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How would you describe your reading tastes?

32 replies

Teufelsrad · 08/01/2018 13:14

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.

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FinnegansCake · 15/01/2018 21:59

I forgot to add that I enjoy Indian fiction, I have read some excellent books by Indian and Sri Lankan writers.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 15/01/2018 17:26

GoT books are less sensationalist than the series by the way. But yes, they do have a big cast of characters.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 15/01/2018 17:23

Ursula LeGuin is still writing Fizz. She's done a brilliant feminist update to Earthsea and the Gifts trilogy is fab.

gemdrop84 · 15/01/2018 16:59

A bit of everything really! Got allsorts of books. Over the last year or so I've read Little Women, Why Mummy Drinks, The Colour of Magic, Game of Thrones, Call the Midwife, Robert Langdon Series, The Spear by James Herbert and Finders Keepers by Stephen King. I also love reading graphic novels too. Currently half way through the little stranger.

Fekko · 15/01/2018 16:48

As my father would say ‘back of the seed packet’ (ie anything) apart from mills & boom/50 shades type books.

MiddlingMum · 15/01/2018 16:46

Mostly fairly literary for fiction, but I like reading novels set in different countries. Not interested in sci-fi or fantasy at all, any only read crime occasionally.

Lots of biographies, travel writing, outdoor/nature topics and history make up a lot of my non-fiction reading, along with books relevant to my profession.

Cherrypi · 15/01/2018 16:03

I really like fiction books with maths in it, bookshops or libraries. I prefer women writers and contemporary settings. I also love books about books. I like a touch of sci fi/fantasy in a real world setting.

FizziWater · 15/01/2018 09:55

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.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 14/01/2018 23:12

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

KeithLeMonde · 14/01/2018 20:24

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.

MissEliza · 14/01/2018 19:56

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

FinnegansCake · 14/01/2018 15:39

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.

FizziWater · 14/01/2018 15:04

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 Grin.
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.

falaciousreasoning · 14/01/2018 14:57

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.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 14/01/2018 14:53

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 Grin Interested to know what other people's definition of well read is.

FizziWater · 14/01/2018 14:52

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 Blush.
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.

DwangelaForever · 14/01/2018 14:43

@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)

BattleCuntGalactica · 14/01/2018 10:22

Warped.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 14/01/2018 10:21

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.

DwangelaForever · 14/01/2018 10:16

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

MissEliza · 14/01/2018 00:16

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!

Terpsichore · 13/01/2018 22:48

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 Grin. 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.

CramptonHodnet · 13/01/2018 22:44

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.

goose1964 · 13/01/2018 22:09

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

hugoagogo · 13/01/2018 22:07

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