returned the following results for facts, information,
background, articles, insights and details on the Chic-lit trend.
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Definition
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Noun - A literary genre that features books written by women and
focusing on young, quirky, female protagonists.
Earliest Citation:
“Anyway, I still adore his writing, and he's still my hero, but I'm
really very sad to see Wolcott decrying postfem chick lit as mere
"popularity-contest coquetry." (I think he's jealous.) He doesn't even
like Cynthia Heimel or Julie Burchill, from what I can tell.
—Vicki Hengen, "Pictures perfect; rock gems; chick lit," The Boston
Globe, May 22, 1996
Word Spy
http://www.wordspy.com/words/chicklit.asp
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What Is Chick Lit?
==================
The success of the book, “Bridget Jones’ Diary” launched a new genre
of writing called Chick Lit. Chick Lit refers to modern literature for
women - that is written about late twenty and thirty something
singles.
“Chick Lit is very different from the standard romance novels that
were made famous by writers like Barbara Cartland. These books, for
the most part (there are always exceptions), reflect the lives of
everyday working young women & men. Chick Lit or Chic Fic (as it is
sometimes called) gives fresh insight into relationships and a
humorous account into the way women deal with them.”
http://www.chicklit.us/whatiscl.htm
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“Chick Lit focuses on twentysomething and thirtysomething women who
are dealing with that time in life when a woman looks for the perfect
guy, apartment, job or, yes, shoe. Along the way these women question
everything from the way they were raised to the the quality of their
lives. The characters typically are either self-deprecating or overly
analytical. At it’s best the writing is witty, bold and slightly
irreverent.”
Book Reporter
http://www.bookreporter.com/features/chicklit.asp
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“Literature that represents the twenty/thirty something lives of women
and sometimes men (Lad Lit). These women are here, looking for a
better job, a better man, anything other than what they’ve got; there
are men to die for and men you wish would drop dead, preferably in
agony.”
Chick Lit USA
http://www.chicklit.us/main.htm
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“The term "chick lit", with its post-feminist use of the word "chick"
and its sing-song almost-rhyme, originated as a way of describing
young women's fiction of any sort. Now it specifically means a "fun",
pastel-covered novel with a young, female, city-based protagonist, who
has a kooky best friend, an evil boss, romantic troubles and a desire
to find The One – the apparently unavailable man who is good-looking,
can cook and is both passionate and considerate in bed. That many of
these novels explicitly make reference to Bridget Jones's Diary (which
had all these elements) shows how powerful one genre-inspiring novel
can be.”
Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/features/story.jsp?story=321729
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Here is a short excerpt from Diane Goodman’s article “What is
chick-lit?”
“Chick-Lit is hip, stylish, confident and sharp - it's also honest and
very brave. It battles and conquers the term Chick; it explores,
explains, sometimes gives into and sometimes blows away the notion of
a chicklet, trapped by birth to imprint its parents; it is sexual and
sensual in dear or savage or shocking ways. And it proves itself
structurally, lyrically, and formally as lit-erature.”
http://www.altx.com/ebr/ebr3/diane.htm
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Trends and Background
=====================
Tanya Barrientos writes about Chick-Lit trend in a recent article in
the Ledger-Enquirer
“Chick Lit is a literary genre that has been demanding attention for
about four years. It began when Bridget Jones's Diary landed on
American shores in 1998, and was quickly followed here by The Girls'
Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank, The Nanny Diaries by
Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, and Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner.”
(..)
“Separated from more traditional literary women's fiction by both
subject matter and tone, Chick Lit is described by editors as fiction
about sassy, single women with healthy sex lives and even healthier
self-esteem.”
(..)
"It's not a fad," said Louise Burke, executive vice president of
Pocket Books. "It's basically an evolution of the romance genre.
Jackie Collins and Danielle Steele were probably on the cutting edge
of this trend years ago, presenting strong women who made it on their
own.”
(..)
“Many literary purists are critical of the Chick Lit trend. They call
it snack-food literature, and say the plotlines are hopelessly shallow
and even anti-feminist.”
(..)
“American booksellers say Chick Lit accounts for a substantial
percentage of overall sales in fiction (though they won't give out
specific sales figures). And despite the proliferation of titles, they
don't see the market softening any time soon.”
Ledger-Enquirer: May 2003
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/entertainment/5960564.htm
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Chick Lit Inc. by Alyson Ward
"Chick lit,” the shorthand term for breezy novels written by and about
young women, has been a prominent, sometimes dominant part of
publishing since the mid-'90s. The books are described as "perky,"
"witty" and "playful romps" -- and they have been romping up the
bestseller charts on a routine basis.”
(..)
“The `Philadelphia Inquirer' announced that the "sassy, kicky" genre
is still the "hottest trend in publishing."
Elizabeth Bewley, assistant editor at St. Martin's Press states that
Chick-lit sales are doing well.
“From the sales numbers, it's doing really well, (..) These books are
selling really strongly, in a book market that is kind of dragging at
the moment."
