Reasons you avoid certain genres/themes

[Kristina]

I've cried over several books. I don't mind as long as no one sees me! I hate books where I'm disappointed in characters. I think there was a Jodi Picoult book where the husband cheated on the wife. I've read how ever many books with affairs and it's never a big deal. In this book, I was disappointed in the husband I returned the book to the library without finishing it. I'm so weird sometimes.

[Lisa]

Kristina wrote: "I've cried over several books. I don't mind as long as no one sees me! I hate books where I'm disappointed in characters. I think there was a Jodi Picoult book where the husband cheated on the wif..."

Ugh I read (and sadly bought) one Jodi Picoult book and was horribly disappointed in the whole book. It was awful because I was excited to finally try her since I had heard so many raves and I just couldn't get into it (I read Vanishing Acts). I thought all the charcters were horribly flat and the story line was only so so. It was just so obviously made to be so emotionally heartwrenching that it felt contrived. I now avoid anything written by her.

[Elvia]

Anne wrote: "If the description of a book says anything about it being "bittersweet" or "tragic"...FORGET IT."
Not a cryer Anne?? lol I know what you mean. I'll still read them but I REALLY have to be in the mood or need to cry. haha

[Anne]

If I want to cry I'll just take a peek at all of the laundry I still need to fold. Heh.
I prefer happy endings because I think I get enough realism out of life in gereral. I can't remember the last time I had a good cry, though. Maybe I need to rethink my position and find a real tearjerker!

[Kristina]

Haha! That's how I feel when I look in my laundry room! I don't specifically seek out books that make me cry but I'll pick up something that seems like a good story then some where in it someone dies and I'm sitting there blubbering. Such as pat conroy's beach music and Cassandra king's the same sweet girls. Great books I just happened to cry during.

[Elvia]

LOL Anne!! I know that laundry feeling. I have the same problem looking at my kids bedrooms!
Yeah, you have to be in the mood for a good tear-jerker. I like a book that has a happy ending AND can make you cry. But only in moderation. ha

[new_user]

I like happy endings too, but generally if they make you cry, that means they're good books.

Where the Red Fern Grows was soooo sad! *tearsob* Be prepared if you read that book.

[Anne]

But I don't want the dogs to die!

[Elvia]

Awwwww

[Anne]

Yeah, yeah. I know it's pathetic.

[Kristina]

I get weepy when animals die. When we watched I Am Legend, I cried when the dog died. I used to have hamsters and I would bawl when they died... And we're talking about when I was in my early 20's. So Anne, I feel ya. Not crazy about sad animal stories. I read Chicken Soup for the teenage Soul when I was in high school and the only story that brought tears to my eyes was the one with the kid who had to put his cat down.

[Athira]

Kristina wrote: "I get weepy when animals die. When we watched I Am Legend, I cried when the dog died. I used to have hamsters and I would bawl when they died... And we're talking about when I was in my early 20's...."

My dad used to tease me that even in a catastrophe, I will be crying for the animals, not the humans! :) Even in movies, I hate to see any animal in any kinda trouble. I guess its especially coz these animals die/suffer for human mistakes.

[Kristina]

Yup. I'm a sucker for an animal. My fiancé has told me he wishes I was as interested in human babies as much as I am in animal babies. My fuzzy babies are less demanding though and potty train quickly. And they don't wake me up in the middle of the night. ;)

[Wendy T]

I'm also a sucker for animals. Last night I finished a book where the dog died, well I cried and cried that my eyes swelled up so bad I had to go to bed because I couldn't read after that. I'm glad it happened at the end of the book not in the middle.

[Kristina]

Aw! How sad! What book was it?

[Anne]

Kristina wrote: "Aw! How sad! What book was it?"

Yes. What book was it? I want to make sure to avoid that one! Listen, I hate sad endings so much that I will Google movies and go to wikipedia to find out how they end before I rent them from Blockbuster. I (sigh) even read the spoilers here on Goodreads for books that I think may be questionable. I'll be honest with you guys, I've never been much of a crier. It's not that I don't get upset, I do. The only problem is, when I get really sad I get sick to my stomach! So, instead of bawling, I'm hunkered over the toilet! It's disgusting!

[Elvia]

Wow that's horrible Anne!!! I can't imagine not getting a good cry in once in awhile. "Cryin'" books help me somehow. My husband can't figure out how I cry over a book but he's one to talk - he cried when John Elway retired!
The only genre/type I try to avoid is old fashioned romance. I don't know exactly what those are but anything that explains the woman's breasts as heaving bossoms. lol

[Anne]

I don't mind the "heaving bossoms" books as long as they have some sex in them. Heh.

[Elvia]

I think the sex would be fine...it's just the wording of the sex that wigs me. haha

[Lynda]

I tend to stay away from authors rather than genres. I do avoid bsdm and books focusing on extreme violence.

[Anne]

What does bsdm stand for? Sorry. I'm still learning this stuff.

[Lynda]

Sorry, I turned two letters around. I meant bdsm: Short for "Bondage and Discipline, Sadism and Masochism." A catch-all term for a broad array of sexual practices, especially involving restraint and inflicting pain.

