Do you read by the rules?
Lately, I’ve become aware of just how many conditions people place on their reading.
“I only read fiction.”
“Our book group only reads nonfiction.”
“I’ll read almost anything, unless it has a detective in it.”
“I don’t like fictional memoirs of real people.”
“I can’t read graphic novels.”
“My husband will only read books written by men.”
“I won’t read any book that has a dragon or fairy.”
These are all things I’ve heard readers say in the last few weeks.
In my job, I’m not allowed to have such rules, of course, but I’m sure that if I were a “regular” reader, I would probably have them as well.
I’m sure that many of those rules are borne out of prior reading experiences. But I wonder, what turns a “preference” into a “rule”?
I confess: the minute you tell me about your rule, I will try to think of a book to give you that will show you that your rule is misguided. I can’t help it. You won’t read science fiction? Here, read The Sparrow. Baffled by graphic novels? Read Persepolis and see if you still feel the same way afterwards. Don’t read romance? You must read Outlander immediately. Think American History is dry and boring? Read anything by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
What are your particular rules? Do you have friends or acquaintances that are rigid in their reading? More importantly, what books would you recommend others read to break these self-imposed limitations? Have you successfully broken your own rules?
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Oh, three cheers for The Sparrow! It really is the perfect get-out-of-your-box reading recommendation.
I don’t generally read science fiction, but I loved that book….even though I don’t really consider it to be sci-fi.
I generally don’t prefer to read chick lit or romance-y titles, but if I need something light, I do it. I don’t read much mystery, but I’m open to mystery/thriller as long as the characters are also well-drawn and the plot isn’t predictable (loved The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo for that).
I try not to have hard and fast rules about reading because being flexible and open-minded and exposing myself to all kinds of books makes me better at my job and enables me to relate to all kinds of people. I’m with you in that preferences are fine (and we all have them), but rules just limit you.
(Though I’m willing to concede that after reading all 4 Twilight books, I just might rule out all things Stephenie Meyer in the future.)
I usually don’t read futuristic (other worlds) Sci Fi or Graphic novels. I do read paranormals and absolutely love them. I am more of a romance reader but do branch out to other genres.
I tend not to read science fiction, however The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is one of my favorite books of all time (didn’t much like Oryx and Crake, though)
I recently joined a book group and next month we are reading On the Rez by Ian Frazier which is not something I would have chosen on my own but I am looking forward to reading and discussing it.
The whole vampire genre does nothing for me, and I guess I’m a book snob but I cannot be bothered with a lot of the more popular authors like Danielle Steele and James Patterson (I did read one of his books recently and I hated the writing).
I only read good books.
OK, Amy, that’s a rule I can support!
I generally read most anything and don’t have a restriction but I might have a halting time trying to read historical fiction. Have a hard time with it but have slogged a book or two.
Ann, I try to keep an open mind and challenge myself sometimes. I even read Twilight after we got more than 300 comments about it. Didn’t like it that much, but I gave it a shot.
That said, I refuse to read anything about Pamela Anderson, Lindsay Lohan and other manufactured stars. And I bet even you can’t find a redeeming book about them.
Oh, Dave has thrown down the gauntlet!
I will be thinking about this one all day …
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice was the book that got me to break my “no mysteries” rule, and I’m so glad it did. (Also, I’m now counting down to the next book’s release date, since I haven’t managed to snag an ARC of The Language of Bees…)
The main thing I stay away from now is paranormal – and I’ve read a few books that fall under that heading, but they haven’t done anything to sway me – The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Swoon – I even quit halfway through Ink Exchange, which is one of those loved-by-everyone books.
This is one of your best posts ever, one that I’ve filed away in Evernote so I can send it off to friends in the need of prodding from time to time. I think one of the reasons I have so many books going at once (four right now) is because I can’t limit myself to one type of book… so I have fiction and non-fiction, serious and light-hearted, literary and genre. All the years spent in college taught me to juggle and keep them straight.
I love hearing about everybody’s reading rules. I’ll go on the record as saying I don’t read new-age type stuff, though I’m sure there’s something there that I would enjoy.
Gay, really? I’m thrilled you liked the post, especially since it started out as something completely different at 6am this morning
I used to have rules and lists. The lists contained books by an author in the order that the book was published, whether the author’s oeuvre was serial or not! I would only read books “in order” (e.g. William Gibson)on the premise that I was watching an author’s development. Now I restrict reading “in order” to serials only (e.g. the Inspector Rebus series by Ian Rankin.) Of course, I refuse to read books in a series back-to-back as I like interstitial material to break it all up for me. And once an author “goes bad” on me, I don’t go back (e.g. Amanda Quick.)
Tanya,
Your rules all make sense to me. I am having a hard time watching my daughter plow through all of the Harry Potter books in order with nothing in between. “Aren’t you getting sick of it?” I asked. She finished #5, but I hadn’t yet bought her #6, so instead of moving on to something else, she went back and reread #1. Makes me a little bit crazy.
