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Dead Discussions > Reasons you avoid certain genres/themes

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message 1: by Unapologetic_Bookaholic (last edited Jul 14, 2009 04:48PM) (new)

Unapologetic_Bookaholic Is there anything that you maybe don't like to read because you read it (one time) before and didn't care for it?

I ask this because we are posting Opening Lines on a thread in another group and someone wrote a passage out of a book about dragons. Of ALL the shifters I haven't had a particular urge to read about dragons again since Heart Of The Dragon. Not a bad book, but not a great first-time (for me reading about dragon romance if you will).

As for genres I haven't really up and bought a classic for pure enjoyment, hehe.


message 2: by new_user (last edited Jul 14, 2009 05:05PM) (new)

new_user I know what you mean, Kenjii. Some books have dissuaded me from picking up more in the genre, etc. I've been uninterested in UF and medieval books for a while (but the one I'm reading now might change my mind).


Unapologetic_Bookaholic OMG. Medieval. I don't know. I haven't been swayed. Not even by romance. Not yet.


message 4: by mlady_rebecca (new)

mlady_rebecca Biographies. With some people, the more you learn about them, the more you like them. With this particular bio, I found myself wishing I'd left things alone. It was about an actor, and that totally colored how I saw him after that point.


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Oh I know. I tend not to watch those TV bio's on, like, live entertainers b/c then all you think about is how "real" they are and it makes you hard to see past that when you just want to see them as a character or singer. If I knew what an a-hole Alex Rose was I probably wouldn't have liked him as much. Granted he probably just was an eccentric artist. But still...

Good point!


message 6: by Julianna (last edited Jul 14, 2009 05:29PM) (new)

Julianna (authorjuliannad) | 654 comments I'm a total scaredy-cat, so I completely avoid horror or anything I think might keep me awake at night.:-)


Unapologetic_Bookaholic I grew up (literally I was still in diapers probably lol) watching horror. So reading horror as a teen. Like R L Stine then getting into Dean Koontz made me realize. Horror is only as scary as you make it =D.

There are authors I avoid. Like Stephen King. Even I draw the line somewhere, hehe.


★Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Sheba Tong Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ★ (shebatong) | 0 comments I do not read horror or murder mystery.


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Rane: I think it was the way R L Stine sort of poked fun at the supernatural that made it less scary for me as an adult.


message 10: by J.D. (new)

J.D. Stroube | 2393 comments Mod
I have never been a fan of sci-fi. I tried reading a sci-fi book when I was a teen(don't remember the name), and I got so fed up with it. The author made up names for EVERYTHING it took me forever just to translate one paragraph into something that even remotely made sense. The entire book was jibberish. Blah! So make matters worse, I tried to read it, and the story just was NOT worth the endless babbling. Hence, my hatred of sci-fi books. I love sci-fi movies though!


message 11: by new_user (last edited Jul 15, 2009 12:05AM) (new)

new_user LOL, Joy! Been there. Why call it shigmilaffer if it's just coffee? Does that really need to be changed?


message 12: by J.D. (new)

J.D. Stroube | 2393 comments Mod
new_user wrote: "LOL, Joy! Been there. Why call it shigmilaffer if it's just coffee? Does that really need to be changed?"


LOL That's what I kept thinking! Seriously. Some of them should really include a dictionary for all the new terms they introduce...



message 13: by Unapologetic_Bookaholic (last edited Jul 15, 2009 01:08AM) (new)

Unapologetic_Bookaholic One thing I try to avoid (b/c my damn brain profusely produces sci-fi/fantasy) is nameing my characters/places/objects weird stuff. One reason I can personally give is that, this is crazy, but the characters set the mood. If they want to name an object *insert what NU said here* instead of coffee then it would be like strangling the voice of the character to just say coffee. I include Author's Notes to explain the really obscure terms. Some things are just left to wonder.

I love Octavia Bulter's brand of Sci-Fi. Have you ever tried reading a Female sci-fi author? Totally different imho.


message 14: by J.D. (new)

J.D. Stroube | 2393 comments Mod
Kenjii wrote: "One thing I try to avoid (b/c my damn brain profusely produces sci-fi/fantasy) is nameing my characters/places/objects weird stuff. One reason I can personally give is that, this is crazy, but the ..."

