Week 2 -Focus on Reading - The storyline

[Booknblues]

What story lines are you immediately attracted to?

What story lines do you avoid?

[Johanne]

I'll have to think on what immediately attracts me, but humour, quirky characters, weirdness, and dragons are some.

I avoid storylines of people in mild midlife crises going about their ordinary lives, like the plague. That's just, I mean, as un-dragony as possibly can be. I mean if they have a crisis it should be a big one, or they should be out there on the brink of no return, or it should have unexplainable happenings or some such.
I also avoid most self-help books. Well, all self-help books to be honest. I read one about sorrow and coping with the deaths of loved ones that leaned toward self-help, but large parts were more philosophic/existential, which I can do.

[Joanne]

I love a great historical fiction with a strong woman lead. Even better if the story is based on fact. Like Johanne, I am big fan of dragons. Put a dragon into the storyline and I will be hooked. Lately I have been really attracted to storylines from the late 1800's early 1900's. Not sure how that happened, but I have had some great reads from that era.

I also enjoy a good war story, Civil War, either of the WW's. I think this is because I am such a history buff, and read a lot of non-fiction about the wars.

I don't mind a good love story, but if it appears to be a cheesy romance, I am most likely not going to read it. If Romance is listed near the top on the genre list, I probably won't bother even researching the book.

[Booknblues]

I confess that I will almost immediately pick up a book with certain story-lines. Here are some that I love:

I love a good coming of age story and will chose a book because of this,

A book with a quest or journey is sure to hook me.

Did somebody say animals?

Like Joanne, I love a good war story.

Is the story about survival against all odds? Then I'm likely to want to read it.

Adjusting to a new life, refugees, immigrants, changes in circumstance.

Stories that give me understanding of different periods of history. I love medieval, WWII, and I've developed a new interest in post civil war/ reconstruction.

Somewhere there is a mystery in the story.

We promise that this story will rip your heart out.

What I avoid: Stories of family sagas/generational. Over the years, I just read too many of them. I've burnt out.
I've also burnt out on thrillers.
We are all coming together after years and there is some deep family secret which will be revealed.
Edgy, urban tale.
This is about a serial killer.
We once did something horrible and now it is coming back to haunt us.
I'm a really horrible person so naturally you want to read a character study of me.

[LibraryCin]

Thrillers seem to have overtaken historical fiction as my current favourite genre. They are usually really good at "grabbing" my attention right away.

[Booknblues]

LibraryCin wrote: "Thrillers seem to have overtaken historical fiction as my current favourite genre. They are usually really good at "grabbing" my attention right away."

I used to love them and now avoid them.

[LibraryCin]

Booknblues wrote: "I used to love them and n..."

I may get to that point, but I'm not there yet!

[Robin P]

I like historical sagas, historical mysteries, historical romances. But not too much war and suffering. I like academic settings, especially if satirical. I like fantasy with well-developed worlds, but not if it takes 1000 pages. I love time travel and alternate worlds. Heist stories are fun but battles are boring.

I avoid anything described as gripping or chilling, serial killers, true crime, I don’t care for zombies, werewolves, etc. I avoid books whose synopsis starts, “She had the perfect life, career, husband, kids. THEN…

[Joy D]

What story lines are you immediately attracted to?
- Journeys or quests, even better if they are set on the sea or in the extreme cold or in parts of the world I have never been to
- Like Booknblues, I like stories "that give me understanding of different periods of history" (as long as the history is accurate)
- Stories that contain mental puzzles
- Stories about socially relevant topics (e.g., environmentalism, technology/artificial intelligence, racism, classism, etc.)
- Stories about misfits or outcasts
- Art themes
- Science themes

What story lines do you avoid?
- Thrillers, especially those about serial killers or abused spouses/children/animals
- Romances
- Horror/paranormal
- Erotica or anything with graphic sex

[Sue]

What story lines are you immediately attracted to?
- I love magical fiction and world building. I feel like anything can happen.
- I like thought provoking science fiction, especial future dystopias.
- True crime, memoirs, thrillers, policials (police procedural thrillers), anti-hero "heroes"
- Cute/clean romance - I've read my share of really, REALLY trashy stuff and prefer cleaner romances now.
- Some urban fiction - especially if it's funny.
- Stories about cults, who joins them and why, and how do they get out again?
- Modern fiction about other cultures - I've really enjoyed some Nigerian lit recently.

What story lines do you avoid?
- WWII, unless it has glowing, amazing reviews.
- I'm getting sick of the dual time-line stories, time travel.
- Anything with animal cruelty.
- I don't usually like YA or coming of age stories - again glowing reviews can overcome this, but I won't just take a chance on YA.

