Hello, lovelies!
This post is one inspired today by the wonderful discussion from Malka, one half of the Paper Procrastinators blogging team. She wrote about her varied relationship with various genres and I completely loved it–enough that I wanted to write about my own genre preferences (which prolly won’t come as a surprise to many, but I couldn’t resist). So, go check out Paper Procrastinators and then come back and read more about my relationships with just a few of the genres out there.
The Avoided
Why not start with being bold and discuss a few genres that I avoid reading 99.9% of the time. If you are a fan of any of these genres, please don’t take this as a dig personally!! Reading is just so subjective and these are genres that, for one reason or another, I just don’t click with and so I avoid.
Almost anything contemporary: I know, I know and I’m sorry. I just…I am really not a fan of stories set in the real world. I can sometimes handle urban fantasies and the occasional thriller, but where are the dragons!? Reading is, and always has been, my first method of escape. I don’t need to be reminded of the real world when I do so, nope, no thank you.
Westerns: I won’t lie, I do enjoy some quality flintlock fantasy (looking at you, McClellan), but a straight western? It’s really just not my thing.
Classics: This is purely because high school and college destroyed these for me. I grew to hate being forced to read books that I truly didn’t enjoy and trying to figure out what my professor’s reading of it was, when there were so many books I *wanted* to read and discuss, but we never got to.
Literary Fiction: *shrugs*
The Committed
Next, we have genres of books that I either already read regularly or *want* to start becoming committed to, as a reader.
Science Fiction: Definitely a fan of science fiction! I don’t read enough to make it quite to the obsessed tier below, but I definitely have my favorites and something about exploring space and the morality of it all–plus the amazing mechanics and science I don’t even pretend to understand–truly is a joy.
Recommended Reads:
- A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
- Anything by K.B. Wagers
- A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe by Alex White
Regency Romance: Oh, I pity younger me (like, high school and early college-aged me) who used to be ashamed–ASHAMED–of loving this genre utterly; who used to only get books from the library so no one would know I had them, yet would read a single regency in a single sitting, staying up until 2 or 3am to reach the happily ever after. Now, I don’t have such insecurities, having grown to realize how beautiful this genre is.
Recommended Reads:
- Anything by Tessa Dare
- Anything by Eva Leigh
(Growing) Non-Fiction: I’ve never really been a big non-fiction reader, though I have enjoyed a few, on occasion (mostly books about Tolkien, to be honest). But, I’ve started this year to read more anti-racist non-fiction and plan to also read more body positive non-fiction, using this genre to help me become a better person, a better ancestor, a better ally and a better advocate of loving myself.
Recommended (or Planned) Reads:
- How to be an Anti-Racist by Dr. Ibram X Kendi
- (To Read) Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
- (To Read) Body Kindness by Rebecca Scritchfield
(Wanting) Thriller: I don’t really read a lot of thrillers, but I used to love them in middle school and high school. I’m not sure if I really want to get into the traditional contemporary thriller, but perhaps some more fantasy or genre thrillers? Hit me up with recs if you got ’em!
(Wanting) Graphic Novels: I haven’t read too many graphic novels, but it is something my partner is really into and I’ve dabbled in a little bit. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve read of Saga so far (no spoilers, PLEASE!) and have read the first volume of Heathen, which was pretty good. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if I started reading more in this genre!
The Obsessed
These are the genres that I can’t get enough of; that I will read until the end of time and still not get enough.
Fantasy: Especially of the epic kind, there is no surprise that a blog whose entire theme centered on dragons, castles, swords and knights would be a fantasy nerd. Thanks to Pierce and Tolkien, I got into the genre early and I have only grown to devour it all. I am especially thankful to the blogging community for introducing me to more diverse fantasy and helping me not only realize how I was only reading books by cis white men, but also break away from that. It’s been glorious and I am so, so grateful.
Recommended Reads: Too many to name, but if you really want recs, let me know in the comments and I’ll easily throw at least a dozen at you.
