Do men read fiction? This is a question traditional publishers have asked and decided in the negative. No. Men do not read fiction. The conclusion is based on numerous surveys that have been conducted concerning adult reading.
Now I find this to be a rather disturbing conclusion, because I’m a man and I read fiction. As of today, I’ve read 19 novels and 11 short stories this year. In fact, I just finished a novel yesterday. I also write novels. So how on earth did traditional publishers arrive at such a bizarre conclusion? Am I an odd ball? Or are traditional publishers mistaken?
Traditional publishing tends to be dominated by women and that may influence what ends up getting published. (cf, Where The Boys Are Not.) After all women do tend to read differently than men. And if women are functioning as agents and editors then their interests can’t but help have some influence as to what gets represented and what eventually gets published.
Porter Anderson, writing on Jane Friedman’s blog, disputes the notion that men don’t read fiction. And indie author Mark Dawson has statistical evidence that his John Milton thrillers are read about equally by men and women.
Nevertheless, there is a deluge of novels with strong female leads coming out of traditional publishing and indie publishing. Both men and women authors are cranking out novels where the protagonist is a strong woman. Myself included. I can’t help but think that this deluge is due to the notion that men don’t read fiction.
As a reader, a male reader, I don’t mind reading books where there is a strong female lead. One of my favorite characters is Robert E Howard’s Dark Agnes. Better known as Sword Woman. But quite honestly, I’m getting tired of reading books that only feature a strong female lead. After all, I am a guy and I’d like a little guy fantasy every now and then.
So I ask myself, why? Why all the strong female leads even from the pens of male authors? It’s not that I don’t like women, because I do. So what is the reason?
I think the reason, in part, is because there is a very strong trend, which has been going on for years, to have the main character — whether male or female — to be very touchy-feely. Perhaps this trend is due to a female dominated publishing industry. Because women tend to like their protagonists to be touchy-feely.
Lee Child made note of this in his introduction to a new addition of his first Jack reacher novel. What had started out to be a good thing, pretty soon became a bad thing because so many people were copying it and not doing it so well. In other words it was no longer innovative. The sensitive and troubled main character had become hack. A stock character. So Child made Jack Reacher not quite the opposite. Reacher is something of a man’s man and yet there is enough sensitivity to him that a woman reader could find him attractive.
I think the other reason, in part, is the perception that men don’t read fiction. If men don’t read fiction then why have a male lead in the first place? However this perception may not be true. The popularity of Jack Reacher and Mark Dawson’s John Milton would seem to indicate that both men and women like a male protagonist and one who is something of a man’s man.
In doing a bit of online research concerning the question, I ran across a wonderful article which indicates men do read fiction. However, they’re reading habits tend to be less flexible than those of women. The article is by Kate Summers and is on the Reference and User Services Association website.
In addition to being less flexible readers than women, men tend to be far less social concerning their reading habits. In other words, men tend not to talk about what they read. Something Anderson alludes to in his post which I referenced above. Consequently, surveys indicating men are less likely to buy and read fiction may be skewed in favor of women simply because men don’t answer them! Women are much more likely than men to be in bookclubs, tweet what they’re reading, or share book recommendations on Facebook, Goodreads, and Google Plus. All of which gives the impression men don’t read fiction.
Additionally, young men may not be as attracted to a touchy-feely main character as are young women. And if young men get the impression that novels are only for “girls and sissies”, then we are going to lose male readers of fiction. Which argues for the need to have — especially in YA books — strong male protagonists, written by male authors. Because young men tend to read male authors over female authors. Think about comic books here. Comic book heroes by and large are not touchy-feely and boys love comic books.
As a writer, this is an important question to me — because it impacts both what I write and how I market what I write. However, I’m glad to say I’m no longer overly concerned. I think it’s clear men do read fiction. Even adolescent boys will read fiction if there’s a strong male protagonist and lots of adventure. What is also clear is that men and boys just don’t advertise what they read. For whatever reason. They are also more set as to what they will read, than are women and girls. As a writer, I need to keep this in mind.
Do men read fiction? Yes, they do. Perhaps writers need to include strong male leads in more of their novels. After all, men spend money too. Why not have them throw a little bit in the fiction writer’s path?
As always, comments are welcome! Until next time, happy reading!
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Good day, my friend. Thought-provoking stuff as usual. I write strong women because they were the defining feature of my childhood. Grandma was Rosie the Riveter and mom was a professional gambler, while the family’s “men,” having gotten all they figured they could out of the parenting experience, were off trying to act like young, irresponsible bachelors.
Sorry to buck the trend, but that’s my demographic, for what it’s worth.
Welcome, my friend! I understand your point completely. We do write what we know. My mother was a working mom in an age when there were very few. My grandmother was one of those silent women who were in control. So I understand strong women and perhaps that is why I created Justinia Wright and Lady Dru. They resonate.
As a reader, I’ve reached a point, though, where I’d like to find a good male protagonist who is more reminiscent of the pulps and earlier fiction. Tarzan, Conan, Holmes, Sam Spade, Soloman Kane. Shoot, I’ll even settle for Darcy! I’ve tried Lee Child’s Reacher and he’s too much the other extreme. More like Longarm, shooting all the bad guys and bedding all the women.
As writers, we write what we know. Many of us write what we think will sell. If the notion is that men don’t read fiction, then it only stands to reason that even men will write stories that appeal to women.
Your tales, my friend, are pretty doggone balanced. Strong women and strong men. Much like those adventure novels of yore. Such as Howard’s “The Shadow of the Vulture”. Red Sonya is as hard a woman as they come. Even rescues the “hero” von Kalmbach. Together, though, they make a good team. That is balanced writing.
I can’t believe that’s even something to be doubted, whether men read books! Seems pretty absurd to assume they don’t. Like you said, though, it’s probably got a lot to do with men responding less to surveys and posting reviews less than women.
Can you explain what you mean by “touchy-feely” males? I have an idea, but I’m not sure I understand 100%. It’s an interesting thing to consider, in any case.
Thanks for stopping by Tiyana! By “touchy-feely” I mean a protagonist who’s in touch with his or her emotions. One who is often emotionally vulverable. Wears his or her heart on their sleeve, so to speak.
On the face of it — in our contemporary age — one assumes this is a good thing. But it hasn’t always been the case and perhaps this trend has become overdone. There is concern, for example, that men are becoming too feminine. Young boys don’t have good role models for their gender. That is a big subject and too big for this reply. Certainly in fiction, we’ve gotten away from stereotypical roles for men and women in the past 30 years or so. And that isn’t a bad thing. But what Summers in her article is exploring is reading habits and how they are formed. Boys want adventure and action. If all they are getting is a main character where emotions reign, there is a good chance we are going to lose them as readers of fiction.
I watched the pilot of Netflix’s Longmire. He is a Wyoming sheriff who lost his wife and has been grieving for a year. For an hour he had teary eyes and quivering lip. Was being told by everyone it was time to get help or buck up. He struggles to solve the crime and in the end, with the box of his wife’s ashes by his side, lip quivering, he runs for re-election.
Contrast that with Inspector Tom Barnaby in Midsomer Murders. Barnaby has no problems. He is in a good marriage, loves his wife, gets in hot water as husbands do, is emotive but not extremely so, and solves the crime. In my opinion, he is a balanced character. Longmire is too exteme. I love Barnaby. I won’t be watching Longmire.
There’s nothing wrong with main characters, especially males, who have feelings. The thought, though, is perhaps we’ve gone a bit overboard. Hope that helps.
It does, thanks! 😀