Tess Gerritsen is one of my all-time favorite writers. I “discovered” her with THE SURGEON, then read her single-title backlist. GRAVITY has to be one of the best books written in the last twenty years.
Anyway, she blogged the other day about a subject I’ve been thinking alot about lately . . . whether men read suspense novels written by women. I’ll pontificate on this subject down the road, because I’m still mulling things over in my mind (which can be a crowded place at times!)
One thing she said really hit home:
How many of us women readers are willing to read countless mysteries starring male detectives who drink to excess, watch TV sports, describe their cars in loving detail, and do “guy” things? How often does a reviewer write, “his books are too man-ish to interest women?” Women readers, it’s automatically assumed, are willing to cross gender boundaries and read about Dirk Pitt and Jack Ryan and Jack Reacher. And we do, with gusto.
But if a woman sleuth dares to act like a woman, then they’re radioactive to Patrick Anderson. Who said, in his review of VANISH, that only women would care about the struggles of a “lactating detective.” Because men sure don’t give a damn.
VANISH is a fabulous book that should resonate with ALL readers, male or female, regardless if one of the characters is a “lactating detective.” I mean, don’t these men have wives? Don’t they care about the struggles of working women? Or are they simply giving us lip-service that they are marginally sensitive to our lives?
I love thrillers. Probably 80% of the books on my shelves are suspense novels of some sort. The rest are romances and a few science fiction. I think it’s grossly unfair that suspense novels by women aren’t taken as seriously by male reviewers as suspense novels by men. I love both. I don’t discriminate based on the gender of the person who wrote the book.
So check out Tess Gerritsen’s blog on the subject, then stay around there awhile. She has incredible insights about the publishing and writing business, and I’ve re-read several of her posts because they always hit home with me.
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That’s why you see all those authors with no first names – just initials. They’re women – unless of course said initials write romance – then they’re men. The difference in the genres is: In romance, the men don’t want anyone knowing they write romance. How unmanly. In suspense, the women want to be taken seriously.
Some things never change.
I don’t discriminate based on gender either. I don’t think most women do. But women are less hidebound than men. IMHO.
Mo
I’m not a big suspense reader, but I do read mysteries. I loved Dick Francis’s books, read every one. Within the last few years, I’ve discovered his late wife co-wrote them. LOL.
The plain hard cold truth is, guys, for the most part aren’t interested in female goings ons. No matter how you package it. It’s just the way it is. Just that simple. Why is that so hard to understand? Guys think, act and react different, it’s the nature of the beast. Woman are more inclusive and tolerant of the male, it’s our nature. Simple. Guys don’t want to read about PMS, chocolate cravings, bloating, expanding thighs, breast feeding, or all other things female.
I just asked hubby if he would be interested in reading a NY Times best selling suspense novel with a chick PI or cop as the main character, he said no, I asked why, and he said he’s not interested in reading about a female cop/detective. End of story. It really is that simple. And, I refuse to argue his feelings with him, why should I? I respect he has no interest. I don’t like liver, for my own personal reasons, so why would anyone not undersatnd that? Why would they take offense and try to convince me otherwise?
Karin, I completely understand where you’re coming from, and you know me … I’m not a feminist by any stretch of the imagination. But. I think that there are fabulous suspense novels written by women, that might not even have a woman protagonist or there might be a male/female partnership of some sort, and some men (not all) completely dismiss the books without even giving them a chance. It makes me think that THEY think that female written books are inferior. I just think that women should be judged by the books they write, not their gender.
But you’re right about women being more inclusive and tolerant than men in general, so I guess we get the benefit of reading a cross-section of books and they don’t.
‘But. I think that there are fabulous suspense novels written by women, that might not even have a woman protagonist or there might be a male/female partnership of some sort, and some men (not all) completely dismiss the books without even giving them a chance.’
–agreed, and it’s any man’s loss for dismissing them.
I’d like to note, hubby didn’t say he was opposed to reading a suspense novel written by a chick auhtor, he said he was not interesteded in reading about a chick protagonist.
It’s a good thing women make up over 80% of the reading market then!
Great points! Karin, I totally agree about people’s reading choices. Your husband should read what he wants too! My take on what Allison is saying is that the INDUSTRY is not respecting the female books. And that’s true. They slant toward men. I just went to a workshop on taking your novel from book to screen–and people are still taking a male pen name to write action-thrillers because the buyers often won’t even look at one from a female. I’m not a feminist–at least not the way I understood the word as I was growing up–but I certianly believe in fairness!
So I agree with you both! My husband and I are both very strong willed and opinioned. People ask us why we get along so well–because we both respect each others opinions. Even when he’s dead wrong, I just let him be wrong
Slightly off topic, but another thing I never understood. Oprah doesn’t care for romances and this freaks romance writers out. Why? To my knowledge, she never said they were bad books, or anything like that, they simply aren’t to her taste. I love romances, along with mystery, suspense, action-thrillers, and many other genres but I don’t think Oprah has to love the same books I do.
Awesome discussion, and maybe I can add an interesting side comment or two.
How many middle age men do you know who watch Lifetime regularly? Most that I am thinking of don’t read – hmmmm. I often lend books to a girl I work with. Her hubby is a sci-fi freak, he reads everyone one of those books and absolutely loves Natalie Collins and Josilyn Jackson – out of his genre and female protaganist – he loves them. But this is a guy whose been down on his luck, and couldn’t afford to buy, now he loves these two authors. He’s gonna love Deb.
And although there haven’t been many Oprah picks that I’ve read, they have (everyone of them) been about family incest and abuse. Which I have not been able to read since Sybil. Oprah’s picks have never impressed me, but darn they do a lot of good for the specific authors. I don’t get it.
I have to agree with the assessment that the review industry is at fault in some respects. If male reviewers give lousy reviews, men will follow that thought.
And of course we are more tolerant, we’re married to men.
Am I a femanist? hmmm, maybe, but I am more of a humanist. I believe everybody should have the right to chose, that is what the movement was all about. Choice. I will chose a well written book with a female protagonist over the regurgitated dreck that is offered up today by the big six book mill featuring many best selling (male) authors today with no original thoughts or ideas.
I like Tess Gerritsen. The Memphisto Club is one of my favorite thrillers. I also enjoy Lisa Scottoline’s books and her main characters are almost always women. If the story is good, I’ll read it. I don’t particulary care if it featues a “lactating detective” or a “cross-dressing transvestite”. I like James Patterson’s women detective characters too and my wife and I regularly watch Women’s Murder Club on television, which is loosely based on his series of books. But, I agree that a man writing about a women detective versus a woman writing about a woman detective offers several subtle differences if you really compare them closely. I think Scottoline’s books focus more on family and how being an attorney/detective affects family relationships, whereas Patterson’s characters are more of the “Lone Ranger” variety.