Camy Tang/Camille Elliot discussion
What makes you read something outside your normal reading scope?
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You won't be able to read my 2nd book then, Camy. It has a dark area in it.I have two non-fictions on my shelf that I was sent, they are harder for me to read but someday when I have time, I will probably read them. It's not required to read or review them but I know that I should.
I went to a writer's group for the first time yesterday and probably could have had some proofing jobs but they were for memoirs and I just don't think I could read them or proof those well. I like all the different romances from paranormal to contempt although I try to avoid erotica. That don't really answer the question though. Sorry.
I normally stick to genres I like but have found some books I have liked by accident. I like Historical and contemporary and some light suspense. books like Winter Haven and Broken Angel are normally outside my comfort zone but I loved them. I dont like cussing, sex scenes or heavy suspense and horror. I also am not a fan of chick lit. (the ones that have unmarried heroines who are 30ish in a high powered job or overly educated. have the latest fashions and an A lister and desperate to be married).
Romance is my favorite but I prefer it with a touch of suspense or mystery. I also love medic mystery books. I would read a book that is out of my comfort zone if it highly recommended. For example, I just finished reading "Nick of time" by Tim Downs and I cannot tell you that this would not have been a book that I would normally would have picked. I took a chance on the book because someone recommended in one of your post. I can also be tolerant to many kinds of books but I find offensive graphic abuse of any kind and I tend to shy away from books described as funny since many are silly funny, which I do not find funny just silly.
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I have two non-fictions on my shelf that I was sent, they are harder for me to read but someday when I have time, I will..."
Sorry Judy! :)
I think if I had those two non-fictions, I don't think I'd read them since I know they'd be hard for me to read.
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I admit I don't like the Marion Keyes chicklit, but the Kristan Higgins chicklit is funny and romantic.
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Okay, now that I think about it, I think I'm like you in that I'd read a book outside my comfort zone if it was highly recommended, especially if it was from someone I trust who knows about my "no abuse" rule for my books.
Ausjenny wrote: "I normally stick to genres I like but have found some books I have liked by accident. I like Historical and contemporary and some light suspense. books like Winter Haven and Broken Angel are normal..."You my like "Oldest Enemy" by Michael J. Webb.It a lot of murder in it, it has about back in the time of Hitler and then about today time in it. About the Jews, Nazi,exorcise, different religious beliefs,and about God, i had never read any book like this, but it turned out to be a really great book. You may want to try it. Norma S.
I prefer romance with mystery and suspense in it. It holds your interest. That is my cup of tea.
I won't ever read Gilbert Morris, nothing against his writing as it was excellent but I read a story and cried at the end. Looked it up and found out it was true. Cried for 3 days whenever I thought about it. A guy was injured and his wife couldn't get to him until two hours after he passed. It was like he was waiting for her but couldn't. I like fiction that has true facts about places and people but the sad facts like this just tear me up.
It was part of a series, I forget the name but it was J.E.B. Stuart. It showed his romance all through the book along with the war. I went and looked and I think it was The Sword, which was in a series called The Last Cavaliers. It was an excellent book, I just couldn't handle the real life death. There was another book I read like that and I cried and cried. It was a romance but real life type, the guy dies...won't mention author or title as to not give it away. Loved the book but boy did I cry when the main character died.Give me fake and happy. Although I cry like a baby while writing my own books too.
Oh I have the series but haven't read it yet. I have to say I love Gilbert Morris and have read a lot of his books.
It was great, loved every bit until the end. The last part just got to me. It's a problem with me and my emotions not him as an author!
I love to read inspirational suspense with a touch of romance, and that's what I write. I do read outside that genre when an author friend wants me to review or feature a book on my blog.Otherwise, I pretty much stick to the suspense. However, I do break that habit occasionally for various reasons. I am currently reading a book with a setting in Paris and was drawn to it because Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world.
Women's fiction, non-fiction, Biblical fiction...those are all outside my preference. I'll devour anything with mystery/suspense/thriller and romance. Love historicals (which I write), and I'll even read sci-fi, dystopian, young adult.
I like to do Book Reviews for authors so I have learned to enjoy a wide variety. It is interesting the imaginations authors have. I enjoy the different 'take' each individual has on life and various situations.I try to stay focused on literary skills and obtaining interest the books contain.
I use to read nothing but suspense and mystery type books, I started out solving mysteries with the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew as a kid. I read some other stuff but mainly mystery books with Agatha Christie being a favorite. It was being introduced to the America Christian Fiction Writers group that really challenged me to expand my reading habits. I wanted to participate in the discussions and made me realize there are a lot of great books out there. Also, doing the book reviews has expanded what I like to read. Suspense/Mystery is still my favorite but there is a place in my heart for most everything else. Except maybe some science fiction stuff. I need the characters to be more or less human.
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I like that, too!
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That would make me cry, too!!!!!!!!!! I tend not to read Gilbert Morris only because his books are usually not a "romance" in the normal sense of the genre, and I much prefer romance to any other genre.
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Otherwis..."
Oooooh what book is it? I'd love to visit Paris someday. I like reading about European cities in the fiction I pick up.
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I'll devour anything with mystery/suspense/thriller and romance. Love historicals (which I write), and I'll e..."
LOL sounds a lot like me! I'm also not a big fan of women's fiction, non-fiction, and Biblical fiction.
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That's great you read so widely!
