David Brooks wrote an op-ed for the NYT (it’s here, but you have to sign up for a free account to read it, unfortunately). In it he cites a report that claims “no work of literary fiction has been on the Publishers Weekly yearly top 10 sellers list since 2001.” In Patchett’s words, he feels literary fiction has “lost its audacity” and is “fading into mediocrity because of liberalism.”
Ann Patchett responds here. (Be warned, this will add to your TBR list.)