What books are you given the most flak for reading?

[[deleted user]]

(Maybe I can get it on the cheap at Borders!)

[Louise]

I avoid reading erotic fiction in public, or when with in-laws/parents. I don't mind reading it around friends, my husband, sister etc.

When i read Ayaan Hirsi Ali or The Satanic Verses I also didn't bring it on the train, because I figured it might offend some of the muslims immigrants, and I just didn't want to have to argue with them (I was a little mad at myself for being a coward, but I just can't be bothered to argue with religious people about stuff like that)

[[deleted user]]

Bun, I've got it! Historical Fiction I have read:


I really liked that book a lot.

[[deleted user]]

SWEET!

See, you can teach me! It just takes a bit to beat it into me wee head, but I get there.

[[deleted user]]

Are you saying I have a FAT HEAD, my Bunny?

[Stacia (the 2010 club)]

Totally unrelated, but since we brought up YA in this topic, I just finished the most adorable YA book.

The characters were fairly darn realistic, which made it feel refreshing. It was one I had been avoiding for a while because I don't usually get into realistic fiction, but people kept telling me how good it was and I really found it to be so cute, snarky and the drama was not fake angsty, but exactly how young people of that age would act.

[[deleted user]]

I was just being silly, but thanks! :)

[[deleted user]]

Stop! *blushes and thinks how much she likes cool socks*

[[deleted user]]

:)

[Lyzzibug ~Still Breathing~]

I tend to stick with YA and UF/PNR also. I'm still fairly new to reading so haven't ventured from what I already know I enjoy.

[[deleted user]]

Lyzzi, stick to what you like...for the most part. But, venture out a bit now and then. That's how you broaden your horizons. As you see your "friends" review books on GR, pick up the odd one that sounds interesting or fun, but might not be quite in your usual genre. Do you have a library card? It saves on buying a book you might well hate. And, the thing is, if you hate it, you don't ever have to finish it!

For example, my all time favorite book of life is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Now, if you had a library card I would HIGHLY encourage you to give it a whirl!! If after a chapter or two you aren't feeling it, well, just take it back. But, if you love it like I do, then a whole new genre will open up to you.

[Lyzzibug ~Still Breathing~]

I do have a library card! I haven't been to the library in years though. I'll have to give that one a try.

[Sarah]

You can also probably get it for free as an ebook.

[[deleted user]]

Well, let me know what you think. I'll be interested to hear. :)

[Sarah]

http://www.goodreads.com/reader/read/...
for the free ebook!

[Lyzzibug ~Still Breathing~]

Thank You!

[Phoenix]

Yeah, thank you, Pi!

[Chris]

I was an English major in college and I still get a lot of crap from people because I enjoy reading for pleasure, and not be on the prowl for allegory, metaphor and symbolism constantly.

In short, people have this image of English majors as stuffy, elitist literary snobs who think anything written past the year 1850 is trash.

Those pretentious assholes are probably one of my most hated groups of people on the planet!

I recall once in one of my literary classes the professor was getting to know us and was going around asking us what some of our favorite books were and authors who influence our own writing.

I mentioned one of my favorite series was Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" saga and that I like to think my writing has been partially influenced by Harlan Ellison....that did not go over well. I was told that she hoped "to cure me of my bad habits"

I swear for the rest of that semester she spoke to me as though I were mentally challenged, complete with diabetes-inducing "sweet baby talk" voice and constant explanation of what was expected of us in our homework, despite the fact I understood the requirements perfectly and possess an I.Q of 135.

Didn't matter that I passed the class with a 96% average, she still "assumed" I had a "mentor" help me understand the "classics" and "pitied me" for the fact I couldn't "broaden my literary horizons"

And that is why if I ever run into pseudo-intellectuals, I promptly punch them in the brain. ;)

[[deleted user]]

I get crap all the time, because I will literally read anything with dragons in. Childrens books, YA, regular Fantasy. You name it. If there's a dragon on the cover, I'm your girl!

[Susan]

There is nothing wrong with dragons. Tell them to leave you alone.

