Male Vs Female Authors What do you prefer?

Bighuey · Post by **Bighuey** » 06 Oct 2011, 09:07

Maud Fitch wrote:
patrickt wrote:I actively avoid women authors. It's not easy since so many conceal their gender.
Many authors are encouraged to conceal their gender by their publisher.
The commercial viability of a novel is still connected to its author’s gender; at least in the publishers view.
It is supposed that initials will deter stigma, broaden the market and offer wider appeal.

However, in the case of P.D. James, A.A. Milne, H.G. Wells, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.B. Priestley, D.H. Lawrence, J.D. Salinger, J.D. Robb, A.C. Crispin, E. Nesbitt, C.S. Lewis, C.J. Cherryh, E.M. Forster, etc, we found out who they were anyway. And for me it didn't matter.

(N.B. Can anyone name the women authors in the above list?)

I recognise E Nesbitt and J.K. Rowling thats about all. One that threw me was Andre Norton. Ive read her books off and on for years before before I found out he was a she. Didnt matter, her books were good.

selina · Post by **selina** » 14 Oct 2011, 00:52

I don't think Gender really matters while writing a book the Only thing matters is the thoughts and feelings for the topic you have, and the readers only prefer reading the content of the book more than to the gender of the Writer

litlovebug2006 · Post by **litlovebug2006** » 14 Oct 2011, 16:14

This is a super interesting question. I find that I generally read female authors, however that does not mean that I don't enjoy books by male authors. I think part of the reason that I enjoy female authors is that the language that they use to describe images really draws me in. This isn't to say that male authors can't and don't do this. I'm as much a fan Amitav Ghosh as I am Jhumpa Lahiri. It just seems to me that female readers tend to identify easier with female descriptions. I believe that Deborah Tannen did a study (as well as other prominent linguists) that examined how women use very different adjectives for description than men. In this case, it would make sense that female readers would relate more to female authors in some senses.

I also think that female authors generally write more books about relationships (and I'm not necessarily talking about romantic since one of the most popular selling genres is romance). What I mean in this sense is that they tend to focus on the social relationships amongst their characters. Not to say again that male writers don't do this but in my experience female readers can relate to this pull toward relationship studies.

These are merely generalizations regarding some of the reading I have done about genders. I only voted female over male because most of the books I read are written by females, however some of my favorites were also written by males. Mostly that seems to be the case depending upon the genre I am reading at the time.

Ian W · Post by **Ian W** » 18 Oct 2011, 05:10

New user here. I'm rather ashamed to admit it since starting reading again about 10 years ago I've never actually read anything by a female author. I think a lot of it is down to me finding 4 or 5 people I like to read and just sticking with them. They all happen to be male. Simon Kernick, Robert Crais, Mark Billingham and Harlen Coben. My mother has said to try Lynda La Plante so maye I'll give her a try.

patrickt · Post by **patrickt** » 18 Oct 2011, 07:45

Litlovebug2006: "This is a super interesting question. I find that I generally read female authors, however that does not mean that I don't enjoy books by male authors. I think part of the reason that I enjoy female authors is that the language that they use to describe images really draws me in. This isn't to say that male authors can't and don't do this. I'm as much a fan Amitav Ghosh as I am Jhumpa Lahiri. It just seems to me that female readers tend to identify easier with female descriptions. I believe that Deborah Tannen did a study (as well as other prominent linguists) that examined how women use very different adjectives for description than men. In this case, it would make sense that female readers would relate more to female authors in some senses.

I also think that female authors generally write more books about relationships (and I'm not necessarily talking about romantic since one of the most popular selling genres is romance). What I mean in this sense is that they tend to focus on the social relationships amongst their characters. Not to say again that male writers don't do this but in my experience female readers can relate to this pull toward relationship studies.

These are merely generalizations regarding some of the reading I have done about genders. I only voted female over male because most of the books I read are written by females, however some of my favorites were also written by males. Mostly that seems to be the case depending upon the genre I am reading at the time."

I totally agree. My wife was calling to me to see some friends taupe bathroom. When I got in there it looked pretty much like a bathroom. Maybe taupe was a feng shui term or something. "What's taupe?" The color of the fixture. "Muddy purple?" It's not muddy purple. She was right. I learned it can also be muddy blue or muddy red. Women had a lot more words for color. And cloth. And style. Oh, and relationships. I've actually heard women say someone was a second-cousin one removed. I'm not real clear on what that is.

A reading group I was in read a book written by a woman. The wives group insisted. The older guys were not happy because the author insisted on calling the plane the army guys in WWII used a DC-3. The aging veterans would fume, "It's a C-47." When the wives heard that complaint they insisted it wasn't important. No, the fact that the pilot was struggling with which of the three women he was having sex with was really for him was unimportant.

And, yes. Women are much more concerned about relationships. I really enjoy books where I don't learn the protagonists niece is a lesbian and her lover is seeing a man. It never moves the story along but it entertains some people. I enjoy reading mysteries where we don't get clinical details on the protagonists sexual expertise. So, I also prefer older writers. Ones from the age of privacy and decency.

I am also reading books by black authors right now. For a variety of reasons it interests me right now and as a reader, unpaid, I'm free to read what I damn well please. So is everyone else, even if they have to keep it a secret.

-- Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:51 am --

Bighuey wrote:
Maud Fitch wrote:
patrickt wrote:I actively avoid women authors. It's not easy since so many conceal their gender.
Many authors are encouraged to conceal their gender by their publisher.
The commercial viability of a novel is still connected to its author’s gender; at least in the publishers view.
It is supposed that initials will deter stigma, broaden the market and offer wider appeal.

