In Weekly Geeks 2011-3: Women Writers, Wendy continued the prior week’s “literary prizes” theme, bringing January’s Orange Prize Project to Weekly Geeks with a few questions:
- What are your feelings about literary prizes regarding WHO gets selected? Do you think literary judges tend to be biased more toward men? If yes, why do you think that is?
- Tell us about some of your favorite books written by women.
- Do you tend to read more books authored by men or by women?
- What are your thoughts about the label "chick lit?" Do you think it makes a difference what we call women's fiction? Are books written by women more likely to be labeled "light," or unimportant?
First-time Weekly Geek Lit Addicted Brit (welcome!) suggested that calling a book “chick lit” isn’t necessary an insult: “But sometimes it's just too easy to say, ‘How dare you imply I can't cope with grand ideas because I'm a woman?!’ And so ladies, I say, don't take offence! Who wants to read fashion garble/stories about ‘Mr Right’/inevitably happy endings/cry into a stereotypical cocktail of the moment?! Much more likely to be a woman than a man - and that's why we're the delightfully charming beings that we are! “
Kristina Kriss is also new to WG this week, and offers brief sketches of women writers she’s had to discover on her own, because they were overlooked during her education: “We must continue watch-dog efforts to ensure they are not only read, but appreciated. They have a lot to say and their triumphs continue to encourage new female writers every day. Without these courageous female voices, we might not have advanced in certain areas of science, philosophy, medicine, human rights, and literature itself.”
Trisha of eclectic/ eccentric took on every one of Wendy’s questions. Regarding literary prizes:”If a book written by a middle-aged male is ‘better’ than the book written by a female, then the male's book wins.” And on chick-lit: “To me, this term describes a particular style of book, and it makes no difference whether a male or a female wrote it. For example, Nicholas Sparks is chick lit to me. I even think the term ‘women's fiction’ is distinct from chick lit.”
Kimberly@ Rouquine Reads noted that she reads slightly more books by men than by women, but it’s more a function of genre than gender. “I think that it is important to read both male and female authors, but that it is even more important to read books you like. I'm not going to read a crappy book just because it's written by a women, nor will I ignore a great book just because it is written by a man. That's just silly.”
Check back for a new Weekly Geeks topic this weekend, and thanks to everyone who responded so thoughtfully to this one!