Steampunk romance: This is a *very* niche sub-genre of romance, but holy fuck am I addicted. I love the steampunk feel (so, always on the search for more quality steampunk in general) but then you throw in steamy (heh) romance and I’m floored. I NEED more recs in this genre, please help me find them!
Recommended Reads:
- Steampunk London and Blue Bloods Conspiracy series by Bec McMaster
- Anything by Anne Renwick
- (To read) The Absinthe Earl by Sharon Lynn Fisher (is this considered steampunk? I’m not quite sure, tbh)
What about you? Do you have any genres you gravitate towards or any that you absolutely cannot read? Let me know in the comments and thanks again to Malka for unknowingly inspiring this post!
Cheers.
![HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, EVERYONE! 🏳🌈
Queer writers deserve to have our stories told. And I want to help more writers get there.
So, in honor of Pride, I'm increasing my normal discount for all queer writers (10%) to 20% off all full manuscript edits booked the month of June 2023.
A few finer details:
Full manuscript means you can choose between three services: a developmental edit (what I'm best at!), line edit or proofreading.
You'll book in June and pay a down payment to secure your spot, but our actual edit can be anytime between now and May 2024. That way, I can be as available for as many queer writers as possible!
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I wrote more about it (including a few reminders, if you're a queer writer and you're struggling) in the blog post linked below.
https://thoughtsstainedwithink.com/calling-all-queer-writers/
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Literary Fiction: *shrugs*
I cackled
Hahaha, this comment made my whole DAY.
I’m the same, I don’t really like contemporary either, because I read to escape real life. I’m a bit more obsessed with sci-fi, but I’m getting there with fantasy and horror. I don’t hate romance, but I generally don’t read much of it (outside of fanfiction, of course). ❤️
Yeah, absolutely! No knocking those who love contemporary, obviously, but it’s definitely not my cup of tea. I’m doing the opposite with sci-fi and slowly getting more and more into it (have you read Megan O’Keefe’s sci-fi? Fucking fantastic).
I have a similar relationship with contemporary… and yet sometimes I pick one up (typically thrillers) and really enjoy them. Which makes me wonder if it is the setting of modern reality is the issue or ???
See, I am the same, in a way. I definitely used to really enjoy thrillers, even those set in modern settings. I’m curious to see what you think the other issue might be with contemporary as a genre!
That “NOPE” for literary fiction is such a MOOOOOOOD hahahahahahahaha. I keep trying, but like you, I’ll just devote my energies elsewhere :))
Hahahaha, I’m glad you appreciate it! 😛 Like is too short to read books we don’t enjoy!!
Fantasy for me too please – no surprise there! I generally feel the same way about literary fiction but every now and then there’s a book with an unusual premise that catches my attention and I read it and I’m like, “Ahh, so there /is/ literary fiction that I can enjoy!” 😛 Usually they are books that have some fantastical or fabulism element in them anyway…
Ha, I’m glad you can find a rare gem that you enjoy (and you’re right, if there was ever a literary fiction book I enjoyed, there *had* to have been some sort of fantastic element involved).
I’m so honored to have inspired this post! I love the way you broke down all the different genres and your feelings towards them! It’s a way more organized method than my rambling!
Also YES to regency romance! I used to be embarrassed about my love of romance as well, but slowly it’s become something I’m proud of. Why should I be ashamed about liking happily ever afters?
If you want some graphic novel recs, here are some! On a Sunbeam which is also sci-fi, so it’s win win. Then there’s also The Deep and Dark Blue, Snapdragon, Trespassers, and The Magic Fish. For some older ones there’s obviously Nimona, Alex + Ada, and Fake Blood! At least one of those eight recommendations should be something you’re interested in! If you do end up reading any of them, definitely let me know!
Oh gosh, thank you! I’m honored you decided to check out this post! Ha, I am usually a very ramble-y person, so I enjoyed your post immensely!
YES. I am so ashamed of how embarrassed I was once before. These are fantastic, quality books that make me swoon. What’s not to love?
Oooh, thank you for those recs!! I’ll definitely let you know which I enjoy (though who knows when I’ll read them, since reading funks and mood reading is all I know, these days).