The Venus/Mars Conundrum
by Rosalind Foley on 05/21/12
The women in our critique group passed around Katherine Weber's novel The Music Lesson which they all thought a beautifully crafted page turner. They urged it on the only male member, thinking he would at least enjoy the artistic references since his work in progress has an art background. He brought the book back a week later and said he couldn't get into it.
I was reminded of the three times I tried to read the much lauded Confederace of Dunces. With every reason to appreciate a book set in New Orleans, I simply could not stick with that one.
Does this prove there are 'guy books' as well as 'chick lit?' Maybe. Not necessarily. I suspect the difference in taste has more to do with a preference for character-centered fiction vs. plot or action-centered. Happy the writers like John le Carre who manage to combine both.
To each his/her own.
