The other day I was telling someone that one of my favorite books ever is The Time Traveler's Wife. This person, along with several others, both male AND female, felt obligated to tell me that this was a 'girl book', and I was honestly kind of surprised by it. Granted, it is in large part a love story, but it's got several other themes in it that I think would prevent it from being a book geared specifically for women. Am I wrong here?

I guess it doesn't really matter, since I consider it one of my favorite books regardless. Just wondering what the rest of you thought.
Also, what other books do you know of that some people might consider a 'girl book' yet be thoroughly enjoyed by men?

I think it's chic lit. I think it fits into that category in my mind because it's so emotional. The author spends a lot of time on how the characters FEEL, and whenever that much print is devoted to feelings, well, it's more likely to attract a primarily female audience. That doesn't mean it won't appeal to more enlightened males such as yourself, but I think there are a lot of guys who would consider it too touchy-feely and would get impatient with it.

^^^That's it exactly! "Chick lit" is emotional. Which is not a criticism per se, it's just that I personally am not especially "touchy-feely" as MissGP so eloquently put it, nor do I think many men are. My husband likes to read and he is always asking me for recommendations but he would think I was crazy if I suggested The Time Traveler's Wife. On the other hand, his anti-touchy-feeliness means he automatically rejects some books which I think he would really enjoy.

"Chick lit lite" are books about shopping, fashion, and women being bitches to eachother. lol.

I'm trying to think of "girl books" that a(n enlightened) man might enjoy. Maybe The Poisonwood Bible, Stones from the River, or Saving Fish from Drowning, though perhaps that third one isn't really a girl book, it's just written by a "girl". I know my husband read and enjoyed one or two books by Kate Atkinson but I wouldn't consider her a "girly" writer.

To be fair, probably a large part of the reason why I like the book is because I'm fascinated with books/movies/tv shows that have to do with time travel, also the book takes place in Chicago and I'm from the Chicago area, but I'll admit that I probably am also one of the few men that can probably enjoy an 'emotional' book. I'm a big fan of The Lovely Bones, which I'm also told is a 'girl book' lol.

The Lovely Bones is my 15-year-old stepson's favorite book of all time. He cannot wait until the movie comes out though he is worried that it will be different from the book.

Hello!

I love the title of this thread!

Does it matter? Really? If you like it, you like it and it is unfortunate you have been put in the spot of feeling you have to justify your choices.

I would certainly consider books like: Bridget Jones's Diary, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Watermelon to be 'chick-lit' which, I imagine, most guys would not be that into. I rarely tread into that area and didn't realize there was a 'lite' version category of chick-lit.

I think too, that even though the target audience for a book might be women, doesn't instantly make it a 'girl book' or chick-lit. I just finished reading The Help and I can see it having more appeal to women but wouldn't call it a girl book and think it would be enjoyed by men too.

There are many books that have broader appeal to both sexes. Some examples (to me) would be: The Book Thief, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Three Day Road, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay The Book of Negroes (called Someone Knows My Name in the US, Cloudstreet: A Novel and My Antonia.

Well my other half who loves nothing more than shooting things in gory games also introduced me to Louise Rennisons books, Bridget Jones is one of his favourites and also Sophie Kinsella. I have just told him he is getting a mention on here and he says they arent girly books!!!

My impression of chick lit is the Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Jane Green type of light and airy feel good books that probably only females would enjoy. I definitely would not categorize it together with books like the Lovely Bones or Poisonwood Bible - not light reading in any stretch of the imagination.

I must confess that I did not regard THE TIME TRAVELLERS WIFE as Chick lit,I would say that it is more Sci-fi with a twist .A bit like THE FLIPSIDE OF DOMINIC HYDE AND THE RETURN OF DOMINIC HYDE if anyone remembers them?

Yorky wrote: "Well my other half who loves nothing more than shooting things in gory games also introduced me to Louise Rennisons books, Bridget Jones is one of his favourites and also Sophie Kinsella...."

Woohoo! Good for your husband Yorky! See, this is the problem with trying to put everything/everyone in an appropriate box...it never works and I think it harmful sometimes.