[Tracy]

I’m attracted to pretty much anything, though I can be hooked hard by an unreliable narrator.
A good Southern Gothic can draw me, too.
I’ve been reading more translated fiction, especially from Eastern Asia and South America.
And I’m a sucker for fairy tale/myth/ Shakespeare retellings and magical realism- as long as they’re done well.

I’m done with newer WWII fiction.
I avoid child and animal abuse.
I read plenty of thrillers, cozy mysteries, YA and Regency romance once upon a time. I’m good without them.

[Theresa]

Interesting....there are always exceptions but in general:

Attracted:
Good plots, strong characters, real sense of place, humor and whimsy a plus. Throw in a cute dog or cat, or even a precocious kid and I'm sold.
Mysteries that are more puzzle, cozy than procedural, inheritance plots, strong female detectives, or classic plots
Heists, capers, adventure, action
Thrillers and suspense with strong female characters, especially if spec ops, FBI or some such. K-9 a real plus.
Historical fiction of all genres but especially romance and mystery set pre-WWII, Napoleonic and Regency a plus.
Anything set in certain locales - Egypt, France, Turkey, or any with strong sense of place. Geography has to be right! If there is a map, I am super happy.
Contemporary fiction - with a real leaning towards women authors, diaspora stories, and works in translation; this includes contemporary romance but not too cutesy. Sexy is fine but there has to be a good plot.
Christmas setting.
Genre books with food/cooking, gardening, books, libraries and bookstores, needlework, art and more in background or part of plot
Beautiful writing and unusual formats

Avoid:
SciFi - except Murderbot!
Fantasy with a lot of magic and world building - has to be relatable
Horror, vampires, paranormal
Serial killer, true crime, psychological suspense
Self-help
Non-fiction except memoir, biography, and autobiography
Children in peril...whether abuse or kidnapping...where that is the central focus of the plot.
I too am completely over WWII settings and plots although I have a few in my TBR Towers that will get read eventually.
Poetry

I mostly want to be entertained when I read, or moved, touched, or awed by the writing. I don't need to like tbe hgaracters and have a happy ending. It does need a good plot with characters and actions that make sense to that plot. I believe one reason I don't read much non-fiction is because I don't want to spend my leisure reading "learning". My profession is reading non-fiction, essentially.🤣

[Holly R W]

What a great topic! I'm so enjoying everyone's responses. It seems that we are here due to our mutual love of reading and yet, we all look for different things in books.

Here is my attempt to explain what I look for (and don't always find).

What story lines am I attracted to?

*Stories involving fully believable characters
*Interesting locales and cultures
*Characters' families, sense of self identity, growth
*Characters throughout the life span - babies, children, teens and on up, including older people.
*Original and creative writing
*Books that make me think
*Humorous, witty writing
*Memoirs and Food Writing

What story lines do I avoid?

*Graphic violence and trauma impacting adults, children and animals - I had seen so much of this during my career as a social worker. I was often called to the emergency room to help families and children in crisis situations (ie. child abuse, rape, family violence, etc. It's all very real to me and disturbing.)

*Thrillers and twists
*Horror
*I'm not generally drawn to Sci-Fi or Fantasy, but there are exceptions

[Joanne]

Sue wrote:I love magical fiction and world building. I feel like anything can happen

Sue, I did not know that! Have you read Robin Hobb? I think you would like her. However there is a certain way to read her stories, in order to get the most out of them.

[Booknblues]

I love seeing the different ways in which we intersect with our reading interests. This is really fun for me.

Johanne - Quirky characters - there are a bunch of books I have loved with these
Joanne- I also enjoy a good war story, Civil War, either of the WW's.- I'm there with you.
Robin - historical mysteries - check
Theresa - Good plots, strong characters, real sense of place, humor and whimsy a plus. Throw in a cute dog or cat, or even a precocious kid and I'm sold. - I know we agree there and a few other areas.
Joy D - Stories that contain mental puzzles - yes, I really love those
Tracy - I read plenty of thrillers, cozy mysteries, YA and Regency romance once upon a time. I’m good without them. - Except I am rediscovering cozy mysteries.
Holly - Interesting locales and cultures - love!

[Sue]

Joanne wrote: "Sue wrote:I love magical fiction and world building. I feel like anything can happen

Sue, I did not know that! Have you read Robin Hobb? I think you would like her. However there is a certain way ..."

No I haven't read Robin Hobb - I need to check her out!

