About once a year, I ask for book recommendations on Facebook, and someone always asks, "What kind of books do you like?" I never answer... because honestly, offer me any book! Any book from any genre, and I will look into it and decide if it's something I'm interested in. I have a list of genres I don't often care for (romance, chick-lit, fantasy, sci-fi, mythology), but I dabble a few times a year just for good measure. I don't entirely shun the genres, I just don't typically enjoy them. I also don't care much for series - I prefer to be wow-ed by one book. BUT, like I said, that doesn't mean I won't read them ever, I just won't read them often. My taste has definitely changed over time (I used to love fantasy and series and dislike historical fiction), so I figure I need to try out different things from time to time to see if my interests have evolved.
It's always been easier for me to tell people what kind of books I don't like rather than what kind of books I do. Probably because I'm a naturally negative person, so I'm very in tune with what I don't like and can tell you all about it! In recent years, though, I've become more aware of the genres I enjoy. I can start the list off with gothic literature, family drama, true crime, thrillers, and historical fiction.
I'm always a little wary of applying any genre to a book because I've observed some very nitpicky internet discussions about book genres that have given me Genre Anxiety (example: "That isn't a 'suspense' book; it's really more of a 'thriller.' ")
(Thanks for ruining me, you online book weirdos! Do you know how much fear I experience when I tag my book reviews? DO YOU???)
Today I finished an audiobook I really enjoyed, Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman, and I thought, "This is my kind of book!"
What kind of book is it? Well, that's where I get a little nervous because, according to its popular tags on Goodreads, it's chick-lit!
I would say it's a multi-generational family drama with a gothic element. It was very similar to a Kate Morton novel but a bit shorter and a bit lighter. It even had the same audiobook narrator as Kate Morton's books (Caroline Lee). The story is woven between past and present with an old house to be inherited and family secrets to be unwound. A little Jane Eyre flair, if you will, minus the creepy old dude.
Speaking of Jane Eyre, I have a complicated relationship with classic literature. I love the stories but don’t like reading them. When it comes to classic literature, I will always opt for the BBC miniseries. Some of my favorites are:
And I might as well throw in a shameless plug for North & South, which is kind of boring, but leads up to one of the best kissing scenes of all time (and that's coming from a non-romance kind of gal).
Plus, Richard Armitage... amiright? He looks like Hugh Jackman's long lost brother. He narrates audiobooks, and he's the most attractive of the dwarves.
Speaking of Thorin Oakenshield (oh, I love a well-planned segue), let me tell you about two things I struggle with in movies and books: journeys and creatures.
I hold a special place in my heart for Lord of the Rings, I really do... but journeys kill me. Travel then have a problem. Travel then have a problem. Travel then have a problem. Arrive then have a problem. Resolve final problem. Conclusion.
I have a special place in my heart for Toy Story as well, but it's the same old thing.
My friends Chad and Carlie can attest that I'm not a fan of creatures. Chad loves creatures - he's all about X-Files and aliens and Stranger Things, and whenever they talk about shows, I always ask, "Does it have creatures in it? Cuz ya'll know how I feel about creatures!" They talked me into watching Stranger Things when it first started, and I was like, "You all tricked me!"
One exception I've found to my creatures preferences, though, is A Quiet Place. People kept recommending it to me and trying to get me to go see it with them (Chad and Carlie included), and I was like, "I can’t because I’m anti-creatures." Then I watched it when it came on video, and I was so surprised! It was so good! Even with creatures!
I also really love Bird Box - the book (I’ve never watched the show). Let me tell you why... but I'm going to explain it to you in between a series of asterisks because this could be considered spoilers (but very light spoilers), so if you don't want to know... skip the section between the asterisks.
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In Bird Box, the creatures are never confirmed indefinitely. You don't get a physical description of them because the characters can never look at them. You don't know what they are or whether they are truly deadly. You sometimes wonder if they even really exist or if everyone has just been completely deceived into eliminating their sense of sight. It's a psychological trip!
Chad hated that aspect of it. He wanted something like, "Slimy alien with eight pea pod heads and four rows of venomous fangs with breath that could kill a yak from two miles away!"
But me? I loved that we never really knew.
But then the author wrote a sequel...
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Bird Box is one of my favorite books, but I would never recommend it to you. It has so much language and gore. I would protect my grandma from it at all costs!
I originally listened to the audiobook, and one night while Scotty was out of town, I was laying in the dark listening with my earbuds in after I'd put the kids to bed. I had my eyes closed. I was at a really suspenseful part in the story when I opened my eyes, and Nicky was standing next to my bed. My heart jolted so bad, I took my pulse fifteen minutes later because I wasn't sure I was going to be okay.
In conclusion (I can manipulate a good segue, but I still never know how to wrap up a blog post), I'm forever gaining a better idea of what I truly like, but sometimes I'm still surprised! For that reason, recommend any book in any genre. One day, it might be exactly what I’m looking for!
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