Bookbiz Linkage. The 2Blowhards have some interesting links to various articles discussing the different reading preferences of males and females. Here's an interesting quote from the Guardian article:
"What I find extraordinary is the hold the male cultural establishment has over book prizes like the Booker, for instance, and in deciding what is the best. This is completely at odds with their lack of interest in fiction. On the other hand, the Orange prize for fiction [which honours women authors] is still regarded as ephemeral."
But then again, I don't know. The only book I've read on the women's list is To Kill A Mockingbird, but that one's also on the men's list. I sometimes read romances, which a lot of people consider trashy women's fiction, but I don't have any inclination to read what romance fans consider classic, like Pride and Prejudice. I didn't like Wuthering Heights, and when I tried Georgette Heyer, I put the book down after the first chapter because I had the strong urge to stab my eye with a fork. On the men's list, I'd definitely recommend Heart of Darkness and The Grapes of Wrath. So what does this say about me? Am I brainwashed by the patriarchal establishment? Or am I just contrary?
Also via the 2Blowhards: Do girly names obstruct scientific progress? Apparently not is the general consensus due to small sample size in an economist's (!) study. This reminded me of yesterday when I had to talk to an administrative assistant to reserve a conference room and she totally gushed when she heard my name (Oh! It's so pretty!). I wanted to roll my eyes and tear my hair out. I hear this reaction all the time. If only my parents had named me Tim as they had originally planned....
The Steampunk Forum. (via who else, The Steampunk Librarian) Oh man, do you know how much time you could waste in here? Or maybe that's just me. Yes, I'm a sad, sad uber-geek.
I've read four of the five books on the women's list and six of the books on the men's list. I liked them all except Catcher in the Rye, which I hated. My favorite author of all time is on the men's list (Twain) and my favorite contemporary author is on the women's list (Atwood) although I'm not sure I would have chosen either of the books listed to represent them (even though I loved both books). As a teenager, I read, and loved, most of Heyer's books - found them hilarious. I also loved Wuthering Heights. I know the men's list is longer, but c'mon. I think men chose Ulysses because they thought they had to, not because they got through it...
