I am brainstorming a contest to celebrate you fabulous 100 followers, and as soon as I figure out what I'm going to do, I'll let you all know! In the meantime, you guys rock! I want to get to know you better! So I'm asking:
What's your favorite genre (to read or write) and why?
My favorite Genre to read used to be science fiction, but historical fiction is beginning to grow on me! I may be in the process of a conversion. But I'm picky about my science fiction-- I like stuff that deals with social issues and makes me think. I like to see what people think we're going to make the world into, as a society, as a culture, as a people.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you guys in the comments!
I used to be a hard-core SF buff but recently I've been reading a tonne of non-fiction. Canadian history has, for whatever reason, become my main hang-up. That and books about typography/design, though I'm not sure that that qualifies as a genre as such.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Can you suggest your favorite book on Canadian history? I always felt like Canada got overlooked in my education.
ReplyDeleteHistorical mysteries. Of course.
ReplyDeleteI love fantasy, especially urban fantasy. I also love a historical fiction book with a touch of romance. At the moment I'm only writing YA fantasy.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely historical fiction. I'm reading Mistress of Rome right now and it's fabulous!
ReplyDeleteBethany: I love touches of romance, as well :)
ReplyDeleteStephanie: No surprise there! I will have to put Mistress of Rome on my reading list :)
My favorite used to be fantasy, but I'm getting into sci fi now as well. :)
ReplyDeleteI used to enjoy horror, but lately histroical fiction.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite genre to read and write in, is definitely urban fantasy. Love the idea of magic in the real world.
ReplyDeleteAubrie: Hooray Sci fi!
ReplyDeleteJ.L.: Where did you cross over from horror to historical fiction? Are there historical horror books? (True Crime, maybe?)
Carolin: I like the idea of Urban Fantasy too-- when I read fantasy (rarely) that's what I find myself drawn to, lately.
P.S. Aubrie: Welcome to the blog!
ReplyDeleteI'd never thought of science fiction that way, but then I don't read it much. Maybe I should start! My favorite genre is fantasy because I love that it feeds my need to create and fills my desire for adventure.
ReplyDeleteCongrats -- fave genre -- hmmmm... to listen to: mysteries. To read: fantasy, maybe, though not so much the S&S anymore.
ReplyDeleteMG Fantasy!!! - followed by all things MG and most YA. :-)
ReplyDeleteNisa: Heinlein deals with a lot of social issues-- he was way ahead of his time, in my opinion. But he isn't for everyone!
ReplyDeleteBane: why do you prefer to listen to mysteries?
Shannon: Haha! I do like a little bit of MG and YA, too-- I used to be absolutely obsessed with the Animorphs books.
Historical Fiction (Earth's Children series) and Science Fiction Bradbury style have always been favorites of mine. Even though I'm getting older I still love a great YA (His Dark Materials is my all time favorite trilogy). Oh and Orwell! Actually... I'm not sure I am capable of choosing... :P
ReplyDeleteTo write, I'm finding that steampunk is fast becoming my favorite genre.
And yes, I realize Orwell is not a genre. I just got excited! :P
ReplyDeleteI love YA Fantasy but not too much of an urban/modern fantasy fan.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS on 100 followers!
ReplyDeleteI write psychological suspense/mystery so you'd think that would be my favorite genre. But I just checked my reading log - it covers five years - and it looks like I read way more historical and literary fiction than mystery. Plus, none of the books I've listed as my favorites are mysteries. How weird.
Michelru: Nothing wrong with excitement! :) Orwell kind of disturbs me-- I think it hits too close to the mark for me to enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteLiz: Interesting! I wonder why you enjoy YA but not other?
VR: Thanks! You know, I'm kind of the same way--I don't read a lot of fantasy/urban fantasy/historical fantasy at ALL, and none of my favorite books are fantasy, but that's what I'm finding myself writing... I always figured I'd be a sci-fi writer, since that's what I love, but it just didn't happen that way!
I grew out of horror books, but historical horror is an interesting idea. I need to find some of those. lol
ReplyDeleteI'll read pretty much anything! Lately I've been on a fantasy kick, but I love reading general literary fiction (whatever THAT means) and mysteries. I have a weakness for the Kathy Reichs books that Bones is based on.
ReplyDeleteFor writing, I love writing Fantasy for anything long! For anything shorter, I write pretty much anything, hah.
