What if you prefer tales of passionate alienation?

[ksmith]

Or how about alienated passions?

Interesting article in today's Guardian. The conclusion was that overall, men--at least the men surveyed--had little interest in fiction, yet ran the literary world.

Then there was this strange aside:

The researchers also found that women preferred old, well-thumbed paperbacks, whereas men had a slight fixation with the stiff covers of hardback books.

FWIW, the article about women's favored fiction seemed equally dismissive. Not sure what I'd rather read, "all angst and Orwell", or "slash your wrist fiction."

Comments

[hoosier-red.livejournal.com]

Good Lord, I don't want to read EITHER of those types. Give me a ripping yarn or a good comedy any day.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

The book that topped the women's list was actually Pride & Prejudice, but there were plenty of snide remarks directed at that as well.

I did think that "all angst and Orwell" was a funny description, though.

[leahbobet.livejournal.com]

Feh. Anyone who's actually read Pride & Prejudice knows you come for the class commentary, you stay for the subtle backbiting snark. *g*

Seriously, I think people have a very different image of that book than...well, what's between the pages.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Yes--I think they make assumptions about Austen and her life (or perceived lack of same) and write off the book.

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

I'm with you.

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

What women? Did they actually ask a woman? Who the heck wants to read sentimental or depressing weepy fest stuff? Not this chick. :-)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

From what I could see--I linked to both articles--they surveyed lit'ry women back in late 2004.

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

The survey must have found all the weirdos. I didn't care for Jane Eyre and I Wouldn't read any of the other books.

I do love P & P. Not because of Colin Firth either but because the story is funny and entertaining. I don't mind that it is old. That's part of the charm, taking a look at how life was back when. :-)

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

There's something both disturbing and amusing about that little aside ... something almost Freudian.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it was intentional.