What defines "chick-lit"?

[jeffxandra]

Y'see, I've been reading The Sunday Philosophy Club (JX Note: To page 144, said club not appearing in this book), and it's an interesting, if meandering, read. When I commented how little actually happens after ripping through the first 60 pages, my wife wondered if it was "too chick-lit" for me. To which I responded, I'm enjoying it, it's just that not much is happening. The author allows his (and his protagonist's) mind to wander over all sorts of digressions at the proverbial drop of a hat and only occasionally checks back in on the mystery.

Is this what "chick-lit" is? (For lack of a better term) Unfocused storytelling? Consideration and evaluation of tangentially related topics to the main flow of conversation? I don't know that I buy that.

Comments

[pinesandmaples]

I thought chick-lit was books about women talking about their periods.

[jeffxandra.livejournal.com]

You forgot books about mothers worrying about their offspring.

[biteycat.livejournal.com]

Or detailing their sleeping around after their failed marriage (he cheated!) ended in divorce :P

Chick lit could be a lot of things, but in my mind that's romance novels, aka girly porn. I suppose a novel that preoccupies itself with thoughts and feelings with little external movement might be what your wife meant.