Happily Ever After Cafe discussion

Are there any locations/setting you simply won't read? Places or time periods you don't want to read about?

I notice I tend to stay away from just about anything historical that is set after 1900. I don't want to read about the roaring 20s or WWII or prohibition or the swinging 60s. I love contemporary romance and romantic suspense, though. Go figure. I also don't like to read about some "exotic" places like the middle east or India or Asia. I think it may have to do with the culture being so traditional different than mine. I don't care for circus or carnival stories either.

I really dislike the Civil War Era/Antebellum setting because of the slavery issue. I can't suspend my own personal issues with slavery to enjoy them. I have a couple of exceptions. I think this is the only setting/time period I actively avoid.

It's funny, because I love the early 20th century setting, and I love exotic settings.

I guess it's good there is something for everyone.

The Civil War/Antebellum is not one of my favorite settings but I have read a few. I completely understand where you are coming from.

I'm not really interested in medievals, I'd say no to the roaring 20s, WWII, etc. I prefer my historicals to be set in the 1800s (with some exceptions), and my contemporaries from the 1990s+.
I'd say no to circus & carnival stories too!

I stay away from Civil War Era/Antebellum, WWII, and the 20's. I recently read which had flashback to WWI and they weren't bad. I don't like the slavery issue, and I don't like gangsters. I'm just now starting to read some post-Civil War era, b/c so many westerns are in this time frame it is hard to steer clear.

Exotic locations? Well, I read for a group BOM and really enjoyed it. But I'll be honest; I had to look up the locations to get a feel of the place.

I avoid revolutionary war stories. Somehow men in wigs just doesn't work for me. *grin*

I don't care for wigs either. That won't always keep me from reading something from that era but I do have to use my imagination and pretend there are no wigs even if it insists that there are :)

Now I'm not much into the American Civil War either. As soon as i read it's about that period, I usually put the book down. World War II is 2nd place. About 20 years ago, both of those locals/time periods were my favorites but I guess too much of a good thing.

I necessarily love the Revolutionary War period, but I read a few that I really liked, so it's helped me to be more open to those.

I find the WW2 era pretty fascinating, but I'm not sure why...

I really shy away from war stories. I tend to tolerant wars from a further time period in history than more recent modern wars.

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "I really shy away from war stories. I tend to tolerant wars from a further time period in history than more recent modern wars."

I'm with you there. I don't mind so much reading about wars set in the past, but I can't really get into WWII stories.
Other than the J.D. Robb stories, I won't read many books with futuristic settings.

I'm the same, I have a really hard time with futuristic stories, the main exception to that being the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh. But anything where the world looks and feels completely different or is set in space... well, I just don't think my imagination stretches that far :-)

I like the Civil War, 1800's, and early 1900's. I will read just about any setting. I don't particularly care for medieval, the B.C. era, futuristic, or dystopian. Maybe some day I will try medieval again and possibly like it :)

I like most any historical period but I definitely avoid sci-fi, dystopian or werewolves or anything of that nature. I used to avoid the WWI era, too, but not too long ago read a book by Alexis Harrington about the 1918-1919 flu epidemic and now I'm waiting for the sequel.

Marilyn, I am amazed at how much GRs has opened up the romance genre to me. I think it is because of all the "buddy reads" I get talked into, LOL! Some of the romance sub-genres that I wouldn't have tried before.

BTW, love Alexis Harrington - who was recommended to me here on GRs. Though I've only read two of her books, I did just buy a couple more.

I like Alexis Harrington but she is a little dark for me at times. But there are times I need to get away from the light and "fluffy" romances (which I absolutely adore) and AH is great for that. She doesn't make it too dark and gloomy for me.

OK, just looked this up. The Harrington book set during WWI in Oregon concerning the 1918 flu epidemic is called Home by Morning. The sequel that I am sooo waiting for is called Home By Night but it won't be released until July 3. It's in the $4-$5 range.

Marilyn wrote: "OK, just looked this up. The Harrington book set during WWI in Oregon concerning the 1918 flu epidemic is called Home by Morning. The sequel that I am sooo waiting for is called Home By Night but i..."

I looked it up yesterday and it looks like a really good book : ) Thanks for sharing!!!

Thanks, Marilyn!

The only romance period I don't care for is contemporary. SF/futuristic are probably my favorites, but the good ones are rare (and futuristic are often too bleak). Contemporaries are okay if you add a little paranormal, magic, time travel, suspense/mystery/thrill, or kink. But without something? Yawn. I've been lured into exceptions and been pleasantly surprised, but rarely.

Oh, and it's not a setting, but I don't care for shape-shifter romances, either, unless we're talking dragons.

I think it's great that we have so many options to choose from with all of our different tastes.

There´s something about the historical romance period as well as the futuristic stuff that just doesn´t speak to me at all. I read 1 of each once and I would have liked the story if it hadn´t been set in that time.

Rhea wrote: "The only romance period I don't care for is contemporary. SF/futuristic are probably my favorites, but the good ones are rare (and futuristic are often too bleak). Contemporaries are okay if you ad..."

