I don’t think there’s any work too bad or low that we can’t learn something from it, or have an interesting conversation about it. Deciding what’s good and bad has historically been inseparable from questions of power, and it’s important in thinking through what we value in literature to be explicit about our assumptions. Not just what principles we’re using to inform our judgments, but what affects us, what moves us, and how. There’s no objective method for doing this, luckily, although there are more and less nuanced, more and less creative, more and less capacious ways to proceed.

Literary interest is defined by the reader’s personal taste and preferences, and can vary widely between individuals. It can be influenced by a range of factors, such as the style and structure of the writing, the content and themes of the story, and the characters and their relationships. Great writing often has depth and complexity, with vivid imagery and rich details that draw the reader into the world of the story. It may also explore difficult themes and provoke conversation and reflection. Good writing can be both entertaining and thought-provoking, and can spark the imagination and connect with readers on a deep emotional level.