In my fantasy series that I am writing, the only made up names for things are a few unique creatures, but those will be well explained. I can't explain just how much it annoys me when an author mentions something without explaining what it is! LOL

Nope, I haven't read Octavia Butler...ever since that one Sci-fi book...I haven't touched the stuff. You know the feeling you get when from nails on a chalkboard? I get that when I think of reading Sci-fi! Ugh! LOL I even get irritated when I pick up a book thinking it is going to be fantasy, only to read the synopsis and discover that it is Sci-fi! LOL




message 15: by Lisa (new)

Lisa | 617 comments I tend to avoid romance novels, partially because I'm embarassed to be seen reading them; some of those covers are just over the top! Another reason I can't bring myself to pick them up is their titles! They are usually so corny and just make me cringe.

I used to read them quite a bit in high school, but stopped once it seemed like it was just the same story over and over again. They weren't all bad or anything, but I definitely can't read them anymore.


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Lisa Anne: I am just the opposite. I started reading romance as an adult. I don't mind what's on the cover. I use paperback book holders. If the theme is similar the story will be the same. Esp with certain publishers. I try and find different publishers that allow for their authors to cross/blur/bend the lines or writing.

What themes do you like?


message 17: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (shadowrose) I tend to stay away from Biographies the most. I don't mind a good biography but in all reality I don't read to but submerged into more reality. I read to get away from the truth, so reading about someone is unappealing to me.
There are some out there that sound interesting but I just can't bring myself to read them.


message 18: by BK (new)

BK Blue (paradoxically) I tend to avoid biographies, sci-fi, harlequin romances and anything by Danielle Steel.

However I love sci-fi movies, lol.


message 19: by Nona (new)

Nona (goodreadscomnona) | 102 comments I only read a few sci-fi every couple of years due to the fact that most of them I read the characters have 3-4 names and trying to prnoucing them is a laughing joke.

another is moden romance or thriller/drama fiction. I live the modern era so no need to read it.


Unapologetic_Bookaholic I like to read modern books b/c I sometimes feel "slowed down" when I am reading books based 10- 20 years ago. When certain things haven't even been invented and its just kinda boring. But if I am in the right frame of mind I can look past that.

Avoid historicals because of this.


message 21: by Nona (new)

Nona (goodreadscomnona) | 102 comments see I love historical fiction I've read nothing but HF for the last four or five years until two weeks ago when I ventured out a little. I perfer a sinpler time, but i'm old fashioned.



Unapologetic_Bookaholic I mean I have read a couple historicals but they had an added theme like paranormal or menage. I tried a purely "back in time" historical and just thought it was OK. Perhaps it was the author. I would like to try historicals but I am so in love with the genres I read now =D.


message 23: by Rita (new)

Rita romance novels (the ones with the crazy covers), horror, gore, sci-fi

those are usually the ones I stay away from


message 24: by J.D. (new)

J.D. Stroube | 2393 comments Mod
Kenjii wrote: "I mean I have read a couple historicals but they had an added theme like paranormal or menage. I tried a purely "back in time" historical and just thought it was OK. Perhaps it was the author. I wo..."

Have you ever tried historical romance? I LOVE historical romance. Hehehe...


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Joy: I read a historical sent to me by an author. It was OK. I mean I even told the author I don't like historicals, so it was nothing against her writing/story.


message 26: by Adrienne (last edited Jul 22, 2009 05:14AM) (new)

Adrienne | 286 comments I don't tend to read SciFi or Adult Horror altho I have read The Shining, The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist and one I'm going to credit Stephen King with about a shop that sells the things you dream for/want, so theres a contradiction for you Ha Ha. But neither of these two genres really appeal to me,perhapes I should step out of my comfort zone! Also Chick Lit doesn't do it for me either


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Oh I don't like Chick Lit either. But I can't say for sure I haven't read a title by accident as I do like romance. I do have a pretty clear idea of the type of romance I like tho.


message 28: by Elvia (new)

Elvia (elvb) I'm not big on historical romance or romance in general. Burning loins don't do it for me :). Which is odd because I can read paranormal romance and not have giggle fits. Go figure.
I also don't get into biographies unless it is someone I absolutely ADORE/ADMIRE. I could care less about reading about someone elses life. Hard enough to live my own lol.


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Of the different romance genres I do like paranormal romance a lot =D.


message 30: by J.D. (new)

J.D. Stroube | 2393 comments Mod
Elvia wrote: "I'm not big on historical romance or romance in general. Burning loins don't do it for me :). Which is odd because I can read paranormal romance and not have giggle fits. Go figure.
I also don..."


I'm not a fan of biographies either. They tend to bore me. LOL




message 31: by Adrienne (new)

Adrienne | 286 comments I think biographies are something people read at certain stages in their life...I know alot of women who read them after they had babies......maybe it's b/c you don't need the same level of concentration as with a novel?


message 32: by J.D. (new)

J.D. Stroube | 2393 comments Mod
Adrienne wrote: "I think biographies are something people read at certain stages in their life...I know alot of women who read them after they had babies......maybe it's b/c you don't need the same level of concent..."

