What are you reading now?

[Belgrove]

Patricia Highsmith is an example of a female thriller/crime writer whose subjects are mostly men. They are invariably bad men who do bad things, and yet they are compelling, and even sometimes sympathetic, characters. Moreover the novels have made highly successful transfers to the screen, possibly because her spare style gives actors plenty of space to develop a character. A variety of actors have played Tom Ripley, for example, and each found intriguing character traits which fit with Highsmith’s creation on the page (with the possible exception of Dennis Hopper). Looking forward to seeing Andrew Scott’s latest incarnation.

[french frank]

I wonder how many women read them. Holmes is sometimes suggested to be what today would be called a misogynist.

I haven't read them recently but do still value the full-length works. It's irrelevant whether Holmes, a fictional character, is a misogynist: Watson is the gentle counterbalance.

I read the online newspapers - more accurately, I pay £75 pa to read the Guardian, but I also read the selected stories in the populist papers. I haven't had a TV for 20 years and no longer listen to radio other than for research purposes - as I will read the Mail, Express or Telegraph (know thine enemy).

[Ian Thumwood]

Smittims

I read a wide range of books but prefer things which are well written when it comes to fiction. As I said, I have no axe to grind with female writers but have to say I do not really like American writers if I have any prejudice. I have read Anerican novels and there are some I have enjoyed . However, there are booksike Grand Circle I have had to give up with. It is rare for me to abandon a novel....the last was 'The Essex serpent ' which was a Victorian pastiche.

I would never pick up any chick lit as I do not have time to read all the books I want to. They do not appeal and even some of the crime stuff like The Girl in the train ' did not resonate. What I did find is that my sympathies with the characters was a bit harsher that the author probably anticipated. It is also reading things written from a female perspective that has an attraction. In my mind, it is the relationship aspect in the wider that piques my curiosity . Not sure I would want to read anything sexual from the point of view of a woman, though!

It is intriguing to see what the different sexes make of books. My wife never reads and see books as a waste of time. This is in contrast to me as I love reading and discussing books.

One issue I do have is blokes writing in the first person as a woman. I am a big fan of William Boyd but felt that Sweet Caress was unconvincing because of this. Do any female readers feel the same as me on this ? Oddly, I think some female writers deal with male characters well. Again , I think Kate Atkinson is excellent but you could add Pineiro or Karen Blixen to the list. I particularly like books with good dialogue and not fussed what era they come from if the writer is of a good standard. Atkinson really gets how the opposite sexes speak to and think about each other. She is very accurate and probably one of the best writers who can do this.