“Pocket Books started up Downtown Press this spring, with a
shopping-bag logo and a list of chick-friendly titles, including Cara
Lockwood's `I Do (But I Don't)' and Elise Juska's `Getting Over Jack
Wagner.”
(..)
“In late 2001, Harlequin emerged with Red Dress Ink, a subsidiary
designed to attract young women who aren't reading romance novels.”
(..)
“Harlem Moon, a Random House imprint, is publishing a handful of
chick-lit novels that feature African-American protagonists.”
Trends show that chick lit is beginning to go in new directions:
Chick lit mysteries:
“Sarah Strohmeyer has written a series of books about an investigative
journalist/sleuth named Bubbles Yablonsky.”
Chick lit nonfiction:
“The Go-Girl Guide”, “How to Pee Standing Up” and “Cooking for Mr.
Latte.”
Chick lit for young adults:
“The Louise Rennison series that started in 2000 with “Angus, Thongs
and Full-Frontal Snogging.”
Chick lit about older women:
“Jeanne Ray, for example, writes chick-lit romances -- such as
`Step-Ball-Change' and `Eat Cake' -- that feature women in their 50s
and 60s. They're calling it "lady lit.”
Mommy lit:
“In the past couple of years, some of the most popular chick-lit
titles have featured the adventures of women with children. Allison
Pearson's `I Don't Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy,
Working Mother' was a bestseller in both Britain and America.”
`Babyville,' a new offering from chick lit favorite Jane Green, is
making its way up the sales charts. Books of this ilk are doing for
mothers, critics say, what chick lit has done for single women: They
are helping women connect by exposing the secret insecurities and
absurdities of motherhood.”
Star-Telegram: July 2003
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/entertainment/books/6397052.htm
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/entertainment/books/6531249.htm
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Authors Novels Interviews and Newsletters
=========================================
Librarian’s Choice of Chick-Lit Novels
Scottsdale Public Library
http://library.scottsdaleaz.gov/adult/chick-lit.htm
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Here are some of the best known titles:
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - Laura Zigman
APOCALIPSTICK - Sue Margolis
THE BACHELOR - Carly Phillips
BOOKENDS - Jane Green
THE BOY NEXT DOOR - Meg Cabot
BRIDGET JONES' DIARY - Helen Fielding
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA - Lauren Weisberger
DIARY OF A MAD BRIDE - Laura Wolf
FOR BETTER FOR WORSE - Carole Matthews
GIRLS GUIDE TO HUNTING AND FISHING - Melissa Bank
GOSSIP GIRL - Cecily von Zeigesar
GOOD IN BED - Jennifer Weiner
THE NANNY DIARIES - Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND JASMIN FIELD - Melissa Nathan
THE QUALITY OF LIFE REPORT - Meghan Daum
RUN CATCH KISS - Amy Sohn
SEX AND THE CITY - Candace Bushnell
SHOPAHOLIC TIES THE KNOT - Sophie Kinsella
Bookreporter
http://www.bookreporter.com/features/chicklit.asp
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Here is a selected list of American and British chick-lit authors,
compiled by librarians of the Literature and Language Division
of the Harold Washington Library Center.
Chicago Public Library
http://www.chipublib.org/001hwlc/litlists/chicklit.html
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Chicklit's Authors
http://www.chicklit.co.uk/authors.asp
Chicklit's Interviews
http://www.chicklit.co.uk/interviews.asp
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Newsletter:
To keep in touch with the latest chicklit news and gossip, you may
sign up for a newsletter by sending an email to news@chicklit.co.uk.
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Articles and Opinions
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What women want by Joanne Hawkins
“Although publishers and booksellers keep sales figures under wraps,
there are signs the genre is changing as the criticism and reader
fatigue starts to bite.”
Lisa Highton, publishing director of Hodder Headline Australia states:
"All publishing phenomena have to evolve or they die. The market tells
you this – if you are a fan and have read six books and the seventh
gives you nothing different, you are going to move on to something
else."
Queensland Newspapers: June 2003
http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,6662737,00.html
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Chick Lit to Smith Lit by Jennie Bristow
http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/000000005474.htm
Chick lit has its place. But why can't women's books be taken
seriously? By Amanda Platell
The Observer: May 2003
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,958147,00.html
For better or worse, a new genre has emerged strictly for the girls
by Caralyn Green
The Collegian
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2002/01/01-18-02tdc/01-18-02darts-04.asp
Novelist says Bridget Jones genre is just a lot of froth
John Ezard
The Guardian
http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/generalfiction/story/0,6000,541954,00.html
Booksellers say "Chick Lit" presently accounts for huge sales of
fiction in the U.S., and they hope the market doesn’t slow down.
http://williamsport-pa.com/articles/p030617v2.htm
Bridget Jones Settles Down but Romance Isn't Dead
By Joanne Russell
http://www.bookbitch.com/2002_05_01_blogarchive.htm
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Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga |
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