The Shifting Moods of My Reading Tastes
I suppose I'm a reader with eclectic tastes. In other words, I'm all over the map. But is that so unique? Don't you also go through different reading phases? Delving into the same old books turns reading dull and stale.
Think of it this way. Most mornings I wake up and breakfast on cold cereal. But once in a while I also prefer some variety. So, maybe I'll splurge a little and eat blueberry pancakes or buttered croissants, or...well, you get the idea I'm driving at.
Many times I like my fiction to be crime or mystery or noir or whatever the correct label is. But then I might decide to dip into a cozy mystery. Or a lighter fare, especially if it makes me laugh out loud.
A few books simply defy any labels. Crooked Letter Crooked Letter is a case in point. Is it a crime novel or is it a literary novel? It has blurbs on the rear cover penned by Richard Russo and George Pelecanos, very different writers. Tell you what though. It's probably in the top three of best novels I've read in 2011. Glad I decided to try it out.
By Ed Lynskey
@edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"Satisfying."
The Rap Sheet/Kirkus Reviews
Think of it this way. Most mornings I wake up and breakfast on cold cereal. But once in a while I also prefer some variety. So, maybe I'll splurge a little and eat blueberry pancakes or buttered croissants, or...well, you get the idea I'm driving at.
Many times I like my fiction to be crime or mystery or noir or whatever the correct label is. But then I might decide to dip into a cozy mystery. Or a lighter fare, especially if it makes me laugh out loud.
A few books simply defy any labels. Crooked Letter Crooked Letter is a case in point. Is it a crime novel or is it a literary novel? It has blurbs on the rear cover penned by Richard Russo and George Pelecanos, very different writers. Tell you what though. It's probably in the top three of best novels I've read in 2011. Glad I decided to try it out.
By Ed Lynskey
@edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"Satisfying."
The Rap Sheet/Kirkus Reviews
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Randy wrote: "I try to vary my fiction. I read mysteries(all the various sub-genres), thrillers, westerns, and science fiction(again a variety of sub-genres). The only genre I can't read is romance novels and th..."Mystery does have enough different subgenres (police procedural, PI, thriller, etc.) to break up what you read, yes. I don't think I've ever read a traditional romance, but a few romance suspense titles. Thanks for the comments, Randy.
Im strictly mood reader, i cant read a book when i finish my last one if i dont plan in my head which genre or subgenre to go next. I mostly go from PI hardboiled modern/classic to other noir, to classic mystery, brit police books. I avoid american medical thrillers,serial murder books, police books. They are too much formula, too much CSI for my taste.Also my trouble in getting the right mood is crime is only one of my fav 4 genres. I like SF/Fantasy,Historical fiction as much.
I went from Dorothy Sayers classic detective to science collection.
Im already thinking about reading Block or Sallis novel afterwards.
Mohammed wrote: "Im strictly mood reader, i cant read a book when i finish my last one if i dont plan in my head which genre or subgenre to go next. I mostly go from PI hardboiled modern/classic to other noir, to ..."Yeah, I'm not a big fan of serial killer titles or medical thrillers, either. CSI lost me early on with all their hocus-pocus forensics. Historical fiction appeals to me. Block is a mainstay. The Matt Scudder is a series I'm trying to finish, just not, as with Randy, read all at once. Appreciate your thoughts, Mohammed.
Matt Scudder series is one of modern series i think is alltime great. I dont feel as much for crime heroes usually. For me who never drinks, think its a poison i felt his struggle. Im glad i read for the first time last year, i have read the first 6 books in 2010. I will finish because its great series, realer than character.Block was not someone i read and he went to my top 10 fav list from nowhere.
I have book 7,8 of Scudder which i will read as soon i get off SF/non-genre mood im in right now. I got Jean Paul Sartre book just because my mood to read some classic french. Thats how my reader mind works :P
Mohammed wrote: "Matt Scudder series is one of modern series i think is alltime great. I dont feel as much for crime heroes usually. For me who never drinks, think its a poison i felt his struggle. Im glad i rea..."I should read the Scudder series in the right order, seeing how his personality changes from hard-boiled to his more touchy-feely attitude now.
Alberto wrote: "I tend to switch genres but every few years. I was faithful to Golden age in my teens, then switched to hard boiled in my twenties, then to french pre-pulp fiction and early mysteries (19th century..."I've read the first Ed McBain 87th Precinct titles: COP HATER and the one with the heat wave locked in place. Our library had some of them, and I don't want them to cull out the old titles to make room for whatever.
Ed wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Matt Scudder series is one of modern series i think is alltime great. I dont feel as much for crime heroes usually. For me who never drinks, think its a poison i felt his struggl..."You cant read any other order really. His journey as a man with real problems is more interesting than the cases he deals with book to book. He grows from his real damaged self. The one series you cant read out of order.
Like Alberto i dont want to start other series before i finish Scudder. Not longer than 3 books series.
Changing reading moods. Glad to hear that you wonder around the book genre. I get on a particular reading vain and go for a while until I get burned out and then I go looking for something new. Some time something will just pick my interest, a TV show, are something Ive read , the last change was from a conversation from a book and reading buddy That sent me to SiFi. and then there comes the time that you just want to read something lite just to clear your mind.
sarg wrote: "Changing reading moods. Glad to hear that you wonder around the book genre. I get on a particular reading vain and go for a while until I get burned out and then I go looking for something new. Som..."Lighter reading is a good way to wind down. I like Willeford and Westlake's humor. Thanks for the remarks.
Ed wrote: "sarg wrote: "Changing reading moods. Glad to hear that you wonder around the book genre. I get on a particular reading vain and go for a while until I get burned out and then I go looking for somet..."Willeford humor? Which books do you mean? He is famous for that Miami cop series that is very Elmore Leonard Florida books like. His older noir books sound more like Jim Thompson loser,freaks noir books.
I agree completely about Westlake comic crime books, they are great change of pace, to laugh,smile after much more hardcore,darker books. I need more humor authors like that.
Mohammed wrote: "Ed wrote: "sarg wrote: "Changing reading moods. Glad to hear that you wonder around the book genre. I get on a particular reading vain and go for a while until I get burned out and then I go lookin..."Right, Willeford has a wicked sense of humor in the different scenes to his cop books and noirs, as well. But it's a dark one. Hoke Moseley, the Miami cop, has his comedic moments. I can't recall which title, but there is one scene with a dog Hoke runs across that had me in stitches.
Ed wrote: "Mohammed wrote: "Ed wrote: "sarg wrote: "Changing reading moods. Glad to hear that you wonder around the book genre. I get on a particular reading vain and go for a while until I get burned out and..."Heh i love dark humor, Ken Bruen Jack Taylor series is the books i have laughed most with in crime,noir. So pitch black humor that makes you feel guilty that it is funny. I have not read enough Hoke Moseley to remember that side of Willeford. I remember thinking the dialouge was quirky ala Leonard.
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I do at times feel a bit of boredom setting in at times if I read too many of one type in a row or the same author several consecutive times. I try not to do that, but you get on a roll sometimes...