Hmmm… this is a challenge for me! I read across many many genres, but I’d have to say I don’t read westerns or sports. Any ideas, Ann??
Suzanna,
Obviously I’m not Ann, but I thought I would chime in anyway. In terms of reading a Western for someone who doesn’t care for Westerns, I would recommend anything by Cormac McCarthy or even the plays by Sam Shepherd. No, they aren’t the 19th c. variety, but the core cowboy identity remains intact.
Suzanna-
I had to read Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey, for school and really didn’t expect to love it as much as I did!
Suzanna,
I was also going to say Cormac McCarthy, or Lonesome Dove, which is on my to-read list also.
Sports: First thing that popped into mind was BALL FOUR by Jim Bouton, which is *the* classic baseball book, but it also depends on hous fluid your definition of sports is. John Krakauer’s INTO THIN AIR? SEABISCUIT? Oh, and there’s THE MIRACLE AT CASTEL DI SANGRO by Joe McGinnis that is a wonderful wonderful book about a soccer team in Italy.
One more rec. Suzanna-
I talked about it on a recent podcast, but ICE TIME by Jay Atkinson, the story of a small town MA High School Hockey team is really wonderful and so much more than “just” a sports book!
Suzanna,
Two interesting non-fiction sports books are Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch, which details his affection for the Arsenal football club; and How Soccer Explains the World (can’t remember the author).
Suzanna, I’d recommend Deadwood by Pete Dexter as a portrayal of Western life, devoid of the glorification found in many other books. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner is another great book about the west, though not about cowboys.
For sports, I second Seabiscuit and Into Thin Air. For baseball, Koufax is an interesting bio of baseball great Sandy Koufax, and any book by Roger Angell is a gem.
I don’t know that I have rules, but I definitely have guidelines. One rule I don’t know if I’ve ever broken is that I don’t read Harlequin Romance. But for my guidelines, there’s books I *tend* to prefer not to read, but if given a good enough reason, I’ll pick something up I might not otherwise read. For example, I recently read Kelly Corrigan’s memoir, The Middle Place, because of a video I saw of her on YouTube where she reads an essay called Transcending. I don’t normally read memoirs, but I thought her writing was fantastic and figured her book was probably pretty good.
With all that said, I pretty much stay away from chick lit and erotica and non-fiction. I’m up for pretty much everything else.
Ok, I have rules (for leisure reading, not work stuff). But they are really, really weird.
I generally won’t read a book that’s yellow. Why? I don’t dig yellow, so most of the time I won’t even pick it up to find out if I’d like it or not. When a fave author pubs a book w/ a yellow cover it’s like a knife in the back. This, though, is my yellow-rule exception. (Gold is NOT yellow. Neither is butter-cream, ecru, or parchment. I’m taking sunshine yellow–blech!)
Chicklit covers bug me, so it takes recommendations from sources I trust before I’ll pick one up (though I enjoy the escapism they offer once I do read them).
Don’t read much sports related stuff. Just not interested. Hate celebrity biography (though I indulge in People mag at the Dr.’s office) b/c it’s probably enriching the vapid, overpaid, egotistical celebrity about which the book was written.
Super picky about sf and mystery and won’t usually read past the 3 or 4th book in a series. They tend to get predictable. (Exception: Dr. Siri Paibon mysteries by Colin Cotterill. Completely and utterly addicted.)
I won’t read anything recommended by my Grandmother b/c it’s always something to try to convert me to her religious faith.
Self-conscious literary work irritates the bejeezus out of me. And fiction in which the writing style obscures coherency looses my attention PDQ. So what if you can make a lovely sentence if it’s not saying anything?
Enough rules for you, Ann?
I don’t have many rules, but I really don’t like mass market paper backs. I don’t like library books either, but I do make exceptions for both of those every once in awhile.
I don’t read Harlequin, and don’t think I ever will.
I will allow myself one Debbie Macomber book (mass paper back) at christmas time only.
I thought every girl secretly read her mom’s Harlequin romances! It was practically a rite of passage in my neighborhood.
Wonder if Mary Pipher’s ever written about that–HQN’s affect on an girl’s coming-of-age.
Hmm…well, I do have a cure-all for those saying “I would never”–join a reading group! In my reading group, the members take turns choosing the books, and I have read things that I said I would *never* read~and even enjoyed them! Sci-fi, fantasy, romance, religion. You name the genre, it has been choosen (except, strangely enough, westerns and sports…must try to correct that). And, others in the group say the same thing: adults who would have never picked up a YA have found something new to love, non-fiction has become regular reading material for a woman who only enjoyed “light” fare, and someone else found a new genre to enjoy when she read her first mystery!!
