How would you describe your reading tastes?

[Teufelsrad]

Which genres and tropes are your favourite?

There's no judgement intended. I'm just curious to know which sort of books appeal to the MN on this board.

[SnapesTears]

I like a very broad range of stuff: popular fiction, literary fiction, crime, psychological thrillers, travel writing, young adult fiction... To be honest I read owt.

I don’t read as much sci fi or fantasy but I will if the mood takes me.

I like state of the nation books, post-apocalyptic settings, dystopia, character-focused books that explore the human condition and just good old plot based ripping yarns/page turners. As I said - I read owt.

[lljkk]

I prefer non-fiction nowadays.
Fiction: I only like dialogue.
Seriously, I struggle to read books that are mostly prose.
That said, I managed to persevere & quite enjoyed The Sellout.

I guess i like "books that make you think but not too much." Most the books Mners talk about I couldn't trudge thru at all.

[Lucked]

Eclectic fiction but only fiction and rarely poetry.

Already this year I have read modern, sci-fi, crime and fantasy. Currently on historical fiction and a graphic novel.

[Launderetta]

Thrillers, legal & criminal. Grisham is classic, also Bill Rogers (Manchester based) & many other UK-set series.
The occasional Jeffrey Archer (say what you like about him, he's a damn good sory teller).
Travel-based fiction - Shantaram was amazing.

[buckeejit]

I'd struggle to describe mine. I like allsorts but not overly keen on biographies or history 😁

[Cabininthewoods69]

I read complete trash. It helps me to zone out and is better then a glass of wine

[DwangelaForever]

I'm obsessed with police procedurals, especially a well established series that I can binge on!

I do like a good psychological thriller too. And I love Milly Johnson & Lucy Diamond - o don't know what I would call their genre as I don't want to offend them. Maybe feel good? Note: I always just call them girly books but I don't think they'd be too impressed with me!

[hugoagogo]

Eclectic: Douglas Copeland, Douglas Adams, PG Wodehouse and Winston Graham.

[goose1964]

Eclectic,as long as it's fiction I'll read it

[CramptonHodnet]

I think my reading tastes are fairly eclectic. I have some genres I read more than orhers and are my go to comfort zones when times are stressful.

I like good quality crime thrillers, bibiographies, non-fiction - nature, family fiction. Not wildly keen on fantasy - takes me out of my comfort zone. I have to be in the right frame of mind to read it but a good dystopian or post apocalyptic novel could be a possibility.

[Terpsichore]

I read a lot of non-fiction, especially history (19thc for preference) and biography. Very interested in the arts so I like books about writers, artists, musicians, actors, film-makers, creative people generally.

Fiction - I shy away from the latest 'must-reads'; I’m not really sure why. I might come round to them a few years after everyone else . Bit of a weakness for small-town American fiction. Enjoy 'literary' fiction if it happens to grab me, as long as it isn't written in the continuous present.

I'd run a mile from anything remotely fantasy or sci-fi related. Love good crime fiction.

A weird mixture, really. I’ve always got my own little reading-list on the go in my head.

[MissEliza]

I'm starting to go for trash tbh party because it's cheaper! I read very quickly and can't afford a new book every week! I need to go for the kindle specials or kindle unlimited books!

[DwangelaForever]

@MissEliza there's a good series by Rachel Abbott on kindle unlimited if you like police/crime thrillers

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

I have the reading taste of a 15 year old gaming nerd. I like dark fantasy; Mark Lawrence, Joe Abercrombie and the like. Also classic dystopian fiction.

I do read the odd worthy literary novel or airport bestseller and I think I'm reasonably well read in general.

[BattleCuntGalactica]

Warped.

[DwangelaForever]

@TinklyLittleLaugh what do you consider to be well read? (Just wondering what it means to you on a personal level as I know loads of people have different takes on it)

[FizziWater]

I read for pleasure and don't really care whether people think it's trash.
My tastes have changed over the years.
In my teens (early 1970s) I read lots of classics and historical novels, Orwell and Anya Seyton. In my twenties there was a fantasy phase, a Wilber Smith phase and a Jackie Collins phase .
Then it was spy fiction for years. That went downhill after the end of the cold war.
In my late 30s/ early 40s I had DC and my reading time plummeted and I read stuff like Judy Astley and Erica James.
I've now been stuck in a crime fiction / thriller phase for many years.
The internet has made me read less I'm afraid and I'm reluctant to start a book unless I'm sure I will enjoy it.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

I mean I've read most popular classics. Stuff like 1984, Far from the Madding Crowd, Persuasion and modern stuff like Possession, The God of Small Things. And less literary bestsellers like The Girl on the Train.

Basically, when someone mentions a book I can usually put my two pennorth in, though I've not studied literature or anything, I just like books Interested to know what other people's definition of well read is.

[falaciousreasoning]

I will read anything but really love any crime or history books, even more so if they cross over.
So far this year I've read The Silent Companions, Murder on the Orient Express and am currently reading Jurassic Park.

[FizziWater]

TinklyLittleLaugh I like your definition of well read. It does seem to sum up my reading. I have read a lot though in part because I am old .
I also have a huge catalogue of books that I have part read. I don't knock myself out to finish a book if I'm not enjoying it after two chapters.

[FinnegansCake]

I read and enjoy lots of different kinds of books, except for science fiction/fantasy. I read a few in my very early teens, but haven’t touched any since.
Mostly I read according to my mood. Could be crime fiction or historical fiction, autobiography or coming of age fiction. Sometimes I feel I should try to understand what has got the world into the situation it’s in today, and read geo-political and historical nonfiction. Other times I just want something light, entertaining and non-taxing, and enjoy a bit of chick-lit as long as it’s not too twee. My favourite genre though is contemporary literary fiction.

[MissEliza]

Thanks Dwangela. I'll have a look. I'm getting desperate.

[KeithLeMonde]

I read fiction almost exclusively. I like the premise of lots of non-fiction books but I really struggle to finish them. I think I read to escape and non-fiction doesn't do that.

Fiction-wise, I'll read just about anything well written. I don't tend to pick up fantasy/sci fi type books but I have read a few of the classics and have enjoyed them. The only thing I avoid is books that are horribly harrowing, I'm too soft these days.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Finding all the fantasy hate a bit sad. I love fantasy; it's just pure escapism. Are there no GoT fans here?

[FizziWater]

TinklyLittleLaugh I read loads of fantasy and Sci Fi 30 years ago, Ursula Le Guinn, Stephen Donaldson, LOTR etc.
I tried to watch GOT but it's too gory. I think what puts me off reading it now is that it takes a while to get to grips with an entire imaginary world as well as all the characters and I am too lazy.
Attempted to read The Martian last year but failed to see the appeal.