Literary Merit refers to a high quality of writing that is accredited to some works of Literature. This may be in the form of a novel, poetry, plays, etc. Although literary merit can be subjective, ways to determine literary merit include:
The work of literature:
1. Entertains the reader and is interesting to read.
2. Does not merely conform to the expectations of a single genre or formula.
3. Has been judged to have artistic quality by the literary community (teachers, students, librarians, critics, other writers, the reading public).
4. Has stood the test of time in some way, regardless of the date of publication.
5. Shows thematic depth: The themes merit revisiting and study because they are complex and nuanced.
6. Demonstrates innovation in style, voice, structure, characterization, plot and/or description.
7. May have a social, political or ideological impact on society during the lifetime of the author or afterward.
8. Does not fall into the traps of “pulp” fiction such as cliché or derivative descriptions and plot devices, or sentimentality rather than “earned” emotion.
9. Is intended by the author to communicate in an artistic manner.
10. Is universal in its appeal (i.e., the themes and insights are not only accessible to one culture or time period).
The Independent Reading book that I have chosen to read The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan illustrates these definitions of a literary merit through it being published in 1989 by an unknown first-time writer and then becoming an international best seller, selling an astonishing 275,000 hard-cover copies upon its 1989 publication. Still to this day this novel is a New York Times best-seller and has received acclaim from multiple others such as the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, and San Francisco Chronicle. The novel tells the story of new waves of immigrants who are changing and enriching America. The author strives to give accurate and distinct voice to the characters, expressing the immigrant experience by borrowing the unique characteristics of the blended languages: English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. The themes of The Joy Luck Club include the challenges of cultural translation, the power of storytelling, identity, family, heritage, assimilation, and fate. Many of Tan's characters struggle to reconcile American individuality and freedom of choice with Chinese wisdom and respect for tradition. Amy Tan also skillfully excavates the bones of human relationships through a series of vignettes.
How did you like "The Joy Luck Club"??
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