That’s not to say that I loved everything (I think I am scarred for life after reading, and thoroughly hating, The Red Tent…), but it has opened up new worlds to me. I never thought that I would like anything even slightly sci-fi, until I read and loved Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle (this was a reading group fave, and I highly recommend it).
Still, I admit that when
I go into a bookstore, there are some shelves I completely ignore. Thank heavens for my book group~opening my mind every month!!
Oh, and for those who would never read Pam Anderson or Lindsay Lohan- Try working at a bookstore on a slow Saturday or Sunday. You would be amazed at what you pick up to read *dramatic* passages from, to the delight of your co-workers. I still remember a line from the cheese-laden Britney Spears novel “A Mother’s Gift” …”with stars in their eyes, and hope in their hearts.” Horrid, yet strangely entertaining.
Nikki!!!
First, you have the best ever book group (I think I said that before), but I love that everyone is so willing to go with someone’s choice if it’s not something they would normally read.
And as for the bookstore … great idea for an after-hours party …
I read anything, all genres, whatever looks like it has some kind of quality (as defined by me). However, I never read books that refer to other books on the cover. E.g. “Not since _Gone With The Wind_ has there been such a (blah blah)” Or, “The funniest book since _Gone With the Wind_.” You get my drift. If a book can’t stand on its own, I’m not interested.
Another rule, I like a good mystery or detective story as much as anyone, but I refuse to read any book about a serial killer. I think that if there had ever been as many serial killers as there are books about them our population would be seriously depleted.
OK, Charles, send all of the serial killer books to me — I’m a sucker for them! But I am laughing at your observation … so true!
I will take note of books that refer to other books on the cover. I don’t recall seeing that too much on the actual book (in ads, yes), but now I’m sure I will see it everywhere.
Thanks for sharing your rules!
Great post Ann. This is something I’ve been thinking about alot lately. I’ve been contributing to a blog at tatteredcoverbookstore.blogspot.com/ about sci-fi titles I think people who don’t read sci-fi might like . Which got me thinking about genres I don’t read. I don’t have rules per se, but I’ve never read Romance (I guess I should pick up Outlander) or Westerns (though Larry McMurty is on my to-read list) or a few other genres. I find working in a bookstore pushes the limits of my preferences. I get so many recommendations from co-workers and customers alike that I have books I think I should read in just about any genre, if only I had the time
.
Oh and I would also recommend Maus by Art Spiegelman along with Persepolis for graphic novel suggestions.
Oh, I LOVE serial killer books! Have you read Heartsick by Chelsea Cain, Ann?
Nikki, I have not read Heartsick — it’s one of those books that I have wanted to read forever, but then I forget about it when I’m in the bookstore looking for something to buy. Am writing it down now!
For people who want to read a sports book but don’t care for sports–try Money Ball by Michael Lewis. It made me appreciate what makes a winning baseball team, even though I find baseball boring while I am watching it.
Also, My Losing Season by Pat Conroy was a great read, despite it being about basketball.
My only rule is not to start a fantasy/sci fi series until all the books are released. George R. R. Martin, I’m looking at you!
Chris-
There’s a 50% chance George RR Martin will have a new book this fall, but don’t quote me on that!
Michael,
Hope springs eternal!
Right now I’m more excited by Brandon Sanderson’s finishing of The Wheel of Time.
My rule is to simply not waste precious time reading anything that is unforgettable.
If I find myself “skim reading” then I know a book has failed to capture my imagination or attention. Therefore it must have twists and lots of descriptive or emotive text to keep me hooked until the end!
Since my rule is a difficult one to follow (or until I am few chapters through the book)I rely on recommendations. This was easy enough when I worked as a Bookseller, as you could never keep up! Now I use websites and blogs for personal recommendations and then I buy the book from my local Independent…happy days!
I thought I was a NO ROMANCE reader until I heard the episode of the podcast where Ann recommended Outlander. I read it; I really enjoyed it; and now I can no longer say that I refuse to read romance (or time travel). Love the show, by the way. I never miss an episode. Thanks for doing it.
The only rule I insist on is that I will only read books which are written in a language I can understand. (I found myself in an Arabic bookstore once and it was just this side of traumatic – surrounded by thousands of books, knowing what they were, and not able to read a single character. I don’t need to do that to myself.)
For everything else, it’s mostly open season. I have preferences, sure… but I have this monkey on my back that says words are to be read. Period.
Sarah, the “skim reading” rule is a good one – I’ll take more note of that as I read!
Christy — Yay for Outlander! And thanks so much for your nice words about BOTNS.
Stormkite – I can only imagine how you felt in the Arabic bookstore .. how frustrating!! Giving me the shivers right now. “Words are to be read.” I like that. Thanks.
Thanks Ann!
It can be a good rule to expose a book, or just the chapter, as being slightly on the dull side. Happened to me many a time!