August 20, 2007
It sounds like J.K. Rowling is writing a crime novel. I certainly agree with the various folks in the linked article who think she'll be good at it, given how much like mysteries the Harry Potter books are, but I have a hard time imagining a long career of crime writing for her. Will crime novels really be satisfying after the full-featured alternate universe of the Potter books? For her? For us? It seems to me she will eventually have to take a stab at one-upping herself, whether or not it's in a children's book context.
By the way, who knew PD James was still alive? And isn't it funny that she too goes by her initials?
I've been told that P.D. James went by her initials so she would be taken more seriously as a writer. However, I think of the counter examples of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie who both predate James and I'm somewhat skeptical.
Interesting. Of course, Agatha Christie didn't go by her real name, and Dorothy Sayers had a more academic background. But either way I don't think the fact that there have been other successful women authors in the past means that women now are taken just as seriously as men.
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