[Susan]

Which leads me to George R. R. Martin's, A Dance with Dragons. Perhaps I should bite the bullet and buy it.

[[deleted user]]

Oh, dear. I have to admit that I gave those books away. I bought the first 4, read number one...enjoyed it by the end, but didn't have the gumption to tackle another. They're just SO long and the writing is SO small and it was so roundy roundy flopping from these people to those people, it was 3/4 through the book before I wasn't totally confused! It was exhausting.

[Susan]

I like my books long. For awhile there, I would scoff at anything less than 500 pages. Then I read a really bad 500+ page book. I have since learned to just put those down and walk away. It is very hard.

[[deleted user]]

It wasn't that I didn't like Martin, by the end I had to admit it was good. And, it wasn't just the length. It was the combination of length and WORK. It felt like I needed a giant chart to keep it all straight until close to the end of the book. Also, books that jump from one group of people to another with each chapter are not usually my favorite. Just as soon as I start to get into a plot line I'm yanked up and plopped into a new one...I hate that. It's like when Mr. Amy talks to me while I'm watching a film. I can't get him to understand that he pulls me out of my "world" every time he does that! *sigh*

(*wonders why she's doing so much sighing today*)

[Annette]

Sometimes I like reading cheesy romantic stuff with predictable plots, especially when my life is too busy in other areas and my brain needs some down time! But if I ask for one or suggest one to my mother she makes a comment, indicating that she things I should always be reading something with a bit more depth.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

My mother didn't want me reading Nancy Drew for that reason.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

I wish we could change this header to read flak rather than flack.

Flak = German, from Fl(ieger) a(bwehr) k(anone), aircraft-defense gun

[Phil]

Barb wrote: "I wish I had a pet donkey."

Oooooooh-kay.

[Félix]

Roberta Flak?

[Annette]

Lobstergirl wrote: "I wish we could change this header to read flak rather than flack.

Flak = German, from Fl(ieger) a(bwehr) k(anone), aircraft-defense gun"

Does that mean we can send Ak-Ak back?

[Phil]

I've always thought this laugh sounds like "ak-ak."

[Sarah]

BunWat wrote: "In my case it was that I didn't like Martin. In fact I HAAAAAAATED IT. With the seething burning passion of a thousand suns and their accompanying planets all screaming as their component atoms are crushed in the tidal forces of a universe destroying black hole.
"
So you're saying you didn't like it? ;)
People are always surprised when I say I haven't read that series and don't want to.

[Susan]

I watched Game of Thrones, Season 1, first. Loved the horse lords (Jason Momoa!). I have not been able to get into watching anymore of the seasons. But I can understand those that don't wish to touch the books. Martin has a way of writing that can be tedious at times. Similiar to how I felt about Robert Jordan. However, Martin creates characters that are multi-layered and I become quite engrossed with them. For me, that makes an enchanting read.

[[deleted user]]

*shakes head and wanders back out*

[Félix]

Is that you, Ed?

[Sarah]

Kyle ~Special K: Rebel Leader~ wrote: "I get a lot of flak for reading Nicholas Sparks novels. Someone inferred that they were 'chick reads'. Untrue. His novels are not Harlequin romances, they are not just for women. His books are wel..."

Implied, not inferred ;)

[[deleted user]]

Are Harlequin romances just for women? Like, "I'm sorry sir, but you have a penis, I cannot sell this book to you. I really am sorry, but I might lose my licensing agreement..." Does Harlequin send dudes out as Secret Shoppers to try to buy their romance novels like on a Cops prostitution sting episode?

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Kyle ~Special K: Rebel Leader~ wrote: "I get a lot of flak for reading Nicholas Sparks novels. Someone inferred that they were 'chick reads'. Untrue. His novels are not Harlequin romances, they are not just for women. His books are wel..."

I would dispute the well-written part - I read a few paragraphs from one and it was perhaps the worst writing I've ever seen. HOWEVER, I am glad you are reading books that some might call "chick lit." One of the things that bugs me about some men is that they only read man-centered authors. I really find this inexcusable. I am not going to name any names, but if you look at your top 10 most read authors and don't see a woman there, you should ask yourself why.