THIS week’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a “reading” survey, and what it had to say…
“When women stop reading, the novel will be dead.”
Do you believe this to be true? Why, or why not?
Well, first you can view this article here if you’d like. The thing I found most funny about it was that the among avid readers, the typical woman reads nine books per year, while men only read five. I wonder what avid readers they are referring too because obviously they don’t spend much time visiting blogs, do they? These statistics are so out of whack.
I do believe women read more than men. Just look at blogging-most of it is women although that doesn’t necessarily mean men aren’t reading. For me, most readers I know are women. I know very few men who are avid readers-my Dad only reads the newspaper and the Bible. I got my love for reading from my mom. Would book sales go down if women stopped reading and buying-yes I think so. At the same time I do notice a lot of reviews from men also on the online stores so they are reading.
What about you? What do you think of this question?
Nine books a year? I consider nine books a month a slow month. 🙂
Lezlie
Most of the readers I know are women, too. It also seems to me that women read more of a variety of genres than men do.
I think it would be awesome that we women have the power to effect the publishing market like that.
Avid readers, lol. Good one. Most of the men I know who read, read nonfiction. Lots of biographies, business books, newspapers, sports mags. But, I have passed on a few fiction suggestions to my husband and he is now a huge Richard Russo fan. He also enjoys legal thrillers. He usually has a book going so I guess he’d qualify for an avid reader. Maybe even more than five, lol.
So, yes, I think the novel WILL be dead when women stop reading. I read mostly novels and I’m on number 75 for the year so far. It’s been a great year to be a booklover. Given the number of political ads on television these days I’m happy to turn it off and relax with a good book.
From my experience I believe men only read five (or less) books a year, and most of them seem to be non-fiction. But nine books a year for a avid reader? I read a book a day because my circumstances allow it. But even my busiest friends who are casual readers, or who read mostly during vacations read a lot more than nine books a year.
Interesting post.
I think that might be a true statement if you only take novels into account and not other types of reading. For the novel, I think women have a better attention span. I mean, look at communication studies. Women are natural listeners..well at least most of them. When I read a novel I often “hear” the main character speaking to me.
Hmmm. I wonder about that. It’s true, though, that there are a lot more female book bloggers! But in real life I think I know as many male as female readers. I’m not sure what the statistics here say, but I always hesitate to say “women are more likely to do this and men are more likely to do that”, you know? Anyway, I hope the day women (and men) stop reading never comes!
My answer is on my blog. We all seem to agree about most things.
Others mentioned a good point, women like to TALK about what we read more, which is probably why the majority of book bloggers are female.
lol Lezlie, that’s for sure. Depending on the size of them I can get more than five done in a month. I think I’ve already passed 70 or 80 for the year, maybe more. I’m going to have to keep a tally next year.
bermudaonion, the article actually did say that women read more genres. Men usually stick to what they like for sure.
bluestocking, either way I don’t think they need to worry about us ladies stopping to buy books. lol.
Mary, you’re lucky that your hubby likes to read and even some of the same stuff you do. It would be fun to be able to discuss it together. I use the tv as background noise for the dog-that way he doesn’t hear everything else but mostly I just read too.
Sandra, their definition of an avid reader is unreal. I’d love to read a book a day but by the time I do everything else it never happens.
Ti, I know exactly what you mean. If I really connect to a character I feel the same.
Nymeth, you are so right. Like I said I’m really not sure. The men I know don’t read a lot. If I find one that loves books as much as I do I’ll snag him up though. lol.
Callista, that’s true. For the most part I don’t think that men have book clubs to discuss what they’re reading. It would be cool to have a man’s point of view on a lot of these books though.
My husband reads a lot, but not books. Mostly online, newspapers and magazines. Plus he often listens to books on tape quite often. I agree with everyone else that women actually read more books across many different genres.
I’ll read just about anything, but the hubby pretty much sticks to thrillers and political fiction.
I saw an AP survey that said 80% of fiction buyers are women. So if women stopped buying fiction, novelists would be in some serious trouble!
I really don’t know what to think about this statement. I’ve heard it before and read the article a few weeks ago but I’m not sure I buy it. Surely there are men out there who read novels! Look at our lovely bookblogging men (although they are sorely outnumbered!). My dad reads novels quite often–and enjoys them. Oh alright–maybe the novel would be dead…
In terms of the statistic, sadly I believe it. I think WE are out of the norm. Most of my friends are not readers and if they were ever to hear that I’ve read 60 books so far this year I don’t think they would believe me!!
Michelle, thanks so much for popping in. I know I certainly support the purchasing of many, many books. lol.
Janel, I’m the same. I’ll try different genres. The only thing I don’t enjoy is self help books. I read to escape not to think more.
Trish, I agree we are out of the norm but at least here in our blogging world we’re normal. lol. None of my friends read as much as I do. All I ever hear is that all I must do is read and yet that isn’t so-I just read quickly.
I couldn’t get passed the nine books a year. Nine? Only nine? I read that much on a slow month. Guess not all readers are as compulsive…lol!
Yup, I agree Dar. And while I don’t read *quickly* I do read consistantly…which is what keeps my numbers moving. It irks me a little when people talk about how they wished they had more time to read. I think the difference is that we make time in our busy lives…
J.Kaye, I couldn’t get past that either. Even the people I know who don’t read as much as I do get past nine books.
Trish, that’s right-we make the time. I think it’s like any other hobby. It’s what we do for enjoyment.