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It was being introduced to the America Christian Fiction Writers group that really challenged me to expand my reading habits. I wanted to participate in the discussions and made me realize there are a lot of great books out there. Also, doing the book reviews has expanded what I like to read. Suspense/Mystery is still my favorite but there is a place in my heart for most everything else. Except maybe some science fiction stuff. I need the characters to be more or less human. "
LOL! I also tend to like if the SF characters are human or humanoid. If they're too strange--like animals or something--I don't enjoy the book very much.
I will read books outside my comfort zone if they are highly recommended by someone whose opinion I trust, and the book doesn't violate my "it must have a HEA" sensibilities. So I guess there's still a comfort zone I stay in. :)
Camy wrote: "Holly wrote: "I use to read nothing but suspense and mystery type books, I started out solving mysteries with the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew as a kid. I read some other stuff but mainly mystery book..."Ya, that was my problem with this one book. (Won't name names) I really wanted to read and like the book because I know the author's story but the main character was some kind of creature... it just didn't work for me.
Reading is such a party of my life it's hard for me to find good things. I jump down rabbit trails based on a stray comment at the grocery store. (Did you know Moses practically divorced his wife after the Exodus?) (really) Or - Jesus wasn't really crucified there were no trees. Sometimes its a book mu daughter hands me... Sometimes it's a potential project for a class I'm taking. It doesn't have to make a lot of sense, because it's reading and learning.
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Yes, that's my comfort zone, too. :)
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I had a book like that! I was even friends with the author but I just couldn't read it.
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That's true, every book is something new to learn, I think.
I like inspirational mystery/suspense/thrillers with a touch of romance, although I will also read non-inspirational ones as well, like Mary Higgins Clark, whose latest I just picked up at the library yesterday. I also read Stargate and Star Trek but no other sci-fi. I would not normally choose a YA book but a stitching friend who is an author writes YA and when her first book was published we all ran out to buy it. :) She won an award for that book, as a first-time author. It is called A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth Bunce and is based on the Rumpelstiltskin story. I quite enjoyed it. I have purchased her next two books as well but have not yet read them.
I did read one Biblical fiction book several years ago - The Red Tent - and found it very interesting but I also generally shy away from that genre.
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I'm watching Stargate SG-1 on Amazon Prime streaming right now! I have to admit I'm very impressed with the majority of the writing. The storytelling is very clever and compelling.
I have A Curse Dark as Gold in my TBR pile! Someone on Goodreads recommended it so I bought it. I also have the Red Tend, but I haven't started reading it yet. It's so outside my comfort zone, and I bought the book because so many people said it was good, but somehow I can't get myself to start it.
Cool I have been watching this also. I have it all on dvd. Been watching Star trek voyager and deep space nine also.
I read a wide variety of genre. I would read 15 hours a day or more if I could get away with it, lol. The things that take me out of my reading scope would be a really interesting blurb on the cover or the word Free. I've actually found several new writers I would never have read if it weren't for free books either through my wonderful neighbor lending them to me, a library or free Kindle offerings. On the Sci-Fi topic, I watched the first 2 hour episode of Defiance last night and it was pretty good. Seems to have a solid storyline started.
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I LOVE Star Trek Voyager! I think it's my favorite Star Trek spinoff.
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I was wondering about Defiance, too. I think we recorded it.
We taped Defiance as well. We haven't watched it yet. But we watched Continuum. It's pretty good.
I have certain genres that I really like, but I'm willing to read pretty much everything. Things really changed when I started reading books that others were reading so I would be able to talk to them about the same books. Because I read books out of my comfort zone, I tend to read books I don't enjoy.
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Hubby loves Continuum! I think it lagged a little in the middle of the season, but it picked up at the season finale!
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I also started reading books others were reading to talk to them about it, but luckily they read genres I enjoy like historical romance and contemporary romance and speculative Young Adult. I drew a line at books I knew I wouldn't enjoy, like Shades of Gray.
Im watching star trek voyage and deep space nine as its on tv here Thursday and Friday nights.what is Continuum?
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Reading challenges always push me to read outside of my typical genres and surprisingly I usually end up loving the books. Also reviews from my friends or major media exposure such as with "50 Shades of Grey". I don't like erotica (I prefer Christian Romance), but when something gets so big I feel compelled to read it, if only to keep up with pop culture. Turns out I didn't like that book in particular. But with books like The Kite Runner which was big in the media I loved it!
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I admit that I will often read books with large media exposure, too! I debated about reading 50 Shades, but decided that right now, at least, I have too many other books I need to read first. I might get to it eventually although I don't expect to like it all that much.
Sometimes it's no intentional--you start a book and realize that it's not your normal reading fare, but it's good so you keep reading.
Other times it's deliberate, you pick up a book you normally wouldn't, for various reasons.
So what will make you pick up a book you normally wouldn't? I'm rather curious.
I rarely pick up a book outside my comfort zone, although my comfort zone is rather large. But I know certain books are bad for me spiritually or emotionally. Any type of contemporary or women's fiction with abuse in it (sexual, verbal, emotional, spiritual) is difficult for me to read and affects my mood. I have struggled with depression in my life and reading books with abuse in it makes me a little depressed for a few days. So I have to avoid those types of books, in order to protect myself.
However, I will read a large range of books otherwise. Gore and romantic sex in books does not bother me, nor does cussing. I read a large range of genres, too, although romance is my favorite.
How about you?