The Iron Law of "Novels"

[Qwertyasdfg]

If a book has the words "A Novel" on it under the title, it should be interpreted as "A Piece of Shit." I mean, if they have to tell you its a novel, I don't think its worth reading. Am I right?

[ndorward]

I'm not sure why should one blame the author for what is usually the publisher's decision. This isn't so far from "judging a book by its cover".

[saepiroth]

it has been disproved, read "the last samurai: a novel". it is a very nice book, in my opinion.

[Ukulele Ike]

Not necessarily. Sometimes the Marketing Department at a publisher wants to differentiate between an author's new work and his previous stuff.

Say, Agatha Christie wanted to try her hand at literary fiction...her new book, O, THE GREEN MOUNTAINS shouldn't be mistaken for the latest Miss Marple whodunit. So you stick "A novel" after the title, instead of "A Jane Marple Murder Mystery."

Also, some novels have titles like A HANDBOOK OF AIR CONDITIONER REPAIR. So "A novel" helps to clear up possible misunderstanding.


-- Uke, the book publishing guy