The sort of stories I like and those I DNF or avoid.

I find my DNF list is managed by not picking up novels I’m not interested in. Personally I enjoy Sci-fi; not everyone’s cup of tea. But if I didn’t like Sci-fi and some sub-genres aren’t for me, I would avoid purchasing such a book unless I hear a good review etc. Therefore managing down my DNF pile.

Something I’ve learnt about myself is; I’m not as clever as I thought. Maybe some of that was a young man’s ego. Still, as Clint Eastwood said, “Man’s gotta know his limitations.”

I recently watched a Brandon Sanderson YouTube video, “the common lie writers tell you.”
In the video, he warns of the danger of our culture’s, “you can do anything, if you set your mind to it,” idea. I must say I agree with his logic. And as the famous Buddha quote goes, (not the Buddha but hey!) “Believe nothing...”
Yeah, you can find the rest of that quote. Go in search of enlightenment.

So back to that original comment. Some books I avoid because I wouldn’t understand them. More on that later. As you can imagine, I’ve come to realise I’m not as clever as I thought, by meeting intelligent people and attempting to learn stuff that just went over my head and orbited the planet. Wow!
As an example, Hexadecimal – not for me that one. Once again, wow.

Let’s come at this from a different angle. I have never had nor have I developed an ability to play a musical instrument. I can barely wring a tune from an MP3 player. But like intelligence, I do love to see the performance of talent.
(No, definitely not; “(insert country’s name,) has talent.” No, just no, stop it. Please, stop.

At this point, I could do a long list of albums and songs but this is “Good reads,” where the conversation is about books and I’m attempting to write a blog on that very subject. But my ‘monkey mind’ keeps running off.

The point I’m making is some reads I just leave on the shelf because I’m not up to them. I don’t advocate we dumb down these stories. Those that can enjoy I hope you find such books and enjoy.

I’m reminded of Kurt Vonnegut's short story Harrison Bergeron, check it out. Sci-fi so if that’s not for you, fair enough. By the way, Mr Vonnegut does an interesting presentation; “The shape of stories.” (You can find it on YouTube.)

So I am apt to avoid, Hard Sci-fi, certain philosophical works, some more, “brilliantly/written/original,” classics, if they are deemed to be a bit clever. I’m looking at you, Mr Joyce. None of these avoidances are any comments upon the books and if I was smarter, I may well enjoy them. And if you do enjoy, “that sort of thing,” nice one.

I also avoid romance novels, adventure tales, thrillers, detective novels and fantasy. Just not for me.

I understand, with my regular quoting of Brandon Sanderson, you could be forgiven for thinking I like Fantasy, but no. I did enjoy Trudi Canavan’s Black Magician trilogy and the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercombie. I liked the Black Magician trilogy, enjoying the first novel, with the idea of dangerous power and as I remember (It’s been years since I read these.) I also rated the cloak and dagger of the second two books. I have mentioned before, I didn’t rate the end of the First Law trilogy, not that my opinion has affected Mr Abercombie’s sales. But why read them in the first place? A: Interesting reviews and the idea of Grim Dark.

I did enjoy the many and varied characters and the “grim-darkness,” of much of it. Bet Mr A enjoyed writing those parts.

So continuing on themes, tropes, genres I’m not a fan of, I don’t like heist stories or the gang of five tropes. You know the one, leader, lancer, heart, brains and tank. Or thin variations on these. Once again, if you like these, great, just not for me, ta.

I don’t like episodic type novels. The type where the hero starts neck-deep in trouble then escapes and wow; free! Only to run into another mini adventure, that gets worse and once again, the hero pulls it out of the bag; free again. This is not the try/fail cycle. These episodes feel like ever more dangerous mini adventures often with no real link to the plot. I’m looking at you, “Consider Phlebas, Ian Banks or The Dark by James Herbert.” Once again not for me but if you enjoy…

But hold on.
I’m generating a negative vibe here, let’s consider some of my favourite books. Some of which you may not like. Fair enough, you do you, best wishes.

So books I do like, love, enjoy, re-read.

Sci-fi
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
A Modern Utopia - H.G. Wells.
War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells.
The Time Machine - H.G. Wells.
1984 - George Orwell.
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley.
Foundation (Six books as one.) - Asimov.

Various.
Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet – William Shakespeare.
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austin.
Animal Farm - George Orwell.
Bury my heart at Wounded Knee – Dee Brown.
American Gods – Neil Gaiman.

I’m sure there are more. Anyway, as ever if you got this far down the blog, thank you for taking the time and giving my little rambling piece of nonsense, your time.

Thank you, Terry.