Oct 20, 2008

Musing Mondays - My First!


MizzB poses this question today:

((side note: yes, I’m going to be using your suggestions, don’t worry! Look for next week’s MM post!))

THIS week’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a “reading” survey, and what it had to say…
I recently read an article (
here), that I found through BiblioAddict’s blog, that talked of “why women read more than men“. In it, author Ian McEwan is quoted saying:

“When women stop reading, the novel will be dead.”

Do you believe this to be true? Why, or why not?

So, what do you think of this article and its claims?
Well, I think this is very interesting. First of all, when I think of a person being an 'avid' reader, I think of someone who reads more than 9 books a year! I realize that's an average, but that statistic doesn't sound accurate to me. My BFF probably reads close to 9 books a year, but I don't consider her to be an AVID reader. I, too would like to know where these surveys are taking place. Secluded villages? Mountain Tops?
I also don't think I agree with Ian McEwan's statement either. Granted, most of the men I know who read, read non-fiction, but I know there are other men who do enjoy novels as well. If women did stop reading novels, it would make a huge impact, but I don't think the novel will be dead. Romance novels would probably take a big hit, but not all novels.

9 comments:

  1. I agree...exactly where are they taking these "surveys?" And true...the romance genre would be hit hard if women stopped reading...but I dont see that happening! ;o)

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  2. I think you're right that certain genres would suffer if women stopped reading novels, but the novel would not be dead.

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  3. You answered it very well. I kind of agree with you!

    Read mine here!

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  4. Statistics are never accurate when polls are done. For the most part, they are probably talking to less than 1% of the population. I did some surveys for an old job and we based our statistics on the number of people who answered the questions. If only 10 people answered and we got 8 affirmatives, then 80% were in agreement. See why I don't like polls or surveys.

    Great post

    Robin of mytwoblessings

    Mine is up now

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  5. I agree with you. Their survey does not seem to be a true representation of the people I know.

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  6. I listed a probable source of the statistics. Tell me what you think.

    Musing Monday

    Oh I'm raffling off a copy of Brisingr this week. So visit the book review section.

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  7. I tend to agree although there's always exception. Judging from the gender imbalance that exists among book bloggers, I can say with confidence that women are the driving force to the sales of fiction. Men are more of geeky books users. Note that I say "users" not "readers."

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  8. Yes the romance and chick lit genres would take a big hit. Good point.

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  9. Yes, I think you are right about the avid reader number.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment! I look forward to hearing from you again soon!