PUBLICITY
|
Jynne Martin Random House Publicity jymartin@randomhouse.com Ph: 212-572-2301 |
Megan Fishmann Random House Publicity mfishmann@randomhouse.com Ph: 212-572-2408 |
|
This Is Not Chick Lit in the press:
(For press on Elizabeth Merrick's debut novel Girly click here.) |
||
"A riot of women's voices--writhing, colorful, and alive" Read more. |
"It's not that Merrick, 33, hates all chick lit. It's just that she wants to spread the word about what she calls 'a golden moment' for women writing serious literary fiction. 'It's interesting,' she says, 'that as this is happening, we're getting the same chick lit narrative over and over again.'" Read more. |
"Yes, editor Elizabeth Merrick is female, and the short stories she's collected are written by women, but marketplace be damned, This Is Not Chick Lit (Random House)." Read more. |
"What these stories indeed, what all great literature has in common is a refusal to follow a simple formula, chick lit or otherwise. These are stories that make us grapple with the complexities of life and love and the ways we abrade each other, reminding us that the human experience is much bigger and messier than what is typically found in formulaic writing." Read more. |
"Merrick knows firsthand how difficult it is for women who write literary fiction... As one top agent wrote, 'Honey, you're the real thing, but I know I won't be able to sell this.'" Read more. |
"This, as it turns out, is discourse and as long as it's showcasing some good, smart, accomplished women writers, then I think it takes us that much closer to turning the chick lit frog into a prince." Read more. |
"It's an attempt to convey a sense of our lives that is beyond the women's fashion magazines. This is essential. This is crucial. If you try to fit your life into this narrative of "buy some nice clothes, find a good man and everything will be fine', there's pretty much one step after that - the self-help aisle. Or Prozac. It's not going to work. We need those stories that take a broader view." Read more. |
"There isn't a weak piece in the lot - each revealing and reveling in the 'complexity of human experience.'" Read more. |
"None of the anthology's 18 stories follows a formula; every one is a surprise. They address women's lives without condescension and with plenty of intelligence, style and wit. This isn't chick lit, but maybe chick lit should aspire to be this good." Read more. |
"Defies 'girlie' stereotypes." Read more. |
"What keeps this literary jack-of-all-trades fighting the good fight? Books, of course. Merrick shares one recent work that has kept her inspired." Read more. |
|
"What these stories — indeed, what all great literature has in common — is a refusal to follow a simple formula, chick lit or otherwise. These are stories that make us grapple with the complexities of life and love and the ways we abrade each other, reminding us that the human experience is much bigger and messier."
— The Los Angeles Times Read more
"It's not that Merrick, 33, hates all chick lit. It's just that she wants to spread the word about what she calls 'a golden moment' for women writing serious literary fiction."
— Usa Today Read more
"Funny and inventive."
— The Village Voice Read more
"None of the anthology's 18 stories follows a formula; every one is a surprise. They address women's lives without condescension and with plenty of intelligence, style and wit."
— Miami Herald Read more
"Readers who've been Fendi'd and Choo'd to distraction would do well to pick this up."
— Publishers Weekly Read more
"Narrative-fracturing works by Carolyn Ferrell and Lynne Tillman are jarring, beguiling and wholly original."
— Time Out New York Read more
"Lush and elegantly crafted stories."
— Deseret Morning News Read more
"Ultimately, the writing and the breadth of creative subject material are what remind readers that this is not the frothy, raspberry-vinaigrette-drenched "lit" of our generation. Here, in these 18 stories, is literature."
— Daily Texan Read more
"Fresh and intriguing… reading the stories as a whole will lead readers to discover new favorite authors."
— Library Journal Read more
"If you’re tired of reading about women shopping for shoes while cheating on their diets, their boyfriends, and hiding from their bosses, Elizabeth Merrick feels your pain."
— The Detroit News
"So the only question about the fine new fiction anthology "This Is Not Chick Lit" is why it took so long to hit the shelves?"
— The State Read more
"For those understandably concerned about whether experimental literary fiction can have a place in mainstream American culture, take heart that Lynne Tillman is now at your local Target. One of the standout entries in the anthology This Is Not Chick Lit, currently a fast-selling "Breakout Book" at the retail behemoth, is "The Recipe," a story that exemplifies Tillman's brand of pensive, self-interrogating fiction."
