First off, I must apologize to my commenters. I usually respond to people right away and I missed a Monday blog, but all with good reason. We went to Mammoth Cave Kentucky for a week of vacation, meeting up with old friends. It was awesome! Definitely recommend it. We did two walking tours of the cave and canoed down the Green River. I didn't do any writing, the internet was practically non-existent, but I did read a little, especially on the ten hour car ride.
That brings me to my blog title. When I was younger I read almost exclusively female authors, my favorites being Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. I think I read all their books, even the lesser known ones. The books written by men were ones I thought I should read, like Moby Dick, and I couldn't stand them. Too much detail, or violence, and not enough romance. As I've matured, without meaning to, I have switched my preference to male authors, even better if they have a journalist background or style of writing.
I've lost interest in romance. It's become too cliche for me now. The hard to get beautiful girl, playing standoffish to the handsome, tough guy. Blah blah blah. Heard it all before. I guess I'm not romantic anymore. Maybe washing my husband's socks for the past seventeen years killed it, but it's just not the same. Don't get me wrong- I love him. In fact, I am one of the fortunate who married the love of their life, but my interests have morphed into realistic, teach me something I don't know. The last library book I finished was quite the lesson in economics, but I was okay with that.
Hence, my blog title. I am currently forcing myself to read a famous female author's book in the romance genre just to broaden my horizons. The whole story is sooo tried and true, but it is pretty good writing and I feel I can still learn a lot from her.
How about you? Any preferences on writing styles from men or women?
I never thought about having a preference for reading male or female authors. Interesting. I just read anything that caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteI never read romance until this year when I won one on a blog. I really didn't think I'd be chosen, but since I was I read it. It was well-written, but predictable and I'm not a converted reader of romance.
Glad you got away for a break. That's so important. I'm definitely out of here come Sept.
It is sort of weird, isn't it? I didn't do it on purpose but that's how I've ended up as a reader. Glad to know I'm not alone on the romance thing either. Hope Sept. rolls around quickly for you!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a vacation! My family and I drove through Kentucky a few years ago on our way home from somewhere else but didn't have time (or money) to stop at Mammoth Cave. I've heard such fantastic things about it though!
ReplyDeleteI've never had a preference for male or female authors, but one thing I have found with all the middle grade reading I do is that I'm more than slightly in love with the hope and possibility angle that middle grade offers. :-)
Our friends had chosen the destination but I'm such a nature fanatic that it was perfect. I can see how middle grade is so appealing- that's where my children are right now and there are so many good books in that category.
DeleteI haven't noticed a preference in author gender. I've not read a lot of romance. And the ones I've read are more on the fringe then solidly in the category. I do believe we can learn from every book we read and that we should broaden our horizons. Guess I'll go check out a romance book.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy books with a little romance on the side too, vs. straight up romance.
DeleteIs washing socks what kills it? I'm in trouble.
ReplyDeleteMy wife was never that romantic, which works for me.
I was a hopeless romantic, but the daily grind gets in the way of that I guess.
DeleteI don't really care for straight romance either, but I'll take a good book with a little romance thrown in. I don't read too many male authors either. But I have read a few John Grisham novels. I prefer the ones that are not legal thrillers, however. :)
ReplyDeleteI like John Grisham, and I find it interesting so many women don't like romance. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
DeleteI think, overall, that I read a few more books by men than by women--though I'd have to go over my reading lists to be sure. Interesting point!
ReplyDeleteI found everyone's comments to be interesting too! I thought people would be more polarized but I guess not. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
DeleteI've never thought about the sex of the author before! How interesting is this??? I LOVE Jim Butcher... I think his stuff is way fun. But Diana Gabaldon is my fav author ever... I do think I read more women though than men!
ReplyDeleteIt did start an interesting dialogue! Thanks for stopping in and commenting.
DeleteAs far as narrative voices go, I'm not picky. So long as I connect with the voice, I'm in.
ReplyDeleteAs for not being into romance, I find that the simple things in romance, him getting her a glass of water, her baking his favorite dessert. These little shows of affection go a lot further to me than a grand gesture. Some authors get this and do it right, but so many write romance over the top. Love is a lot less complicated than we make it.
Soo true! Otherwise it may as well be fantasy instead of romance.
DeleteInteresting comments - I too don't really thing so much about the author's gender - my favorite authors are a blend of men and women. As a high schooler, I read and embraced all the classics - all of them - jane Eyre and Moby Dick -- but somewhere along the line I lost interest in them. Now, I much prefer contemporary authors and contemporary settings (though I do sometimes dip into historical fiction). Romance is definitely not my genre but relationships in general (husband/wife, parent/child, lovers friends, whatever) and people are important to me.
ReplyDeleteI've just recently started reading contemporary, and I'm liking it too. Thanks for stopping in and joining the conversation.
DeleteI generally read more male authors too, I think. I've always had a bit of a hard time with Austin, but there's so many good stories to read by men AND women - how does anyone find the time? :) Good luck on your endeavors, though!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo many books, so little time! Thanks for commenting and joining my blog :)
DeleteI have never given any thought to whether the author is male or female. Its the story that intrigues me.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. I'm being very general here. But I guess it's the subject matter that catches my eye and pulls me in. That's what I determine from the jacket cover and lately it's been all male authors that have grabbed my interest.
DeleteThe story always draws me in and I don't really notice whether I'm reading one written by a male/female author. :)
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
That seems to be the general consensus. I guess I haven't given enough female authors a chance lately- or I haven't discovered one I'm really into yet. The search goes on.
DeleteI've never consciously picked male or female writers. It's mainly been genre that swayed my decisions--I used to read nothing but fantasy. I've branched out heaps since. Now I'll read anything from romance to crime, thriller to scifi, and everything in between. Perhaps not so much horror, though ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm learning to branch out too, and I'm with you on the horror thing!
DeleteI love the classics....never even thought about the sex of the author...guess that explains why my husband is not too interested in Jane Austin.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think my husband would rather visit the dentist than watch a Jane Austen based movie with me.
DeleteI will read from either gender, but admit, when I sometimes find a stereotyped female protagonist written by a male author, I think that's the reason for the misunderstanding of my gender. But truthfully, just as many female authors have gotten it wrong too. I think it's great to branch out. I never read a lot of fantasy, but my writing group is working on a group project, so I'm loading myself up on lots of epics and so far am loving them.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun project! I'll be meeting with my first writing group this month if all goes well. Looking forward to it and fearing it all at once. Thanks for commenting and joining my blog!
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