What's Up With the Novel (Reprised)?

article posted Jan 16, 07:01

An interesting discussion of the possibilities of the novel is to be found in this piece at the New York Times. Ranging from Bourdieu’s idea of “cultural capital” to somewhat more soft-focused notions of literature’s ability to foster a sense of connectedness and reduce the pangs of “existential isolation,” the essay asks some interesting, and basic, questions about what the place of literature is and is becoming. Of course, it doesn’t offer much in the way of answers… but one isn’t seeing many of them anywhere these days.

And it’s certainly more edifying than yet another screed on the wonders (or threats, or limitations, or field-leveling power…etc.) of new digital publishing platforms and e-readers.