Q&A with Kristin Hannah discussion

I am always asked what I like to read, and the answer is everything! I'll bet you're the same way. Let's compare our favorites here...

Hey Kristin...

Is there any genre you pick over others? For me, I love the classics and then thrillers. Sci-fi is at the bottom of the list if it even makes it onto my shelf!

I have wanted to compare our tastes in reading and wondered if you could update your list here on Goodreads. It is a convenient way to compare and share reviews...thanks!

Like Naomi, sci-fi and fantasy would be at the bottom of my list, although I did enjoy the Hunger Games series. The books I enjoy most are those that deal with real life problems that I character driven and well-written.

Naomi wrote: "Hey Kristin...

Is there any genre you pick over others? For me, I love the classics and then thrillers. Sci-fi is at the bottom of the list if it even makes it onto my shelf!"
Hi Naomi---Love thrillers and high concept adult fantasy (books like The Passage), and women's literary fiction. Haven't read sci fi for years. :)

R & R wrote: "I have wanted to compare our tastes in reading and wondered if you could update your list here on Goodreads. It is a convenient way to compare and share reviews...thanks!"

Would love to do that. Can you tell me how? :)

My favorites include autobiographies and most fiction with the exception of sci-fi and fantasy. What about your favorite children's books? My favorites were Charlotte's Web and the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries. How do your childhood favorites compare to what you like to read as an adult?

I love to read contemporary fiction, historical fiction, classics, and autobiographies. As a teacher and a mom, I also really enjoy children's literature of all kinds!

Kristin wrote: "I am always asked what I like to read, and the answer is everything! I'll bet you're the same way. Let's compare our favorites here..."


I don't know if there's a specific genre that's my favourite. I am drawn to authors that have the ability to transport me from wherever I am physically to the landscape that they are writing about. I love the worlds that Neil Gaiman, John Irving, Michel Faber and Dennis Lehane create.

I think that's what I loved most about Winter Garden. I could almost feel the cold in my bones when the family resorted to burning their furniture to keep warm during the war and could practically taste the vodka that the women drank each night with dinner. You really made that world come alive for me.

I like many different genres. I like a good mystery, like James Patterson's books. I adore anything by C.S. Lewis, especially The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters. I also like contemporary fiction.

A couple of years ago a friend of mine invited me to a book club. Being a book nut I graciously accepted. The first month they were reading a historical fiction set in the Tudor Era. I never would have read something like this on my own, but discovered that I really love historical fiction. Since that read I have read several others, especially Tudor Era books. I love being sucked into another time and another place like I am in historical fiction. I think this is why Winter Garden is my new favorite book.

By the way, The Passage was an amazing book too and the longest one I have ever read! :)

Linda, I also adore children's literature too! When I was a little girl I loved Black Beauty, Charolette's Web, Winnie the Pooh, and Little House. As a teen you never saw me without a Sweet Valley High or Babysitters Cub book in my hand. Now as a mom and soon to be teacher I love The Tale of Despereaux and James and the Giant Peach. There are so many more I adore!

Cheryl, of course you are here! ;) You are my friend who introduced me to historical fiction AND is a fellow lover of Kristen Hannah books! ;)

Hello,
My favorite type of lit is probably contemporary fiction,historical fiction, and mysteries all with a strong sense of place and characters.
Besides you, I pariculary like Sharyn McCrumbs Appalachian Ballad Nysteries,and Nevada Barr's Anna Pidgeon Mysteries.

I like your list Bxrlover. I just finished The Passage and am excited he is continuing the series. Kristin your books do transport you to another world. I have a hard time putting them down. Ken Follet would have to be on a favorite list for me.

Kristin this is how you create your library on goodreads.

1. Go to the search book prompt which is at the top of the home page.

2. Type in the book you are looking for and then the goodread index should take you to that book.

3. Once the book is listed you will see a prompt to the side in gray click on it and it will ask:

Book read
Currently reading
To be read

4. Click on the one that fits.

5. The book will appear on your profile. Then you can create a bookshelf for it.

Also I sent you a friend request.

I really enjoy reading fiction especially "feel good" books (like yours, Kristin.) I also like fiction that center around families and the friendships between women. To balance things out I also read crime/detective novels too.

Now, I can't believe I am admitting to this but these days I am really enjoying the paranormal-romance genre. Think Sookie Stackhouse novels and now "A Discover of Witches."

Kristin- how do you continue to write novels that are almost timeless???

Linda wrote: "My favorites include autobiographies and most fiction with the exception of sci-fi and fantasy. What about your favorite children's books? My favorites were Charlotte's Web and the Hardy Boys and N..."

Hmmm...favorite childhood books? What a great question. The Oz books...the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and Roald Dahl. The Lord of the Rings rocked!!

Cheryl wrote: "I love to read contemporary fiction, historical fiction, classics, and autobiographies. As a teacher and a mom, I also really enjoy children's literature of all kinds!"

I still read YA, too!

Bxrlover wrote: "Kristin wrote: "I am always asked what I like to read, and the answer is everything! I'll bet you're the same way. Let's compare our favorites here..."


I don't know if there's a specific gen..."

I love Neil Gaiman, also! I really wanted to bring history to life in WG, so I'm glad you felt i succeeded!

Konnie wrote: "I like many different genres. I like a good mystery, like James Patterson's books. I adore anything by C.S. Lewis, especially The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters. I also like contemp..."

Hey Konnie--great to hear from you. I am so glad you've become a serious reader. I loved The Passage, too. :)

Konnie wrote: "Linda, I also adore children's literature too! When I was a little girl I loved Black Beauty, Charolette's Web, Winnie the Pooh, and Little House. As a teen you never saw me without a Sweet Valley ..."

Cheryl and Konnie--have you read Room and The Shadow of the Wind? I think you'd love both!

Betsy wrote: "Hello,
My favorite type of lit is probably contemporary fiction,historical fiction, and mysteries all with a strong sense of place and characters.
Besides you, I pariculary like Sharyn McCrumb..."

Thanks for the recommendations, Betsy! Just fyi, i have a character named Betsy in the new book...

Jencey wrote: "Kristin this is how you create your library on goodreads.

1. Go to the search book prompt which is at the top of the home page.

2. Type in the book you are looking for and then the goodread..."

Thanks!!! I'll try to add on to my book list!

Leigh wrote: "I really enjoy reading fiction especially "feel good" books (like yours, Kristin.) I also like fiction that center around families and the friendships between women. To balance things out I also re..."

Hey Leigh--how wonderful to hear that my books make you feel good. Mostly, I just try to tell a good, honest, powerful story, but I'll admit that I feel a real need to have a happy ending. Life is so tough. :) If my books are timeless, its because the women that face us women are timeless. I just try to reflect out lives...

Jencey wrote: "Kristin this is how you create your library on goodreads.

1. Go to the search book prompt which is at the top of the home page.

2. Type in the book you are looking for and then the goodread..."

Thank you Jancey for answering the question about making a list of books on Goodreads.

Sorry about the delay Kristin in answering your questions, I was pulled out of town on a family emergency and haven't been on the computer.

Goodreads is an easy place to share book reviews and find out what other's are reading...(-: