Question

Updated on 8 Feb 2023

2 February

Japanese

English (US)

Question about English (US)

‎‎Is this dialogue correct and natural?

“What kind of novels do you like?”

“I’d say something like a kitchen-sink novel.”

Answers

newenglandgenie

2 February

English (US)

A kitchen-sink novel—what kind of book do you mean? I don’t know what that is.

Highly-rated answerer

Jean_G

2 February

English (US)
English (UK)

@newenglandgenie I think @nomadatlatl is talking about the type of book. Kitchen-sink can be a novel, film, or drama that talks about ordinary people's lives. Not many people will get you, so I think it's better to just say "novels about ordinary people's lives."

Highly-rated answerer

newenglandgenie

2 February

English (US)

@Jean_G I agree with you. I’m a librarian and I’ve never heard anyone refer to a book that way but it makes sense. 😊

Highly-rated answerer

nomadatlatl

2 February

Japanese

@newenglandgenie Thanks a lot.
An online dictionary describes it like this.
1. showing a lack of discriminating thought or careful planning; random; indiscriminate.
his kitchen-sink collection of souvenirs

2. Chiefly British
portraying life, esp. domestic situations, with realism that emphasizes the negative or sordid aspects

So I mean a story describing everyday life of ordinary people by "kitchen-sink novel."

Am I making sense?

Jean_G

2 February

English (US)
English (UK)

@nomadatlatl Yea, but I think you'll have to prepare your explanation for the term, 'cause people will be asking you what that is.

Highly-rated answerer

newenglandgenie

2 February

English (US)

@nomadatlatl Yes, you’re making sense. Instead of kitchen-sink novel, I’d say I like novels that portray ordinary people’s lives. If someone came to me at the information desk and asked for a kitchen-sink novel, I’d have to find out more in-depth exactly what they’re looking for. Ordinary lives can actually mean a lot of things, too, because people are all so different. It’s actually quite hard to define “ordinary” these days!!

Highly-rated answerer

nomadatlatl

2 February

Japanese

@Jean_G kitchen-sinkって、聞いてすぐに何なのかが分かる表現ではないんですね。
実は、これはオンラインで見つけた会話なんですが、ホントにこんな言い方をするのかなぁと思い、質問してみたんです。確認できて助かりました。(⁠◠⁠ᴥ⁠◕⁠ʋ⁠)

nomadatlatl

2 February

Japanese

@newenglandgenie Okay, I got it. Thanks a lot as always.
Ordinary lives to outsiders, but extraordinary ones to the persons in question. (⁠*⁠￣⁠(⁠ｴ⁠)⁠￣⁠*⁠)

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‎‎Is this dialogue correct and natural?

“What kind of novels do you like?”

“I’d say something like a kitchen-sink novel.”

‎‎Is this dialogue correct and natural?“What kind of novels do you like?”“I’d say something like a kitchen-sink novel.” See a translation

A kitchen-sink novel—what kind of book do you mean? I don’t know what that is.

@newenglandgenie I think @nomadatlatl is talking about the type of book. Kitchen-sink can be a novel, film, or drama that talks about ordinary people's lives. Not many people will get you, so I think it's better to just say "novels about ordinary people's lives."

@Jean_G I agree with you. I’m a librarian and I’ve never heard anyone refer to a book that way but it makes sense. 😊

@nomadatlatl Yea, but I think you'll have to prepare your explanation for the term, 'cause people will be asking you what that is.

‎‎Is this dialogue correct and natural?

“What kind of novels do you like?”

“I’d say something like a kitchen-sink novel.”