Is Zen Master?...No…
Andrea’s the man for me!
The current/recent BBC series featuring Aurelio Zen has got us talking about Italian crime…I’ve always been a big fan of Donna Leon, who writes superb detective novels set in Venice, and I was recommending these to a (male) crime reader in one of our libraries…
“I never read books by women” he gruffly replied, “they don’t think the same as we do”…
Hmmm - `controversial`, I mused, but it did set me thinking:… Do other readers agree? Can ladies write books for gentlemen to enjoy?
Would `Bravo Two Zero` be as popular if it was written by Mandy McNab?...Or `Persuasion` by Jamie Austen?...
Even unknowingly, I wonder if some readers do prefer books written by a member of their own gender…Or exclude some books if written by someone from the other?...What do you think?
Anyway, dear readers, I`m rambling! To return to the point; Italian crime …Well, Andrea’s certainly the man for me!
I’d always liked the look of these books on the library shelves whenever I’d seen them, but didn’t know much about the writer. Now let me tell you, Andrea Camilleri is the author of half a dozen of the crispest, driest, most quirkily perfect crime novels you could wish to find…And yes, you’ve guessed – Andrea Camilleri IS a man! (A 90 year-old Sicilian chappie, in fact). Not that it matters either way, because these books are fantastic! I give you my word, as a gentleman…And as a Librarian…And this is an offer you can’t refuse.
So…any Zen thoughts? (One library user – let’s call her “Audrey” to protect her identity - told me “I simply ADORE that detective Zen on TV…he has cheek bones to die for”).
Bookwise, any criminal leanings you’d like to tell us about?
Any more Camilleri fans out there?...
And what about the great gender divide?...Do chaps only read books by other fellows? And what of the ladies?...Are you so set in your ways?...
Join the debate, just add your thoughts on the `comments` box below.
TTFN
Andrea’s the man for me!
The current/recent BBC series featuring Aurelio Zen has got us talking about Italian crime…I’ve always been a big fan of Donna Leon, who writes superb detective novels set in Venice, and I was recommending these to a (male) crime reader in one of our libraries…
“I never read books by women” he gruffly replied, “they don’t think the same as we do”…
Hmmm - `controversial`, I mused, but it did set me thinking:… Do other readers agree? Can ladies write books for gentlemen to enjoy?
Would `Bravo Two Zero` be as popular if it was written by Mandy McNab?...Or `Persuasion` by Jamie Austen?...
Even unknowingly, I wonder if some readers do prefer books written by a member of their own gender…Or exclude some books if written by someone from the other?...What do you think?
Anyway, dear readers, I`m rambling! To return to the point; Italian crime …Well, Andrea’s certainly the man for me!
I’d always liked the look of these books on the library shelves whenever I’d seen them, but didn’t know much about the writer. Now let me tell you, Andrea Camilleri is the author of half a dozen of the crispest, driest, most quirkily perfect crime novels you could wish to find…And yes, you’ve guessed – Andrea Camilleri IS a man! (A 90 year-old Sicilian chappie, in fact). Not that it matters either way, because these books are fantastic! I give you my word, as a gentleman…And as a Librarian…And this is an offer you can’t refuse.
So…any Zen thoughts? (One library user – let’s call her “Audrey” to protect her identity - told me “I simply ADORE that detective Zen on TV…he has cheek bones to die for”).
Bookwise, any criminal leanings you’d like to tell us about?
Any more Camilleri fans out there?...
And what about the great gender divide?...Do chaps only read books by other fellows? And what of the ladies?...Are you so set in your ways?...
Join the debate, just add your thoughts on the `comments` box below.
TTFN