— Slate Read more
"This, as it turns out, is discourse — and as long as it's showcasing some good, smart, accomplished women writers, then I think it takes us that much closer to turning the chick lit frog into a prince."
— The Huffington Post Read more
"As I said, when I started, I was a chick lit fan, but I'm an avid reader in general, so I didn't JUST read Chick Lit. Now that I've read all the arguments, I can't help but be a bit more persuaded by the This is Not Chick Lit camp."
— Daily Kos Read more
"Merrick's feminist project has women talking about books and reading across genres, which, all told, has got to be good."
— Small Spiral Notebook Read more
"Most delightfully surprising is “The Seventy Two Ounce Steak Challenge” by Dika Lam, who has published only a few short stories in small magazines."
— The Columbus Dispatch Read more
"This short story collection examines, in illuminating detail, issues and concerns facing women who won't find solace in a Prada bag. No less hopeful than typical chick lit but certainly more poignant and serious, this collection should spur spirited conversation."
— Booklist Read more
— The Los Angeles Times Read more
"It's not that Merrick, 33, hates all chick lit. It's just that she wants to spread the word about what she calls 'a golden moment' for women writing serious literary fiction."
— Usa Today Read more
"Funny and inventive."
— The Village Voice Read more
"None of the anthology's 18 stories follows a formula; every one is a surprise. They address women's lives without condescension and with plenty of intelligence, style and wit."
— Miami Herald Read more
"Readers who've been Fendi'd and Choo'd to distraction would do well to pick this up."
— Publishers Weekly Read more
"Narrative-fracturing works by Carolyn Ferrell and Lynne Tillman are jarring, beguiling and wholly original."
— Time Out New York Read more
"Lush and elegantly crafted stories."
— Deseret Morning News Read more
"Ultimately, the writing and the breadth of creative subject material are what remind readers that this is not the frothy, raspberry-vinaigrette-drenched "lit" of our generation. Here, in these 18 stories, is literature."
— Daily Texan Read more
"Fresh and intriguing… reading the stories as a whole will lead readers to discover new favorite authors."
— Library Journal Read more
"If you’re tired of reading about women shopping for shoes while cheating on their diets, their boyfriends, and hiding from their bosses, Elizabeth Merrick feels your pain."
— The Detroit News
"So the only question about the fine new fiction anthology "This Is Not Chick Lit" is why it took so long to hit the shelves?"
— The State Read more
"For those understandably concerned about whether experimental literary fiction can have a place in mainstream American culture, take heart that Lynne Tillman is now at your local Target. One of the standout entries in the anthology This Is Not Chick Lit, currently a fast-selling "Breakout Book" at the retail behemoth, is "The Recipe," a story that exemplifies Tillman's brand of pensive, self-interrogating fiction."
— Slate Read more
"This, as it turns out, is discourse — and as long as it's showcasing some good, smart, accomplished women writers, then I think it takes us that much closer to turning the chick lit frog into a prince."
— The Huffington Post Read more
"As I said, when I started, I was a chick lit fan, but I'm an avid reader in general, so I didn't JUST read Chick Lit. Now that I've read all the arguments, I can't help but be a bit more persuaded by the This is Not Chick Lit camp."
— Daily Kos Read more
"Merrick's feminist project has women talking about books and reading across genres, which, all told, has got to be good."
— Small Spiral Notebook Read more
"Most delightfully surprising is “The Seventy Two Ounce Steak Challenge” by Dika Lam, who has published only a few short stories in small magazines."
— The Columbus Dispatch Read more
"This short story collection examines, in illuminating detail, issues and concerns facing women who won't find solace in a Prada bag. No less hopeful than typical chick lit but certainly more poignant and serious, this collection should spur spirited conversation."
— Booklist Read more
about
books
press
events & appearances
blog
grace reading series
elizabeth's writing workshops
contact
© Elizabeth Merrick 2006
books
press
events & appearances
blog
grace reading series
elizabeth's writing workshops
contact
© Elizabeth Merrick 2006