This month's question is an interesting one:
Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?
I pretty much write YA contemporary. I have dabbled in other things over the years, especially when it comes to short stories, but when it comes to novels, even if I think I'm writing something else, I always seem to end up writing YA.
And because I write YA, I tend to read a lot of YA too, but certainly not exclusively. I read quite widely, but there are certainly some things I don't read. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy or most science fiction, so I tend not to read much of that. I don't read a lot of thrillers or mysteries either, but every now and then I pick one up and enjoy it.
But I do like a good horror story... Not gross, gory horror, but the kind of unsettling horror that leaves you sneaking peeks behind every door before going through.
I tend to be guided a lot in what I read by what is on the shelves at the library when I go. Even if there are things I'm interested in reading based on reviews or other media mentions, I don't often reserve books. There's something about browsing that appeals to me. I love picking up things I've never heard of and diving in. Sometimes it's disappointing, but sometimes I discover something I adore.
I prefer reading physical books to e-books, but because I review books, I sometimes get e-books from NetGalley to review. Again, this is kind of a pot luck way to read because while I sometimes request books, I don't always get everything I ask for, and I sometimes get sent things I haven't requested.
What about you? How do you choose what to read? Are reviews a big motivation or do you prefer to take recommendations from friends and family?
I may glance at a book's reviews, but they don't really determine what I'll read and what I skip. Mostly, I think my selections come from browsing or recommendations from friends.
ReplyDeleteThat's my kind of horror, too. I think it's tough to find a good horror story. I tried writing a few, but it never really worked out.
ReplyDeleteI don't really read reviews but I do pick books that I've heard other people talking about, or just browsing until I find something that sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI find interesting books sometimes through the holistic method. I won’t read just anything but I’m never at a loss to find material, even if it sometimes disappoints. And I’m always reading. So I’m always looking through various channels. Haven’t gotten to browse library book sales in a while, though. Most of what I look for is literary fiction, but I can branch off from that. I love history, biography, never feel I’m doing enough of that. And of course comic books, which can be a lot of things.
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