Does it make a difference? It does and it doesn’t. How’s that for a strong stand. When the main character is female, the book is better read by and women and vice versa. Here’s a very good example. Alexander McCall Smith has a fantasitic series: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Series. The series is about “traditionally built” Precious Ramotswe who travels Botswana in her little white van solving mysteries. To read all the names and syntax are difficult but to hear it is wonderful and educational.
The reader is Lisette Lecat. She’s one of the best. She also reads other stories about Africa. She really makes these stories pop. She lowers her voice for male characters but they still have a soft edge which really fits many of the characters. Here are a few of those books:
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