"The literary landscape of the 21st century seems more and more divided when it comes to one particular aspect: plot. Some books have it; others don't. The have-nots have gotten a lot of critical attention in recent years: Think of novels that read like an extended internal monologue, describing in intimate detail the thoughts, feelings, and impressions of a protagonist."
"Usually, this is not someone who makes things happen, or to whom things happen; the strength of the narrator's voice and the depth of the emotional landscape are expected to carry the audience through the (loosely defined) story. Authors as varied as Rachel Cusk, Claire-Louise Bennett, Ben Lerner, and Ottessa Moshfegh have been acclaimed for work of deep interiority and minimal eventfulness."
The 21st-century literary landscape is increasingly divided between plot-driven novels and books prioritizing deep interiority with minimal external events. Many novels read like extended internal monologues that trace a protagonist's intimate thoughts, feelings, and impressions rather than a sequence of happenings. Narrators in such works often do not drive action; their voice and emotional depth carry the reader through loosely defined narratives. Plot-heavy books still dominate best-seller lists because readers crave intrinsic momentum, logical progression toward dramatic climaxes, and hard-earned resolutions. Plot and voice can coexist, with plot shapes amplifying characters' emotional journeys.
Read at The Atlantic
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