I agree with you DJ. When I read TTTW I thought it to be more sci-fi because you are asked to suspend a belief and time travel is involved. It reminds me of how my DH always tells me the movie Rocky is a love story, not a movie about boxing.

I agree with Jennifer. I for one am sick and tired of all the micro-labels for things now a days. If you like something, so what? One of my niece's favorite color is blue. Traditionaly that's a boy's color...big whooop! David, if you like something, then like it, read it, treasure it and tell those who have nothing better to do with their time but comment on your reading, to take a long walk off a short pier.

What makes a book great is your experience in reading it. Whether or not you enjoyed the book and want to savor that experience - not a "girl" or "boy" label.

I, for one, probably read more "boy" books than "girl" books - simply because I don't read much chick lit. Now and again, I enjoy something light and heartwarming, but that book definitely needs to make an impression on me or it hits the wall fast.

So, to you, David, I say - enjoy your book whether it be a "boy" or a "girl." Really, what's in a label anyway? To those to mock you - give them a copy of the book and tell them to read it first and then you can both share in the experience.

Hi Jennifer,first off the bat I have to admit that I have never seen ROCKY but even so I am somewhat bemused by your Husbands comment that its not a film about boxing but a love story as I have never seen a single trailer that would give credence to his statement.Ds he possibly mean a love story as on the love of boxing?

Was delighted that someone else doesn't regard THE TIME TRAVELLERS WIFE as chick lit.

Regardless how you classify the book, I find it odd that anyone would need to tell you what kind of book it is. I mean, a good story is a good story, right?

I love James Clavell and some James Patterson, Tom Clancy, and a Robin Cook here and there. Those would be mostly classified as "guy lit" but no one would deem it necessary to tell me these are "boy" books. That is so weird a bit sexist.

David wrote: "The other day I was telling someone that one of my favorite books ever is The Time Traveler's Wife. This person, along with several others, both male AND female, felt obligated to tell me that this..."

Hi David. I did not consider "The Time Traveler's Wife," a chick book. It's a love story. I've read Stephen King's "Bag of Bones." It's a mystery but it was also a love story and not a chick book. Read what you like and didn't listen to other people. As a teen when I finshed reading all the Nancy Drew books I started on the Hardy Boy books.

mary

Hi DJ, Actually, there is a love story in Rocky. Rocky is socially challenged and finds his Adrian. Also, socially challenged. She becomes his rock in a poor underpriveledged pair who get what they wish for...and you know what happens then... You should watch it. Honestly, I don't usually like fight movies at all. But Rocky is a classic.

Well guess my Husband is in for a treat the next time its on...I'll give him a surprise by suggesting we watch it.(The deals off of its on Christmas Day!)

Hi DJ. No, he is serious about it being a love story between Rocky and Adrian. I have watched it with my husband and, though it still isn't one of my favourite movies, it is a good story, cheering for the underdogs and all that. You should watch it at least once in your life, plus it will make your DH happy, which is sweet.

Meghan raises an interesting point. Just to reiterate,the fact I am not a fan of things/people being labelled or put in an 'appropriate' box, why has "dude-lit", lol!!!, not caught on as a marketing scheme the way 'chick-lit' has? I'm just askin' is all!! :P

Jemmifer appreciate the comment on ROCKY.

Excellent point you raise about DUDE-LIT!!

DJ wrote: "Well guess my Husband is in for a treat the next time its on...I'll give him a surprise by suggesting we watch it.(The deals off of its on Christmas Day!)"

Hi DJ. My husband loves the Rocky movies. He acts like he's never seen them before. I'm like, "You've seen this at least 50 times." He'll tell me to be quiet and let him watch tv in peace. LOL!

Mary

Good one Marbear,so what's your take on them?
Will post up MY FABULOUS BOOK ADVENTURES over the Weekend!

David, I have thought about this thread for the past few days and I think the more important question is not whether or not it is a "girl" book or even a "boy" book; but, is it a GOOD book? A good book is one which you enjoyed tremendously, would recommend to your friends and think about long after you have closed that last page. So, if someone tells you it is a "girl" book or a "boy" book, just look at them and say books are unisex and . . . Happy Reading!