By Slanted Light

So maybe literature has to make us think about something new or in a new light? And a typical whodunnit rarely does that though there are some that do. And some run-of-the-mill stories can include good writing - maybe some nice descriptions or whatever and well structured plot without adding anything much to the world or asking to be re-read. Not sure at all about this... But I think really good writing makes us stop and think in one way or another.

I agree about the boxes - but critics do put work in boxes, and so do the publishing houses and the bookstores. So for example, sci fi was treated as 'genre' after a surfeit of what the publishers called 'pulp fiction' which was designed (by them, not the authors) to be read and thrown away, a bit like a magazine. Then along comes someone like Margaret Atwood with The Handmaid's Tale, and then Oryx and Crake shortlisted for the Booker, and she gets exemption because she's a 'respected' author. I personally read 'books' but I'm all too well aware of the boxes people apply. I'm busy writing a series of fantasy detective stories and am angsting about whether to label them YA or not - what effect that will have on marketing. And I have done beta work for friends who have similar 'problems'.

And you have been put off the particular m/m romance genre because of some bad experiences but I would say I've had similar experiences in every genre. And some delightful surprises, too.

Yes, I'd agree that a case can be made for Larton as literature and mainly because not only is it well written but it bears re-reading to get new insights out of it. And different settings can be as trivial as 'Cowley is going to ask the lads to take over' or as extreme as sci fi. I just don't often, personally, get much from stories that are simply following canon episodes and giving us extra thoughts or off scene action etc. They can be pleasant to read but not very memorable. Larton is definitely memorable! But I'm sure some readers could make a case for some episode fic! Every book or fic needs to be rated individually by the reader...

I'm enjoying thinking about this but I doubt if there's a full answer waiting anywhere in the wings...!!