"We’re new kids on the block, having started this past March, but we’re in it for the long haul. As for the reason why, a National Public Radio story some years back determined that only 20% of fiction readers (in the US, UK, and Canada) were men. I’d be shocked if the number were higher in Australia. Not only do I think that this is a tragedy for men on an individual level (as I said above, I think fiction allows us to understand ourselves and one another), but it is a tragedy for society at large where a little empathy and understanding can sometimes make all the difference between uninformed violence and informed compassion. There is a real debate over whether the fiction-reading gap is due to a genuine lack of interest in reading on the part of men or a result of the heavy marketing dollars that are poured into romance and young adult novels based around female characters (the so-called “chick lit”). I tend to think that it’s is a combination of the two, but I do think that the publishing industry bears some responsibility for the actual state of affairs. Hopefully, with the continued development of reading technologies (an area in which men are definitely interested), that will begin to change. In any case, we at 'The Literate Man' want to do our small part to get men reading again."
And that's us in a nutshell. Come on in, take a look around, take off your coat (it's summer down here in Miami, after all), have a seat, put your feet up, and settle in for a good read. Oh yeah--and leave a comment--we want to hear from you!
Hi! I'm stopping by from the book blogger hop. I'm surprised the more men aren't readers. I am from a family of seven girls and three boys. Two of my brothers and my father are where I got my love of reading. They always have a book going and I think one of my brothers and my father go through at least two books a week. My sisters are not as big of a reader as I am. My fiance is also a huge reader. I think he reads between two and three (sometimes four) books a week. I guess I just like being surrounded by men that read. I would say that if you looked at nonfiction readers, men would out number the women. Interesting either way.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll stop by my blog at http://cookiesbooksbikes.com/
Happy Reading!
Hopping in from the Book Blogger Hop! =))
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower! =)
I loved the concept for your blog! it is a sea of women reading about women written by women LOL
Happy Reading!
Have a great weekend!
xoxo
http://www.larissaslife.com/2010/07/book-blogger-hop-folow-my-book-blog.html
I found you through the hop. I find your reason for blogging interesting. I thought you might you might like an article written by one of my favorite bloggers. It's called Venus vs Mars: Gender differences in Writing: http://desertbookchick.com/venus-vs-mars-gender-differences-in-writing/.
ReplyDeleteHey, I am stopping by via the hop! (still making my way through blogs - late I know!)
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that your are a male blogger, with an interest in male literature! There are just way too many of us female bloggers out there. We need some balance. Consider me a new follower.
Rachel
And the plot thickens
Thanks to all who hopped onto The Literate Man this weekend. You've given me a ton to follow up on!
ReplyDeleteWonderBunny, I share your surprise, and I agree that the field even out if you consider nonfiction. But why the male aversion to fiction? Has it always been this way? I seem to envision a past where fiction was prized as highly as nonfiction by male readers, but perhaps that's simply my own misperception.
Larissa, thanks for coming on. I love the graphics on your blog and the Halloween theme. I'm a follower.
Emma, congratulations! I, for one, love the cover art. I'll be back after 8/13 to order a copy.
Chelle, the article that you pointed me to is fascinating! And I've got to do some sort of story on the gender-identifier algorithm. Thanks so much for sharing!
Vicki and Rachel, thanks so much for stopping by. I'm following you too!
Thanks!! =)) I never thought of it as a Halloween theme LOL Orange is just my fave color =P
ReplyDeleteThanks for following!