When you're reading, do you need to know whether the author is male or female? Does this affect the voice you hear in your head or your expectations of the content? I ask because I'm reading a book at the moment that is credited to a man but that I know was written by a women. (I'm sorry, but I've got to say it: I met her at
Cheltenham Literary Festival.)
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| Strange thought, to be sure. |
It's not the sort of thing I usually read - it's about an assassin and it's a thrilling tale of spies and murder and subterfuge - so I'm having to take it quite slowly in order not to miss anything; but all the time, at the back of my mind is the thought that I can't believe the tiny, smart, funny woman I met is responsible for the violence and swearing and general nastiness in this book. Don't get me wrong: I'm enjoying it, but I just can't reconcile the two images.
What is nice, though, is that the copy of the book I have is the one the author used for her Cheltenham session. She was one of a panel of three crime writers who discussed the genre and gave readings from their books. So not only is it signed to me, but it also has handwritten notes in it, such as: '
Crisis for [the assassin]. Sets him on path to redemption.' and '
Interaction between characters. Push and pull - conflict - driver for thrillers'. Nice insight into the mind of a writer.
Unlike this. I've just been looking back through my 'ideas and snippets' notebook and have come across a line I wrote some time ago. I can't remember when or where, nor do I know what it means: '
Llittle men on handmade stools.' Make of that what you will.
