The Bookseller.com

22nd November 2008

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Women's fiction too trivial

20.03.07

The Telegraph reports that Muriel Gray, chair of this year's Orange Prize, has accused women of writing too many dull and trivial novels about domesticity.

Gray said too much was written about relationships and motherhood rather than sweeping epics addressing substantial issues. As the 20-strong long list was announced, Gray said most of the 150 titles submitted for the £30,000 award lacked imagination and ambition.

"There were lots of books we rejected - about personal female issues, the loss of a child, the break-up of a marriage, thinly veiled autobiographical things of no consequence - because they weren't expansive enough," she said. "They are writing small personal takes on what it's like to be a woman. They don't seem to be dreaming big dreams."

Telegraph

Book Prizes Media The Orange Prize