[Anne]

Oh. Ok. Heh. I haven't ventured into anything like that yet. I'm not sure my local library stocks any kinky books.

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic]

Anne: Check the large print maybe? My LIB has about 80-90% of its LP selection in romance.

[Anne]

Stop! I am getting a mental image of old ladies reading kink with magnifying glasses!
I think you're right though! Most of our LP section is romance. Too funny!

[Elvia]

Anne wrote: "Stop! I am getting a mental image of old ladies reading kink with magnifying glasses!
I think you're right though! Most of our LP section is romance. Too funny!"

OMG that had me laughing out loud at my desk!!!

[Anne]

I guess we will probably BE those old ladies some day. Hmmmm. Not so funny now, is it Elvia?! I always wondered why so many of the romances came in LP. I suppose I just pushed the awful truth out of my mind!

[Elvia]

Actually I was picturing ME old and gray and hunchbacked ('cause that's how I see me) curled up in my bed with my bifocals on reading erotica!! LMAO

[Lynda]

I AM old and gray (although not hunchbacked). I was reading erotica long before I got my bifocals. My mother accused me of reading dirty books when I was in 5th grade, and I was reading porn at 13. To tell you the truth, I was tired of it by the time I went to college.

When you read a lot of books with more sex than plot, it all runs together. It's like watching dirty movies. After a couple, they bore you to death.

I think that romance and mysteries are in LP because they attract the most readers.

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic]

I was surprised that not only were the LP's in my local LIB mostly romance but at least a couple of the new releases are always romances. It is cool! If I ever want to get the latest romances or check out a new series I check my LIB or do a ILL. We are def. into kink here ;).

[Anne]

I've got tears in my eyes right now! I don't see myself as a hunchback either, Elvia. I can, however, see myself in a motorized chairs. Wheee!

You're probably right about most people enjoying mysteries and romances, Lynda. It makes sense to have them in LP.

I wish we were into kink here, Kenjii! Lucky you!

[Elvia]

Oh motorized chair with a basket to carry all your dirty books!! hahaha
I never noticed what was in the Large Print section at our library. I read an LP once and it hurt my eyes...go figure. So never go back in that section unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary. lol

[Anne]

I've read them before and they've never hurt my eyes (lol), but I do hate that I have to turn the page evey 10 seconds!
I love the idea that I'll have something to scoot around in that can carry my dirty chick-porn! Way to use old age to our advantage, Elvia!

[Elvia]

ABSOLUTELY!! ;)

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic]

Oh Anne, we carry kink at WALMART, LOL! I was talking with a friend here on GR and we were comparing the Wal=Mart romance selection and she was saying (she lives in the Bible Belt area and I am in CA) how they carry the ones with the "tamer" covers. I was like we have just about anything you can get at your local bookstore! I was shocked to see all these half naked oily chested men, but hey I got my kink fix that day =D.

[Anne]

Kenjii wrote: "Oh Anne, we carry kink at WALMART, LOL! I was talking with a friend here on GR and we were comparing the Wal=Mart romance selection and she was saying (she lives in the Bible Belt area and I am in ..."

I know what you mean! We moved from Tampa, Florida to Boiling Springs, South Carolina. In Tampa, you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a strip club. In Boiling Springs, they won't sell beer on Sundays. I didn't know what they meant by "Bible Belt" until we moved here! So, uh...no. No kink in the Walmart here either. (sigh)

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic]

Oh Anne, you poor dear. There are various sides of me that need to be simulated [wait let me finish, lol:]. Having the selection be narrowed down FOR me was a pain. The religious selection was aplenty while the romance was strictly the mildest of the HQN line and such when I lived in Texas. I rarely bought from Walmart in Texas. While here in CA I tell myself 'Limit 5 or 6!'

[Anne]

LOL! Yes, the religious section in our Walmart is chock full of books *snort*! I keep praying (get it...praying!) that they will get a larger selection around here.

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic]

LOL Anne. Your great keep at it, you never know what may happen. I study religion BUT if I even open a bookstore I want to sell erotic romance. I find that of all bookstores [new or used:] the romance section is always lacking in variety. I will go from mild to wild =D. How to explain to friends and family why I sell smut but am pure of heart *shrugs* will have to be between The Maker and I.

[Anne]

Oooh. A smutty bookstore! Can I come and work for you?!

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic]

Anne: I'll start with a small front in CA and then THE WORLD! hehe. But yeah sure I'll need a co smut seller. Qaulifications?

[Anne]

Hmmm. I can work a cash register, AND I will be willing to preview all of the new books! Reading all of those books would be a big sacrifice on my part, but that's just the kind of person that I am. (ahem)

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic]

Within your fave genre have there been themes you avoid? Lately I have not read many [or any really:] of my romance suspense or romance from the HQN or Silhouette brand. You get used to a theme and then things change for a time I think. I hope I get back to romance suspense though! My friend sent me a complete series by Rebecca York and about 200 other books!

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic]

I don't even know [hpy. speaking:] if there are any no-no's when stocking a(n) erotic romance bookstore. I mean MY theme will be exclusively romance but should I include any and all themes?