A Five Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

GENRE BUSTERS

Program 08-04-13-B

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Michael Chabon's a pretty successful writer of literary fiction. As far as he's concerned, literary fiction is just another genre, with it's 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.

SEGMENT 1:

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 2:

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 3:

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.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 08-04-13-B.

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Books:

M.C. Beaton, Death of a Genle Lady (A Hamish Macbeth Mystery) (Grand Central Publishing)
M.C. Beaton, Kissing Christmas Goodbye (An Agatha Raisin Mystery) (St. Martin's Minotaur)
Michael Chabon The Yiddish Policemen's Union (HarperCollins)
Michael Dirda Classics for Pleasure (Harcourt)
Judith Freeman The Long Embrace: Raymond Chandler and the Woman He Loved (Pantheon)
Richard Price Lush Life (Farrar, Strauss, Giroux)

Music:

• After Freeman: Sound track to “The Big Sleep”; from Murder is My Beat: Classic Film Noir Themes and Scenes Rhino Movie Music R2 72466 Tr. 8

  After Chabon: “Vu Bistu Geveyn Ven Di Gelt Iz Geveyn” by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band from You Should Be So Lucky! CD Shanachie 67006

  After Dirda: John Adams, The Chairman Dances, performed by San Francisco Symphony/Edo de Waart Nonesuch 9 79144-2

  After Prichard/Beaton: theme music from PBS series, Mystery: Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple The Ultimate TV Themes, The International TV Orchestra, downloaded from Itunes

  After Price: “Symphony of Brotherhood”, performed by Miri Ben-Ari, The Music Movement

Distribution dates: week of 04/13/2008 - hour 2

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