Why We Read What We Read

Writers Who Read: Maiga Milbourne Writers Who Read: Gabrielle Selz

Why We Read What We Read

To me, one of the most fascinating questions that has come out of the Writers Who Read interview has been the one that asks writers what kind of books they are drawn to, beyond the usual answers of solid storytelling and writing. I love reading these answers, especially ones that mention very specific story features, like “bodies lost in ponds” or “erstwhile rivals teaming up.” I like this because, in addition to genre, we all have particular character types, settings, or tropes we gravitate toward. I like stories featuring high school reunions, for instance, and I’ll pick up a romance or dark fantasy far more than other genres.

What’s even more interesting is asking readers why they like the books they like. With millions of books, thousands of authors, and maybe even hundreds of possible genres, why do we choose certain types of stories to read?

I believe genre especially ties into the reason we read. We may read for multiple reasons–escape, information, a love of language–but usually one or two impulses are driving us. My dad reads to deepen his understanding of human nature, and so is often drawn to classics or philosophy. I find fantasy wonderful because it shows us a world where miracles and fascinating creatures exist, things we don’t see in our ordinary world (usually). I pick up romance because I love the idea of two unlikely people in a challenging circumstance finding a way to love each over. It’s the same reason I like redemption stories, in and out of the romance genre.

Why do I like high school reunions? It’s fun to me when two (or more) people with a past personal history are reunited and must reconcile their history with the people they have (or haven’t) become.

Which genres do you read? What particular characters, tropes, and plots are you drawn to? And do you know why?