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Article: One man's trash is another man's ... well, you know.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- June 15, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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First let us ponder the meaning of the term "trashy novel." I have recently come to discover that my definition of trash and that of most of the rest of the English-speaking world are hopelessly at odds.
First, mine.
To me, labeling a novel trash is not a pejorative thing. "Trash" is merely a book that falls short, sometimes just short, of literature. In my simple mind, a book is either one thing or the other. Literature typically calls our attention to the human condition. Trash allows us to escape it. Literature typically requires a quiet room and concentration. Trash can be consumed while simultaneously watching "The Practice." Great literature ...