However, in the case of P.D. James, A.A. Milne, H.G. Wells, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.B. Priestley, D.H. Lawrence, J.D. Salinger, J.D. Robb, A.C. Crispin, E. Nesbitt, C.S. Lewis, C.J. Cherryh, E.M. Forster, etc, we found out who they were anyway. And for me it didn't matter.

(N.B. Can anyone name the women authors in the above list?)
I recognise E Nesbitt and J.K. Rowling thats about all. One that threw me was Andre Norton. Ive read her books off and on for years before before I found out he was a she. Didnt matter, her books were good.

I agree it might well be instigated by the publisher as are the mandatory love interests and relationship angles. That doesn't mean I appreciate it.

On your list, I knew a few more names because my preferred genre is mystery/detective. Most readers for pleasure are women. I suspect that certain genres appleat much more to women. I have read that a few men write romance novels with a feminine alias. That makes sense. Maybe mustery/detective publishers want male aliases but there are sure a lot of very successful women authors in the genre. I also admire the contortions of the reviewers who want to praise the author without ever using a pronoun that's gender specific. Wow, another use for the passive voice.

I live in Mexico and prefer reading in English so for 14 years, B.K.--Before Kindle, I read what I could find. Second-hand paperbacksleft by tourists were high on the list. Since Kindle, I can read not what I can find but what I actually choose to read. It's great.

There are women authors I enjoy. Agatha Christie is an icon and I enjoy her early work for a variety of reasons. I enjoy Florence King but her books aren't available on Kindle. I don't think women appreciate her writing.

Maud Fitch · Post by **Maud Fitch** » 18 Oct 2011, 08:02

Ian W wrote:New user here. I'm rather ashamed to admit it since starting reading again about 10 years ago I've never actually read anything by a female author.....Simon Kernick, Robert Crais, Mark Billingham and Harlan Coben.....

Welcome! If you enjoy Harlan Coben you may like Lisa Gardner. Her novel "The Survivors Club" is about the hunt for a killer who comes back to make sure nobody survives the Survivors Club. On the front cover, Harlan Coben says "A high-octane, nerve-jangling tale of suspense." so it may be a good intro for you, but a favourite of mine is Martina Cole who writes crime thrillers like "The Take".

patrickt wrote:I enjoy Florence King but her books aren't available on Kindle. I don't think women appreciate her writing.

What makes you say that? And what do you appreciate about her work?

BookCritic101 · Post by **BookCritic101** » 19 Oct 2011, 12:29

After suffering through Austen's Persuasion, I think I prefer male authors.

jlmanning1976 · Post by **jlmanning1976** » 19 Oct 2011, 16:35

I prefer male authors, not just because I am one

, because they tend to use names more. Female authors use he, she, me, and like terms too much.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 19 Oct 2011, 16:43

jlmanning1976 wrote:I prefer male authors, not just because I am one , because they tend to use names more. Female authors use he, she, me, and like terms too much.

That's an interesting observation .... can't say it's something I ever noticed but I shall keep a watch for it.

Trcapro · Post by **Trcapro** » 19 Oct 2011, 16:53

I can't say i prefer one over the other. I don't believe the quality of one's writing has anything to do with his or her gender.

Zgârba · Post by **Zgârba** » 19 Oct 2011, 17:10

I tend to read mostly male authors as well. I do try to stick the occasional authoress in the collection, though.

However, most books that I've liked/loved/thoroughly recommended to other people were by male writers, whereas most of the books that I had a problem with were by female writers.

astralgirl · Post by **astralgirl** » 19 Oct 2011, 18:29

I think the books I pick up are usually by female authors, but as I'm getting into science fiction right now, I'm probably going to be reading a lot more books by male authors. I don't think I have any preference for either gender, though because I usually don't even read the author's name until I've finished the book.

What I don't like is when a writer has an unrealistic main character of the opposite gender.

Ms.C · Post by **Ms.C** » 19 Oct 2011, 19:28

It doesn't matter if the author is a male or female but it usually happen that I read more from male authors

Marco · Post by **Marco** » 19 Oct 2011, 20:55

I like females better as gender!! haha butt as authors go i dont know most of my books are male authors

-- Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:02 pm --

Ms.C wrote:It doesn't matter if the author is a male or female but it usually happen that I read more from male authors

I aagree with you!!

-- Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:05 pm --

litlovebug2006 wrote:This is a super interesting question. I find that I generally read female authors, however that does not mean that I don't enjoy books by male authors. I think part of the reason that I enjoy female authors is that the language that they use to describe images really draws me in. This isn't to say that male authors can't and don't do this. I'm as much a fan Amitav Ghosh as I am Jhumpa Lahiri. It just seems to me that female readers tend to identify easier with female descriptions. I believe that Deborah Tannen did a study (as well as other prominent linguists) that examined how women use very different adjectives for description than men. In this case, it would make sense that female readers would relate more to female authors in some senses.

I also think that female authors generally write more books about relationships (and I'm not necessarily talking about romantic since one of the most popular selling genres is romance). What I mean in this sense is that they tend to focus on the social relationships amongst their characters. Not to say again that male writers don't do this but in my experience female readers can relate to this pull toward relationship studies.

These are merely generalizations regarding some of the reading I have done about genders. I only voted female over male because most of the books I read are written by females, however some of my favorites were also written by males. Mostly that seems to be the case depending upon the genre I am reading at the time.

you dont need to over analize