I love books. I love reading. As far back as I can remember, I was slummin' it at the library and then staying up past my bedtime, reading with the limited light I had from the hallway. When I decided to major in English teaching, it was directly correlated to my love of books and the fact that it was a degree that I could travel down many avenues with.
All that said, I had children and then went for interviews where I had to answer questions about the most recent thing that I'd read and I drew a complete blank. Crap, only kid's books! Needless to say, my pleasure reading was SLIM during those early parenting years, but I've thankfully recovered and now get adequate time to read for me.
I'm not a classy reader. I don't love nonfiction. I sometimes have to make myself read classic literature. I hate Nicholas Sparks (haven't read him, but refuse to read anyone that promises a good cry. I don't need that). Amish fiction puts me to sleep, but pioneer fiction is intriguing. Can't do sci-fi, but love fantasy. Mythology, fairy tales, and folklore are all completely fascinating to me. I love mysteries with a dash of romance. I'm not curling up with a straight love story. Period fiction is amazing. Historical fiction will likely lose me in the details. I can geek out on poetry. A series is always a good time.
The Appeal of Books reading was illuminating to my personality as a reader. I definitely could identify with the categories of Time Frame, Character, and Authenticity. While I find it easy to see how my wants and needs fit into these categories and even easily think about my readers and knowing how sexuality, violence, or language might deter them, getting better at recognizing the nuances of plot, mood, and pacing in order to make recommendations are areas I hope to grow in.
Some of my favorite authors are Mary Higgins Clark, Liane Moriarty, Julie Garwood, Robyn Carr, Rick Riordan. I like to try new authors out and LOVED The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall, The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy, and Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle in 2019.
I wish I was a classy reader, but I can't apologize for my tastes. In fact, it makes me smile. We got a chance to visit Napa in March of 2019 and the woman who sold us tickets to our Beringer tour asked me what kind of wine I liked. I sheepishly told her that I wasn't a classy connoisseur. I like Moscato.
Her reply was perfection, "Girl! Don't apologize for that! White Zin pays my bills!! We don't even make money off the 'classy' stuff!"
I love that.
All that said, I had children and then went for interviews where I had to answer questions about the most recent thing that I'd read and I drew a complete blank. Crap, only kid's books! Needless to say, my pleasure reading was SLIM during those early parenting years, but I've thankfully recovered and now get adequate time to read for me.
I'm not a classy reader. I don't love nonfiction. I sometimes have to make myself read classic literature. I hate Nicholas Sparks (haven't read him, but refuse to read anyone that promises a good cry. I don't need that). Amish fiction puts me to sleep, but pioneer fiction is intriguing. Can't do sci-fi, but love fantasy. Mythology, fairy tales, and folklore are all completely fascinating to me. I love mysteries with a dash of romance. I'm not curling up with a straight love story. Period fiction is amazing. Historical fiction will likely lose me in the details. I can geek out on poetry. A series is always a good time.
The Appeal of Books reading was illuminating to my personality as a reader. I definitely could identify with the categories of Time Frame, Character, and Authenticity. While I find it easy to see how my wants and needs fit into these categories and even easily think about my readers and knowing how sexuality, violence, or language might deter them, getting better at recognizing the nuances of plot, mood, and pacing in order to make recommendations are areas I hope to grow in.
Some of my favorite authors are Mary Higgins Clark, Liane Moriarty, Julie Garwood, Robyn Carr, Rick Riordan. I like to try new authors out and LOVED The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall, The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy, and Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle in 2019.
I wish I was a classy reader, but I can't apologize for my tastes. In fact, it makes me smile. We got a chance to visit Napa in March of 2019 and the woman who sold us tickets to our Beringer tour asked me what kind of wine I liked. I sheepishly told her that I wasn't a classy connoisseur. I like Moscato.
Her reply was perfection, "Girl! Don't apologize for that! White Zin pays my bills!! We don't even make money off the 'classy' stuff!"
I love that.
I LOVE Liane Moriarty! Caroline Lee is an amazing narrator on the audios. Which one is your favorite?
ReplyDeleteCurious to see the answers here. I loved Big Little Lies and What Alice Forgot but HATED Nine Perfect Strangers. It was too absurd and none of the characters were sympathetic. I want to read more, but I've been hesitant after that dud. What should I try next by her?
DeleteSame. Loved What Alice Forgot. Loved. Nine Perfect Strangers felt forced and got on my nerves. The Husband's Secret was phenomenal. I picked it up twice before it hooked me, and it was worth it. Big Little Lies & Truly Madly Guilty were great. The Hypnotist's Love Story was a beach read of hers that I really enjoyed too. I might be biased because I have enjoyed each of her titles with the exception of the one.
DeleteHi Shannon! I loved reading this post, especially the wine story! I think it is a great example that we never have to apologize for the books we like to read, and the books we don't want to read. There are cases where a reader goes beyond their comfort zone genre and is happily surprised, but other times, as you discovered, it's best to stick to the favorite genre. On my own time, I pretty much only read fantasy books, but in college I was surprised I loved reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
ReplyDeleteAnd have you read any of the books in the Rick Riordan Presents series? I plan on reading Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi and Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia.
Hi Brittany! No, I haven't read any of that series, but I haven't tried anything of his yet that I didn't enjoy. :)
DeleteThat wine tour lady has the right idea! I read some things that I used to not want to admit to and am completely uninterested is some books that I think I should like, but don't. It used to bother me, but I no longer care. It's very freeing. I think I developed that attitude at the same time I decided that I should stop reading books that I don't like. I used to force myself to finish books because that's what I thought I should do. But there are too many good books out there to read and I don't want to waste my time on the not-so-great ones. I also saw you hated Nine Perfect Strangers. I also like Liane Moriarty's books and was warned against reading that one. I've not heard good things about it. I've really liked the books I've read by her so far.
ReplyDeleteThat "I don't want to admit I read this" attitude is reserved for my Kindle titles! :) I can download it and it can basically be my little secret!
DeleteNever feel like you have to apologize for your tastes in books! I had an interaction with a patron the other day where she said "I should read more respectable literature and not these trashy romances". To that, I replied "Who cares? If you like it then that is all that matters. Why force ourselves to read things that bore yes?". Life is too short, read accordingly.
ReplyDeleteYES! Reading is reading!! I certainly can appreciate reading to learn, reading to grow, but I read for enjoyment and I'm fine with that! Life is hard enough.
DeleteGet it girl! I am also not a "classy reader" if it's weird, I will read it. I don't read a ton of literary fiction and I go on weird binges (sports bios, prison nonfic, beat poets, etc) I never know what I'll be in the mood for. At least you know what makes you happy and you're not afraid to try something out once. Great profile!
ReplyDeleteYou have a much more spicy list than I do. Good for you! I keep trying to branch out, but I'm an adult and resistant to change.
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