Paranormal & Urban Fantasy, Monthly Group Reads discussion
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Discussion Topic #11: Are there any themes you won't read?
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Nothing is very shocking to me. I remember when Karen Marie Moning wrote that "rape" scene in Faefever...people went NUTS about it, but it really didn't bother me. Sex is fine, but I like the sex to be part of the story, not the entire story. Stuff that is really smutty doesn't catch my attention the same way romance novels with a storyline do. Stuff that is incredibly boring..I don't even pick up. I think one of the reasons I stick with Paranormal is because I can live everything else. It's not everyday a vampire kidnaps me to protect me against an ancient goddess come back to take her vengence.
I have a few:1) I don't know why but I don't like reading about the fae. If it's just a small aspect of the book that's fine but I think I would struggle if the whole book is about them, I tend to avoid those altogether.
2) Depressing books. Unless there is an intriguing mystery or theme that my curiosity can't ignore, a consistently depressing story will turn me off.
3) If I fall for the man/woman that the protagonist hasn't chosen. The classic example for me was New Moon, I fell for Jacob so I couldn't finish the book - a rare thing for me.
4) Killing off beloved characters or turning them evil especially in a long-running series is a no-no unless they are resurrected or turned back to good of course. I stopped reading Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series for a long time when a certain character died and I'm considering giving up the House of Night series after a death in Tempted.
5) If the author has taken their series in a direction that I don't approve of, I may stop reading especially if I know that it isn't going to get better. An example would be the Riley Jenson series, she was raped in book 2 and it barely registered on her mind. I could not read more. Patricia Briggs did a better job of addressing the after effects of rape in both her werewolf series.
I will read most themes (e.g. sex, torture, and so on)as long as they are dealt with appropriately by the author. I read the Mortal Instruments series recently which dealt with the issue of incest, a controversial subject but it was well done.
1. Extreme violence on a human or an animal especially sexual abuse.2. Vampires as heroes and good guys. Can't buy the premise. They are soulless blood suckers.
3. The high fae (fey, fearies,etc) as they were in The Lord of the Rings. I prefer to see the fae as veiwed in the Harry Dresden books or as in Lament. The lower fearies may be pretty interesting, though.
4. Poorly written sex scenes which are used to increase the number of pages in a book. Usually this happens in books that are at best mediocre. I want more well written story and a few good sex scenes.
1. Books where the characters have one emotional trauma after another (i.e., anything Jodi Picoult)2. Books where the male protag is barely above "Me Og, caveman" level. If he's pushing his lady around, I don't need to be reading it.
3. Anything involving babies and romance. I like my couples unhindered by ankle biters.
4. Generally poor writing on the author's part. There are some writers I will never try again because I found their writing style and plotting beyond juvenile. Christina Dodd and Mary Blayney come to mind.
5. Anything involving rape fantasy. That's not romance, sorry.
Sarah wrote: "...3. Anything involving babies and romance. I like my couples unhindered by ankle biters..."Ankle biters, LOL!
Sarah wrote: "...4. Generally poor writing on the author's part. There are some writers I will never try again because i found their writing style and plotting beyond juvenile..."
I was going to put this but then I realised I have broken this rule especially with first books in a series. I know the writing was very poor in Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule but the story was good so I know I'm going to read the second book.
Sarah wrote: "...5. Anything involving rape fantasy. That's not romance, sorry."
I don't think I've come across that one in my reading but it's definitely something I would avoid too.
I have read a wide variety of genres and themes in romance and seem to have only not found complete abandon in certain historical settings. I seem to need a paranormal/supernatural twist to fully enjoy something set in the past. So I'll say I avoid average, everyday full length historical romance.
As for rape fantasies... I read one in a Christina Dodd book that combined with her poor writing/plotting to cement my resolution to NOT read any more of her books. The other one I read was A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole. I suppose I'll break my oath on that one though, because I'm sure all the books in that series can't be like the first one. I've been assured that they get better. :)
I do not read hard-core sci-fi. I just cannot do it. There has to be something that I can identify with in the book. I can't identify with alien characters with alien emotions in an alien world. It's just too much. Everything else, thus far, is up for grabs. (I used to refuse to read about vampires...can you imagine?! lol!)
