What do I read? What genre or genres?
The real question is, what don’t I read?
I was one of those kids who read the cereal boxes at breakfast.
I read through the family’s World Book Encyclopedia by 4th grade.
I was, and still am, interested in darned-near everything
And I love good writing.
I still read children’s books. I intend to SKYPE or in some other fashion read kiddie books to the new grandson; I started when he was here and not yet two months old.
Not long ago I ordered every book that I did not have by one favorite middle-grade author and I recently acquired by every way that I could, (except theft!), a complete YA series that I love, with the first of the follow-up trilogy, (the next two are going to be ordered, as I see them new online).
I often pick up used Newberry Medal books and find them usually quite good.
As for books for ‘my own age’, I read everything from poetry and humor, classics to cozy mysteries. Yesterday Jeff-the-Hound mentioned that he has no interest in certain genres until circumstances or books brought him to read and write in those “species” of books. I can relate. I had never intended to read what they call “chick-lit”, the light reading aimed at busy, (or light-headed), women, but I was pushed to a few good ones by my niece and many became favorites.
I’m not afraid of big books, nor long series, but I like stand-alones, too, and I do enjoy anthologies of short stories.
For many years of my life, the answer to the main question would have been “anything but romance novels”, yet here I am, surrounded by romance novels and novelists, with at least one romance novel nearly complete by my own hand.
I love a good mystery and by good, I mean is that I didn’t figure out the Who, How and Why early into the book. If I do, I might try to make it through, but there are many left half-read.
I read cookbooks. I don’t just peruse them for recipes; I read them.
I never read true-life war stories until a few years ago; I will have to review at least one book about it soon.
I mostly enjoy entering new worlds or reading about facets of our own world, in modern times or in the past. I also never read biographies, though I do now at times, and only if there are extenuating circumstances like a time in history, the person has a truly interesting life or has been in a situation that is significant. (No ‘fluff’ pieces on celebrities,
nor conversely, character assassinations.)
What I don’t read is futuristic novels; I cannot abide ‘post-apocalyptic’ settings. My grandson and niece have given up suggesting such books to me, (and those are the only movies the husband knows that I will absolutely not suffer through with him).
So except for those, I am pretty game, you can keep gore and porn, but other than that, bring it on!
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Certainly a diverse list and you seem open to nearly any genre, sub-genre, or possible hybrid.
But, as you wisely do, everyone should be allowed to set one’s own reading limits, beyond which they will not venture.
Like you, I formerly had a dim view of “chick-lit”. In my case partly because the label the publishing industry had allowed to associate with it had all but doomed it in my book. When I later — much later — realized that poorly-worded tag was both incomplete and inadequate, I was quite surprised.
Turns out, many of the titles and authors which had been shoved under the chick-lit umbrella were actually clever, at times insightful, and enjoyable visits to the same world of screwball comedy which I’d enjoyed from the Hollywood films of the late 30s and early 40s.
Then, of course, there are some “chick lit” books which are (to me) tedious strolls through the worlds of dating, shopping, and designer shoes. Oh well.
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I really must check back to see that my replies are being’taken’ Jeff; I answered you very early yesterday.
I think a lot of bad press and snobbery has been really unfair to romance, cozies and other ‘less than serious’ writing, but good writing and enjoyable stories are literature, and good for the soul. However, the stigma remains. It took me forever to get Joe-the-Husband to understand that most ‘romance’ novels are not ‘bodice-rippers’.
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Just the answer I would have expected from my Gemini-twin. Wonderful post! I enjoyed reading your takes on many of the genres. This serves us well when we’re looking at an overwhelming pile of TBR books and finding one that we’re ‘in the mood for’. I find that one genre will dominate for days or weeks at a time, and then all of a sudden I’m ‘not in the mood’ and wish for something else. Loving and reading many genres comes in handy!
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Oh, gosh, that shared birthday really shows,Trisha! Exactly;I will go on a ‘run ‘ of a genre or author, then SWITCH, go something completely different, then on to another!
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I like the variety you have on your shelves. I have picked up a few books of poetry, some biographies, and even cookbooks to read in an effort to expand my reading. while these kind of books are not my go-to I did find that I could enjoy them because they were well written.
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I like poetry, as you know,Angie, but of course, not all.I started collecting poetry books whenever I found them because there are few on library shelves.
A well-written book on nearly any subject or in any genre will hook me every time!
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I love variety too. It would be boring not to branch out and sample many genres. Like you I don’t read many biographies, but unlike you I like futuristic or post apocalyptic books.
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I had to pick up a biography as a challenge in a Summer Reading Program at my local library; it was one that I dreaded. I don’t know why I was surprised at a famous person’s diverse life, since people even tell me that mine has been interesting. I think that people should take stock of their lives, because everyone has good stories.
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