In light of the recent Orange Prize short list, Jojo Moyes ruminates on the split themes of modern women’s fiction. Somewhat dark, serious subject matter such as Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible seems to dominate the field of formal literary honors, whereas fiction with a more upbeat slant and (how dare they!) the occasional happy ending gains far more popular support.
From Chinese foot binding to what, exactly, we mean by “women’s fiction,” Moyes explores the conflicts within the genre and what, if anything, women writers should do about it.
