Are there any topics you avoid when selecting a book to read? Any themes or subjects you just don’t enjoy?
Julie:
I can be pretty picky with the topics I read about. There are some that just don’t interest me, or that I know I don’t enjoy, so I avoid them. Some of these include:
- Difficult or sad topics such as mental illness and abuse
- Fluffy romances with no plot
- Non-fiction
- Sword covers… had to include that in there.
Rose:
I can’t think of topics that are completely off limits for me. I tend to like darker, grittier reads. I like tragedy (only in my reading, not my real life of course!) and have said numerous times that I am a sucker for a tortured hero. I tend to stay away from fantasy because I find the world building tedious and too convenient a way to solve problems (the author has a major dilemma to resolve, introduces magic, problem fixed!= boring). I also am not a fan of chic lit. I tend to stay away from what I think will be “fluff.” I know some people avoid trigger topics in their reading, but I do not think I have any trigger topics. I know some people who will avoid romance books that have cheating or unfaithfulness. Other people will avoid books with difficult subject matter such as rape or incest or abuse. I will read it all. However, I don’t like these topics to be thrown in just to “make” a book gritty. When dealing with sensitive subjects, I think the author must take his or her time and do the story justice or it seems sensational instead of gritty. A book that I feel does a great job of this is the Thoughtless series by S.C. Stephens. The books deal with disloyalty within a romantic relationship. I put off reading it for quite sometime because I thought I wouldn’t really be able to root for a protagonist who cheats on her boyfriend. However, I LOVE this series and I understand that there is AWLAYS more to the story.
Lynn:
I really don’t know that I avoid certain topics on purpose, or if it’s completely subconscious. I steer clear of horror and psychological thrillers as I have enough nightmares one my own. I skip sad/depressing books for obvious reasons. I can’t stand the whole chick-lit genre. I wouldn’t want to be around most of those women. I’ve read a few interesting non-fiction books. But those are few and far between (and were written by Bill Bryson). I will say, though, that belonging to different book clubs has exposed me to books that I enjoyed, but probably would have never picked up on my own.
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This is a great question. I used to read just about everything – now I’ve gotten much more discerning in what I read. I also find that while I like to read widely, my preferences vary widely based on my current mood. I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction and like trying new things – since I’ve been reviewing, I’ve discovered some new genres I enjoy that I probably would not have been exposed to otherwise!
I’m a mood reader as well. Some topics you really have to be ready for at that moment or they don’t feel good to read about.
Hmm…..interesting topic. Makes me think. I usually avoid erotica, abuse and LGBT. i just can’t read such books. I guess paranormal and sci-fi books too.
I tend to avoid the first 3 you listed, but definitely not the last two hehe.
There’s not really any topic I avoid. I do prefer a plot along with my romance (Julie 😉 but there’s nothing I steer clear of. I also don’t think there is a topic I gravitate towards…unless it’s romance. I don’t need a romance heavy book but I do like a little romance in my reads. 🙂
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Teaser Tuesday ~ #60
Haha calling me out. Yea you do like the romancy books 😉
I don’t read books about difficult subjects like rape, abuse, torture, etc. It really upsets me, even if the book is fiction. I prefer reading to be a (relatively) relaxing experience, and reading books that deal with sensitive topics like that is counterproductive. The mysteries and fantasy books that I do read are pretty mild in their treatment of such topics. I tried reading A Song of Ice and Fire series, but there was just so much violence (especially sexual violence) that I couldn’t make it past the second book.
Ardelia recently posted…Second Person Narrator: Yay or Nay?
I’m so with you. I want reading to be pleasant, so I tend to avoid the difficult subjects too.
The only topic I avoid is Christianity, because I haven’t read a book yet that has it mentioned in a non-preachy way, the way some of the books that have characters of other religions do. I love darker topics, like drug abuse and suicide, I know that is a little weird, but the darker novels that deal with real issues are my favorite. There are genres I avoid like non-fiction, historical fiction, pure romance, most chick lit, and mots mystery novels.
Kaitlin Michelle recently posted…A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager
Preach! Ooh yes, religion is another one I also avoid. I need to edit my list. Everyone is reminding me of stuff I left off hehe.
Does avoiding nickel nasties count? You know those books with fake real love and awkward love scenes.
Other than that, I do read different genres more than others, but am willing to at least try stuff, I think.
Terri M., the Director recently posted…Book Review 75: One Great Year by Tamara Veitch and Rene DeFazio
Nickel nasties, love it. I haven’t heard that before. yes, I avoid those too.
It’s a term I learned from my mother in law. 🙂
Terri M., the Director recently posted…A Note from the Director: Being Brave, Finding Hope and Survival
I’m not big on non-fiction, I have to admit. At some point I read so much urban fantasy I think I reached a saturation point, and I still find it difficult to move past it 🙂 Generally speaking, I don’t like books that I already read – you know the ones, same story, same characters, same ending, same … everything. A plot should be challenging and 100% original. Such an interesting post!
Ramona recently posted…Zen Monday: Cajoling The Sun
Yes, Ramona. I tend to burn myself out on the same types of books all the time. I find an author I like, and read a bunch of their books in a genre like Historical Fiction. And then never want to read a book in that genre again. Or at least for a few weeks!
I’m with you on getting saturated with some genre. And yes, I don’t want to read the same book again and again.
I don’t think I avoid specific topics, I do try to see that I am diplomatic in what I write on the blog – religion is one topic I avoid, and while I read and review non-fiction, I try not to put in personal opinions about the issues discussed in the book, just to be on the safer side and avoid a firestorm of comments.
Nish recently posted…Teaser Tuesdays: The Return of the Butterfly
Great idea, Nish. Avoiding some topics might be a good idea, especially on blog posts.
I don’t think I consciously avoid specific topics, either. I guess there are a few times when I think a book will be a bit *too* sad for me, and I’ll avoid it for a couple of weeks, but in the end I’ll probably still end up reading it. xD
Aimee @ Deadly Darlings recently posted…Literary Twin Book Tag! (In Which I Racked My Brain for My Possible Clones)
Good for you, Aimee, for reading the sad books. I probably would have never read Fault in Our Stars if I avoided all the sad books. And I really enjoyed it.
There aren’t really any topics I avoid per se. I do usually avoid romance novels, mainly because I don’t really like a book with ALL romance and very little else going on. I like mystery or science fiction or young adult with some romance thrown in.
Cynthia recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: Seed by Lisa Heathfield
Completely agree, Cynthia. I think we all want some plot with our romance.
I don’t really avoid any topics, but I don’t read a lot of genres (like non-fiction, cozy type mysteries, political thrillers, medical thrillers … this list could go on and on). I really should broaden my horizons a little, but I like the genres I read!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted…Tangled by Brandi Leigh Hall – Review
Ah yes I forgot to include those thrillers, I’m not into those either. I like my genres too and don’t branch out all that much.
Almost anything is fair game, it depends on my mood. But I do avoid books about or involving cancer. It’s even in my review policy. It simply hits too close to home.
Bea @Bea’s Book Nook recently posted…Quote-Tastic & Review: Star Trek Vol 9 The Q Gambit by Mike Johnson
Ah yes then that’s a good reason to avoid the topic.