The Scrapbook Kitsch Factor

You know that I love scrapbooking, right? It is nearly the perfect craft for me, a space for combining words and photos with something pretty and colorful. It speaks to my odd and nearly-compulsive need to remember things, a need that continues to grow in light of Dad's Alzheimer's . I don't want to forget; I don't want my children or family to forget. My layouts tend to be less about reciting what happened and more about how I feel about what happened.

Every time I scrapbook, though, I am nagged by a little voice that reminds me: scrapbooking is sort of kitshy. That it's getting in touch with my inner kindergartner---coloring, and playing with shapes and letters, and carefully cutting stuff out---in the weirdest sort of way. Even though I love scrapbooking, I can confess that there is something mockable about it. Even though I am a self-confessed whiz with an exacto, I can't help but question: is this a dumb way to spend my time? Is it silly? Will it mean anything to anyone but me? And even with that other inner voice---the one that reminds me I am making sure that some things will be remembered---I can't completely discredit the threat of cheesiness that hovers over scrapbooking. (Hence, I am convinced, discussions about things like design, and visual triangles, and creating balance, and becoming a typesetting genius; they are a way of validating, of keeping the threat from descending.)

Yesterday at work, setting out books on the new book display, I discovered something that made me fear the cheese: Joanna Campbell Slan's series of novels based on, get this: scrapbookers. Scrapbooking detectives who solve murder mysteries. Seriously? I didn't know whether I wanted to laugh or to groan.

Probably both.

That's all scrapbooking needs: a series of fluffy murder mysteries.

We're all now permanently assigned to the "kitsch" section of the world.

I guess you could look at it like this: the fact that someone's writing murder mysteries based on scrapbooking means that the craft has arrived. Because (I discovered) there are murder mysteries written about tons of crafts: knitting, and cooking, and card making. Quilting. Home repair. Crocheting. Pottery.

Glass blowing.

But that hardly makes me feel better about my favorite craft's ability to avoid being kitschy. None of those other series makes me admire the crafts they focus on, either. Part of it has to do with the attitude non-scrapbookers have about scrappers. Take the review of the first book. "Scrapbookers will love the whole idea of forensic scrapbooking." Really? I'm a scrapbooker, and I don't love the idea. I think it's kind of silly. And please: don't lump me into the group of people who read fluffy murder mysteries (not that there's anything wrong with that), just because I scrapbook.

Of course, now my book snobbery is showing, isn't it? And part of my reaction probably has to do with me not liking mysteries in general. But, really, why: why fluffy murder mysteries? Would it be possible to write a novel based on scrapbooking that wasn't cheesy? (I'm thinking about the novel Friday Night Knitting Club now, which, while somewhat formulaic and unsatisfying, at least tried to avoid fluffiness.) I guess Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, sort of. But I can't imagine a serious novel about scrapbookers. Can you? With a front-page review in the NY Times Sunday book reviews?

Maybe the problem is with me. (Isn't it always?) Maybe I worry too much about "serious." About reading meaningful stuff and spending my time wisely. Maybe it would be OK for me to get over being worried about the scrapbooking kitsch factor and just enjoy it without any qualms. Maybe I'm just jealous that a fellow scrapbooker (who used to write scrapbooking how-to books) is a published author, and am poking fun out of spite.

Probably that.

I just think that...well, if you're going to all that effort to write a novel, and you love scrapbooking, you maybe should try to de-cheesy it, rather than reinforcing the cheesy. (mmmmmmm...reinforced cheese!)

Just in defense of our craft. That's all I'm saying.

Comments

[Jean]

There are a couple of scrapbooking mystery series that are certainly cheesy and poorly written. However, Joanna Slan's new series does not fit into that category. I am not a book critic but I was a librarian for 30 years and I am an avid reader of both serious and fluffy books. I was pleasantly surprised by Joanna's novels and I would highly recommend them.

[Helena]

Well, we all know some scrapping is a lot kitschier than others... I guess it's the *association* of kitschiness.

[Joanna Campbell Slan]

I take both scrapbooking and writing a novel very seriously. I did my best to pay homage to the wonderful women I've met in this craft. Their love of family and friends deserves respect. Paper, Scissors, Death was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. This nomination introduced a lot of readers to the craft. As a result, I've had a lot of people tell me they have a whole new respect for scrapbooking. I hope so! That certainly was my intent.

[Shaunte]

When I enjoy something, I have learned not to give a crap what other people think of me enjoying it.
I like shallow novels.
I can read them late at night when I am tired and my brain doesn't have to be "on."
I like scrapbooking.
I even use Paperkins!
(There. I said it.)
I still like coloring with new crayolas in a kids coloring book.
I find it therapeudic.
While I don't understand why some folks collected Beanie Babies, or other folks crochet dolls that conceal extra toilet paper rolls, I will never begrudge someone something they enjoy doing.

That being said, I think I need to check out those books. I bet I would like them.