On realism - Percival Everett in Harper's:

'To further understand the notion of the real in fiction, consider dialogue. Dialogue is perhaps the clearest example of the constructed “realness” in fiction. My best dialogue, the best dialogue of writers better than me, the best-ever dialogue is not “real” speech. Not by a stretch. The rhythms, the tics, the inflections are simply not the same. Perhaps it is a function of the presence of punctuation. I don’t know.

Were you and your best friend—and I’ll add that you are both fine actors—to memorize some great passage of contemporary dialogue, and get on a local train and act out that dialogue, people would think you odd. At best they might take you for non-native speakers, but, more likely than not, they will think you are crazy. Conversely, if you were to transcribe the best of your favorite conversations with your dearest friend it would read as terrible dialogue. It would sound “unreal.” But your conversation was real, wasn’t it? Of course it was, but it is not the real that will satisfy in fiction.'

Read more here.

Delightful.

Are you a non-native speaker?

No, I'm reading Albee aloud.

And Barthes is still a reference point. Another reason to cheer.