I totally agree with you :) it is wonderful that there are so many genres that we are able to choose from and I am always happy to find new books that I wasn´t interested in before that I now can´t stop reading ;)

lol. It's impossible to find 2 ppl exactly alike. That is what is so wonderful about us.

i dont really have a certain timing.. but my fav u can say is the time in Jane Austen's books, from Pride & Prejudice, Emma n such..
Historical ronamnce has its charms in the old settings, british mansions.. oh n definitly the gowns xD carriages..
i really cant define what would i avoid! too much Science fiction definitly..

I started to read Water for Elephants and the setting and time period wasn't for me (I liked the movie, which makes me think the book must be excellent) I don't care for fantasy in which the "world building" is too elaborated and heavy, I feel I get lost in the story trying to remember everything. Although I'm giving urban-fantasy a try, contemporary is still my favorite.

I like Reese Witherspoon, Denyse, but I wasn't particularly "wowed" by that movie - or the audiobook.

I think I have always been fascinated by the medieval as well as the 1700's. However, I also like contemporary. And I agree, Rhea, that a little paranormal or supernatural thrown into modern day makes the story better! :) I think that’s why I like to write in the fantasy/paranormal genre as well. It makes things more interesting. Have you read The Dresden Files? I discovered the author, Jim Butcher last summer. Very good detective book mixed with wizardry.

I would say the era I stay away from is any sort of end of world, apocalypse. The story has been way overdone and I've yet to see something original come out of that. I mean, what is there? Either it kills everyone off which is depressing or someone saves the world which is predictable.

I just discovered Jim Butcher, too! Of course, people on GRs told me to read him, I just never took the time. Just love The Dresden Files, B.J.!

Not a huge fan of Southern pre American civil war or just after. Don't care for ancient rome or greece much either.

Not a fan of any of those myself, namericanwordcat.

It funny when I was in 9th grade for my world history papers we could write short stories filled with historical details instead of traditional reports and the two eras I wrote my little romances on were ancient greece (a YA lol) and WWII. I really wish I still had a copy of those things.

I've been on a WWII kick of late. I usually like more of the Civil War than the more modern ones though.

I'm open to any setting historically speaking, though the majority of the ones I've read tend to be in the Georgian/Regency/Victorian times. I love medievals too, and frontier/western. I don't mind Civil War era either. I'd like to read some set in ancient Greece or Rome, that'd be neat, and I wouldn't be opposed to any other section of the B.C. times either. Now what I do tend to avoid is contemporaries. I wouldn't mind reading some set in the 20s or 40s or the 60s, etc, but I don't want to read about anything later than that. Not that I haven't before, I'm just not at all fond of 'em. I'm also not too into futuristic/scifi/urban fantasy type stories either, at least in my romances. Other books, ok, but not my roms, for them I like to be swept away into the past, far away from these blah modern times. Oh, I did remember one historical setting/type I'm not fond of. The harem type situation. Not a fan, like The Love Slave comes to mind, it wasn't a bad story I guess but I just really wasn't at all fond of the setting. I don't mind reading about that area of the world, I find that bit fascinating, but I think for me it's the whole belonging to a harem that turns me off. If I'm gonna 'belong' to some guy, and have sex with him, I'd best be the only woman! So I think that's my problem with it, because otherwise the idea of living a pampered life with nothing to do all day but sit by the fountains and watch the peacocks stroll by isn't too bad lol.

Yes, most of what I read in from Georgian/Regency/Victorian era too. Also not fond of harems. The whole idea of the harem turns me off. I do like the old movie Kismet, though. It has a harem in it.

Yes, Bertice Small wrote a lot of books set in harems back in the day.

I can't believe how many Small books I have read. lol I never really liked them but I read them.

Yeah, we didn't have a lot to choose from back then, namericanwordcat!

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "Yes, most of what I read in from Georgian/Regency/Victorian era too. Also not fond of harems. The whole idea of the harem turns me off. I do like the old movie Kismet, though. It has a harem in it."

I'm not a fan of harem's either, its not really a setting that leaves a lot of room for a lot of things to happen.

I'll try anything once. :). Haven't read muchCivil war, but LOVED North and South. Love the American Revolution.

I'm not really interested in Arab settings and/or harems (unless the main characters are British like in Mr. Impossible).

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "Yes, most of what I read in from Georgian/Regency/Victorian era too."

This is one era that I don't really read. Not that I'm opposed to it, just never came across a romance set there that struck my fancy.

I'll read almost anything, but I'm with you on the Harems. They are definitely out. Sharing is not sexy! I'm not much for Regency either although I've read my share and I love a good Victorian detective novel.

I used to read an author whose heroines - who were all related, whether cousins or daughters or whatever - all ended up as sex slaves somewhere. The books were written in the 80s. I stopped reading after the third one. Because I learn fast.

I love Regency, and used to gobble it up. But, I'm in the mood for a good Victorian detective novel, now that Jacqueline brought it up.

Lisa, have your read Anne Perry? I'd forgotten about her until the subject came up here. She wrote in the late 80s. I loved her detective/ mysteries.

I have read one or two of hers... but not for a long time. Maybe I should pick her up again. Thanks, Jacqueline.

Oh! Oh! Oh! My library has a ton of her on audio. Goodie, goodie!

I'm so overwhelmed, Jacqueline, I don't know which one to start with. Any suggestions?

The Charlotte and Thomas Pitt novels were my favorites. I think I'll check out my library, too, and renew my acquaintance! I don't think I've read them all.

Oh! I lost track of that series. And my library has it. Great. Thanks, Jacqueline. ☺