tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121649472180371405.post6374355004569383538..comments2024-01-07T00:08:50.346-06:00Comments on Literary License (short reviews, real opinions): What Would Philip Roth Do?Gwen Dawsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802377594686973300noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121649472180371405.post-66208149761142057232009-02-20T12:40:00.000-06:002009-02-20T12:40:00.000-06:00As far as I'm concerned, literary world is geared ...As far as I'm concerned, literary world is geared mainly to the female audience whereas 20 years ago, precisely the opposite was the case. (The demographics are a little different in the ebook publishing world--which is more male-leaning). It's an odd situation now because the (male) distinguished elders are still writing about the things they used to, and yet the audience is not following them as avidly. <BR/><BR/>I think the usual feminist complaints about being "excluded" from publishing accolades just seems unpersuasive. To answer Hetzel's point, women have been writing for two genders for much longer than men have.<BR/><BR/>I also think the "distractions" complaint is not always fair. I know many women writers who only get going on their book after they start their maternity leave (which they extend indefinitely, letting their husbands take care of paying the bills while they try to jumpstart their publishing career). <BR/><BR/>As far as lecture/readings, I think writers can do whatever they want. (Yet, it seems odd that they are being paid to do these events if they are just acting like celebrities). <BR/><BR/>BTW, I am such a fan of Oates it is not even funny.<BR/><BR/>Good post, Gwen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121649472180371405.post-19140437590429816322009-02-19T15:41:00.000-06:002009-02-19T15:41:00.000-06:00Anon Child,That's a good question. I'm not sure a...Anon Child,<BR/><BR/>That's a good question. I'm not sure a wider audience means a book is more award-worthy. Consider an important, difficult book that may not appeal to a wide audience. Some particularly challenging books garner very little public appreciation but may still be perfectly award-worthy. The distinction might be that a book that turns off a category of readers (men, for example) likely is inherently flawed while a book that challenges readers in all categories might be just the sort of book we need.Gwen Dawsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02802377594686973300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121649472180371405.post-77986319544063108802009-02-19T13:40:00.000-06:002009-02-19T13:40:00.000-06:00This is really interesting and brought to mind my ...This is really interesting and brought to mind my most recent post. I sort of have to agree in regards to the image of women writers (that curling up on a couch may not look particularly inviting or worth it for a lecture), but something else popped into my mind in regards to "award winners". I'm not sure if it's a blatantly sexist point (or even remotely sexist, or even remotely related to the sex of the writer), but perhaps the reason certain books win awards while others don't is also in regards to the audience. If a book can be appreciated by both men and women as being wonderful, isn't that a more award-worthy book than one that's "woman only"? I honestly don't know the answer to this question; I'm simply thinking aloud (or... typing... aloud?) and am going to need to think about this a lot longer before coming to any conclusive conclusion. This is an important post. Food for thought, no doubt.Meytal Radzinskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15805413335735169073noreply@blogger.com