There are a few things I can't read about. Sexual trauma and domestic violence is one of them. It brings back too many bad memories. I don't read horror. I read to relax not get scared. Really foul strong language will turn me off a book if it's overused. I don't mind magic and witches, but tend to avoid vampires, werewolves, etc. Just not my thing. As for harlequins, I started avoiding stories with pregnant heroine's. (ie they are pregnant with someone else's baby who is never mentioned and we are to believe she falls hopelessly in love with someone else before she gives birth.) I don't mind sex scenes in romance novels but I draw the line when it gets too graphic as to feel like you're read erotica or soft porn or the language used is too crude or stupid.
Mod
Rape I can deal with if it's been written very well.
I started my reading with historical romances, and I just can't read those anymore. I think I just read myself silly with them and I need something more out of the ordinary to keep my interested.
Meh, there's not a lot that I won't read. The main thing though is if it's really boring. When I'm thinking about what I'm going to eat for dinner while I'm reading then I know that it's probably not going to be able to hold my attention in the future. 
I'll preface this by saying I read my share of Harlequin romances to remind myself that vampires and shifters aren't real...at least the ones I read about. ;) So they don't count in my comment. I don't get invested in them and I get them free at the library. That said.....I know this is like taboo and everything, but I always flip to the last paragraph first - if the dialogue goes something like this:
"I'm so happy you're in my life, darling," he said.
"I'm glad, because I'm here to stay," she said looking dreamily up at him.
I won't even buy it, borrow it, or look at it again. Corny dialogue kills me. My men don't say darling. Darlin' maybe..but never darling.
Other than that...not so picky.
Hmmm... good question.I'd pretty much avoid anything involving child pornography or animal abuse.
As for the rest:, rape, torture, etc I either skip over reading those sections if the rest of the book/story is good or simply give up on the book altogether.
I will say bad dialog does distract me, as does poor grammer or typos, not that I am an expert on the english language, but obvious errors are distracting.
So I guess not much will stop me from reading if the story is good.
I might also add that I don't read m/m books or f/f. Even though Outlander comes highly recommended and a friend even gave me a copy because of mild domestic violence (although supposidly explained) and a m/m kiss that leads to more of the same in sequels...I've never read it.
I also don't read historical books. Some background is fine, but not the whole book. I will admit that I skimmed through almost all of the first half of Acheron.
One author I really could not read was Keri Arthur. I read her 1st book Kissing Sin it was ok. But when I read the 2nd book in the series with the sex scenes with the werestallion that was it. Too far out in left field for me. I also do not like any books that is to depressing.
Mod
Chrissy315 wrote: "One author I really could not read was Keri Arthur. I read her 1st book Kissing Sin it was ok. But when I read the 2nd book in the series with the sex scenes with the werestallion that was it. Too ..."Yes! I'm not the only one that couldn't get past book two, though for different reasons. It was her almost lack of reaction to her being raped that bothered me.
Amy - She actually reacts to it more later.
Christi wrote: "I also don't read historical books. Some background is fine, but not the whole book. I will admit that I skimmed through almost all of the first half of Acheron."*gasp* It was so goood!!
I understand though. I tend to prefer historical combination books, like Acheron was. But I can see how it won't appeal to everyone. I majored in History in college, and what REALLY got me hooked as a history major was reading Timeline. I fully understood that I could not, in fact, travel back in time to study history there, in person. But the idea of ancient civilizations was so captivating to me. So reaing historical books, especially romances, really feeds that obsession for me.
I used to read strictly historical romances, but came to appreciate the paranormal romances when my mom got me The Immortal Highlander. Now I get a good dose of weird and sexy.
That's why Acheron was like crack to me. Paranormal and romance AND history all in one. ::swoon::
Paranormal & Urban Fantasy, Monthly Group Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
Acheron (other topics)Timeline (other topics)
The Immortal Highlander (other topics)
Outlander (other topics)
Wizard's First Rule (other topics)
More...
So when it comes to reading books where do you draw your line? What won't you read about? Or what will make you put that book down if you stumble upon it?