emu
First piece published in the school’s newspaper
Posts: 73
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Post by emu on Mar 30, 2008 1:01:13 GMT -5
Do you read much (apart from text books etc)? What would your ratio of non fiction to fiction be? If you do read non-fiction, what type of things do you read? Why do you think it is that statiscally men read a lot more non-fiction while women read mostly fiction? Interested in your thoughts as I have noticed that most of the discussion on this board is about fiction (and maybe that is the nature of a book club?). I don't read a lot of non-ficiton myself but some of what I have read has really left a mark on me, eg, Brian Keenan's 'An Evil Cradling' which is one of the best things I have ever read. (Link if interested: www.amazon.co.uk/Evil-Cradling-Brian-Keenan/dp/009999030X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206856901&sr=8-1 )
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oureternity
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
bam.
Posts: 1,568
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Post by oureternity on Mar 30, 2008 1:57:15 GMT -5
It's an interesting fact. I've noticed it too. I guess women live in a fantasy world lol, while men like statements and facts (they seem more realistic.)
Most of my non-fiction books are biographies, I don't read much non-fiction, I like to discover non fiction things through fiction stories.
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Post by Carma on Mar 30, 2008 7:15:37 GMT -5
yeah, me too. I prefer fiction, but I don't really know why.. I don't think I've ever really read a non fiction book...
Maybe women like to disappear/escape into someone else's life.. While men prefer reading just to eeh.. learn? hahaha I have no idea...
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Post by tahlia on Mar 30, 2008 15:07:29 GMT -5
I also prefer fiction. I am not a big non-fiction fan. I do enjoy reading certain non-fiction books if the book is interesting. Mostly, psychology books though. I'm big on psychology. I enjoy reading memoirs as well. Slyvia Plath journal was good. If the book is interesting I will read it regardless, but I mainly read fiction. I do not spend too much time 'book strolling' in the nonfiction section of the book store. Perhaps maybe I should.
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Mar 30, 2008 16:18:22 GMT -5
I mostly read fiction, but when I come across a good non-fiction book, I'll be happy to read it. The problem for me with non-fiction is that a lot of books seem to be a bit trashy and not very well written, especially biographies. I don't like the "newspaper headline" kind of books that deal with people who committed crimes or who were abused, and so on. I think my favorite type of non-fiction books are memoirs, and I've also read a few very good essays. It's funny to think that men prefer non-fiction to fiction, because they also read more science fiction and fantasy novels than women do. I guess with them it's either facts or fiction and nothing in between?!
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Post by tahlia on Mar 30, 2008 22:01:47 GMT -5
It's funny to think that men prefer non-fiction to fiction, because they also read more science fiction and fantasy novels than women do. I guess with them it's either facts or fiction and nothing in between?! bruno mostly reads nonfiction or science fiction. i never really noticed the difference between the genders, but comparing the men and women readers I know, men typically read more nonfiction and science fiction. i wonder why. interesting.
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Mar 31, 2008 10:44:01 GMT -5
I always think that I should be reading more non-fiction and I try, but it's just not as interesting to me.
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lindsay
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us." - Franz Kafka
Posts: 741
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Post by lindsay on Mar 31, 2008 12:23:56 GMT -5
For me to read non-fiction it has to sort of read like a story if you know what I mean. That's why I like memoirs, kind of like a novel but true! Anyway, I'll read anything by Bill Bryson or Richard Dawkins.
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Kristie
Novel turned into BBC miniseries
"If a book is well written, I always find it too short."
Posts: 7,214
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Post by Kristie on Mar 31, 2008 18:19:33 GMT -5
I do read some nonfiction, but it's usually memoirs/autobiographies/biographies. I'm sure I'll be reading more historical nonfiction later in school and in my career as a teacher.
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on Apr 1, 2008 15:30:24 GMT -5
I read mostly fiction but I do like non fiction, usually essays, letters and biographies.
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lindsay
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us." - Franz Kafka
Posts: 741
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Post by lindsay on Apr 2, 2008 12:51:10 GMT -5
I think the reason that men prefer non-fiction generaly is because they have more fact based brains whereas women are more into the development of a story. Saying that, I know alot of guys who like to read novels- mostly young guys though.
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Post by swissmiss on Apr 2, 2008 14:49:14 GMT -5
I do like some nonfiction. I read some biographies and I also like to read some science stuff which is really interesting.
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Apr 2, 2008 16:36:52 GMT -5
Have you noticed that guys who read usually read A LOT? There are a lot of "casual" female readers, but maler readers are usually very dedicated to literature. When I studied lit at uni there were more male than female students, and I'd say at least 80% of my professors were men.
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oureternity
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
bam.
Posts: 1,568
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Post by oureternity on Apr 3, 2008 6:36:49 GMT -5
Yeah it's mostly true, but I've met casual readers too.
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jobean
First novel published
Posts: 2,479
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Post by jobean on Apr 3, 2008 6:49:01 GMT -5
Yeah I know what you mean! They're either non-readers, or read a lot.
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