Amalia: My current favourite is a trilogy. Peter Newman's Company of Adventurers, the history of the Hudson's Bay Company
ReplyDeleteI love Fantasy, but it has to make me laugh. There's nothing more tragic than a book about Elves, Dwarves and Magic that takes itself too seriously. That's why my first published book (out this fall) is a COMIC fantasy.
ReplyDeleteHi, BTW I saw the question and wanted to find out more about you. : )
@lil_monmon
Can I just say broadly YA fantasy? I love sci-fi to a certain extent too though, and just fantasy.... and adventure....and thriller.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, I think I'll read anything ;~)
J.L. Maybe you should write one :)
ReplyDeleteTrinza: Whatever that means indeed! It seems so broad a genre, and so narrow at the same time. Are those Kathy Reichs books awesome? I don't usually fall in for that genre at all (in television either).
Adam: Thanks!
@lil_monmon: Sounds fun! What's the title?
Mia: You can definitely love more than one genre :) I've got to admit that I've never read a thriller though-- I scare pretty easy so I avoid that stuff.
Congrats on 100!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite genres: Sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, any nonfiction that catches my eye. I love steampunk as a setting and decorating theme, but I've yet to read any (recent) novels written in the setting.
Actually, the real question is what don't I like, and I think it's down to two books.
Hahaha! What are the two books?
ReplyDeleteThis discussion reminds me of what Oscar Wilde said:
ReplyDelete"It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it."
This always makes me smile, because it's so true!
VR: that is an incredible quote!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteFantasy/sci fi are my usual genres, but I like a bit of horror, YA, thriller, mystery, classic, historical, etc. from time to time.
Sexploitation.
ReplyDeleteJust kidding!
I just like stuff that's written well. SF is good if it's not completely tech-driven. I prefer character-driven stuff.
Lately I've been reading a bit of Steampunk (of course).
I'm not sure I have a favorite! I like E. Nesbit, Agatha Christie, O. Henry, Harper Lee, Isaac Asimov, J.K. Rowling and Jane Austen; I love to read classics, fantasy, literary fiction, mysteries, some science fiction, children's lit...you know, one of my favorite books from High School was "Heart of Darkness." I loved that play "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen. Two of my favorite stories were "The Most Dangerous Game," as well as "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. And I still remember reading a selection from Louis Sachar's "Wayside School is Falling Down." Soon after, I got the book. So...can I pick eclectic?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lorel! You sound very well rounded!
ReplyDeleteIapetus: I feel kind of bad about it, but I just can't get into Steampunk.
Sarah: Yes :) you can pick eclectic :)
The only two books that I've read and really didn't like after a few discussions and rereads:
ReplyDeleteRural Russia Under the Old Regime: The Peasantry
By Geroid Tanquary Robinson
I loved the information in this book. It helped me understand just how terrible life was for peasants under the czars. The writing, however, was terrible. Even though it was only about 300 pages, it took time as I forced myself through most of the pages.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
I just never cared for it. A shallow book about shallow people. In the end, I suppose that the American Dream doesn't involve happiness.
I'll probably never read the unabridged version of Moby Dick again, either. It doesn't make the list because I really liked reading it on account of an obsession about the sea at the time. The abridged kids' version, however, is fantastic. I discovered that later.
I've been wanting to read The Great Gatsby, but disinclined to pay 15 dollars for the very slim book it appears to be. Something someone said about it reminded me a bit of Thairon, and it seemed like I should have a working knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed the abridged kids version of Moby Dick-- did you read the picture-every-other-page edition?
The Great Gatsby was probably ruined for me. It was built up into some epic story, when it was really closer to a long short story and had a fairly simple point. I read it several times and always felt empty and cheated at the end.
ReplyDeleteMy abridged version had pictures as well. It is quite possible that we read the same version.
Well, now I definitely have to go read it-- I think this is a job for my local library! I'll let you know my thoughts when I read it!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing better than reading and writing YA dystopian. I mean, NOTHING.
ReplyDeleteElana: I don't think I've read any YA dystopian at all-- I have heard excellent things about the Hunger Games though, and it is on my list! thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteI like historical fiction, but my first love is mysteries. I just started writing my first full-length play. I've loved writing skits for years. It felt as natural as breathing.
ReplyDelete