I really struggle with finding adult fiction that I like, I don't really know where to start, and there's so much crap to wade through. Give me a good YA novel and I'll be happy, but I can't help feeling I ought to grow up at some point...
I recently read When God Was A Rabbit which I enjoyed, but am currently reading three separate books which I've stalled on - The Snow Child (didn't get very far, seemed slow - but might pick that one back up) My Dear, I Wanted To Tell You (not massively in the mood for this at the moment - bit depressing) and The Hundred Year Old Man... (Started off good, very funny, but got a bit drudgy and political in the middle and I don't know half of the big events or important people it's referencing and I feel like I should, so it makes me feel stupid )
What should I try next? I don't really know what I want from a book which I think doesn't help! I know what I don't want.
- Revenge stories
- Overly political/conspiracy based type things
- Swords and sorcery type fantasy, or other supernatural things, like vampires etc, especially if the story relies heavily on the fact they are vampires, or whatever.
- (Bit petty ) Characters who have bizarre names. I don't mind one or two, but I have trouble remembering names at the best of times, so if everyone is called Lefilder and Beflox and Cannington then I'm going to lose track of who's who.
- Inane love stories - I like reading about love/relationships, but I want it to be a good one, not a one-dimensional thing, and no abuse if it isn't going to be called out as abuse, either.
- Historical stuff (anything set before the 20th century) and especially that kind of "classic" narrative. I really have to be in the mood for it and it will put me off.
- Scary stories that are going to stop me from sleeping at night, or anything with totally unnecessary gratuitous violence.
I like interesting/well-developed relationships between characters, and plot twists, and humour. I like worldbuilding, or something set in the real world but done well, so you can imagine the place even if you've never been there.