Conference vaxcat::ef97

    Okay, it's time for another book review.  Usually, my reviews cause
    such a stink - more for their political correctness (or perceived lack
    thereof) than their actual content.  So, I will be brief...
    
    The Chamber by John Grisham
    
    The story is about a condemmed murderer awaiting the death penalty. 
    His grandson has recently qualified as an attorney and decides to
    defend his grandfather at the eleventh hour. 
    
    I found this book to be well-researched and very informative,
    especially from the legal aspect.  Also, the whole controversy
    surrounding the death penalty was brilliantly portrayed.  It certainly
    made me question certain issues about the death penalty which I
    previously had never thought about.  Anyways, a good read - highly
    recommended.
    
    CHARLOTTE
               

I've only ever started on one John Grisham, and found it very tedious.  I
can't even remember the title, it made so little impact.  I've seen a couple
of films of his books, and was similarly unimpressed.

The book and films struck me as being aimed mainly at a female audience.  My
reasoning for this was that the characters and their interaction seemed to
make up the vast bulk of the plot, or when there was a plot external to that
their interactions were more important than the external plot.

This contrasts with, say, Clancy, Bagley or authors of that ilk where the
characters are mainly a pretty thin veneer used as a vehicle for the plot.

regards,
//alan

    Alan,
    
    <The book and films struck me as being aimed mainly at a female
    audience.  My reasoning for this was that the characters and their 
    interaction seemed to make up the vast bulk of the plot, or when there was 
    a plot external to that their interactions were more important than the 
    external plot.>
    
    A few questions, based on your above statement.  Firstly, why do you
    assume that if an author concentrates on interaction between characters
    he is catering exclusively to a female audience?  Secondly, are you
    saying that if an author chooses to focus on the emotive/emotional
    plot/sub plot that he is catering mainly to females? 
    
    CHARLOTTE

    A few questions, based on your above statement.  Firstly, why do you
    assume that if an author concentrates on interaction between characters
    he is catering exclusively to a female audience?  

Based on my - entirely unscientific - impression of what styles of books
tend to be read by my male and female friends, I believe that females tend
to be more interested in books which focus on character interactions than
males tend to be.  

This is a massive generalisation, and there are always individual exceptions
to any such generalisation.  However, demographically speaking, I believe that
the statement I made is true.

    Secondly, are you
    saying that if an author chooses to focus on the emotive/emotional
    plot/sub plot that he is catering mainly to females? 
    
With emphasis on your word "mainly", then yes, that is what I am saying.

regards,
//alan

    Alan,
    
    Whilst I acknowledge what you are saying - that generally speaking,
    women are more interested in the interaction of characters than men are
    - I don't entirely agree.  Perhaps women are more interested in books
    about relationships but that certainly doesn't mean that they don't
    appreciate a good plot and that a sub-plot involving a relationship is
    secondary to the storyline.
             
    I appreciate that you were generalising about women in general, but I
    happen to know quite a few women who would never read a "Mills and
    Boon" and who think Shirley Conran is complete rubbish.  If I were to
    generalise and say that most men prefer porn magazines to literature,
    perhaps you would feel inclined to defend those to whom it does not
    apply :^)
    
    CHARLOTTE

    Perhaps women are more interested in books
    about relationships but that certainly doesn't mean that they don't
    appreciate a good plot and that a sub-plot involving a relationship is
    secondary to the storyline.

    I appreciate that you were generalising about women in general, but I
    happen to know quite a few women who would never read a "Mills and
    Boon" and who think Shirley Conran is complete rubbish.  

Oh, no dispute there at all.  I know a few such women too!

    If I were to
    generalise and say that most men prefer porn magazines to literature,
    perhaps you would feel inclined to defend those to whom it does not
    apply :^)

I think you presumed that I was suggesting that stories based on interpersonal
relationships - even Mills & Boon - are in some way less 'good' than those
that have a larger-scale plot (eg Clancy).

When I am reading fiction, I read for _pleasure_, nothing more.  I want a
story that I can get engrossed in - for me that's books by authors like
Clancy, Forsyth, le Carre and so forth.

If others prefer books by Conran, or J Collins, or anybody the hell else then
that's just fine by me!  I _don't_ believe that any of these authors is more
or less than any other author - just more or less to my taste.  I do resent
those who suggest that their taste in books is better than mine because they
read books that win the Booker prize.

So I wasn't suggesting that anyone was better or worse than anyone else for
whatever they read.

regards,
//alan

    
     I just re-read "The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy" again. Took
    only about three hours in total and I loved it. Such a pleasure to
    get some English humour in these remote parts.
    
     A/.

    Re. 7
    
    Alan,
    
    Sure, no problem.  I will keep Grisham and you have Le Carre (who I
    think is completely pretentious).  Thank the powers that be that we are
    all different :^)
    
    CHARLOTTE

    
    Over the years I've come to beleive that there are quite a few Terry
    Pratchet fans in here. I'm not one of them, but for those who are he
    will be on Radio 4's Loose Ends with Ned Sherrin either this weekend or
    next. I can't remember the time or whether it's on a Saturday or Sunday
    but if you're that interested look it up.
    
    Chris

Discworld has been serialised as an animation showing Sunday
evenings.

    
     Anyone fancy taping that for me ?
    
    A/.

    
     I'll swap you the future versions of Neighbours, if you like.
    
    Seriously.
    Andy/.

    Part I was last week I think.
    
    Chris

    Part One sorry,  however neighbours does sound interesting...
    
    Chris

    re .10
    
    Loose Ends is on at 10am (UK time) on Saturdays. Your social life must
    have picked up considerably since you left Nijmegen, Chris. I remeber
    Loose Ends and Desert Island Discs were the highlights of your week.
    
    Cheers,
    Brian
    PS I'm forgetting, of course, the occassional bit of denise-baiting

    Is that a spelling missteak I see there, Mr. Towers?
    
    Cheers, Laurie.

    
    Harry Enfield was on Desert Island Discs this morning.
    
    10am? So early. No wonder I couldn't remember when it was on.
    
    Chris