FunkarBeats

All about SHE!

What is Chick-Lit? Sriranjini R tells us more about it and why should we read it.

Most fans of the romance genre have been through their fair share of Mills and Boons, Georgette Heyer, Nora Roberts and the Silhouette series but  I craved for something more- stories that mirror lives of real people and all it encompasses- I stumbled upon the genre known as chick-lit.

So what is chick-lit? It’s fiction written by women, for women and about women. It reflects the lives of modern women generally in their 20s or 30s and is dealing with studies, career, friendship, family, and of course, love issues. Inspired by celebrated author Jane Austen, chick-lit always depicts women trying to find their place in society.  

And how does it differ from regular literature? Well, it’s all in its tone of voice- which is witty, light hearted, fun, and shockingly candid and occasionally sassy. Some fine examples of this genre would be Helen Fielding's Bridjet Jones' Diary. Remember the movie?The book is even better. It actually gave birth to the genre. It's funny, irreverent and absolutely delightful. In The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisenberger breathes new life into the "boss from hell". This is another one popularized by a movie, but worth reading.

Arising as a regional variety of this genre is our very own Indian chick-lit. Advaita Kala's Almost Single has the distinction of being the first Indian chick-lit novel and Rajshree's Trust Me is credited as the biggest selling. The thing about chick-lit is that regardless of the kind of fictionalized story you are looking for, you usually find it- Want to read about a young woman gong to another country to study? There's at least one chick-lit book about that. Want to read about a woman who wants to lose weight, move to a new place, make new friends, and start life anew? Try a chick-lit book! These kinds of books explore a variety of issues ranging from dating and relationships to grieving over a dead family member; and everything in between that you can imagine.

So why does chick-lit take a lot of flak for being "fluffy, airy, stereotypical and demeaning"? Who knows? Whoever said this obviously doesn't know what they are talking about! Chick-lit is not path breaking literature, and nor does it claim to be. It doesn't stir up life-altering questions, but it does give you an almost accurate insight into the modern woman's mind. If nothing else, it's a great escape from the drudgery of daily life and might perhaps serve as a guide for men seeking to fathom the mind of a woman. Maybe they'll finally be able to figure us out!