Hmmm...that could be true. I cannot imagine myself ever being drawn to them at any age, but I used to say the same thing about Adult books when I was a kid. LOL



message 33: by Adrienne (new)

Adrienne | 286 comments Have to admit the only two I've read are Katherine Hepburns and a horsewoman from the UK called Pat Smythe, only because they are two women who had interesting lives that I cared to snoop into:)


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Oh one theme I haven't tried is funny romances. I mean I did try one but I couldn't get into it at all! What's up with humorous romance?


message 35: by Adrienne (new)

Adrienne | 286 comments Must admit I haven't read humorous either.... I did try Bridget Jones Diary but it wasn't my cup of tea....I tend to label that type of book chick-lit. I know there are some funny HR about but I'm not too sure....maybe I need to let my hair down and have a good laugh:)

I don't like books written by elderly ladies about what it was like in their villagein the old days either...Miss read writes that sort of stuff... sorry Miss Read.


message 36: by new_user (new)

new_user Yeah, I'm not big on the humor either, LOL. It's not my type of humor, I guess.


message 37: by Athira (last edited Jul 25, 2009 02:33PM) (new)

Athira (Reading on a Rainy Day) (readingonarainyday) I don't much fancy historicals .. sometimes they have too many details which matter that it becomes a bit difficult for me to focus as I read on.


message 38: by J.D. (new)

J.D. Stroube | 2393 comments Mod
I am discovering that books that talk too much about fashion irritate me! LOL Sorry, I've read a few books lately that seem to go on and on about fashion, labels, clothing, etc. I feel like it begins to detract from the overall plot.


message 39: by Adrienne (last edited Jul 26, 2009 12:39AM) (new)

Adrienne | 286 comments Aths...depends on what type of historicals and who's written them.....most of mine concentrate on the story between the H/H:)


message 40: by Rita (new)

Rita I tend to stay away from horror, SF and Fantasy. But I've got a few in each of those genres that are supposed to be good and I'm going to retry them.


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Rita: I am glad to hear to are trying out horror, SF and fantasy. It is good to step out and try new things. I hope you chose wisely, lol. Sometimes the theme is what throws me off about certain genres and I just get SO turned off!



message 42: by Jackie M (new)

Jackie M | 452 comments I usually avoid horror. I have read some but they just give me bad dreams.


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Jackie: Yeah. I'd stay away from horror then. I never have nightmare, even tho I love horror books and movies.


message 44: by Rita (new)

Rita Kenjii wrote: "Rita: I am glad to hear to are trying out horror, SF and fantasy. It is good to step out and try new things. I hope you chose wisely, lol. Sometimes the theme is what throws me off about certain ge..."

I'm going to read Stephen King's, "The Stand' as well as Inkheart and the other book in that series. That and I have all the Harry Potter books that my kids have read. I've only read the first two so I figure these are all good forays into these genres.


message 45: by Athira (new)

Athira (Reading on a Rainy Day) (readingonarainyday) Adrienne wrote: "Aths...depends on what type of historicals and who's written them.....most of mine concentrate on the story between the H/H:)"

Yeah, that's true. I might have tried the wrongest books to start with, but that was years ago and I don't remember which ones I read. Would you suggest any that are pretty interesting and less "detail-oriented"? :-)


message 46: by Adrienne (new)

Adrienne | 286 comments What time period do think you may like and do you them romantic, Hot, Hotter than Hot, or scorchio!


message 47: by Athira (new)

Athira (Reading on a Rainy Day) (readingonarainyday) Adrienne wrote: "What time period do think you may like and do you them romantic, Hot, Hotter than Hot, or scorchio!"

Hmm! Probably romantic from just a few centuries back, I guess!


Unapologetic_Bookaholic Highlander themes are ones I like. So far I have read the ones where a modern women is transported to the 14th century. Though similar b/c of the storyline I have like the series enough to try and keep up with it.


message 49: by Starling (new)

Starling I love SF and fantasy. I love paranormal books. I won't read real horror. I wish bookstores would stop shelving paranormal and urban fantasy in the horror section.


message 50: by Kristina (new)

Kristina | 778 comments Romance. The granny porn kind. They are only good when I'm in Barnes and Noble and I pick up a random one, flip to a page and read the steamy scene. I usually try to read it to my fiance but generally end up laughing till I cry.


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