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Perhaps the term is a bit offensive, but do you consider the Reel Sisters to be Chick Lit?

I think there's maybe a bit more going on in the narrative that opens up it's genre slightly, but it does hit all the chick lit tropes!

I'm a guy and I found it reasonably enjoyable anyway!

I tried to post a version of this question and the moderators totally blocked it! I even used more fancified words and asked if it could appeal to a broader audience of males because it centers around fly fishing...

So, I guess great minds thing alike!

CommMayo wrote: ↑22 Feb 2018, 09:43 I tried to post a version of this question and the moderators totally blocked it! I even used more fancified words and asked if it could appeal to a broader audience of males because it centers around fly fishing...

So, I guess great minds thing alike!

That's odd, because I thought this book would be good to spark some discussion on the topic of chick lit. On the surface it's very chick Lit, but it's not marketed like that!

I agree this book could be considered chick lit or the more modern term, "women's contemporary fiction." The main characters are a bunch of female friends and have girls-only get-togethers that are usually very light-hearted. I can see why an author might not want to market a book as chick lit since the genre is not usually taken seriously. Many readers look down on chick lit and don't want to read a book if it's labelled as such.

I don't think that the book is a chick lit because if the main characters were all guys there would not be an issue. I like that the book is delving into the lives of four young women. I agree that the book does hit many of those themes, but every book deals with some aspects of relationships.

bookowlie wrote: ↑23 Feb 2018, 14:48 I agree this book could be considered chick lit or the more modern term, "women's contemporary fiction." The main characters are a bunch of female friends and have girls-only get-togethers that are usually very light-hearted. I can see why an author might not want to market a book as chick lit since the genre is not usually taken seriously. Many readers look down on chick lit and don't want to read a book if it's labelled as such.

Great points, the two genres are viewed very differently. I think "women's contemporary fiction" is a good label for the story.

It is an interesting question. Just because the main characters in a book are male, we don't assume that only men will read it, so why do we make the opposite assumption with books about women? I guess we still have this idea that the default character is a male (probably white and straight, too).

Emma13 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 10:33 It is an interesting question. Just because the main characters in a book are male, we don't assume that only men will read it, so why do we make the opposite assumption with books about women? I guess we still have this idea that the default character is a male (probably white and straight, too).

Your comments are point on. At least in America, the default is white, Christian, and male. Any time a book or movie makes the focus other than that, it is labeled as other. Just look at how Wonder Woman and Black Panther have been received in the media. A chick movie and a black movie. Meanwhile, 90% of the feature films out there starring white men are just called movies.

Haha! That depends on to what length you call it a chick lit. For me, ya may be! Because the book was about four women and their time together so!

Emma13 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 10:33 It is an interesting question. Just because the main characters in a book are male, we don't assume that only men will read it, so why do we make the opposite assumption with books about women? I guess we still have this idea that the default character is a male (probably white and straight, too).

Good point!

bookowlie wrote: ↑23 Feb 2018, 14:48 I agree this book could be considered chick lit or the more modern term, "women's contemporary fiction." The main characters are a bunch of female friends and have girls-only get-togethers that are usually very light-hearted. I can see why an author might not want to market a book as chick lit since the genre is not usually taken seriously. Many readers look down on chick lit and don't want to read a book if it's labelled as such.

I personally can't stand the the chick lit concept. I think it's demeaning to women and makes it seem like women are not sophisticated enough to read serious subject matter. It makes me think of a fluffy beach read or a book that doesn't have too much of a plot or good writing.

bookowlie wrote: ↑24 Feb 2018, 23:27

bookowlie wrote: ↑23 Feb 2018, 14:48 I agree this book could be considered chick lit or the more modern term, "women's contemporary fiction." The main characters are a bunch of female friends and have girls-only get-togethers that are usually very light-hearted. I can see why an author might not want to market a book as chick lit since the genre is not usually taken seriously. Many readers look down on chick lit and don't want to read a book if it's labelled as such.

I personally can't stand the the chick lit concept. I think it's demeaning to women and makes it seem like women are not sophisticated enough to read serious subject matter. It makes me think of a fluffy beach read or a book that doesn't have too much of a plot or good writing.

People use "chick lit" but no one uses "dude lit" or anything similar for novels by people like Tom Clancy. It's a term specifically made to belittle any book that happens to focus on the lives of women, just like "chick flick" in films.

I am neutral to the question. I feel like anyone can relate and that it depends on the mindset of the reader.

DustinPBrown, I totally agree. There is no label for fiction that has male characters or focuses on topics men might be more interested in. The chick lit label makes me feel like the publishing industry looks down on books that feature women that don't fit into a specific genre such as mystery or sci-fi.

Well...that's a tricky one. I guess by defining the book as chick lit, we may be limiting the possibilities of the book.The danger of calling the book a chic lit lies in the fact that, the book at once, is implicitly recommended for only a female reading audience. However, when we look at themes raised by the book :

• Living in close communion with Nature, helping an individual to reinvent, rediscover and rejuvenate themselves.

• The Lessons of fish flying becoming life lessons to be learnt with patience, practiced with perseverance, and adapted to the changing currents of life.

• The need for gender neutrality and unlearning of gender stereotypes, all appeal to humanity in general.

The loss of a child , conflict with parents , juggling family and work are problems faced by many individuals ( irrespective of male or female ) in the modern world.