Why Do You Read?
Why Do You Read?
Do you read for realism or fantasy? I don’t mean fantasy as in dragons, fairies, and magical kingdoms. I’m speaking of the idealistic situations that rarely happen in real life; e.g., waking up to a perfect hair day, winning the lottery, and having a spotless house without lifting a finger to clean it. Okay, maybe that last one is pure fantasy and belongs up there with flying carpets, elves, and unicorns.
I’ve always viewed reading as a part of “escapism,” a way to get away from the problems served on a silver platter from everyday life. I enjoy getting lost in characters’ world, whether they are scaling a tall building to commit a jewelry heist, jumping oxers in the CHIO Aachen, or experiencing an awkward first kiss under a mistletoe beneath the desk of a grumpy supervisor’s office. (Don’t ask me why mistletoe would be beneath a desk. I don’t know.) It doesn’t matter the situation. If an author paints me a believable cognitive image, I’m there for it. All in. No questions asked. That’s the joy of reading—allowing someone to temporarily navigate one’s thoughts. And I recognize this as the author’s vision—one he/she is sharing with me and the rest of the world. I understand that the choices made aren’t mine and I may not like or agree with them. However, I have to accept the author’s vision. That being said… Sometimes, that is danggone hard.
Bear with me while I briefly digress with some background information. I promise I will tie it into the topic the title indicates.
This topic was spun from weekend boredom. Late one Saturday night, I found myself not tired and with nothing to do. It was too late to head out anywhere, and the weather wasn’t cooperating even if it had been early evening. I decided to stream something because, hey, I pay for it. Why not? And the truth of the matter is, I like to get my money’s worth. It ticks me off to have streaming services and not watch them. It’s a waste. So, there’s a story behind one of the services that I have.
It occurred during the college football playoffs, and I wanted to see a specific game. According to an internet search (and here’s proof as to why one shouldn’t believe everything one reads on the internet), the game was being streamed live on this particular service. Well, that wasn’t exactly true because it was: 1. not available in my area, and 2. embedded in a bundled package that wasn’t yet being offered anywhere. (Long story.) Before I realized all this, I had purchased the service for a year because, you know, they were having a promotional offer of 50% off. (Did I mention I love bargains?) By the time it dawned on me that I’d been played, it was too late—or rather, complicated to undo the transaction. However, it wasn’t all bad. I found several series that I enjoy.
One series that caught my interest was new; therefore, it didn’t have any reviews. After watching the pilot episode, I decided it wasn’t for me and moved on. But on Saturday night, when I was bored and couldn’t find anything else to watch, I decided to give it another chance. The second episode was much improved from the pilot, and the third was better than the second. I began to think that it had promise. And that was a colossal mistake.
I accidentally skipped episode three and watched episode four. While I thought this was just an oversight, it probably was the universe playing nice for a change. But did I know that? Heck no. So, what did I do? I went back to it, of course.
Before I continue, let me frame this next part by stating the series is mainly a comedy and has many guest stars. In this episode, the guest characters were unusually odd, ones that I wouldn’t say, “Oh, yeah, I want to spend forty-five minutes watching them.” To my surprise, I got hooked and actually fell for one of the characters—the one I initially disliked the most. The writers did a wonderful job fleshing him out and bringing him beyond the stereotypical. The episode went swimmingly, and then the bumholes killed him off. Just without warning, iced him. Now, because the show has dramatic elements, I thought, “Oh, he’ll be okay in the end. He’ll wake up.” Nope. He was dead. All dead. And stayed dead, which meant I was upset. It also meant that the writers had done their job. They had intended to upset the audience. But here was the problem. I no longer wanted to watch any more episodes, even though I’d already seen the episode and knew there were no sad parts. This is what made me pause. Was my reaction fair to the series?
Most writers and authors hope and seek to connect with readers. I say most because there are always exceptions to the rules. How much responsibility is it for the writers to give readers what they want? Granted, there’s no way to make everyone happy, but where is the line? Is it fair to label a book as “bad” or “one-star” because the ending didn’t stick to how readers wanted? And this excludes endings that are rushed, Deus Ex Machina, or poorly developed plots and characters. I’m talking preferences. For example, a romance novel was slammed because the main character was part of a throuple. Was it a surprise? Yes, and no. Here’s what I mean.
This book was part of a series. At the beginning of the series, being a part of a throuple wasn’t in line with the character’s view. However, slowly throughout the series, hints of the character developing and changing are given. Thus, for readers who read the entire series, the character’s romantic relationship choice was predictable. But most importantly, the author states it in the blurb of that book. It’s also how the book is marketed. So, when the book is criticized for this inclusion, is that fair? And if it’s not, should sites like Goodreads allow those types of reviews to be public? I mean, I get it. It’s not for everyone, and everyone’s entitled to an opinion. My question is: where is the line? But beyond that, why does one read? Is it to allow authors/writers to create an experience for us? Or is it to be given exactly what we want and expect?
Do we read to experience what we would like to happen in our lives? Or do we read to be thankful that certain situations haven’t happened in our lives? When books fail to follow the traditional story beats and arcs and dare to be different, are they unacceptable? Do we read for the expected or the surprise?
That’s a wrap on today’s topic. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
If Brokeback Mountain, 8 Seconds, Poltergeist, and Supernatural had an orgy, Demon Rodeo would be the lovechild.
Demon Rodeo is available now on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.
Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you.
Order
⇨ Amazon: https://readerlinks.com/l/4174852
⇨ All Stores: https://books2read.com/u/bP8RG7
Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.
If you’re not following my blog, Creole Bayou, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.
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Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out. Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game. Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin. Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the puckery begin. Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.About the Author:
Hi, I’m Genevive, a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.
