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Why Do You Read What You Read?
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Adrienne
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Aug 25, 2010 05:39AM
Ok this is a totally random question but one that came about whilst I was perusing my bookshelves. I suddenly, for no apparant reason wondered why I read the books I read, what draws me to a certain type of book. By that I don't mean that anyone who reads SciFi is a frusrated astronaut, or likewise frustrated wannabe policeman read Agatha Christie. So are your bookshelves heaving with 'similar' books, are you searching for you 'Holy Grail' of reading? Let me know what you think. And by the way this isn't meant a sounding block for anyone who wants to slag off what others read it's a geniune question if you love Janet and John books and Dr Suess it's really quite alright to let us know.
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OK I'll start:) My shelves are heaving with what I would call erotic romance but others may call porn and whilst not everything on them is like that I figure that there's probably a tad too much. I've been though my shelves with a hatchet and managed to loose quite a few titles but the holy grail of books still eludes me. I'm looking for something so special that I suspect it may not even exist, and I'm open to any genre for this special book. Some books have come close
for instance which is probably one of the most erotic books I've ever read and which strangley has no sexual content what so ever except for being very briefly mentioned in a letter. So perhapes what I'm looking for is something which is totally heart breaking but written in a style that seduces my mind and my soul, and maybe that's why I read soo much erotic romance.
I don't really have a holy grail of books. When I open a book I am not looking for anything other than to be interested and engaged with the subject and/or the characters. When I was a kid I would read anything that had words on it (seriously, I would even sit reading the cereal packet whilst eating breakfast). As I got older and life, work and all that kind of stuff intruded I got more selective as I felt badly written books or ones with subjects that didn't interest me were a waste of my time.
Now I browse through bookshelves and pick up anything that looks interesting. I can't say what draws me to one book over another. Sometimes the title intrigues me, sometimes the cover art, or maybe it is an author I have read and enjoyed previously. I pick up the book, read the blurb and sometimes it takes my fancy, other times not. It's a very personal thing and I can't explain it, and it isn't predictable either. I will visit Amazon and browse through my recommendations on there and very few of them hit the mark. Not sure if that is common or if it is just me. On the other hand a friend of mine is very good at picking books for me, but then he is as wierd as I am so maybe that's why!
Anyway, I guess my answer is, I don't know why I read what I read!
I'm like Kay, especially since uni where I ended up reading other people's books as well as my own. I used to just read horrors and thrillers (like a bit of a scare and lvoe the mystery of them all) but now I seem to read pretty much anything (although still haven't got the knack of romance novels, find myself getting annoyed by the characters). The reason I pick a book up varies, sometimes it's the title, sometimes the cover, sometimes it has been recommended and I give it a go, occasionally it's because it's been made into a movie that I've seen. I think it basically comes down to whether a book grabs me in some way, if it does that I'll give it a go, as to why they grab me I can't say.
I too am like Kay, only thing I don't like are true stories, for me a good story is like a holiday, taking me to another world for a while, I can't afford to go to the places I would love to go so the stroy in a good, well written book for me is the next best thing, you could say its my form of escapeism. What draws me to a book can be many things, recommendations are what is driving me at the minute but other things are the title or cover for authors I have read before but for new authors it tends to be what is on the sale shelves. Good reads has been great though, I have found so many on the various groups and found some good ones in the giveaways. I do have my favourites which I will go out of my way to buy but other than that I would have to say it all depends on my mood and where I want to go. Hope this makes sense.
Its the "Ummmm" factor for me when I pick up a book and read the blurb if it makes me go "Ummmmm" in a sounds interesting or a I wonder what happened kind of a way then I will most probably read it. I tend to get drawn into authors or genres, if I read a book by A cerain author or in a certain genre I might see what else is out there in a similar vain (pardon the pun for all the vamps out there).The books that peak my tastebuds the most are the ones with something different to offer. Poppy Z Brite or Metrophage by Richard Kadrey spring to mind, just that little bit left of centre tickles my tastebuds.
As to finding the "Holy grail" I hope I never find it because if you did what interest would there be in reading anything else????????
It's just that so many books make me go "ummmmmm"!! Why I read a book? Hmmmm, for so many reasons - the stories, the language, the inspiration, the history, the humour, the insight into the minds of others, because I admire a writer, or with a series because I care about a character or group of them, or because I need to know how it all ends... also from a personal view point - if there's a lot going on a lighter book, if I've got some time to spare a more challenging read.
You only have to look at my reviews don't you? It is very seldom that I can find nothing of worth in a book, I think to me books are mostly good, really good or excellent!
I think alot depends on mood. Most of the time i like my books to be dark but if im not always in the mood to read something dark and gritty. I have a lot of young adult books because i still like to believe im not to old for them! But yeah, it mostly depends on mood. If i read a book description there are certain things that will attract me to it more, but i will read a wide variety of things if they are written well.
Well if I'm not too old for YA, you're certainly not!
LOL fair enough. I don't think you can really ever be too old for YA but i prefer to get it online so the bookshop people don't look at me funny.
I never thought of that! The librarian didn't charge me for reserving Hunger Games because it's a childrens book - I didn't even pretend - I just said I didn't see why the kids should have all the fun! Turned out she had a strong interest in YA writing herself and made some good recomendations of other books she rated highly. The real reason I read them is I enjoy them but the official excuse is I am seeking good titles for my kids as they get older.
I don't have the kids excuse. I do look young for my age though which helps. I got ID'd for a lottery ticket when i was 20!
Take it as a compliment!
Jo wrote: "LOL fair enough. I don't think you can really ever be too old for YA but i prefer to get it online so the bookshop people don't look at me funny."LOL Jo. I do that but for totally different osrts of books:)
ID'd for Harry Potter!! I didn't even know there was an age limit!
Adrienne, I don't think i could buy the books you read from a shop either! Lol
Em, did you know the new Hunger games one is out? Saw it in Waterstones today but didnt have any money on me to buy it...DOH
I did know it was out, I am being a bit laid back about reading it because I will be anti-social so am picking my moment! Got a hols booked in Oct, may save it for flight!Saad, they're what I'd call compulsive!
I must admit I am a bit of a Dystopian future / end of the world type addict and these are great reads. Am not getting on well with "Flood" though, Not a very linear story line, keeps jumping to years into the future, finding it a bit hard to follow.
Em, how can you hold back like that? I had to read it as soon as i got my hands on it and i was done the next day. I was dying to know what happened!
Ha! I know, I'm strange! I am really looking forward to reading it too, especially after that rather wicked cliffhanger...
