Do Guys like Jane Austens, "Pride and Prejudice?

Question

I remember reading it, loving it and gushing about it to a male friend of mine.
I was crushed, when he didn't share my enthuiasm.
Why?

Sigh.
Why does liking a book , that DOES NOT contain hatred, violence or bloodshed, automatically make a guy gay?
Stupid homophobic remarks..

God! Its not like I'm talking about Danielle Steel!

Answer 1

My father loves Jane Austen and is completely not gay. He actually recommended it to me. Most guys won't admit they like it or not even try it just because they think it looks less masculine. Of course, then there's the fact that guys in general are less likely to read anything by a woman. It's old prejudices people believe without even thinking of it.

Answer 2

I'm sure there are but I think they're in the minority for a few reasons: its a book written in the 1800s, and only those who are into classic literature will want to read/watch the adaptation, which may not be many; people advertise it as simply a romance and not a love-story that actually has deeper meaning and invloves a little politics (the meaning i think is is pro-individualism based on the verbal-fight between lizzie and lady catherine, and the politics is obvious about marriage laws) which means guys will think its frivolous-- just like how women think action films or even video games are just frivolous crap because all they see is the action and don't bother to see the depth that some of them have; and because it's catered to a more feminine audience.

I know feminists will loose their minds over this point, but lets be honest, Jane Austen books are girly books; they involve girls in a pretty time period (or a romantic version of that period), wearing pretty dresses, discussing pretty topics (such as marriage and love), in a pretty, eloquent way of speaking, in really pretty and SAFE drawing rooms.

Compare P&P-- or any Austen book-- to a manlier book like the Hunger Games, and it becomes clear why most of Austen's audience has an X chromosome.

(Hell, you can compare Austen books to Alice in Wonderland-- a book from the 1800s thats in a female's point-of-view) , and you can see clearly why Alice has a more balanced fan base, while Austen's ins't: Alice goes on an adventure, in a place that is arguable dangerous, it doesn't focus of pretty subjects like "love" and "marriage" but focuses on logic, and possible other stuff if you over analyze it.)

So the reason why the majority of Austen's audience are women is the fact that few men would be interested anyway simply because less people are that interested in classic lit, it's not only advertised as simply a romance devoid of deeper meaning, but also because Austen herself catered to women. It's not because of sexism, and to prove this all you have to do is look at the fan base of Alice in Wonderland and modern books like The Hunger Games and Harry Potter-- IF all men really hated women-authors and female protagonists then they wouldn't enjoy those books.

Answer 3

Well your male friend was probably very young. Pride and Prejudice is not a female book but a work of literature. Literature transcends time and the preferences of the sexes. I would suggest you read a wide spectrum of books not simply Austen's gentle take on the world. If you want to stay with female writers try the Bronte sisters books such as Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights which might present a darker edge to the world.

Answer 4

Before answering directly, I would point out that there is a fair amount of gender stereotyping among the answers that reveals extraordinary ignorance and lack of thought. References to sexual preference, or useless cliches such as "the fairer sex" do not address the question.

One reason why "Pride and Prejudice" (and so many other 18th and 19th century novels by women -- and several men, also) do not appeal to modern men is what I would refer to as the contraction of time. During the "slower" periods of centuries past, there was greater time for contemplation. In the modern era, with entertainment more fast-paced, examinations of social class and manners are a hard sell -- across the board, not just for men. However, this dovetails nicely with a second reason, which has to do with the socialization process of gender which, coupled with the evolutionary dichotomy where men are "hunters" and women "gatherers" (thus, generally, enforcing certain aggressive versus nurturing types of behavior), essentially trains men to be suspicious of any activity which involves subtlety and ambiguity. The 18th and 19th century authors like Austen, the Bronte sisters, and even later authors like Edith Wharton and Willa Cather, were involved in, like I say, more contemplative literary pursuits. Boys were encouraged to read Fenimore Cooper, Washington Irving, and Mark Twain . . . hell, Cervantes is rife with action! Finally, as men tend to be more visual the primary colors employed in the works I just cited have a greater visceral appeal to men.

Mary Shelley is, of course, the exception that proves the rule (although getting through the first chapters of "Frankenstein" can be a tedious bore!).

Answer 5

I had an English college professor that loved Jane Austen novels. He was married with 3 kids, and was also very "manly." Yet he appreciated all types of good literature. I think there's nothing wrong with men reading novels written by women, even if they DO offer a woman's point of view. That doesn't make you gay or less of a man. In fact, if men are scared to read female authors, then it's probably because they're insecure about their sexuality. A confident, intelligent man will never turn down good literature just because it was written by a woman or because everyone says it's "girly."

Answer 6

I think there exist men who are scared to read what women like to read. They pretend to be 'manly' but I don't know if being unaware of a woman's feelings is to be manly. I myself am a male and like to read all kinds of books. I can tell you that I am not 'heavy' on love stories and the like... but when a good love story comes my way, I have to read it and I enjoy reading it. There's nothing manly about ignorance.
One of the earliest books that I read was Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It is one of the best novels I ever read. Another great one is 'Love Story'. Then there comes 'Bridges of the Madison County': I read it all in one go through the night, and I cried with tears flowing down my eyes. When later I told a co-worker of mine that it was a good story, his reply was that I read 'girlie books'. Now somebody please tell me how can he judge it to be a girlie book if he hasn't read it at all. These days I am reading Jabe Austen's Pride and Predudice and I like it a lot. I don't have any qualms about expressing how amazing a story it is, and what a great style of expression she has. I am beginning to think that some of these ladies writers including Lee Harper of To Kill a Mockingbird are really amazing writers and that they write in a clearer, less ambiguous fashion. Not as superfluous as some of these men. I surely don't want to raise a new debate here by naming those 'superfluous' male writers but suffice it to say that one's literary journey cannot see its destiny unless he/she has a good picture of the ideas and emotions of the fairer sex.
P.S.: Send me a smile.

Answer 7

Come on, it's a chick flick in book format. Hey they should make convicts read it as punishment, that would keep them on the straight and narrow.

Answer 8

is it neccessary tht a book you loved should be read with equal enthusiasm by your friend (he/she). personally i was not much into the book but know a handful of guys who can just loved it.

Answer 9

because mail readers are like what theey do and what they will and you are lucky you didn't get any suggestions like read suffeerings or any other book like taht

Answer 10

cos he probably wasnt gay.