Helen Taylor: Why Women Read Fiction
In a fascinating new book, Helen Taylor, teacher, scholar of women’s writing, and literary festival director, examines just how precious fiction is to contemporary British women readers and offers candid insights into the challenges female writers often face, including publishers’ expectations and critics’ assumptions. Ian McEwan once said, \’When women stop reading, the novel will be dead.\’ Female readers are key to the future of fiction and―as parents, teachers, and librarians―the glue for a literate society. Women treasure the chance to read alone, but also have gregariously shared reading experiences and memories with mothers, daughters, grandchildren, and female friends. For so many, reading novels and short stories enables them to escape and to spread their wings intellectually and emotionally. This book draws on over 500 interviews with and questionnaires from women readers and writers. It describes how, where, and when British women read fiction, and examines why stories and writers influence the way female readers understand and shape their own life stories. Taylor explores why women are the main buyers and readers of fiction, members of book clubs, attendees at literary festivals, and organisers of days out to fictional sites and writers\’ homes. The book analyses the special appeal and changing readership of the genres of romance, erotica, and crime. It also illuminates the reasons for British women\’s abiding love of two favourite novels, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. Taylor offers a cornucopia of witty and wise women\’s voices, of both readers themselves and also writers such as Hilary Mantel, Helen Dunmore, Katie Fforde, and Sarah Dunant. Please consider your own favourite book from childhood, or a book that means a great deal to you for whatever reason and come with a wiliness to share your thoughts. Tickets £8 (£6), £1 off early bird tickets bought before 18th March, available from the Oundle Box Office, 4 New Street, Oundle. Open hours: 10.00am – 1.00pm Mon to Fri: Tel 01832 274734, online at www.oundlefestival.org.uk Any queries email
