To the Best of Our Knowledge

PROMO       4/13/2008         "Genre Busters"
*Michael Chabon's a pretty successful writer of literary fiction.  As
far as he's concerned, literary fiction is just another genre, with its
own set of conventions.  In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge,
we get into the fight over genre fiction.  Agatha Christie's grandson
says the creator of Poirot and Miss Marple was primarily interested in
entertaining her readers.  Critic Michael Dirda says that's why we read
  purely for pleasure.  And Richard Price talks about his best-selling
novel "Lush Life" and why no one will ever mistake it for genre fiction.

PROGRAM RUNDOWN:   "Genre Busters"

0:01 - 24:09        SEGMENT 1: (24:10)
            Philip Marlowe reminds us of his style, then Judith
            Freeman, author of "The Long Embrace: Raymond Chandler
            and the Woman He Loved" talks with Anne Strainchamps
            about Cissy Chandler who was 18 years older than her
            husband, which he may or may not have ever known. They
            also talk about Chandler's conflicted sexuality. Also,
            Michael Chabon defends the position that genre fiction is
            just as worthy of respect as any other fiction. He says a
            writer like Ursula Le Guinn is a genius even if she does
            write science fiction. Chabon's latest book is "The
            Yiddish Policemen's Union" and he reads an excerpt.  
                    
            Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

24:10 - 24:39  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

24:40 - 43:56       SEGMENT 2: (17:17)
            Michael Dirda won the Pulitzer Prize for his literary
            criticism in the Washington Post Book World.  Among is
            collections of essays is Classics for Pleasure.  Dirda
            tells Anne Strainchamps that ultimately, we read for
            pleasure. He says classics are books that merit repeated
            re-reading, regardless of genre.  Also, M.C. Beaton
            writes mysteries under a variety of pen names. Matthew
            Prichard is Agatha Christie's grandson.  They join Jim
            Fleming for a rollicking conversation on the joys of the
            English "cosy," and the quality of Christie's plotting.
                    
            Segment Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

43:57 - 44:26       LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

44:27 - 53:00       SEGMENT 3: (10:34)
            Richard Price has a hit with his novel "Lush Life."  It's
            a crime story, but Price says his book has nothing to do
            with detective fiction or any other genre.  He tells
            Steve Paulson why he wanted to write about the lower East
            Side of New York and why he thinks the only genre fiction
            that's any good is the exceptional work that transcends
            the genre. 
                    
            Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
4-13-B.