tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post4611121463077496147..comments2023-07-29T07:32:23.865-07:00Comments on Lit and Life Test: Sunday Salon - January 24Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05554217416500328610noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-86351557289102299652010-01-25T15:37:01.192-08:002010-01-25T15:37:01.192-08:00Great post! I've been told that I read men...Great post! I've been told that I read men's books because I like authors like George Pelecanos. I do read chick lit, too, though. I think part of it men don't read as much as women do.bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-66377511411055701802010-01-25T09:16:25.066-08:002010-01-25T09:16:25.066-08:00I definitely think there is "man-lit" ou...I definitely think there is "man-lit" out there, it's just not necessary to really advertise it as such. I would put the following books into that classification: war/battle books (esp. those that are are detailing specific battles and tactics), westerns (although I do like some Louis L'Amour books I would hazard a guess that the bulk of the Western reader audience is male), and some action/thrillers. <br><br>I tried reading a Clive Cussler book once and had to set it down because I was rolling my eyes at everything that the main character said, how he was described, and how he viewed himself as God's gift to women. It was definitely a "man's" book.<br><br>I think the biggest reason you don't see things marketed as "man-lit" is that publishers don't want to be seen as discriminating. So why do they then market chick-lit? I think probably because men aren't going to be offended by being excluded from the marketing from these books. And I'm not talking about regular literature here, but the really fluffy chick-lit like Sophie Kinsella books (or even ranging into Harlequin romance-type books).Alycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10919057159829023714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-88594725654533394292010-01-24T23:49:36.551-08:002010-01-24T23:49:36.551-08:00But then, think about it, the AFL season is not th...But then, think about it, the AFL season is not that far away!<br>If you weren't careful you could find yourself watching some kind of footy almost all year!<br>Oh goodness me, guy lit (if you can call it literature) is stuff like Wilbur Smith and Dale Brown. Yuk. Yuk.<br>I can't be a very macho man, I've never once read a "sports book"Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625543235578144620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-11634623050521503172010-01-24T19:14:51.756-08:002010-01-24T19:14:51.756-08:00I think it's marketing and "who's&quo...I think it's marketing and "who's" reading the book that catagorizes it. My aunt gets recommendations for books from my blog and buys the books for my uncle and he reads them and is none the wiser. He likes historic fiction and doesn't know that all the female book bloggers are "talking" about those books. But, maybe more men will expand their horizons if they read on digital readers (if they read in public) or didn't feel that reading Jodi Picoult books or Sarah's Key would make them look like pansies to their guy friends.planetbookshttp://planetbooks.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-30113734224110394702010-01-24T19:14:51.090-08:002010-01-24T19:14:51.090-08:00I think it's marketing and "who's&quo...I think it's marketing and "who's" reading the book that catagorizes it. My aunt gets recommendations for books from my blog and buys the books for my uncle and he reads them and is none the wiser. He likes historic fiction and doesn't know that all the female book bloggers are "talking" about those books. But, maybe more men will expand their horizons if they read on digital readers (if they read in public) or didn't feel that reading Jodi Picoult books or Sarah's Key would make them look like pansies to their guy friends.planetbookshttp://planetbooks.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-37562138214386718352010-01-24T19:14:46.699-08:002010-01-24T19:14:46.699-08:00I think it's marketing and "who's&quo...I think it's marketing and "who's" reading the book that catagorizes it. My aunt gets recommendations for books from my blog and buys the books for my uncle and he reads them and is none the wiser. He likes historic fiction and doesn't know that all the female book bloggers are "talking" about those books. But, maybe more men will expand their horizons if they read on digital readers (if they read in public) or didn't feel that reading Jodi Picoult books or Sarah's Key would make them look like pansies to their guy friends.planetbookshttp://planetbooks.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-91497768434860015672010-01-24T18:01:50.923-08:002010-01-24T18:01:50.923-08:00Very interesting topic. I recently was surprised w...Very interesting topic. I recently was surprised when two of the men I work were reading The Lovely Bones, I read it years ago and didn't really think it was a "guy" book. And now I've borrowed it from one of them to reread it with my book club. I've recommended books to men and often wondered about what appeals to them...besides the basic spy/cowboy type book. Maybe I'll ask a few that I know who read.Thaunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152040307060475520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-21058071287016433712010-01-24T11:43:13.616-08:002010-01-24T11:43:13.616-08:00Interesting that I was thinking of something simil...Interesting that I was thinking of something similar as I looked at all the books donated to the nursing home library. We received a quite a few books with tanks and fighter jets on the cover - which I would assume would be 'male-oriented themes' and yet I would guess that less than 5% of the residents are male.Carehttp://bkclubcare.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-23956956264100340042010-01-24T10:32:46.397-08:002010-01-24T10:32:46.397-08:00This is a really good question. Personally I think...This is a really good question. Personally I think there are books that appeal more to men, even though women read them, like crime thrillers and courtroom dramas and murder mysteries. Much like movies although we all go to them too! Maybe that says more about women since they won't read chick-lit although you do often see them dragged to girl movies on a date :)Amusedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12657337249497691366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-92218465318860194332010-01-24T10:11:34.392-08:002010-01-24T10:11:34.392-08:00Interesting points. I'm sorry to say that judg...Interesting points. I'm sorry to say that judging from book covers, your fifth paragraph has answered your question. For the most part. Things will always be marketed to sell the biggest number. And it seems that whatever works once, goes for always. Forty years ago or now. The same silly pink covers or the same half clad or standing with her legs apart women on the covers. It works for the mindless majority so it's what we get. <br>A survey of every male in my family (except my son) shows that they don't read fiction-at all. They consider it a waste of time.<br>When you force them to tell you the real reason, they invariably refer to bad experiences in school that put them off reading. I don't now what we can do about it. Except make sure we raise our own children to love reading for pleasure. Just my two cents worth.<br>Enjoy the rest of your day.Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265301061583417768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215390260586048055.post-55474136040774358572010-01-24T09:38:47.981-08:002010-01-24T09:38:47.981-08:00You bring up some great questions here, ones for w...You bring up some great questions here, ones for which I do not have the answers. I wonder if there is not a bit of assumption on the part of publishers that all books are for men unless they change the title or make the cover obviously girlie. Maybe it really is as simple as using a dark cover and blocky font for men's literature and a pastel cover and flowery font for women's literature, as you mentioned.<br><br>Another thought, other than specific genres, like romance and science fiction, can't all literature be considered gender-neutral? Literature by its very definition does not fall into one category or another. They are attractive to all genders and all ages for very different reasons. Definite food for thought.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160951421693455864noreply@blogger.com