WOMEN AND BOOKS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 15, 11 October 1937, Page 12

WOMEN AND BOOKS

Reading with the Emotions LACK OF CONCENTRATION Have women the power of understanding when they read— are they tuperficial in their reading— do they read intelligently? Inquiries at libraries and from profegsional and business men and women in England indicate that the majority of women do not read intelligently. All agreed, however, that, compared with a few years ago, women were reading more books, almost invariably of higher literary standing, and their reading covered a much wider range of subjects. The days when libraries wero filled with : gentimental traSh, of the cheap noveh , ette type Of literature, books badiy written with about as much depth as an J ornamental fishpond, were certainly i gone, said one authority, i To-day women are asking for bio- ' graphy, travel, plays, and the better class of novel, both historical and modern, and especially for books with a . background of interpationai politics. Despite this ever.widening field, however, only a very small minority of I women have the ability to appreciate 1 the significance pf the bopk they have just finished. The majority do not un- . derstand what intelligent reading 1 means — to widen and improve their cultural outloolc— not just for relaxation. or to follow the antics of Jane and Jqlin until it is time to go to bed or get dressed for the party. Certainly, there are brilliant exceptions, bnt try to discuss a well-written novel, for instance, with a woman, and see how far you progress. It was clever or nice or a lovely hook, but beyond that — practically nothing. Women read as they argue — with their emotions, certainly not with their intelligenqe. The reason for a hook, its style, its very meaning — such things mean so little to many svoman readers. Four women — a teacher, a librariaiij an editress, and an elderly woman of ieisure— combine their impressions in Ihe following summing up of the question. Women lack the power of coneentration, and, on the average, their moniories are bad. They read taa quickly, and are inclined to skif fhrough pages of a book .whieh do noi interest them, but which probably have an important bearing on tho story oi characterisation. They are interested principally in the story and its emo> tiohalism. They ara inclined to become bored with a story unless it ha^ ap immediate pergonal appeal. Seldom (lo they undprstand the motive behind a story, and the author's reason for fffiting tlie book. Their analytical >owers are weak an.d illogical.