Audio-Bibliophiles discussion

I have wondered lately, as I list my books and as I choose new books, WHY THIS BOOK OR WHY THIS GENRE ALL THE TIME? ( not yelling, loud wondering)

Well, I read from lots of genres, including picture-books, non-fiction, SF, etc. But I like books that give me something to think about, and that make me smile.

I don't like anything too fluffy, or too formulaic, but nor do I want to work hard for classics, or avant-garde literature. Nor do I want anything about yucky stuff like political intrigue or anything 'thrilling' or anything 'page-turner' or dystopia or child-abuse or dysfunction.

So, I'm actually pretty fussy. There are *lots* of books out there that are popular but have no interest for me.

One of my favorite books that pretty much encapsulates what I look for in fiction is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - and I read it because of this group!

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Well, I read from lots of genres, including picture-books, non-fiction, SF, etc. But I like books that give me something to think about, and that make me smile.

I don't like anything too fluffy..."

I liked your specifications. I personally stay away from anything that says "gripping" or "chilling" in the description. Funny how much easier it is to say what we don't like than what we do. I read many genres, literary fiction, fantasy, romance, some non-fiction. I like something with humor, which can be rare. I also like stories where there is some "heart", not necessarily sentimentality but human connection, and stories with ordinary people as heroes. A couple examples of that are The Bean Trees and Trustee from the Toolroom. I have had Harold Fry on and off my To Read list for a long time but I'll put it back on now!

I also have favorite settings, I'll read almost anything that takes place in England or France from about 1800-1930, but I don't care for the American West or the Middle Ages. And I just cannot read any more books about WWII & Nazis.

I read many books about Africa, because I so want to go there as a bucket list kind of thing. I don't like sci - fi or zombies or anything too scary. I can do gripping and chilling. I used to teach elementary school so I don't read those books much anymore and if I listed all the books I have read in my life it would be an astounding number. Some authors are just always a sure hit with me and I could listen to George Guidall read anything and my love for his voice would keep me loyal to finish it. I don't find myself to be huge risk taker. I stick to the books I am pretty certain I will like. So like y'all I guess sometimes it is easier to say what you don't like than what you do. Loved Eugenia Price's series, and read them in elementary school as they took place where I live. ;)

Oh, I don't do romances unless they are historical fiction and only then if they aren't graphic. I also agree that I like books that have heart to them. Like movies, I like books to be something that make me think or in the case of a good movie, the way a good one makes everyone chatter in the car on the way home and ask all kinds of questions about the characters and the plot and " did you see xyz coming" or " did you think that event would end well or not". Those kind of questions.

For the last couple of years, I have been reading mostly escapist fiction, mysteries, police procedurals and humor. It is therapy for me: Life gets pretty stressful.

Humor is definitely good, especially if it's connected to the 'heart' - I don't like humor that mocks people or capitalizes on misfortunes or unhappiness, like the old mother-in-law jokes, for example.

Kay, you have much more in common with my husband than with me. Anne, I definitely get being loyal to authors and even to narrators - but otoh I get twitchy when I find myself reading books from the same genre, or with similar plots or themes, back-to-back.

Robin, I'm sending you a friend request. I really appreciate all you said and especially the bit about "heart."