Cotton-Pickin’ Days

Nope. As David says, all I read are those “women books”. It’s true, I’ve read almost exclusively women writers for the past several years, branching out only when a male writer wrote with a female protagonist. This is after years of reading historical novels (Michener and Gary Jennings) that were very male, and just getting sick of the male perspective on the world.

I hate those sorts of novel! I am fairly omniverous when it comes to reading matter, but I find them difficult because of the simplistic testosterone packed attitude. Things are portrayed as right or wrong, and “action” as the answer, whereas I prefer books with a “shades of grey” view of morality which mirrors more closely my experience…I feel that they are written for men who get so irritated when one discusses people’s motivations for ever. My “ami” says “All this chat-chat doesn’t sort anything out” and he loves this sort of book!
A book in a series which I found impossible to put down was “The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency” by Alexander Macall Smith, and it has been very popular with lots of (female) friends, but my mother didn’t like it. I’d love to know what you thought of it…
Are you someone who prefers to act, or discuss? I do think that you are perhaps atypical, because I sense that you have a “cut the crap” attitude that has enabled you to achieve, which sadly many females don’t have, leaving us in the shallows as Shakespeare has it.
“There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood, leads on to fame and fortune…well I forget the rest but you get the picture.

river2sea72: Which specific female writers do you like to read? Are you referring specifically to “chick lit”? Since my preference is towards non-fiction, it doesn’t really matter what gender the author is. But for fiction, I notice I tend to read a mix without really taking note of the author’s gender.

wosny: LOL I figured somebody would tell me they hated action adventure. But I think the way you described it as being clear cut, no shades of gray is probably why I enjoy them. Wishy washy indecision annoys me even though that’s part of real life. At least I don’t have to deal with it in a book!

I haven’t read the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series mainly because I don’t really enjoy reading mystery/detective novels. The typical writing style in this genre grates on my nerves.

I don’t consider my reading preferences to be “chick lit” but maybe it is. Of course, I have a Joyce Carol Oates fetish, which is not “chick lit” but tends towards gothic. For a long time I was hung up on Margaret Atwood, but I also immensely enjoy Jane Smiley, Amy Tan, and Alice Walker. These are all reflected in my favorite books of all time, along with other male authors I have enjoyed in the past.

I’ve never been into spy/thriller books at all…

river2sea72: I’m starting to think I may be one of the few women who has fantasized about being a spy.

I like some of Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton’s book. I am now into Patricia Cornwell. Can’t say it belongs to ‘thriller’ as her books aren’t very action packed. Dan Brown would be considered action adventure I guess but I find his books too ‘Hollywood’.

Once in a while, when my brain needs a break from action thriller, I read girly books. I generally don’t like them. I can’t stand the Shopaholic series. Oh, and I don’t read Romance.

parentingjoy: Cool! Another thing we have in common. I didn’t really care for Dan Brown either. The Da Vinci Code was too hocus pocus for me.

I read all sorts of books. In the spy genre I like the old Mack Bolan books. heh. I don’t recall the author, but I do remember reading a book titled “The Hour of the Clown” which was also in the spy/thriller/espionage genre.

I don’t understand why women aren’t targeted for reading that genre, when many of us start reading the Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys books as children.

Forgot to add that you’re not alone in having secretly wished to be a spy. LOL. The HOURS I spent daydreaming up “missions” and carrying them out…

And then there was the period where I was torn between wanting to work for the Brits, the USA, or the Russians as a spy. LOLOL!! I thought it seemed important and glamorous. Movies like “The Long Kiss Goodnight” I enjoy because they let me indulge in a bit of “gee, that could be ME” time. Not that me being a spy ever was a very realistic option. hehehe

qadira: Yet another of many reasons why we get along.

I don’t personally like detective novels much. The type of writing in mystery novels just seem choppy and inelegant. Not that action adventure is any better, but at least the subject matter appeals to me more. *bang!*

I have never really read “girlie” books… Ever since my reading days began. My first books were Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys, Agatha Christie… My lit teacher begged me and forced me to read Little Women… read but didn’t enjoy…

As I grew up it was detective stories, adventure thriller, action books… John Ghrisham (read ALL his books), Tom Clancy, Michael Chricton (most of his books), and so forth…only recently I have gotten to Dan Brown… I say you shouldn’t read all his books in one row… but like his style.

I think mostly though it’s because I have picked up books dad had bought and were laying around the house and so grew up with them…

Smitha: How interesting that your dad’s reading taste influenced you so much. Now I’ll have to be more careful what reading material I have lying around.

[...] According to this CIA personality test, I’m a “thoughtful observer.” In college, the FBI and CIA used to put fliers up advertising job opportunities. I always thought it seemed intriguing. But that’s probably only because I like spy novels. [...]

Oh yes, I read them! I love them! I, too, am interested in how a female would spin one. Have you read Gayle Lynds? Greg Rucka writes spy fiction with a female protagonist, too.

spyscribbler: Thanks for stopping by! I’ll look up Gayle Lynds and Greg Rucka. Always up for trying new authors esp. with strong female characters.

[...] *I did have fun reading Tom Clancy’s The Teeth of the Tiger. How sad that it’s most likely the end of the Jack Ryan series. *sniff* (Yes, I’m a rare woman who reads spy thrillers.) [...]