And I appreciate the tip to read in a certain order. I found this website with a recommended reading order: https://harpervoyagerbooks.co.uk/2014...

[Jgrace]

I just spent close to an hour writing a thoughtful post to this thread..... and hit the wrong button without saving

I hope you all can hear my cry of agony.

I feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy pulls the football away.

[Booknblues]

Jgrace wrote: "I just spent close to an hour writing a thoughtful post to this thread..... and hit the wrong button without saving

I hope you all can hear my cry of agony.

I feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy p..."

I hate when that happens. I've done it before.

[Joanne]

Sue wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Sue wrote:I love magical fiction and world building. I feel like anything can happen

Sue, I did not know that! Have you read Robin Hobb? I think you would like her. However there is..."

Yes that is where I would refer to! I am reading this with my Fantasy group (we are just finishing up Tawny Man series)-I love them all, she is such a fabulous writer

[Joanne]

Jgrace wrote: "I just spent close to an hour writing a thoughtful post to this thread..... and hit the wrong button without saving

I hope you all can hear my cry of agony.

I feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy p..."

Ok Charlie, you learned your lesson-oh I have done this so many times. Now I try , when a post is getting long and I spent a lot of time on it, to hit the copy bottom at least half way through. I hear your pain.

[Theresa]

Jgrace wrote: "I just spent close to an hour writing a thoughtful post to this thread..... and hit the wrong button without saving

I hope you all can hear my cry of agony.

I feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy p..."


😢🤗

Been there, done that. Felt the agony and despair. You would think that as a lawyer who writes all the time with auto-save in Word and being indoctrinated to saving that I would learn to write in word document first then copy paste. Generally...nope.

I did write my review and Pursue It! posts of The Little Paris Bookshop in a word document but only because I had to type out quotes and that recipe from the book and did not want to have to do it more than once because it did not save!

[Jgrace]

Theresa wrote: "Jgrace wrote: "I just spent close to an hour writing a thoughtful post to this thread..... and hit the wrong button without saving

I hope you all can hear my cry of agony.

I feel like Charlie Br..."

When I started writing reviews on a regular basis for this group and several others, I quickly learned to compose in a word document and save it before copy and paste. It just isn't something that I think of doing when I'm posting a comment. And I never intended to get so detailed. I got a bit carried away.... and then the whole thing just vanished ...pfft... all gone.

[Johanne]

Joanne wrote: "Sue wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Sue wrote:I love magical fiction and world building. I feel like anything can happen

Sue, I did not know that! Have you read Robin Hobb? I think you would like her. Howe..."

*frantically looking for the "like" button*

[Heather Reads Books]

I missed this thread when it was new, but I am enjoying this series so much I wanted to chime in...

Storylines/topics I like:
- Stories set in various places around the world so I can experience what it's like to be there
- Sci fi with good worldbuilding (I'm a sucker for the classics like Bradbury)
- Fantasy with good worldbuilding (I'm trying to branch out)
- Any fiction that has a really thought-provoking premise, often speculative fiction I guess
- Well-researched nonfiction/history books, especially on topics I would otherwise know nothing about (like The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon). I do a lot of academic research in areas I already have some knowledge in so it's kinda nice to unplug with something completely removed from the research project at hand if that makes sense
- Mysteries/thrillers that take on an unexpected aspect of the genre, especially if the focus is away from law enforcement solving a crime
- Historical fiction: Another genre I am attracted to but need to branch out more with


Storylines/topics I avoid:

- Self-help: most of it seems very scammy and insincere to me
- Police procedurals/"copaganda": anything that lionizes law enforcement or the military too much. I spend the majority of my professional life identifying the abuses of these institutions and find the tendency (in American culture, at least), to present the "rogue cop breaking the rules to catch the criminal" as the hero kinda ghoulish
- True crime: Similar to the above, but I also find it often sensationalizes the crimes in ways that make me uncomfortable, and reinforces harmful stereotypes about why people commit crimes in the first place
- Most YA: I read a ton of YA when I was the target audience and I feel beyond most of it these days. As I was saying to my book club reading buddy, the stakes often feel too low. I'll make an exception if the characters happen to be teens but the stakes are appropriately high (The Hate U Give, for example, is one of the best books I've ever read).
- Romance: I admit to not reading very much romance, but the ones I have attempted feel overly contrived or poorly researched and rushed just to get to the smutty scenes. Eh, not my jam.

[Patricia]

I like the storyline in Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks book. The storyline I love is "Sometimes all you need is a little help from a friend". I really adore that line. I hope there is a book 2 of Save me a seat book😊😊😊😊